We’ve been getting quite a few questions already about the equipment that we use to produce This Week in Startups, so by popular demand,here it is:
The Studio:
We shoot live each week from Mahalo Studios – our own studio that we built inside the Mahalo offices
(more details about all of our gear after the jump…)
Video Switcher:
The core of our system is an awesome Newtek Tricaster Studio. This allows us to switch 6 cameras (or other sources), do video playback, insert graphic overlays and stream live to the internet.
The Cameras:
We use various cameras, including Sony FX1’s and Sony XR-500V’s
Lighting:
We use all Kino Flo ParaBeam fixtures. They are all controlled over DMX (connected to the Mac Pro via an Entec USB DMX Pro) using MiniStage Console.
Audio Gear:
Mics: Mostly we use Shure SM93 Lav mics, but occasionally use Sennheiser wireless lavs or other mics as needed
Audio Mixer: Behringer Xenyx 1622
Firewire Interface: M-Audio Firewire 410 (for connection one of the iMac’s for audio/video playback)
Headphones:Sony MDR-V6 Stereo headphones
Computers:
2x – 24″ iMac’s for video playback, research, and various production duties
1x – 17″ iMac for live video streaming (used as a backup/secondary stream to the TriCaster)
1x – Quad Core Mac Pro with a 24″ Dell 2407FPW Monitor – used for editing, administrating streams, running Ustream chat rooms, and general production duties
Misc Studio Gear:
2x – 42″ Westinghouse LCD Monitors for Playback (1 in studio, 1 at control)
1x – 24″ Dell 2407FPW Monitor for feedback and communications (inside studio, is mirrored to one the of the iMac’s)
Internet Uplinks:
12Mbps symmetric Fiber connection (primary feed – dedicated during shows for streaming)
8Mbps symmetric radio connection (secondary feed – used for all other internet traffic)
8/1Mbps DSL line (backup, used as a failover in case either of the other feeds goes down)
Tags: Equipment, Mahalo Studios
That is a really great setup.
How many bodies to run the dials?
Who is the fiber provider?
Hi Jay – glad you like the setup.
Usually we have 2-3 people handling all of the show’s production, including the technical elements.
Can we see any pics of the setup? Or is that a trade secret or something? I don’t know anything about AV studios or productions, but I love to lust over tech setups.
Great shows guys!! Keep up the great work!!
Great setup. It’s too bad you couldn’t come up with an original name for your show.
Very cool. Keep up the great work. This is a great model to follow for an studio we plan to set up in DC.
Perhaps we can do an east coast/west coast quid pro quo in the future?
Extremely cool setup! How do you get those shots from Jason’s laptop? Is that software based or do you have a camera over his shoulder?
Thank you for the explanation. This was clear and important. It distracted me from my application for the Senior Manager, Social Media Marketing opening at fanscape on LinkedIn.
Question:
Do you foresee using the studios 24 hours a day at some point?
What are your thoughts about the expansion of programming in general, and the sources for that programming?
Thanks for sharing Jason.
I think there’s a lot of interest in these kind of setups from a large proportion of the audience. (hey we’re geeks after all).
So many gadgets !
Some pics would be awesome !
Glad to see everyone is so into the studio setup and equipment, I’ll try to respond to some of the questions here:
@everyone – yes, we will be taking some pics and posting those too
@George – Jason uses a Macbook on the show, so we just use a basic Apple Mini-DVI to TV converter connected via S-Video to the TriCaster – simple and very effective.
@John – Doubt we’ll ever use the studio 24/7, but we are looking at adding more shows to our lineup – we’re always open to new ideas and suggestions, feel free to drop a line at “contact (at) thisweekinstartups (dot) com”
If you have any more questions, feel free to post them!
-Alex
You guys should expand upon this as a complete how-to guide!
Great production value and content so far, keep it up.
Again — really great stuff guys. Your chops are showing even with this early format still early in the series.
could you add a section on uk and European startups and what to do living in the uk and starting up a website
You don’t appear to be using Watershed, yet there are no ads over the lower third of the stream. How is it so? Does Ustream charge to remove the ads? Are you streaming directly from the Tricaster? Thanks!
Hi Adam – We do stream directly from the TriCaster, using its built-in FME streaming.
Gotta love the burn rate on your VC money. Vaynerchuk is producing with the same quality and he has about $1000 worth of equipment — at most. Your TriCaster should be returned to your VC’s when you’re done.