Video Recording

• The camera used in the Microstudio is a Sony Alpha 7IV, fitted with a Sony G-Master 16-35mm lens. Both are professional grade equipment.
• The camera can record at 4K (2160p) at a frame rate of up to 50 frames per second. All settings (format, iris, exposure, white balance, focal length, focus etc) have already been preset for the Microstudio and should not be changed prior to  the start (or during) recording. The footage can either be recorded directly on a storage card, or can be output directly to a computer through a capture card.
• The camera is powered directly from the wall socket so does not require batteries and will not run out of power during a recording session. However, 4K recording will be limited to 1h due to the recording capacity of the storage card.

Other accessories connected to the camera include a teleprompter and a handle to allow an external microphone to be connected directly to the camera. This allows higher quality sound to be synced in real time to the recorded video footage.

The camera and teleprompter are mounted on a Benro tripod. The tripod is NOT to be moved or altered as it has been setup in conjunction with lighting and lens settings that are optimised for the Microstudio. The only tripod function that can be changed is the tilt, which can be adjusted to suit the height of different talents.

An external microphone is used in the Microstudio for producing high-quality audio. The microphone used is an Audio Technica AT4053, which has been specifically selected to suit the size and shape of the Microstudio.

The AT4035 is a hypercardioid condenser microphone, which means that it is directional. The microphone is boomed from the ceiling of the Microstudio and points directly at the talents. A windshield is fitted on the capsule to protect the microphone and act as a pop filter to attenuate plosives. The microphone is also mounted on a shockmount to absorb any building vibration coming through the structure from which it is hanging.

Because of its hypercardioid pattern, the microphone is highly directional,  making it great choice for isolating one speaker. However, if two speakers are standing close enough to each other the microphone will pick up both speakers. Something to consider when having one microphone for two people is that it makes it more difficult to isolate and edit individual dialogue (both speakers are recorded on a single channel) in post-production.

Other flexible microphone arrangements (e.g., lavalier microphones) can be used should the hypercardioid microphone produce unsatisfactory results. The position of the talents is very important during recording, as standing too close, or too far or off-centre from the microphone can produce unexpected results (e.g., echoey if too far, clipped if too close, or muffled if off centre).

A teleprompter is attached to the camera to allow talents to read text while still looking into the lens. The teleprompter used in the ABP Microstudio is the Ikan PT-ELITE V2. The teleprompter itself consists of a baseplate assembly, a reflector glass assembly and a hood. The device projecting the text to be read is an iPad standing on a holder. The iPad is linked to a remote control that can control slides on a proprietary app on the iPad. For instruction on how to prepare files for the teleprompter, click here.

There are several sets of light in the Microstudio, each used for a different purpose:

• Standard cool LED light tubes
• Daylight fluorescent recording lights (for video recording)
• Adjustable key light (for screencast recording, will be discussed further in another page)

The standard lights are very similar to the light that can be found in office spaces for general illumination.  These should be turned OFF during video recording. The lights used for recording have been calibrated and positioned specifically for the space and the camera and should be the only that are ON during video recording.

There are three sets of recording lights:

Key light
Key lights illuminate the front of the talent and are mounted on top of the camera, directed at the subject. Two lights are commonly used to provide the key lighting.

Back light
The back light illuminates the rear of the talent, helping to create visual separation from the background. It is typically positioned above and behind the talent, aimed at their shoulders and head. This single light source enhances depth and prevents the subject from blending into the background.

Background light
Background lights are used to evenly illuminate the background, whether green or white. Uniform lighting not only improves the overall visual quality but is also essential for effective keying of the green screen. Typically, three lights are used to achieve consistent coverage across the background.

All 3 sets of light need to be switched on for video recording.

There are two types of background that can be used for video recording - white and green background. The difference between the two are discussed here.

The back wall is painted chroma green and the white background is created by pulling down the white fabric screen using the chain on the left of the screen. The screen needs to sit very close to the wall because of the lighting calibration so please be careful when operating the screen as any abrupt movement can scratch the green paint from the wall.

Make sure when using the white screen that the bottom of the screen does not touch the floor to prevent any rippling in the fabric (which can also cause permanent creasing). Additionally, when rolling up the screen, make sure the fabric does not get creased, which can happen if the screen is rolled up too fast.

While green screens are far more versatile than white screens, they do require post-production. White screens are less versatile but footage can be used immediately with minimal or no editing.

However, live green screen chroma key is possible and can be done using OBS studio. For more information, please visit this page.

Unlike some other forms of recording that tend to be to be quite spontaneous (e.g., podcast conversations) it is important that you know in advance exactly what you will talk about in the videos. It is therefore important that the dialogue is scripted carefully to make sure that the content is communicated in the time frame intended.

Writing a script does not necessarily mean writing what you intend to say word for word. Soft scripting is also an option if you would prefer to be prompted rather than read text word for word. The script should still contain enough information to ensure you cover all the intended content, and be rehearsed multiple times to get the flow of ideas and the timing right.

Even though a script is written, make sure that you write it in a the same voice as you would if you were speaking, i.e., err on the casual/informal side.

Moreover, ensure you break down the video into different segments so that you can pause and continue the filming without too much disruption to the flow of the video if you need a break. If the final video will also contain images or other videos (so you won't appear continually from start to end), consider filming the video as separate files, so that if you need to reshoot, you don't need to do it from the start.

After you finish writing your script, read through the text at roughly the same pace you would for the video and time yourself. Remember not to make the videos too long, as even videos with high-impact graphics can become overwhelming. If the dialogue is over 20 minutes long, consider splitting the video.

Learning Environments have put together a collection of resources to assist academics with producing their own media content.

For instructions about booking the microstudio, please follow the link here:

How can I book the ABP Microstudio?

When booking the microstudio, be sure to allocate time not only for filming but also for setup, wrap-up, reviewing instructions, and multiple takes. For instance, if you expect your final footage to be around 20 minutes, you may need up to 2 hours of studio time. It’s always better to overestimate the time required. While you can return for additional sessions if needed, keep in mind that your appearance and tone of voice can vary noticeably from day to day, beyond just changes in clothing.

If your booking begins immediately after another, please wait for the previous person to leave the studio before entering to avoid interrupting their recording. Likewise, if there is a booking scheduled right after yours, finish all your recording at least 10 minutes before your session ends to allow a buffer in case the next person is unaware the studio is still in use and arrives early.

Use the sign outside the Microstudio to let others know there is an active recording session in progress.

The teleprompter uses an iPad and an app called Teleprompter Premium. The app can generate a rolling text from a Word file. If you want to use the teleprompter, the only preparation you need is to write your script on a Word document. Make sure you to break down the sections into manageable parts, but don't worry about formatting (e.g., text size) as this can be done in the app itself.

When you finish writing your script, email it to yourself so you can access to it on the iPad.

Sometimes, formatting in MS Word may not carry over perfectly to the iPad. This isn’t usually a problem, as you can make additional formatting adjustments directly within the teleprompting app.

The ABP Microstudio is designed primarily for recording one person, or at most two people standing. The camera’s field of view captures the head and torso of the talent, with some space above the head for proper framing. A single boom microphone records audio from one or two speakers onto a single audio channel.

If your video has specific requirements, such as a filmed conversation between two people where the dialogue needs to be recorded on separate channels for precise post-production editing, please contact the BEL+T team. We can make minor adjustments to the equipment setup on a case-by-case basis.