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Freestyle Academy of Communication Arts & Technology

1305 Bryant Ave, Mt. View, CA 94040 T 650-940-4650 x5090
2 Required Classes: English and Digital Media 3rd/Elective Class:  + Animation or Design or Film

Recommended Software or Hardware

Often students and parents ask about equipment needed to do Freestyle work at home

The list below is what we use at Freestyle. None of it is required at home but is simply information for those who wish to purchase their own equipment that is compatible with Freestyle requirements.


All students take English.

All students take Digital Media.

Some students take Animation as their 3rd elective class and use the following in the classroom:

  • Custom built PCs because of 3D Modeling and rendering requirements during their Senior year. These PCs are NOT available for check-out to use at home.
  • Wacom Cintiqs
  • DSLR cameras (we use Canon T6i or better)
  • Speedlites
  • Tascam DR-05 portable recorder for audio projects.
  • Autodesk Maya and other 3D modeling and animating software. Please check your Freestyle email on installation and activation with a free Serial Number for use at home.
  • Adobe Creative Cloud 202x Applications mainly Photoshop, Illustrator, Animate, and After Effects. Check your Freestyle email on instructions on how to get the Adobe Creative Cloud Applications for home computers. Install the software on your home computer and MVLA can provide the license for it so that it won't cost you any money. You do NOT need to purchase a subscription for Adobe applications.
  • DragonFrame Stop Motion Software

Some students take Design as their 3rd elective class and use the following:

  • iMacs (M3)
  • Wacom Cintiqs
  • DSLR cameras (we use Canon T6i or better)
  • Speedlites
  • Tascam DR-05 portable recorder for audio projects.
  • Adobe Creative Cloud 202x Applications mainly Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Check your Freestyle email on instructions on how to get the Adobe Creative Cloud Applications for home computers. Install the software on your home computer and MVLA can provide the license for it so that it won't cost you any money. You do NOT need to purchase a subscription for Adobe applications.

Some students take Film as their 3rd elective class and use the following:

  • Custom built PCs more capable of handling 4k video. These PCs are NOT available for check-out to use at home.
  • Adobe Creative Cloud 202x Applications mainly Premiere Pro and After Effects for video editing. Check your Freestyle email on instructions on how to get the Adobe Creative Cloud Applications for home computers. Install the software on your home computer and MVLA can provide the license for it so that it won't cost you any money. You do NOT need to purchase a subscription for Adobe applications.
  • DSLR cameras (JRs use Canon T6i which has full 1920x1080 HD and SRs use Canon R10 which has 4K video capability.
  • Tascam DR-40 portable recorder for film audio.
  • Various lights, tripods, mics, booms, etc. can be checked out for on location film projects.

If you wish to OPTIONALLY purchase your own hardware, here's some information for you that will ensure your computer will be sufficent for Freestyle projects.

DragonFrame Stop Motion

Maya (free for students)


Digital Drawing Pad

21.5" iMac

Cintiq Drawing Tablet


MIDI Controller


Pro Tools


Film - Tascam DR-40

Animation, Design, Digital Media - Tascam DR-05

DSLR Camera


Open Back Headphones

Here's what is provided for you at Freestyle. You don't have to get any of it for yourself.