Studio

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I have created a studio in my lab for the purpose of making videos about electronics and such which I publish on my YouTube channels @InTheLabWithJayJay and @ElliotsExtras. Below are some details about my spaces and equipment.

Equipment

I have heaps of equipment in my lab/studio, but on this page are some notes about the equipment I have specifically for video recording and editing.

My records for studio equipment are kept up-to-date here: https://jj5.net/60370

Spaces

In my lab/studio I have myriad workspaces.

I have my "work station" which is where I have my triple 4K monitors and do most of my computer work (programming, etc). This space is host to my primary workstation 'charisma' and my MacBook Pro 'hawk'.

I have my "admin station" which has a keyboard and mouse and a few KVMs for connecting directly to a number of my servers for network administration purposes. That main servers at the admin station are 'compassion', 'lore', and 'discernment'.

I have my "bench" which has most of my electronics tools and is where I do most of my electronics projects and make most of my videos. I do most of my recording on the bench. The bench cameras are connected to 'verve' for recording.

I have my "booth" which has my component drawers and an auxiliary workspace for doing projects. The booth has cameras set up and connected to 'trail' so I can make videos from my booth in addition to the bench. The reason this bench is called the "booth" is that I use it as my "photo booth" when I need to take pictures of things I'm selling on eBay. The name just kinda stuck, and it's handy to differentiate this workspace from my main "bench".

Video inputs

These are the main video sources I have available when making videos.

Most video inputs are either USB or HDMI. If they're HDMI they get run through a converter to USB before being run into a computer (either 'charisma', 'verve', or 'trail'). The computer records the USB video input using OBS Studio.

I can also record video on a lot of my laptops and smart phones, but I don't list those potential video sources here.

Inputs connected to 'charisma'

These inputs are connected to 'charisma' for recording purposes:

  • Welcome/Farewell Cam (Logitech C922), for doing video introductions and conclusions.
  • Face Cam (Logitech C922), for showing my face when I'm recording myself while also recording the computer screen.
  • 'charisma' desktop (KDE Plasma on Debian 12), for showing software running on my main Debian workstation. I have a VM 'proviso' which I usually use for my electronics projects. I can also connect to other computers in my lab/studio using RDP and/or VNC.

Inputs connected to 'verve'

These inputs are connected to 'verve' for recording purposes:

  • Bench Cam (Logitech Brio), for doing detailed work on the bench; this camera is recorded at 4K.
  • Wide Cam (Logitech C922), for showing the wide view of me at the bench.
  • Lab Cam (Logitech C922), for showing pretty much the whole room.
  • Room Cam (NBD Camera), for looking back into the room.
  • EpocCam ('borr' with Elgato EpocCam), for showing specific things on the bench, especially my bench meters, power supplies, and signal generator.
  • UNI-T UTi260B (thermal imager), for thermal analysis, that is, seeing what's getting hot. The UTi260B is installed on the bench, I also have a hand-held NOYAFA NF-521.
  • Rigol MSO5074 (oscilloscope), for both analog and digital signal analysis.
  • Yizhan Microscope (microscope), for up close shots of things on the bench.
  • TOMLOV DM602 Pro (microscope), for even closer upper shots of such things.
  • Xbox to HDMI (Xbox to HDMI), for converting OG Xbox output to HDMI.
  • AV RCA to HDMI (AV/RCA to HDMI), for converting AV/RCA output to HDMI.
  • 'verve' desktop (Windows 11), for showing software running on Windows 11.

Inputs connected to 'trail'

These inputs are connected to 'trail' for recording purposes:

  • Booth Cam (NBD Camera), for auxiliary projects, particularly my 300in1 and related.
  • Book Cam (Logitech Brio), for recording written work (such as books), or for other miscellaneous purposes.
  • Math Cam (Coming Soon!)
  • 'trail' desktop (Windows 11), for showing software running on Windows 11.

Computers

I mainly record videos on 'verve' and edit them on 'charisma'. I can also record videos on 'charisma' and 'trail'. When I have the money I will replace 'verve' with something like 'vision' or 'victory' (I am still just dreaming about that).

When I started the YouTube channel in June 2023 I only had 'wonder' for recording videos. The thing about 'wonder' is that it's seriously anorexic and basically just kinda not very good. I couldn't record good 4K videos on 'wonder' because it just didn't have enough grunt, and as it only has support for 6 USB inputs the number of cameras I could switch between was seriously limited.

In December of 2023 I got 'verve' mostly to replace 'wonder', and it is indeed much better and I can now record videos in 4K. The new computer 'verve' has 25 USB ports on its back panel, which is much better than the 6 which were available on 'wonder'. If you're interested you can see how everything is connected over here: USB cabling for ‘verve’.

I still keep 'wonder' around though and it is set up with some software I can use on the bench.

Screens

I have three main screens bolted to the wall behind my bench:

I can connect the UPERFECT to either 'verve', 'trail', 'insight', or 'wonder'. I have a HDMI KVM to control which. After I upgrade this KVM from a 4-port KVM to an 8-port KVM I will be able to attach to 'surprise' as well.

I can connect the Teac to either 'verve' (via VGA input) or 'insight' (via HDMI input). The Teac has the roof aerial attached and gets good television reception, although television isn't really my bag.

The Leadstar is connected to the output of my HDMI to USB converter, so that when I'm converting HDMI signals to USB for recording purposes I can also see them on this screen.

Cameras

These are the USB cameras that I own:

Software

I use OBS Studio on 'charisma' (Debian 12 with KDE Plasma), 'verve' (Windows 11 Pro), and 'trail' (Windows 11 Pro) to record videos, and Kdenlive on 'charisma' to edit them. I keep the video files on 'charisma' and upload them to my YouTube channels @InTheLabWithJayJay and @ElliotsExtras. I would rather have a Vimeo channel, but it's too expensive for me and the biggest audience seems to be on YouTube.

I use Logi Tune for tweaking settings on some of the cameras on my Windows boxes.

Converters

These are the various signal converters that I own:

Switches

These are the various switches that I own:

I use my GKRONG 8K 5-In 1-Out HDMI Switch to select between the following equipment for recording:

I use my HDmatters 4K HDMI USB 2.0 4-Port HDMI KVM to select between the following computers:

My other 4-port KVM RV77 4K HDMI USB 2.0 4-Port HDMI KVM is not currently in use. I am planning to replace my HDmatters 4K HDMI USB 2.0 4-Port HDMI KVM with an 8-port KVM when I have the money, then I will be able to switch to 'surprise' and the booth too.

Hubs

These are the various USB hubs that I own:

Adapters

These are a few adapters of note (I have others!):

Mounts

These are some of the mounts I purchased (not all are presently in use):

Microphones

I have this microphone, but I don't use it:

  • Yum Cha BM800 Condenser Microphone (This microphone looks fancy, but it's kinda shit. I mostly just use the microphones in my Logitech Brios). I am saving my pennies for the RØDE Wireless GO II.
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