How I Built My Video Podcasting Studio in 2022 (Complete Tour and Gear Walk-Through)

Building a Video Podcasting Studio in 200 Square Feet

In this video, Tom from Nova Digital explains how he built a video podcasting studio in a small space. He discusses the must-have features of the studio and the gear he used to create it.

Must-Have Features

• The studio needed to be a video podcasting studio with at least three cameras for wide shots and dedicated shots.

• Four microphones were necessary for groups of four or fewer people, and the space needed to be modular.

• The ability to live cut each episode was essential, which is why Blackmagic's ATEM Mini series was used.

Design and Setup

• The space needed to look professional without being cluttered or overly stylized.

• Everything in the space is stuck there, making setup minimal when someone wants to do a podcast.

Gear Used

Furniture

• A sturdy table that can house four people comfortably was chosen instead of building a custom desk.

• Four matching office chairs were selected for comfort and professionalism.

• A thick rug underneath helps absorb sound.

Backdrop

• Unique 3D wall panels were used as a backdrop that gives off an illusion of not having visible seams.

Setting up the Studio

In this section, the speaker discusses how they set up their studio and the equipment they used.

Curtain Systems

• Two big curtain systems were installed to create a room and absorb sound.

• The curtains give off an illusion of a room and provide clean backdrops for video recording.

Audio Setup

• The speaker opted for a Rode Caster and Pod Mic setup with four pod mics.

• The pod mics are great quality for their price, although not as good as SM7Bs.

• They look great on camera without wind screens or boom arms.

• Headphones (Mackie MC100s) are placed below the table for monitoring audio.

Video Setup

• Three cameras were used: Sony A7 III, A6000, and A6300.

• The main camera is suspended from a c-stand in the middle of the room.

• All cameras run in 1080p since the ATEM can't take anything past that resolution.

• Lighting is set up using a big c-stand in the middle of it.

Conclusion

In this section, the speaker concludes by summarizing their setup choices.

Final Thoughts

• The speaker wanted to keep things cheap while maintaining good quality.

• They didn't want tripods or boom arms to avoid fidgeting during recordings.

• Overall, they're happy with how everything turned out.

Lighting and Audio Setup

In this section, the speaker discusses the lighting setup and audio workflow for their video production.

Lighting Setup

• The main light is a newer dish that is boomed in just off of a c stand.

• The key light is a Godox SL60W that is boomed in straight over top of the four people.

• Hair lights are small LED bi-color panels fixed to the ceiling, giving separation from the background.

• Wall panel has an LED strip that can be customized for different shows.

Audio Workflow

• Audio captured from Rode mics XLR'd into Rode Caster Pro system.

• One output from Rode Caster Pro plugged into ATEM Mini Pro ISO, which is used as a live switcher for cameras.

• Cameras feed into ATEM Mini Pro ISO and recorded live-switched by speaker to Samsung T5 SSD hard drive.

• T5 SSD recommended by Blackmagic support.