One Button Studios: The easy way to create video content

What is a One Button Studio?

A One Button Studio is a simplified video recording setup designed to be incredibly user-friendly. As the name suggests, it operates with just one button, making it accessible to educators and students alike, even those without any previous video production experience. The person walks in, presses one button, records their video, and walks out with the recording in hand.

A studio typically includes professional-grade equipment such as cameras, microphones, lighting, and a computer or hardware encoder, all seamlessly integrated into a single, user-friendly interface. The setup also makes collecting the recording simple, whether through automatic file upload to the cloud or a download to a USB drive.

The benefits of One Button Studios extend far beyond mere convenience. The seamless, user-friendly experience puts creative control directly into the hands of educators and students. And because anyone can just go in, press a button, and record content, this saves IT or support staff loads of time.

How One Button Studios are used

One Button Studios have found their way into educational institutions worldwide, enhancing the learning experience in numerous ways:

Flipped classroom and online learning

Faculty and staff use One Button Studios to pre-record lessons for the flipped classroom approach or create entire online courses.

Student presentations

One Button Studios empower students to create high-quality video presentations easily. They can practice class presentations and record speeches, lectures, interviews, or project demonstrations without worrying about the technical intricacies of video production.

Digital storytelling

One Button Studios enable students to explore their creativity by producing videos for storytelling, filmmaking, or documenting school events. This hands-on experience fosters digital literacy and media skills.

How to set up a One Button Studio

Setting up a One Button Studio might seem daunting, but it’s more accessible than you think. Here’s a simplified guide to get you started:

Step 1: Choose a location

It’s best if the studio is located in a quiet space with enough room for your studio equipment and any props or decor you may need for your recordings.

Step 2: Source equipment

You’ll need:

• High-definition camera (with an HDMI or SDI out)
• Professional microphone (shotgun or lavalier)
• A green screen
• Studio lighting
• Epiphan Pearl Mini video production system

Optional: Consider equipping your studio with a busylight to let others know when the studio is in use.

Step 3: Install and configure

Set up the studio equipment (read our “5 steps to creating the ultimate lecture recording studio” article to learn how).

To set up the One-Button part, connect your camera and audio to the Pearl Mini. From there, configure Single Touch recording on the device. You can also configure whether the video gets uploaded to the cloud or downloaded to a flash drive. When the configuration is complete, your users will be able to start and stop the recording by pressing a single button on the Pearl Mini’s touch screen.

Step 4: Create a user guide

To ensure smooth operation, create a user guide for your One Button Studio with simple steps to follow. Include instructions on how to power the equipment, start recording, and access recorded files.

Step 5: Test test test

Bring in students and teachers and test out the setup on them. Take note of friction points and eliminate them. Make sure your setup is easy for everyone to use and produces consistent, high-quality results.