Research Guides: Digital Collaboration Studio: Recording Studio 310C

Reserve This Room

The Recording Studio is available for use from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Fridays, and is closed on weekends. A reservation is required to use the space. Make a reservation and then check out the key from the Digital Collaboration Studio Service Desk.

The Recording Studio is for oral history, podcast, or interview recording only, and is not appropriate for music or other performances. This space is designated a Quiet Conversation Area.

Room 310C

Getting Started in the Recording Studio (310C)

The Recording Studio (Room 310C) is outfitted with 4K UHD PTZ controllable camera, the RODECaster Pro II Audio Mixing Interface and four microphones to capture audio and video recordings, such as interviews for podcasts. The studio is not appropriate for recording the playing of musical instruments, as it is not a soundproof environment.

Getting Started in the Recording Studio:

Turn on the workstation and login with your UMKC credentials.
Once the computer is connected and running, it is recommended that you login to your OneDrive and prepare that for saving your files.
Get your physical setup ready!
1. Adjust the mic to be about 5 - 7 inches (about a fist’s length) from your face.
  1. Any more and you will peak the audio, any less and you won’t be heard.
2. Choose a mic and place the accompanying headphones on.
  1. Your producer should be using Mic and Headphones 1 with other users using the other setups.
3. Use the colored knobs on the top right of the RODECaster to ensure that the monitoring level is good for you.
  1. To test, each person should place their headphones on while others speak. Turn the knob until you can comfortably hear the others and yourself.
4. Get comfortable! Good conversation happens when all participants feel comfortable.
Setup the RODECaster Pro II for your recording environment
1. For one person recording:
  1. Press the icon in the upper left corner, the show menu should appear.
  2. Hit Import
  3. Click One Mic Show with the icon of the single PodMic.
  4. Hit the blue Import Show
  5. Click Skip when asked if you would like to export your current show before proceeding.
2. For two+ person recording:
  1. Press the icon in the upper left corner, the show menu should appear.
  2. Hit Import
  3. Click Four Mic Show with the icon of the basketball.
  4. Hit the blue Import Show
  5. Click Skip when asked if you would like to export your current show before proceeding.
3. For one person + bluetooth recording:
  1. Press the icon in the upper left corner, the show menu should appear.
  2. Hit Import
  3. Click Radio Show with the icon of the single PodMic.
  4. Hit the blue Import Show
  5. Click Skip when asked if you would like to export your current show before proceeding.
If needed, setup the camera according to your needs.
1. Open Microsoft Camera on the PC to preview.
2. Using the included Marshall remote, use the Pan and Tilt arrows to move the camera left, right, up and down.
3. Use the Zoom controls to zoom in and out.
4. Ensure that the view you are receiving is the view you would like to use.
5. Please do not use the focus features on the camera. It is set to Auto Focus and should not be used otherwise.
Before recording, you are going to want to make sure that the computer is using the RODECaster as its Mics (input) and Speakers (output).
1. Navigate to the Windows setting, then select Sound under the System tab.
2. For Output, ensure that Speakers - RODECaster Pro II Main Stereo is selected
3. For Input, ensure that Microphone - RODECaster Pro II Main Stereo is selected
4. This will ensure that the mics will be capturing your voice and the speakers or headphones will be the proper monitoring device
Choose your software and follow the steps below to start recording!

Using Audio Software in 310C

Open Microsoft Sound Recorder on the PC.
Click the Microphone icon in the bottom left and ensure that it has selected the RODECaster Pro II Main Stereo as the input device.
1. If you checked the main windows settings, it should already be set with the right mic.
It is recommended to change the file format that Sound Recorder is using to record.
1. To do that, navigate to the Sound Recorder Settings by clicking the three dots on the top right and clicking Settings.
2. In Settings under Recording Format, change the format to what best works for you. We personally recommend either .mp3 or .wav as they are easiest for post-production if needed.
Once you have your desired settings, go ahead and hit record and get started!
Sound Recorder automatically saves the files in the computer’s Documents folder. It is recommended that patrons move the files before leaving the Recording Studio.

Open Audacity on the PC.
1. Dismiss any popups, including the Cloud Storage and update window.
To ensure that you don’t run into any disk space issues, you will start out by Saving the Project to your OneDrive
1. Click File -> Save Project -> Save Project As and save the project to your OneDrive folder of your choice with a name of your choice.
You need to ensure that Audacity is using the proper input and output.
1. In the upper toolbar, click Audio Setup and ensure the Host is set to MME
2. Make sure that the Playback Device is set to Speakers (RODECaster Pro II Main)
3. Make sure that the Recording Device is set to Microphone (RODECaster Pro II Main)
Once those settings are set, press record and record!
To finish, you need to save both your Audacity project (for future recordings and post-production on that file in Audacity) and an audio file (to listen to)
1. To save the project, go to File -> Save Project -> Save Project (or hit ctrl + s)
2. To export an audio file,
  1. go to File -> Export Audio
  2. Click either to Share to Audio.com (which is not recommended and not supported) or to Export to Computer (which is!)
  3. On the next dialog, give your file a name, change the save location to your OneDrive using the Browse button, and choose a file format.
  4. Click export and Audacity will create an audio file in the location you have picked.

Note: Advanced features of Adobe Audition are not supported by DCS staff. This guide is created to assist you in getting started. Additional help is available online.

Open Adobe Audition on the PC.
Login to Adobe using your UMKC/UMSystem ID
Click the Record button on the middle most toolbar.
Fill out the Dialog with the required setting you would like to use
Click Record to finish recording.
To Finish you will need to save your recording as an Audio File,
1. Go to File and click Save As
2. On the next dialog, give your file a name, change the save location to your OneDrive using the Browse button, and choose a file format.
3. Then click Ok to save the file.

Using Audio/Visual Software in 310C

Open Microsoft Camera on the PC.
Make sure the Record Icon has a Camcorder Icon to create video recordings.
Hit Record!
Microsoft Camera Files automatically saves the files in the computer’s Pictures -> Camera Roll folder. It is recommended that patrons move the files before leaving the Recording Studio.

Open Zoom on the PC
Login using your UMKC/UMSystem ID
Either start a new meeting or join a preexisting meeting.
If you receive the Pre-meeting preview, use that space to ensure that your settings are correct.
2. Ensure the microphone is set to Microphone (RODECaster Pro II Main Stereo) and the speaker is set to Speakers (RODECaster Pro II Main Stereo)
3. Then ensure that the camera is set to USB Video.
If you do not get the premeeting preview, use the carrot icons above the Audio and Video icons to ensure the Audio and Camera settings are the same as stated above.
To record, go to More and click Record
You can choose to record to the Zoom Cloud or the Computer.
Record!
Zoom automatically saves files to the computer's Documents folder (if using the Record to Computer option). We recommend patrons move their files before leaving the Recording Studio.

Open Panopto on the PC.
Login to Panopto using your UMKC/UMSystem ID
Use the Primary Sources Tab to ensure that the Audio and Video Settings are correct.
1. Ensure the microphone is set to Microphone (RODECaster Pro II Main Stereo) and the speaker is set to Speakers (RODECaster Pro II Main Stereo)
While we will eventually use Panopto Cloud, we also recommend patrons change the Recording Directory to ensure that files are being saved to the patron’s one Drive.
1. To change recording directory go to Settings
2. Under System Settings use the Browse button to navigate to your desired OneDrive location and change the directory recordings save to.
  2. You can choose to have recordings deleted once they are uploaded or not.
Navigate back to the Create New Recording tab
Click the Record button and record!
When you are finished recording, press stop.
Give your recording a name in the popup dialog.
To ensure that it has uploaded to the Panopto Cloud, navigate to the Manage Recordings tab.
1. If it is showing under the uploaded recordings sections, you are all good!
2. If it is showing up under offline Recordings, you will need to click Upload to Server to ensure that it saves to the Panopto Cloud.

Open OBS Studio on the PC.
Close the initial pop-up dialog (Normally about updating the software)
On the next dialog, follow the instructions of the Auto Configuration Wizard to setup OBS for Recording Only. Use the default settings. Click Apply Settings at the end.
To add the camera view and mic input
1. In the Sources menu, click the plus sign or right click in the box to add one.
2. On the menu of sources, Click Video Capture Device.
3. Select Create New and click OK. Keep Make source visible checked
4. In the Properties dialog box, ensure that the device is set to USB Video
5. Scroll down and check Use custom audio device under Audio Output Mode
6. Ensure that the Audio Device is set to Microphone (RODECaster Pro II Main Stereo)
  2. We recommend that you keep all other settings at the defaults.
7. Click OK when you are finished.
Your OBS should show the Video in the Preview above.
We recommend that patrons change both the save location and file type before starting recording. To do so:
1. Go to File -> Settings
2. Go to the Output Tab and scroll down to the Recording Section
3. Use the Browse button next to recording path to change the save location of the recording files to a desired OneDrive location.
4. Click Recording Format to change the file type that your recordings will be saved as.
  2. We recommend using MPEG-4. QuickTime, and their Fragmented Versions.
In the Controls section, click Start Recording to record!
When you are finished recording, click stop recording and it will automatically save to the path designated above.

Finishing Up in the Recording Studio

You are done! Before you go:

Make sure you have your files saved on OneDrive, Google Drive, a USB drive, or another storage device.
- Files are frequently wiped from the Rec Studio Computer, and thus should not be used as consistent storage, even if you plan on using the Studio multiple times.
Close all applications and log out of the computer.
Push in chairs, turn in your key and head out!
- Staff will handle anything else.

Advanced Resources

RODECaster Pro II: How to Record in Multitrack
RODE official guide on using the Multitrack feature of the RODECaster Pro II.

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NOTE: If you are using Multitrack recording in Audacity, you will need to use the Windows WASAPI Audio Host to ensure that the multitrack records how you intend.

Digital Collaboration Studio