Hi Reader,
Last week we held the Digital Stage Summit with 42 speakers, panelists and commentators delivering 33 hours of incredible content - If you attended, I hope you enjoyed the Summit as I enjoyed producing it!
Honestly, I still have to pinch myself sometimes to believe what is possible with tech that is now so accessible to the masses.
When I started down the path of 'getting better at video' just four years ago, I couldn't have imagined that I'd be here now, having just produced a multi-day event, with speakers and attendees joining from around the world.
I certainly wouldn't have thought that it'd be possible to do all of the live production single handedly from the comfort of my desk here in the North of Thailand!
Of course, I have to add that none of it would have been possible without the support of my team in organising the event and the speakers for the amazing value they brought to the summit.
Let's get into the tech...
In this edition of the Digital Backstage Newsletter I want to focus in on the tech and specifically why a dedicated studio space can be a game-changer, even if you don’t have all the gear!
The picture above is not quite accurate... it actually started at the beginning of 2021 in the back corner of my basement with a green screen, but the phot above is the first taken in my current studio space.
The point is, you don't need to have 'all the gear' to step up onto your Digital Stage and start delivering your value with maximum impact. With all the tech available to us the barrier to entry is now lower than ever before.
During the summit, I had the pleasure of partnering with Ecamm, Elgato, RØDE, and OBSBOT. To be absolutely clear, I am not recommending their products because they are sponsors, but rather I reached out to them to sponsor the event because I have genuinely relied on their products for years!
So let's talk about some of the tools and just how affordable it is these days to get yourself set up.
Audio From RØDE
I always say that audio is the most important thing to get right with online video content as people will tune out far sooner with low quality audio than they will with poor image quality.
I absolutely love my RødeCaster Pro 2 for all of the advanced audio processing and audio routing it can do, however it certainly is a non-essential piece if you are starting out.
Getting a decent microphone that can grow with you is all you need and that's why I love mics with a combined USB/XLR connection like the PodMic USB.
For just $199 you've got a high quality mic with onboard processing that you can plug directly into your computer over USB, but then if in the future you add in an audio interface like the RødeCaster, you can plug it into that via XLR too... A great mic can last a life time and is an excellent investment.
Cameras From OBSBOT
I've been really impressed buy the entire range of cameras from OBSBOT. Image quality is so good with modern cameras that even the entry models produce great results and so when choosing a camera it is the feature set that are driving those price differences.
So, for example, the OBSBOT Meet SE starts at just $79 and is a great choice for a hyper portable camera to use in your setup either as a primary camera instead of a built-in webcam, or as a secondary camera in your setup.
You can then go up through the range, Meet 2, Tiny 2, Tail Air and all the way up to their latest release the OBSBOT Tail 2.
I use all of these in my studio and am currently testing the Tail 2 and will have a video review out on it shortly (Spoiler: It's pretty amazing!)
That said, the Tail 2 is not for everyone, if you don't need all of the connectivity, pan tilt zoom features etc... So, again the increased cost is a reflection of the increased features.
I can certainly recommend the entire OBSBOT lineup... take a look and see which is right for you.
Control From Elgato
When you get into 'live production' and by the way, that does not just mean full on event production, but I'm talking the live production that we can bring ot a regular Zoom meeting, we are potentially juggling multiple apps.
We have our live production software (obviously recommending Ecamm Live for this!), then there is our presentation software such as Keynote or Powerpoint and then our Zoom meeting controls, screen sharing, mouse highlighting and all the things - It's a lot to manage!
Stream Deck to the rescue!
Stream deck becomes your 'mission control' where you have everything at your fingertips (or toe tips?) across all of your apps.
You'll notice in the 'how it started' pic above, that one of the first things I invested in was a Stream Deck XL and it was the best tech purchase I ever made.
The reason being that it is so much more than a production device... it is the ultimate productivity tool and I use it in every aspect of my daily work.
If you took everything away in my studio and I could only be left with one thing, I'd choose the Stream Deck XL!
I have to issue a formal warning now, though... if you buy one Stream Deck, they have a habit of multiplying!
I currently have:
The other item in my studio that I invested in early on was a teleprompter. This really was a game changer for Zoom meetings to be able to have eye contact with those I was speaking to, but also for my content to be able to see my producing as I was recording or streaming.
I've upgraded my propter a couple of times now, but Elgato have a great plug and play option with their Elgato Prompter (~$280)
Affordable Studio Setup
I started out using my 10 year old (at the time) Canon EOS 60D for my videos, but when I was looking to upgrade, everyone was recommending 'mirrorless' cameras like the Sony ZV E10. This is still my primary camera. I also had to buy a lens. (Sigma 30mm)
The camera was around $700 and the lens around $300 so that was $1K JUST FOR THE CAMERA & LENS!
Now though, for the same price you could have:
This is what I mean when I say it is now so accessible... if you are an entrepreneur or business professional, levelling up your video presence with some thoughtful gear purchases will make all the difference and pay dividends!
Live Production With Ecamm Live
Ready to take your online video presence up a notch? You NEED Ecamm. This is the Mac software that I use to create all my videos in one take with no edits saving me HOURS on every video!
It is also the software I use to take my online meetings and presentations to a whole new level.
It was also the backbone of the entire Digital Stage Summit Production!
With a base setup of gear outlined above, it is Ecamm that will do the heavy lifting for you.
Use coupon code 'TAKEONETECH' for 15% OFF your first payment on either the monthly or annual plan.
Even without the discount, the Ecamm Pro account is a fraction over $1 a day! If you can't add more than a dollar of value a day to your business with it, we should talk!
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Incidentally, I offer a FREE Ecamm Live Masterclass that will teach you all you need to know to become an Ecamm Master. With a dedicated Quick Start section, you'll be up and running in no time!
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In Summary
There has never been a better time to level up your video tech and skills and step up onto your Digital Stage!
"Lessons Learnt from Live Production of a Virtual Summit"
If you are interested in learning more about my tech setup, then join my weekly livestream on YouTube in 12 hours, or catch the replay as I'll be going into more detail about the production of the Summit and also taking your questions!
One More Thing...
🎓Doors to the Academy Are Now Open!
Whether you want to level up your online meetings, content, webinars, livestreams, or events — the Academy gives you the tools, training, and support to do it with confidence and clarity and grow your business.
Here's what's waiting for you inside:
🎓 Full access to all Take One Tech courses
📅 Monthly live workshops to stay focused and keep improving
🎥 Weekly VIP office hours for direct support and feedback
🤝 A community of supportive like-minded entrepreneurs
📚A wealth of other educational resources
Membership starts from JUST $27 per Month!
Doors to the Academy will close on FRIDAY so TAKE ACTION NOW!
This is your chance to step into a space built to help you grow your business through video.
I'd love to help you on your journey - let me know if there’s anything I can help you with— just hit reply.
