Production blog
Full of videos and helpful tips.
What is Rundown Studio? Everything you need to know...
We've been hard at work for months now building a super intuitive production run-of-show tool that I think you will love: Rundown Studio!
Streaming sources on the ATEM Television Studio HD8 ISO
You can stream directly to the ATEM Television Studio HD8 ISO either via the local network or from anywhere in the world.
ATEM Television Studio HD8 and HD8 ISO - Overview, features and thoughts
In this packed video, we dig through the features of the Blackmagic Design ATEM Television Studio HD8 and HD8 ISO.
ATEM Television Studio HD8 and HD8 ISO // In the loop
Let's get you up to speed on all the details of the new ATEM Television Studio HD8 and HD8 ISO from Blackmagic Design.
Stream Deck + and Bitfocus Companion
In this video, we'll take a look through using the Elgato Stream Deck + and the rotary dials with Companion. We specifically look at how well it all works with an ATEM Switcher.
Introducing Dashmaster 2k - Show multiple tools on one screen
Here's your introduction to what Dashmaster 2k is for, and how you might use it to show multiple live streams, clocks, and other tools all on one browser window.
Touch screen multiview for Blackmagic ATEM switchers!
Let's have a look at how to use the touch screen multi-view on an iPad with MixEffect.
PTZ cameras with an ATEM Switcher - BirdDog P120 overview
Using PTZ cameras in the Blackmagic ATEM world is - mostly - easy enough. Let's go through the steps involved by using some BirdDog P120s.
Control HDMI Blackmagic cameras from an ATEM SDI switcher
Getting control of your Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4k or 6k from an SDI ATEM is super useful - but isn't quite plug-and-play.
Working with editors from anywhere using Blackmagic Cloud Pod
Let's look into the Blackmagic Cloud Pod and Cloud Store ecosystem with a walkthrough of how the syncing process allows editors to work together from anywhere in the world.
Diagram and pack for your next gig with H2R Gear
In this video, we go through an introduction to using H2R Gear for wire diagramming, packing and preparing for your video production jobs.
5 things Blackmagic Design should make for us
I've been slowly compiling a list of cool gear that I'd love to see Blackmagic Design make - Multi-converter boxes, Mini ATEM Panels and a PTZ.
Control one ATEM from ANOTHER
With the help of Companion we can use one Blackmagic ATEM to control another.
ATEM SDI Pro ISO - Hands on first look!
The Blackmagic ATEM SDI range is a selection of SDI-based video switchers using the familiar ATEM Mini design.
ATEM SDI - New SDI Switchers from Blackmagic Design
Get the details on the new SDI range of switchers by Blackmagic Design. Explore the ATEM SDI, ATEM SDI Pro ISO and ATEM SDI Extreme ISO!
Counter overlay on the ATEM Constellation HD
The counter overlay feature in Blackmagic Design's ATEM Constellation HD series of switchers is a nice way to run a countdown or countup timer on your output.
How to run a panel show with vMix and vMix Call!
Take a behind the scenes look at how we pulled off our recent NAB panel show. vMix, vMix call, H2R Layouts and H2R Graphics all played a part!
Prompter mode - HyperDeck Shuttle HD
Here's a look at how to use the Teleprompter feature in the HyperDeck Shuttle HD from Blackmagic Design.
HyperDeck Shuttle HD - Desktop recording, playback and prompting
The Blackmagic HyperDeck Shuttle HD is an interesting little playback and recording device that slots next to an ATEM Mini (Extreme).
NEW ATEM Constellation HD switchers
Let's dig into the three new switchers announced at NAB 2022 by Blackmagic Design - 1 M/E, 2 M/E and 4 M/E Constellation HD!
Fresh new look for Stagetimer.io
Here's your breakdown of what's new in Stagetimer.io V2.
Full Studio Tour (April 2022)
After two months of being in my (somewhat) new space, I thought it was time to share an update on whats new, and what's to come.
BirdDog Dyno - NDI performance monitoring
Here's a free tool from BirdDog to anlaysis and get a grasp on how well NDI traffic is performing on your system.
What's new in Companion v2.2
Here's a look at what's new in Companion v2.2
Lovely Key/Fill Graphics for your ATEM
Let's explore a few different ways to generate Key/Fill graphics for your ATEM (or other production switcher).
What's new in vMix 25
Here's a look at what's new in vMix 25. Including LiveLan, Inputting your output, NDI 5 and more.
Running stingers on your ATEM switcher - Full H2R Stingers tutorial
In this tutorial, I walk you through using just your ATEM to run a custom stinger built in H2R Stingers!
Blackmagic Studio Converter - 1 cable workflow!
When paired with the Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Pro, this new Studio Converter unlocks the ability to run power, tally, control and two-way video with one cable.
HyperDeck video playback troubleshooting steps
Undoubtably you have had playback issues at some point when you load a rendered video onto a SD/SSD and load it into a Blackmagic Design HyperDeck.
Draw on your ATEM live stream with LiveApp Pro
Here's a really nice way to use your iPad and Apple Pencil to intuitively draw on top of your live video - Perfect for annotations and sketching.
10 things you can do in H2R Graphics v2!
Here's a run through 10 of the new features in H2R Graphics v2, that weren't possible in the older version!
Hardware or Software for live video production?
Let's dig into the pros and cons of both Hardware and Software for live video streaming.
Emergency Freelancer Kit for Live Video Production
Let's crack open and explore the extra - just-in-case - kit that I bring to freelancing jobs.
AeroCaster Live System from Roland
We give you the latest info on the AeroCaster system - LIVE iPad app and the VRC-01 Audio interface and control surface.
Mitti 2.0 - What is it and what's new?
Let's get you in the loop on Mitti 2.0, the all new release!
BMD Studio 4K cameras & ATEM Mini - Tally, SDI and Colour
The Blackmagic Studio 4K cameras play very nicely when matched with an ATEM Mini. In this video we explore some ways of using them together.
BMD Studio 4K cameras & ATEM Mini - Tally, SDI and Colour
The Blackmagic Studio 4K cameras play very nicely when matched with an ATEM Mini. In this video we explore some ways of using them together.
Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Plus & Pro - Tour, in-action and thoughts
Join me as I dig into the Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Plus and Pro. I've been playing with both cameras here in the tiny studio, and I have some thoughts to share.
Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Plus & Pro - Tour, in-action and thoughts
Join me as I dig into the Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Plus and Pro. I've been playing with both cameras here in the tiny studio, and I have some thoughts to share.
Add a custom streaming platform to Web Presenter HD and 4K
Let's explore how to add your own streaming platform to the Blackmagic Web Presenter.
Add a custom streaming platform to Blackmagic Web Presenter HD and 4K
Let's explore how to add your own streaming platform to the Blackmagic Web Presenter
Web Presenter 4k and new BMD Studio Cameras!
Let's walk through some of the really nice updates and products from the Blackmagic Design event this week.
Blackmagic Web Presenter HD - A detailed look
Let's take a dive into the features on the Web Presenter HD from Blackmagic Design
All-in-one HDMI video switcher - AVMATRIX HVS0402U
Here's an overview of the HVS0402U video switcher from AVMATRIX
Run Companion on a Raspberry Pi
Here's a quick walk through of getting Companion running on a Raspberry Pi
What does the LOGO button do on the Select Bus - ATEM Mini Extreme
Here's what the logo button does on the ATEM Mini Extreme's Select Bus
Multiview options on ATEM Mini Extreme
What can you do with the multiview on the ATEM Mini Extreme and ISO, let's take a look.
Using SuperSource on the ATEM Mini Extreme
What is SuperSource and how can you use it in your production? Let's find out!
Working with two HDMI outputs on ATEM Mini Extreme
Let's go through a few things you can do with the two HDMI outputs on the ATEM Mini Extreme
Select Bus on ATEM Mini Extreme
What is the Select Bus on the ATEM Mini Extreme and what can it be used for? Let's take a look!
ATEM Mini Extreme - Hands on, tour, features and initial thoughts
In this video we take a full look at the new features packed into the ATEM Mini Extreme
Companion & Official Stream Deck app
Can you use the Official Stream Deck application alongside Companion? You sure can!
YoloBox: The Complete Guide
Let's take a deep dive into the features of the YoloBox, from graphics to live streaming.
International Remote Conference Setup - Bart at Work
How can you stream a conference in a different timezone to an online audience, in this video we explore Bart's solution!
Hollyland Mars 400S Pro - First look
Lets take a look at latency, battery life and other features of the Hollyland Mars 400s Pro
ATEM Streaming Bridge - What can it do?
Let's take a first look at the features of the ATEM Streaming Bridge and how to connect it with another studio
Amsterdam: One Year Later
A lot can change in a year, especially when lots of new gear is released
Matrox Monarch LCS - Quick Overview, features, and thoughts
In this post, we are taking a look through the features of the Matrox Monarch LCS encoder
Which ATEM Mini should YOU buy?
In the market for an ATEM Mini but not sure which one will suit your needs, this video will help!
ATEM 1M/E Advanced Panel - Features, in-action, and more
Join us while we explore the features of the Blackmagic Design ATEM 1M/E Advanced Panel
Streaming from someone's house!
In this video, we explore a few pros and cons of streaming from someones house.
Dual picture-in-picture with two ATEM Minis
Here's a way to get a neat double picture-in-picture effect by using two ATEM Minis together.
UltraStudio Recorder 3G and Monitor 3G - Hands on!
We take a walk through some simple setups for the new UltraStudio Recorder and Monitor from Blackmagic Design.
ATEM Mini Pro ISO - What's new, workflow and walkthrough
In this video, we'll take a look at the ISO recording feature in the ATEM Mini Pro ISO.
Play-outs and graphics with vMix
In this video we explore the use of vMix for play-outs and lower thirds during productions.
12 ways to control your ATEM switcher
Let's explore 12 ways to control an ATEM switcher - from budget-friendly to official panels!
Add graphics to ATEM Mini Pro with H2R Graphics
Adding graphics to your ATEM Mini Pro live stream is super simple with H2R Graphics - Here's how.
Control ATEM Mini with a Stream Deck and Companion
Here's how to control your ATEM Mini or ATEM Mini Pro with a Stream Deck
Adding a custom streaming destination to the ATEM Mini Pro
You can stream to many destinations with the ATEM Mini Pro, here's how to add your own custom destination like Wowza, Brightcove, Vimeo, Facebook, YouTube and more.
ATEM Mini Pro - First look at what's new
Let's take a first look at the ATEM Mini Pro and its new features
ATEM Mini: First look and thoughts
In this video, we take a first look at the ATEM Mini. Blackmagic Design sent us over a pre-production unit, so we couldn’t help make this video all about it.
On Location: Amsterdam + Utrecht
Come with us on back to back gigs in Amsterdam and Utrecht.
Cuebi Wireless Tally - Pros and Cons
The kind folks at Cuebi sent over this tally system for us to take a look it.
Webcaster X2 - One Year Later
It’s about time that we took another look at the Epiphan Webcaster X2, now that we’ve been streaming with it for over a year.
On Location: Two Source Webinar in Copenhagen
This video will walk you through our setup for a two source (1 camera and one laptop) webinar in Copenhagen.
Blackmagic Design ATEM TVS HD vs. Roland V-1HD
In this video, we compare two of our favourite video switchers - The Blackmagic Design ATEM Television Studio HD and the Roland V-1HD.
ATEM Control with Elgato Stream Deck and Companion
Here’s how we use our Stream Deck (in fact, multiple Stream Decks) to control our Blackmagic Design ATEM and HyperDeck Studio Mini.
On Location: Live Streaming Studio Build
We spent two days in the RDS, Dublin, where we built out a live streaming studio for a session of interviews.
On Location: Two day conference in Amsterdam
Go behind the scenes with us at a Two Day Conference in Amsterdam.
Picture-in-picture with Decimator DMON-Quad
In this video, we’ll take you through setting up a custom picture-in-picture source using a Decimator DMON-Quad. Then we’ll take you through the pros and cons of this setup.
AVerMedia Live Gamer Portable 2
In this episode, we take a look at our backup recording option for live video productions.
Roland V-1HD and V-1SDI
For this video, Roland was kind enough to let us borrow the V-1HD and V-1SDI switchers to take a look at!
Town Hall, Kristianstad Sweden
In this first episode of How They Operate, we took a look behind the scenes at all the gear used in the Town Hall building, Kristianstad, Sweden.
Skaarhoj Mini-Fly - Small and powerful ATEM/Video controller
Come with us on a deep look at one of the new 2018 Skaarhoj controllers - The Mini-Fly.
ANDYCINE A6 - Monitor features and thoughts
In this video, Feelworld were kind enough to send us over a neat little on-camera monitor to take a look at. It's packed full of features and has a nice price-tag too.
Control ATEM audio mixer with MIDI controller
In this video, we’ll show you how to control the audio mixer in your ATEM with a MIDI controller.
Strata Pro and Strata Macros - Overview and thoughts
In this episode of Show and Tell, we take a look at Strata Pro and Strata Macros - two iPad apps that you can use to control your ATEM switcher.
Live Stream Break Screen V2
We covered in a previous video how we show schedule information to our audience during a live stream break, and in this video, we take things a step further by pulling information from a Google spreadsheet.
Preparing videos/graphics for HyperDeck Studio Mini
You may have read on a forum or site that you have to record videos through the HyperDeck Studio Mini in order to play them back - and this is simply not true.
Pre-event tips
Here are a handful of tips to follow before you set off for your next event. They are sure to save you time and frustration when out on a job!
TV Studio in a flight case - 2018 edition
We wanted to share an updated version of our old TV Studio in a Flight Case build as it is a huge improvement over the previous one.
Webcaster X2 - Walkthrough and review
Here's our look at the Webcaster X2 from Epiphan Video - It's a hardware encoding allowing you to go live to Facebook or YouTube.
Helpful YouTube channels
We thought it was time to mention some of our favourite YouTube channels for all things video production and tech.
Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Studio Mini
We just picked up a HyperDeck Studio Mini, an excellent rack-mountable SD card recorder, for our live production rig. This video will (hopefully) give you all the details!
ATEM Television Studio HD - Tour and thoughts
Here's our guided tour of the ATEM Television Studio HD - We show your around the device, how to control it via the front panel, and our thoughts on it.
MultiCamZilla part 2 - ATEM control
In this follow-up video, we decided to explore how to use MultiCamZilla to control your cameras and your ATEM at the same time.
Skaarhoj MC Series - Modular ATEM hardware panels
We got our hands on a few of the modules from the Skaarhoj MC Series - a modular control surface for ATEM switchers and other broadcast devices.
MultiCamZilla overview
MultiCamZilla was kind enough to send us over a few review units, and some other bits and pieces that allow you to become a one-person production crew.
Unboxing ATEM Television Studio HD and HyperDeck Studio Mini
Take a peek inside the boxes of the ATEM Television Studio HD and the HyperDeck Studio Mini.
Packing for a conference
In this video, we take you through all the gear that we bring to a conference. We pack (kind of) light, but bring all the important gear we'll need!
Strata View, Strata Lite and TouchOSC for ATEM control on iPad
Here's our look at a few ways to view or control your ATEM on the iPad.
AVMatrix HDMI to SDI Mini Converter (SC1221)
avmatrix-hdmi-to-sdi-mini-converter-sc1221
Benro Aero 2 and Aero 4 - Our new tripods
Here's a peek at the new tripods we are using for video production.
Connect a GoPro to an ATEM switcher via HDMI and SDI
If you've been having trouble connecting a GoPro to your ATEM switcher then the Dr. HDMI should solve your problem!
One-Person team - Top tips
As someone who is almost always working alone for conference and events, I have learned a whole bunch of things to ensure that everything goes smoothly.
Recording a presenters laptop at a conference
There are a whole lot of ways to capture a feed from a presenters laptop. Here are three options that'll give you a recording clean feed during your live production.
VLC and Latte Panda for video playback
If you are looking for an inexpensive way to playback video during your live productions, then a low-power PC like the Latte Panda could be for you.
Lilliput A7S 7" monitor review
Here's our look at the 7" A7S Monitor from Lilliput. It's a neat little external viewer for your production output or your camera.
Catchbox throwable microphone
Throwing around a microphone when it comes to Q&A time at a conference can make for a fun and engaging time.
Fast conference graphics with Apple Motion
He's how we make a template in Apple Motion that can be easily brought into Final Cut Pro X and placed at the start/end of all your conference videos.
Archiving large video projects
Once we have completed a large video production, like a conference or an event, we have lots of footage lying around (often on several different harddrives).
Workflow for editing conference videos
Here's a little peek at our workflow for editing conference videos.
Multiple copies of everything
"If all else fails" is something we live by when it comes to storing media for a project. "If all else fails... I'll still be able to use that other copy".
How much to charge for conference recording
Here are our thoughts on what to charge for conference recording and coverage.
Top tips for recording a conference
We've learned loads about recording a conference, and it's time to share those tips with you!
Q&A from Multi-camera live setup
Here's a follow-up Q&A of our Multi-Camera Live Streaming Setup for Wirecast video.
Budget single camera live streaming setup
This video will take you through an inexpensive way to get rolling with a single camera setup!
Recording conference audio
It's important to get a clean audio recording at any conference or event. Here are our favourite ways to make that happen!
Budget tripods for live video production
Lets take a look through the tripods we use for budget video covereage
HDMI network extender
When you want to extend the reach of your HDMI-based camera, you have a few options, here we take a look at HDMI network extenders.
ATEM Macros - Getting started, XML editing and more
Using Macros on your ATEM switcher can make for a really powerful switching experience. We've used them in the past for activating a break during a live stream and they've worked out great.
What's in our bag - Small conference and meetup
In this video, we wanted to take you through all the things we bring to a small conference or meetup in order to travel light, but still capture all areas.
Top tips for live streaming a conference or event
We’ve learned a whole lot from live streaming and we really wanted to share that information with others so they don’t make the same mistakes as we did.
Cameras we use for conference coverage
It's time to show the camera gear we use, and why we use them!
Full conference recording setup - Live streaming and live editing gear
We love sharing our setup, and at a recent conference, we took the opportunity to shoot some B-Roll of all the gear we use to capture and live stream an event.
Using atemOSC and TouchOSC to control your ATEM switcher
Here's a video we've been wanting to make for a while as it's a workflow that we've been using from day one.
Control an ATEM switcher with a MIDI keyboard
As we save up our pennies for an ATEM hardware panel, we've got our eyes on easy ways to control the ATEM by other means.
Using a MIDI keyboard to control Wirecast
If you are interested in a robust way to control Wirecast with a hardware panel, you are definitely in the right place.
Blackmagic Video Assist - 5" model
Here's our take on the 5" Blackmagic Video Assist, a small but powerful monitor/recording solution.
Live Stream Break with HTML and ATEM Macros
In this episode, we walk you through our solution for taking a break and how we use ATEM Macros, a windows 10 PC and a simple HTML site to make it all work.
RØDELink Filmmaker Kit
We really like these Filmmaker Kits from RØDE, so much so that this is our second pack!
AVerMedia Live Gamer Portable
The AVerMedia Live Gamer Portable is an excellent way to capture a presenters laptop feed during a live demo or presentation.
Blackmagic Design Intensity Shuttle
If you're looking for a capture device to bring in a camera/laptop source into your computer, the Intensity Shuttle might just be for you.
Multi-Camera meetup recording setup - The gear you'll need
Here's a detailed look at what we use to capture meetups and small conferences.
Blackmagic Design SmartView Duo
If you're looking for a rack-mountable dual screen solution, then this is probably your best bet.
Multi-Camera live streaming setup for Wirecast
Put together a multi-camera live streaming setup, powered by Wirecast
BMD Micro Converters - SDI to HDMI & HDMI to SDI
In this episode of Show and Tell, we've included two similar products from Blackmagic Design.
Blackmagic Design UltraStudio Mini Recorder
We really love these UltraStudio Mini Recorders - an easy way to get an SDI or HDMI signal into your computer via Thunderbolt.
Decimator MD-HX overview
In Episode 2 of Show and Tell, we take a deep look at the MD-HX from Decimator Designs
Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Shuttle 2
In this first episode of Show and Tell, we take a look at the HyperDeck Shuttle 2 from Blackmagic Design.
Recording/live streaming rig in a flight case
Build a TV studio in a flight case - Here's all the gear you'll need.
Adding managers to your YouTube account
How to add a manager to a YouTube account