Vodcast Studio Rental in NYC: What a Turn-Key Video Podcast Setup Actually Gets You
Podcasting stopped being an audio-only medium a while ago, so if your show isn't being filmed, you're leaving most of your reach on the table. Clips are what travel now, which means the same conversation you record has to work as a YouTube episode, a set of vertical cutdowns, and a clean audio file all at once. That's a lot to ask of a mic in a spare room.
The alternative is renting a studio that's already built for it, and that's what a vodcast studio is: a room designed from the ground up to capture video and broadcast-quality audio in the same session, without you having to source gear, hire a crew, or troubleshoot sync issues after the fact.
Here's what that actually looks like inside MCM's vodcast studio in Chelsea, and what to look for when you're comparing options anywhere in New York.
What "turn-key" should mean when you're booking a video podcast studio
A lot of listings use the word loosely, so it's worth defining. Turn-key means you walk in with your guests and your talking points, and everything else is already handled: cameras framed, mics set, lights built, levels mixed live rather than salvaged in post.
The practical test is simple, since a genuinely turn-key room should let you answer yes to all of these:
Are cameras, lenses, and mics included in the rate rather than billed as add-ons?
Is there an operator running the switcher and monitoring audio while you record?
Does the room have real acoustic treatment, not just foam on a wall?
Can you leave with usable files the same day?
If you need editing, graphics, or distribution afterward, can the same team do it?
If a studio can only answer yes to two or three of those, you're really renting a room and then assembling a production around it, which tends to cost more once you add up the rentals and freelancers.
The camera package: three angles, cut live
MCM's vodcast studio runs three BlackMagic Design Cinema 6K cameras, set up as one wide shot plus two tight angles. The wide is on a Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary mounted to an eMotimo slider, so the master shot has gentle motion instead of sitting locked off, and the two singles use Sigma 90mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary lenses for a shallower, more flattering look on your host and guest.
Everything routes through an ATEM Mini Pro ISO switcher, which matters more than it sounds. The ISO part means you get the live cut and every individual camera's isolated recording, so your editor can either use the live switch as-is for a fast turnaround or rebuild the edit from scratch with all angles available. You get speed and flexibility rather than choosing between them.
There's also a 17" Lilliput monitor showing the camera feed so you can see what's being captured while you record, which cuts down on surprises when the files land.
Audio built for a show that also has to sound good as a podcast
Video gets the attention, but audio is what makes people stay, so the signal chain here is worth walking through.
The table seats up to four guests, each on a Shure SM7B cardioid dynamic microphone, which is the industry standard for a reason since it rejects room noise and handles loud talkers gracefully. Those mics feed into Cloudlifter CL1s for clean gain, then into an
Audient EVO 16 interface with eight onboard EVO preamps.
From there, audio can record into a Sound Devices MixPre-10 mixer, Adobe Audition, or Pro Tools depending on the workflow, and clients receive high quality WAV files rather than compressed exports. The room itself is soundproofed and acoustically treated, so what you're capturing is the voice and not the HVAC.
Lighting you can actually brand
Most studios give you one look. This one gives you a starting point plus room to move, since the base is a classic three-point setup with bi-color LED panels, and every booking includes a complimentary set of four RGB LED panels so you can push the background toward your show's palette.
The full inventory includes five Quasar Rainbow 1s, two Fiilex P3 Colors, and five Amaran F21xs, all DMX controllable, which means color changes are dialed in precisely rather than eyeballed. If you want camera movement beyond the slider, a Dana Dolly with a robotic eMotimo slider is available at additional cost.
There's also a 50" 4K display on set that connects over HDMI, so you can put your logo behind the talent, run a presentation, or bring in a remote guest through the 4K Logitech webcam. Interview shows with guests in other cities use this constantly.
Lights, cameras, and lenses can all be substituted on request, and the in-house gear list shows what else is available.
What happens after the record light goes off
This is where a production company differs from a rental space, because the studio is only one step in getting a show out. MCM's team handles the rest of the pipeline in house:
Editing. In-house post trims the session to its strongest moments, and any intro music, promos, or supplied assets get folded in.
Art design. Visual identity work for the show, including professional photography and any graphics you need for episode art or social.
Marketing. A plan for growing the audience rather than just publishing and hoping.
Distribution. Episodes go out across Spotify, Apple, and Google through Megaphone, which also handles hosting and ad insertion, so monetization isn't an afterthought.
You can use as much or as little of that as you want, though shows that book the studio and post together tend to keep a much steadier release schedule, mostly because the bottleneck was never the recording.
Practical details
The studio is at 253 West 28th Street in Chelsea, which puts it within walking distance of Penn Station and most of the Midtown subway lines, so guests coming in for a single episode aren't fighting a commute. A private talent green room is available on request, which is worth booking if you're running back-to-back guests in one day.
Book the Vodcast studio
If you're planning a new show, moving an audio-only podcast to video, or just need a professional room for a one-off interview, get in touch through our inquiries page with your shoot date, guest count, and what you need delivered, and we'll put together a quote.
You can also browse the rest of MCM Stages, including our audio-only podcast studio, white cyc and green screen stages, and editing suites.
