Bryan Center Studios (BCS Studio 3) - Self Service Video Production User Guide

BCS Studio 3 - “The Interview Studio” Self-Service User Guide

BCS Studio 3 is provided for the purpose of recording for Duke related projects. Any activities not related to its primary use is prohibited. If you are found violating this policy, your access to the BCS will be revoked.

 

Get Help

  • Email bcs-help@duke.edu for questions or support. 
  • Staff are available for consulting and troubleshooting Monday through Friday, from 9am-5pm, excluding university holidays.

 

Audio-Only Recording

  • Turn on the Zoom PodTrak P8 Recorder using the power switch on the rear of the machine.
  • Multi–Track (separate files for each audio input) (Requires SD Card)
    • Insert an SD card into the rear of the machine. Format the SD card by clicking on the “SD” icon on the LCD screen and then selecting “Format.”
  • Single-Track (Requires laptop)
    • Connect the USB-C cable to your laptop.
    • Make sure the USB Out is turned up.
    • In your recording application (Zoom, Quicktime (Mac), Voice Recorder (Windows) etc) select “Zoom P8 Audio” as your audio input.
  • Put headphones on. Set the corresponding headphone volume output to middle (notch straight up).
  • Position the microphones.
    • The microphone should be within 6 inches of your mouth.
    • Avoid placing the microphone directly in front of your mouth, as it will more easily pick up breathing. Try angling to the side towards your mouth.
  • Adjust the red/orange sliders for corresponding microphones.
  • Test with your normal speaking volume.
    • If the volume meter leaves a red bar at the top, the microphone is “peaking” and the volume is adjusted too high.
  • Recording
    • Multi-Track  
      • Press the Red Circle button to start recording.
      • Press the Grey Square button to stop recording.
      • Press the Play/Pause button to temporarily pause your recording.
    • Single Track
      • Will vary depending on your recording software.
  • Playback
    • If recording to an SD card, press the Red Microphone icon on the LCD screen to access recorded files.
  • Connecting to a Remote Interview
    • Connect the PodTrak P8 via the USB-C cable to a laptop.
    • Make sure the switch Channel 6 is set to the USB icon  
  • Adjust your laptops’ audio output to “Zoom P8 Audio”
  • Connect to your meeting software and select “Zoom P8 Audio” as your microphone and your speaker (this may vary depending on software).
  • Adjust the blue slider (channel 6) on the PodTrak P8 until you can comfortably hear the other participant(s) in the remote call.
  • If recording with an SD card, Channel 6 (the audio output from the laptop) will be recorded as a standalone file, alongside the audio from the microphone. 

 

Video Recording

  • Turn on the Zoom PodTrak P8 Recorder using the power switch on the rear of the machine.
  • Put headphones on. Set the corresponding headphone volume output to middle (notch straight up).
  • Position the microphones.
    • The microphone should be within 6 inches of your mouth.
    • Avoid placing the microphone directly in front of your mouth, as it will more easily pick up breathing. Try angling to the side towards your mouth.
  • Adjust the red/orange sliders for corresponding microphones.
  • Test with your normal speaking volume.
    • If the volume meter leaves a red bar at the top, the microphone is “peaking” and the volume is adjusted too high.
  • Make sure the Blue knob (output 6) is set to middle (notch straight up).
  • Lighting
    • Turn on overhead lights by using the wall switch labeled “lights.”
    • Turn on lower lighting by using the power switch on the back of the LED panel labeled “Power.”
  • Camera Control
    • Turn on the camera by opening the LCD screen on the left side and pressing the POWER button.
    • Turn on the Confidence Monitor by pressing the button under the POWER label. The video output from the camera should appear on the monitor.
    • Adjust position of the camera as necessary, along with Zoom using the toggle on the top right.
  • Plug headphones into the camera and test audio input from the PodTrak P8 to the camera.
    • NOTE: Audio will be mixed as a single-track output. To capture Multi-Track audio, use two SD cards to record on both the camera and the PodTrak P8, then sync the files in video editing software.
  • Recording
    • Insert an SD card into the camera.
    • Format the SD card by pressing the Menu button on the LCD screen.
      • Select “Setup”
      • Select “Format”
      • Select “Memory Card”
      • Once formatted, you can hit the red button to start recording.
    • Press the red recording button again to stop recording. 
  • Playback
    • Press the Playback button to the top right of the camera’s Power button.

Article number: KB0038058

Valid to: August 7, 2027