Both cameras support a "clean" HDMI output, which is essential when considering using a DSLR camera for video conferencing and live broadcasts. My understanding is newer Lumix cameras have improved autofocus.īoth cameras run on USB power using a dummy battery, and running on a dummy battery saves me the hassle of charging and swapping batteries. So, I use it for overhead shots for recording and streaming illustrations or guitar work. The color quality of the Lumix G7 is better than the Olympus, but the autofocus is frustrating. My secondary camera is a Panasonic Lumix G7. The Olympus mounts to a teleprompter designed to support large tablets, and the teleprompter mounts to a sturdy camera tripod. It gives me a great depth of field so that my background is slightly blurred and looks more professional. The Sigma lens lets me keep the camera about an arms-length distance but still get a wide shot. Even after having a couple of good DSLR cameras for a few years, I still can't tell you the difference between a 16mm or 35mm lens or what values like f/1.4 or f/2.5 mean. Wow, that is quite a mouthful! The Olympus has excellent autofocus. My primary camera is an Olympus OM-D EM-1 Mark II with a Sigma 16mm f/1.4 lens. The curtains also serve to reduce any noise coming from outside. So, regardless of the time of day or weather, the lighting for the videos is always consistent. My office has a window covered with blackout curtains. Behind me, I have a 60-watt LED RGB flood light on a stool that bounces blue light off the back wall. Directly to my right, the second light acts as a "fill" to soften the shadows on that side. The primary "key" light is set up at about 10 o'clock to my left and is quite bright. The lights came with stands for clamping to the edge of my desk. I bought a pair of relatively inexpensive LED video lights that are adjustable for brightness and color temperature. Lighting can significantly impact video quality without investing in more expensive webcams or cameras. LightingĪfter audio, the next most important ingredient is good lighting. And I wanted to avoid a microphone on my desk picking up noise and vibrations. I didn't want a large studio microphone in front of my face in every video shot. A clip-on lavalier mic can dramatically improve audio quality, but it would require additional work each time to hide the wire and prevent my beard from generating noise. I use a shotgun microphone because it fits my goal for an "always ready" setup. However, I now run the microphone into a Behringer Flow 8 audio mixer to mix in other audio sources, such as instruments, effects, or music. Being a condenser microphone, it also requires "phantom power." Previously, I had this microphone plugged into a Scarlett 2i2 USB audio interface capable of supplying phantom power. This type of microphone has an XLR audio plug, so it does not connect directly to a computer using USB. A shotgun mic is very sensitive, but also directional, which helps to reject any noises or reflections from the sides or behind it. I use an Audio-Technica condenser shotgun microphone mounted on a boom stand positioned about a foot above me, just out-of-frame of the video. Folks can tolerate poor video, but poor audio can seriously undermine the experience and drive people away. Audio is the most critical component of any recording or live stream. I'm using the Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, a feature I love, and the Magic Trackpad. Attached to the hub is a 27" 4K LG monitor using the hub's DisplayPort connector. Direct ethernet improves network stability for video calls and streaming. I have the MacBook plugged into a CalDigit TS3 Plus hub which supplies power, lots of ports, and an ethernet connection to my home network. This computer not only runs everything I need - coding, conference calls, streaming, and producing videos - it's also completely silent and never breaks a sweat. Computer Setupįirst, let's talk about the foundation for my system. That goal has influenced the gear I use, my workflow, and my environment. I want to minimize the time it takes from walking into my office studio to creating a professional meeting, stream, or recording experience. One of my goals, perhaps the primary goal, is to have an "always ready" setup for professional audio and video recordings and streams. TLDR take me to the list! My Office Studio Goal In this post, I will walk through what I've put together, why it fits what I need, and hopefully, give you some ideas on how you can improve your audio and video. Over the last few years, I received many comments and questions about my office studio video and audio setup.
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