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Computer labs

CLE B023 – Podcast and Video Production Studio

Lab details

Media studio

Room type
Media studio
System type
Mac OS
Capacity
4
Availability

The CLE Podcast-Video Production Studio room is a private bookable space with podcasting and video recording equipment. The room is located in the Clearihue basement and is mostly soundproof.

Room capacity: The room has space for up to 4 people working collaboratively.

Location

Accessibility information

This room is located on the basement level with elevator access from the CLE B-Wing. The elevator gives you access to the B wing through the fire door.

What's in this room

CLE B023 has:

  • Mac mini
  • RØDECaster Pro integrated podcast studio
    • integrated mixer, audio interface, mic pre-amps, and headphone amps
  • 4 studio mics
  • 4 studio headphones
  • 6 chairs
  • stereo monitor speakers
  • partial soundproofing
  • 27" iMac
  • 16" Wacom Cintiq creative display
  • Blue Yeti microphone
  • Sony a6400 mirrorless camera (connected with a Cam Link 4K)
  • Teleprompter
  • 3 LED video lights

Software

Podcast systems include:

  • Audacity audio editor
  • Apple GarageBand simplified digital audio workstation (DAW)
  • RØDECaster Pro Companion App
    • transfer recordings from the RØDECaster Pro to the computer
  • Zoom video meeting
  • Microsoft Teams video meeting
  • OBS Studio livestreaming

Video systems include:

  • Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Premiere Rush, Premiere Pro, Audition, Illustrator, After Effects, and others
  • Apple free creativity apps: Garageband, iMovie, Freeform
  • Apple Pro apps: Logic Pro, Mainstage, Final Cut Pro, Motion
  • Other software
    • Video meetings: Zoom, Microsoft Teams
    • Video recording & editing: Camtasia, DaVinci Resolve, Echo360
    • Livestream & broadcasting: OBS, NDI Utilities
    • Sound: Audacity
Graphics & illustration: Krita, Storyboarder, Blender, GIMP

Booking

Current UVic students, instructors, and staff members may book this space:

Book now

 Booking guidelines

This is a shared service available to all UVic students. To provide fair opportunities to all, everyone is expected to follow the same guidelines:

  • Food and beverages are not permitted except for drinks in sealed containers
  • We require a 24 hour notice if you cannot make your scheduled .
  • You’re responsible for remembering your belongings
  • Bring your own SD card (for podcasting) or USB (for video production)
  • You have a daily booking limit of 2 hours
  • Be prepared to leave the room as soon as your booking is over
  • Bookings will be held for 15 minutes after the scheduled start time
  • If you move furniture or equipment, put items back to their original location before the end of your booking

If you violate these guidelines, your bookings may be cancelled, and future booking privileges may be revoked.

Video users guide

Before you start

  • Save your data: Data saved on the Mac mini is automatically deleted. Always back up your work. You can use OneDrive or UVic network drives. 
  • If you want to use Adobe Creative Cloud software, you need a UVic Adobe ID. You can sign up at UVic Online servicesfor free.

Device settings

Set the computer (or whatever app you're using) to use:

  • Camera: 'Cam Link 4K'
  • Microphone or sound input or recording device: 'Blue Yeti'
  • Speaker or sound output or playback device:
    • 'Blue Yeti' (to use the 3.5mm stereo headphones) or
    • 'Built-in speakers'

You can connect your own USB headset and select it if you prefer.

Mic

  • The side of the mic with the Blue logo, mute button, and headphone volume dial should be facing you. If it's not, rotate the mic towards you.
  • For the best sound, the mic should be around 15 to 30 cm (6-12 in) from your mouth. It'll still work from further away.
  • The light in the mute button shows the status of the mic:
    • blinking red: muted
    • solid red: not muted
    • off: mic isn't connected
  • Typically, the pattern dial should be set to the heart-shaped symbol. The gain dial should be around the middle of its range. Since the mic is hanging upside down, the mark on the dial should be pointing down.
    Yeti mic, upside down. The front has a headphone volume dial on top and a mute button below it. The back has a pattern dial on top and a mic gain volume below it.

Displays

The iMac uses 3 displays: the built-in 5K display, the Wacom pen display, and the teleprompter display. Depending on how you want to use them, you may need to change the display settings. To open display settings:

  1. Go to the Control Center menu ().
  2. Select  Screen Mirroring.
  3. Select Display Settings...

The Displays tab in System Settings will open. 

Troubleshooting

Camera

  • Make sure power to the lights and camera are on. The switch is on the right-hand side of the desk.
  • Look for the Cam Link 4K on the desk. It looks like a large USB thumb drive with a status light on the side. It's connected to a USB extension cable on one end and an HDMI cable on the other. If the light is off, disconnect it from the USB extension cable, wait 5 seconds, and reconnect it.

Podcasting users guide

Before you start

  • You can record to a microSD card with the RØDECaster Pro or record directly to a computer.
    • Protect your privacy: Recordings you save on a microSD card aren't deleted automatically and aren't encrypted. If you don't delete it before you go, other students will be able to access it.
    • Bring your own microSD card (under $20 at the UVic Bookstore), export your recording to the computer and save it to your OneDrive or network home, or record directly to the computer over USB.
  • Save your data: Data saved on the Mac mini is automatically deleted. Always back up your work.
  • If you want to use Adobe Creative Cloud software, you need a UVic Adobe ID. You can sign up at UVic Online services for free. Or you can use Audacity or Garageband any time.

RØDECaster Pro interface

The RØDECaster Pro is an all-in-one mixer and digital audio interface with built-in effects, mic pre-amps, and headphone and speaker outputs. Some of the most important controls:

 RODCaster Pro controls

The RØDECaster Pro User Guide is extremely useful. It has step-by-step guides to many common tasks and answers many common questions. Some particularly useful sections are:

How-to guides

Set up every mic channel you’re using. Mute or turn the slider all the way down for the others. Using the touchscreen on the RØDECaster Pro:

  1. Push the mic channel button (​, ​, ​ or ​) you want to set up.
  2. On the touchscreen, tap Level.
  3. Talk into the mic at a natural volume and watch where the level meter peaks. Tap ​ or ​ to adjust the level until it peaks between the green lines. (If you have a soft voice, you might need to turn it up to 45 or 50.)
  4. Tap Back (​).
  5. Tap Audio processing.
  6. Make sure Compressor, De-esser, and High-pass filter are on (unless you want to mix everything yourself in a DAW later).
  7. If you want to remove the room background noise with software later, turn off Noise gate. (We recommend you do. It’s the only way to remove the hissing sound from the ventilation system.)
  8. Aural Exciter and Big Bottom are a bit more like special effects. They’re designed to get the kind of a big broadcast voice some radio stations use. Turn them on or off according to your preference.
  9. Set the volume slider ('fader') to the 5th line from the top (the thick line).

For a more detailed guide, see setting up microphone channels in the RØDECaster Pro User Guide.

Speak into the narrow end of the mics about 5–15 cm away from your mouth. You can place it a little to the side and angle it towards your mouth if your breath is causing ‘pop’ sounds.

Someone speaking into the end of a mic with the distance between their mouth and mic labelled 5-15cm

On the Mac mini:

  1. Open the app RODECaster Pro.
  2. Go to the Podcasts tab.
  3. Turn the Podcast Transfer Mode toggle on.
  4. You'll be asked if you would like to switch to podcast transfer mode. Select OK.
  5. Wait for it to switch modes and display the list of saved podcasts in the RODECaster Pro app. (It usually takes less than 10 seconds, but it could be longer if there are lots of podcasts saved.)
  6. Select the podcast you want to export from the list. A pop-up with some options will appear to the right of it. If you're going to publish your podcast on the Internet, select the platform you're going to use from the drop-down list.
  7. Select Export.
  8. Select a folder to export your podcast to and select OK.
  9. When it's done, turn the Podcast Transfer Mode toggle off.

Visit Exporting podcasts in the RØDECaster Pro user's guide if you want to learn more.

To remove background noise in real time, use:

  • macOS’s Voice Isolation mic mode in apps that support it, like FaceTime and QuickTime Pro
  • Zoom or Teams’ built-in noise reduction
    • recommended settings: Auto
  • the Noise Suppression audio filter in OBS
    • recommended settings: RNNoise (good quality, more CPU usage)

To remove background noise from recorded audio, you can use:

Using the touchscreen on the RØDECaster Pro:

  1. Go to ​ Settings > Advanced > MicroSD Card
  2. Swipe the Format slider to the right.
  3. Tap Yes to confirm.

This will delete all recordings in the microSD card.

  • If things aren’t working like you expect, someone might have changed some settings. Try resetting the RØDECaster Pro. (Go to ​ Settings > Advanced > Information, slide the Factory reset toggle to the right and tap Yes.)

You can record directly to your own computer with USB (requires a USB-A port). You may need to install ASIO drivers on Windows devices. We only provide basic instructions and best-effort support if you use your own computer.

Find the USB cable connecting the RØDECaster Pro to the Mac mini, disconnect it, and connect it to your device. Look for RØDECaster Pro Stereo on your system or software’s list of audio devices.

Using the touchscreen on the RØDECaster Pro: 

  1. Go to ​ Settings > Advanced > Audio > Multitrack.
  2. Turn on microSD card, USB, or both, depending on how you want to record.
  3. Turn on Bypass Audio Processing.
  4. Turn off Post Fader.

These settings will get you a unprocessed multitrack recording you can mix and edit in a DAW. After you turn on USB multitracking, a new sound device called RØDECaster Pro Multitrack will be available for recording on the Mac mini. Use the multitrack device instead of RØDECaster Pro Stereo.

Get help now

If you’re having problems with the lab equipment or software, please see a staff member in CLE B009.

You can also contact Media Services for help with the services in this studio.