Welcome to "Studio 51"!
"Studio 51" was created by our Community Services / Outreach Unit in 2024 by Sgt. Alan Sayre. The name derives from Sgt. Sayre's callsign which includes the number "51" and was originally created to produce our podcast, "The Deputy Podcast - The Official Podcast of the Oconee County Sheriff's Office (SC)". What started out as a very simple setup, with only 1 camera and some old microphones, is becoming yet another powerful way for the Sheriff's Office to engage with our community, as well as serving our deputies by providing in-house training materials.
The Studio
Located inside the Office of Professional Standards section of the Oconee County Sheriff's office, "Studio 51" is located in a space that was previously used as a conference room. We are very fortunate that it is located on the interior of the building and centrally located, so that we are easily accessible to most of the agency staff. Our studio area is approximately 12ft wide by 20ft long, so while it is small compared to other studio spaces, it works for us. The studio also serves as Sgt. Sayre's office, making production easier and more efficient (although sometimes a challenge).
In addition to producing the Podcast, we also are able to host our local media partners in the studio for interviews, providing them with professional studio lighting, audio, and backdrops. We also have the ability to conduct virtual interviews from our studio with media partners, providing them with a high-quality video and audio feed when they are not able to be physically present in the studio. Working closely with our Public Information Officer, this is yet another way that we are living our mission of "Forging Relationships" in our community by making the job of our media partners easier.
Our Equipment
Cameras
Panasonic HC-X20
Panasonic HC-1600
Nikon Z50
Like many digital creators, we started very simple with a single camera, a Nikon Z50 mirrorless camera. This camera was used for both video and still images, and continues to be a valuable asset to our digital production! While it doesn't get as much use for video as it first did, it is the camera of choice for all of our still photography, official department photographs and employee portraits, and still helps out on set when an extra camera angle is needed. This is a GREAT camera and is extremely versatile for its size.
In late 2024, we expanded our capabilities for video production. We now use camcorder-style cameras for both our in-studio work and out in the field. They have all the features that we need and provide a great deal of flexibility for our workflow.
Taking a cue from our media partners (no pun intended), we currently use a Panasonic HC-X20 as our primary camera ("A Cam"). The HC-X20 is a broadcast-quality camera, similar to what television stations deploy in the field for some of their field reporters. While it doesn't have all of the broadcasting specific features such as SDI capabilities, it is a very robust camera packed with great features such as a great optical zoom range (24x optical in 4K mode), excellent image stabilization for handheld work, a large 15MP 1" MOS Sensor that shoots amazing 4K footage, and tons more features!
In 2025, we added two Panasonic HC-X1200 camcorder style cameras for our "B" and "C" cameras. These smaller camcorder-style cameras are wonderful for our close-up camera angles in the studio because of their smaller size and frame, but are also fantastic for handheld field work because they are very lightweight and sport an incredible 5-Axis Hybrid image stabilization system. The best part? They use the same battery type as the HC-X20!
Audio Gear
Tascam Mixcast 4
Mixer / Recorder
Sennheiser MKE600
Shotgun Microphone
Shure SM7dB
Microphones
Our audio gear has been another work in progress since 2024. Originally using lavalier microphones and recording audio directly into the cameras, we expanded our capabilities by adding our mixer / recorder. The Tascam Mixcast 4 audio mixer / recorder has been an invaluable tool for recording our master audio mix. Packed with features like digital sound processing, noise suppression, EQ presets, programmable sound pads, and supporting up to 4 microphones, this mixer has dramatically improved the quality of our digital media production!
Our first "new" microphone was a Sennheiser MKE600 shotgun microphone. This addition made an instant difference in the audio quality when doing studio and field work! It primarily serves for audio recording directly into the camera when doing field work, but also is vital for studio work when having a microphone in the frame is not desirable. The MKE600 has a wonderful sound profile, and is extremely versatile allowing it to be used with all of our cameras, or on a boom pole.
In 2025, we upgraded our studio microphones. While we still use the lavalier microphones, shotgun microphone and on occasion traditional handheld microphones, our primary studio microphones, especially for the podcast and some in-house training video production, we upgraded to the Shure SM7dB vocal microphones. These professional microphones are the current "industry standard" for podcasters, voice-over artists, and more. Providing a superior audio quality, ease of use, and built-in preamp, these microphones are second to none! We have 4 of these microphones allowing us to support up to 4 different people on our podcast. Additionally, we also use these for voice-over tracks for in-house training videos and other media productions.
Post-Production
Video / Audio Editing Software
We use Black Magic Design's Davinci Resolve video editing suite, which is an incredibly powerful video editor! The best thing is that it is FREE! That's right, Davinci Resolve is free from Blackmagic Design! Used by Hollywood film professionals, Davinci Resolve is our go-to for post-production. For more information about Davinci Resolve, click here: DaVinci Resolve | Blackmagic Design
Video Switching / Livestreaming
For occasions when we need to do live video, or when we are recording certain types of projects, we use the Blackmagic Design Atem Mini Pro ISO video switcher. The ATEM Mini Pro ISO has a lot of options for such a small, compact device and is the perfect size for our small studio. We primarily use this when facilitating virtual interviews with our media partners, but we also utilize this for some in-house training video recording because of its capability to record our presentations alongside the instructor presenting the material.
Occasionally, we also have produced several social media livestream events. The ATEM Mini Pro ISO handles this with ease and gives us the ability to livestream professional quality video.
For More Information
For more information about our studio, capabilities, or production, contact us at the Oconee County Sheriff's Office - Community Services / Outreach Unit.
Be sure to check out The Deputy Podcast and all of our other productions on our YouTube Channel link below, or follow us on all major streaming platforms!
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