Final Cut Express and Studio

Editing lies at the heart of filmmaking and calls for knowledge of film grammar and storytelling techniques. With Albion’s innovative bespoke teacher training day, our industry experienced trainers show you how by using Apples class leading software you can deliver the relevant media modules within your curriculum.

You will receive high-level instruction in how to use the editing interface of Final Cut Pro or Final Cut Express and then practise your editing skills using sample footage.

The day gives you the chance to explain the challenges you face with new technologies, and allows our trainers to simplify the process, so you learn the most efficient way to deliver lessons that enable the learning process.

Logic Express & Logic Studio

Each lesson can be tailored to your needs and all at a pace which is comfortable for you.

We can install and configure Logic Audio, optimise and adapt Logic to work best for your studio environment, or advise on how best to set up loaner laptops, whether you use MIDI, AUDIO or Virtual Instruments, or music to picture.

Our help desk is the heart of our support service. All calls are logged and a variety of performance indicators are carefully monitored to ensure that our SLA is exceeded. Unlimited telephone support will be provided together with full access to our eCare Intelligent help desk remote screen sharing system that allow our technicians to share the users screen remotely. Approaching 80% of technical issues logged are resolved remotely without an engineer visit being required. All Mac and Windows hardware, operating system and standard applications are supported. Named applications can be added to this standard list to cover certain more specialist applications.

Optional Onsite Rapid Response Support

Onsite technicians can be available to visit your site to resolve any problems that cannot be fixed remotely.
Loan equipment can be provided should it not be possible to repair your equipment within the fix time.
At Albion we understand that most of your communications (internet) are handled by one of the GFL consortiums employed by your local authority. To this end with every Albion education support contract we install a dedicated remote link that allows us to remotely support your Mac environment without interrupting your reconfiguring your main services. Just another reason why with over 20 years experience installing and supporting Apple networks in schools and colleges Albion is the safe choice in supporting your environment.

Optional Preventative Maintenance

Using a combination of pre-booked engineering time and automated client management software we can provide a completely managed user environment. This enables us to provide and maintain the optimum agreed standard platform that will deliver the best levels of reliability and performance.

Our engineers visiting on a regular basis allows the following:

• Software Updates/Installation
• License Management
• Patch Management
• Re-configuration
• Installation of new devices
• One to one user support and training
• Data back-up checks

Whether you’re students are aspiring singer/songwriters, band members, potential dance music producers, or fledgling composers, Albion will point you in the right direction.

Our music technology experts can offer advice on setting up your Music suites and recording studios including set up and configuration of your audio and MIDI interfaces for optimum performance. Our trainers can show you how to record with GarageBand a package with hundreds of instruments and loops, that’s free with every Mac. An ideal beginning for Key Stage 3 AND 4 Learners and when their masterpiece is complete, they can learn how to organise their music, create playlists, burn CDs and publish their music using Podcast producer.

Maybe you are starting a Creative & Media or Btec Diploma and want to start teaching the more advanced Apple packages such as Logic or Pro Tools, in which case Albion can not only supply the appropriate hardware, we can also ensure that the content your students create is properly managed and backed up securely.

We have implemented similar Music Technology suites for schools, City Learning Centres and FE Colleges and can arrange site visits so you can see these networks in action and talk to the users.

Can I really run Windows applications on my Mac?

Yes, you can. Since Apple’s transition to Intel processors in 2006, Windows applications run beautifully on the Mac—faster than they do on many PCs, in fact. To run Windows applications, you’ll need additional software and a Mac with an Intel processor running Mac OS X v10.4.6 or higher. Every currently shipping Mac qualifies, but older Macs may not. Please contact our education specialists to ensure what you need to run Windows successfully on older Macs.

To run Windows applications, you need to have the licenses for Windows operating system available

Basically, there are two ways to run Windows on your Mac:

1. Boot into Windows at startup. This dedicates 100% of the processor power to Windows and Windows applications. You can’t use Mac OS X again until you restart.
2. Use virtualization software, which lets you run Mac OS X and Windows side by side. You can switch between them as easily as you’d switch between Mac applications.

But you can’t run Windows without Windows—you’ll need to acquire your own copy of either Windows XP or Windows Vista or 7 to use either solution.

Benefits

Use one hardware resource for 2 completely different subjects, such as DTP on the Mac and 3D design on windows.
Take advantage of PC software not yet ported over to the Mac platform such as:

1. Auto-Cad
2. Microsoft Access
3. Adobe OnLocation
4. Dragon Naturally Speaking
5. Microsoft Streets and Trips

Find out the benefits to your organisation such as :

1. Total Cost of Ownership.
2. Access to your AD, Sims database or Citrix network.
3. Instant virtualised environments without having to reboot.

A nationwide network of Apple-approved Regional Training Centres (RTC) coach primary and secondary school teachers in the use of Apple’s award-winning software packages – giving them the know-how to enliven school lessons with images, video and sound.

The Regional Training Centre programme builds on the experience and achievements of many teachers already using Apple technology in the classroom. The programme covers the UK and Ireland, offering all school staff the opportunity to attend a course relevant to their curriculum interests and needs.

The role of the Teacher in 21^st Century Learning

Today’s teachers recognise how technology can motivate children to learn through exciting and creative approaches to teaching. A generation of “digital natives” has grown up absorbing information from television, computers, video games, iPhones and iPods.

Apple’s reputation in education is synonymous with creativity. At Regional Training Centres, teachers can discover how the Mac platform offers digital solutions for all subjects in the curriculum; learn how Apple’s creative tools can help children learn more effectively; and explore how technology can break down barriers between different ability groups and between the classroom and the outside world.

RTCs focus their training on the curriculum-enhancing opportunities of using iLife, the multimedia software that comes with every new Mac, and features Apple’s award-winning iMovie HD, iPhoto, iDVD, GarageBand and iWeb applications. Teachers are also introduced to more advanced software applications, including Final Cut Express and Logic Express, and even Apple’s Professional Applications to help give older students a head start in preparing for careers in the creative industries. Teachers who attend a course at a Regional Training Centre will discover that the Mac platform offers robust, stable, easily integrated solutions and that Macs can work seamlessly alongside PCs. Apple technology is famously easy to use, and beginners can learn quickly and intuitively. With Apple, the technology never gets in the way of the creative process.

With ongoing support from the education team at Albion your organisation could be nominated as a potential site for an Apple accredited RTC. Call us now to see if your school can be part of a UK wide learning network.

With Albion and Apple Financial Services you can take advantage of some of the lowest leasing rates available for educational organisations purchasing Apple solutions.

Apple Learning Labs easily transform any classroom into a digital learning environment.

Each lab includes a classroom set of MacBook’s, or MacBook Pro’s, and Airport wireless networking, and Apple Remote Desktop for classroom management. All housed in a sturdy and secure mobile cart, ready to roll into any classroom or available space.

The custom built cart also includes power for all the machines so not only are they safe and secure, they are also fully charged ready for the next lesson.

We have found them ideal when space is limited and security is a concern and with prices starting from just £10,000 for 16  MacBooks they make great economic sense too.

Benefits

• Create a learning environment anywhere
• Secure portable laptops with wireless networking
• Built in charging points for every computer
• Every new Mac can run Windows, but no PC can run Mac OS
• If accidentally dropped the hard drive stops spinning to instantly protect the data
• Capable of upgrading to 4GB Ram for graphic intensive applications
• All units can be locked, controlled and observed by the teacher’s computer using Apple Remote Desktop.
• Innovative mobile cart design.

Supply and Support

Education is our investment in the future and Albion’s role is to provide the best possible technical assistance to schools and colleges to help them succeed in this endeavor.

With Apple we can make the complex simple enabling students and teachers to be more creative and productive.

As Apple Solution Experts for Education we have been major suppliers to schools and colleges for over 20 years. This experience means you can be assured of expert advice from people that truly understand how to get the best from Apple products in the learning environment.

Whether it’s a completely new network or integration into existing systems we love the challenge. The in depth experience of our fully trained and certified engineers enables us to design, install and support leading edge Apple based solutions that have the highest levels of reliability.

Need to learn about using a Mac with Active Directory?

How about using Mac OS X Server with Windows clients, Cross-platform file sharing, Exchange server connecting to native Mac clients for email, contacts and calendar?

Why not find out what Albion with over 20 years experience can do for your education institution that will deliver some of the following benefits.

The Benefits

When fully integrated, Mac OS X offers a complete managed environment where users can:

• Be fully controlled and must abide by the AD password policies.
• Have single sign-on access to the AD network through Kerberos.
• Utilise network-based home directories, local home directories, or a combination of the two called Portable Home Directories, which are similar to roaming profiles on Windows.

Integrating AD with Mac OS X Server allows Windows-based departments to take advantage of file sharing and other services in Mac OS X Server, while using their existing AD infrastructure for identification and authentication. Secure network services (including network home directories) hosted on Mac OS X Server also support single sign-on for both Mac OS X and Windows clients.