What is an in-house studio? Explanation, types, and practical tips

“We want an in-house studio, but what exactly does that entail? Is it the same as a TV studio? Do we need an entire crew?”

We get these question a lot. Recently, during an intake meeting, a facility manager asked Jacqueline Borremans – Business Consultant at AVEX – these exact question.

After nearly 10 years at AVEX, Jacqueline noticed something: many organisations don’t have a clear view of what an in-house studio actually entails.

In our sector the term in-house studio is used for different solutions, from a simple webcam setup to fully equipped broadcast facilities. No wonder this causes confusion.

Together with Jacqueline, we wrote this article, in which you’ll read:

1. What an in-house studio is (and what it isn’t)
2. Which types there are and which one suits your organisation
3. For which organisations it’s suitable
4. Which practical considerations play a role
5. How to take the first steps

After reading this article, you’ll know exactly what an in-house studio can do for your organisation, and you can make a well thought-out decision about implementing one.

What an in-house studio really is

An in-house studio is a professional video recording setup that’s permanently located at your site – from a simple, closed room with a good camera, microphone, and lighting, to a fully equipped studio with a control room, several cameras, and greenscreen.

The core consists of:
✔ Cameras that automatically have the correct settings for your space
✔ Presets tailored to lighting conditions and framing
✔ Professional lighting that always creates the right atmosphere
✔ High-quality sound without separate microphones
✔ Easy operation so that everyone can use it

The big difference with external studios: you are fully in control. Do you want to record a message tomorrow morning? Just do it. Do you need to respond to breaking news? You’re live within 10 minutes.

The different types of in-house studios

Basic setup (€6.000 – €20.000)

Perfect for simple presentations and messages. A camera, good lighting, and professional audio. Ideal for CEO updates or instructional videos.

Professional Setup (€20.000 – €50.000)

Multi-camera, advanced lighting, livestream options. Suitable for webinars, interviews, and more complex content.

Broadcast Setup (€50.000+ / € 75.000+)

Fully equipped studios for organisations that produce content daily. Think of hospitals that regularly organise online symposia.

When is an in-house studio suitable?

An in-house studio is a good choice when:

• you make video content at least twice a month

• flexibility is important and you quickly want to respond to current events

• you want to lower external costs – from ±20-30 recodings a year, it pays itself off

• several departments (HR, managers, marketing, sales) use video

An in-house studio is less suitable when:

• you only make a recoding once in a while

• you’d rather completely outsource it to an external production company

• you don’t have a suitable space available

Practical considerations

When setting up an in-house video studio, several practical questions must be considered. We’ll go over them and give examples.

What’s the minimum size of a room for an in-house studio?
A space of 4×4 metres can be sufficient. It’s important that the room is well insulated against noise and free from incoming light from outside.

How is the setup of your in-house studio impacted by the use?
For a CEO that records a short message each month, a simple setup will normally suffice. A marketing team that produces videos weekly requires more flexibility and variation in an in-house studio setup.

How much budget do you need for an in-house studio?
You can buy, rent, or lease a studio. Renting offers flexibility and the advantage that maintenance and updates are outsourced. In terms of investment, we’ve included 3 examples with budget indications above.

Why is a good workflow important for an in-house studio?
Provide a clear distribution plan in advance. Without a well thought-out workflow, you’ll have recordings, but you won’t reach the target audience.

From external dependence to self-direction

More and more organisations are working with an in-house studio. Among others, Heineken, ABN Amro, and UWV have chosen this approach. Their experience shows that having your own studio helps to:

• create content quicker

• lower the costs per video

• avoid travel time and waiting lists

• communicate at moments when it’s needed

You now know exactly what an in-house studio is, what it’s not, which types there are, and which practical considerations are important to make the right decision for your organisation.

Many organisations are in doubt, as they think a studio is always expensixe, complex, and only meant for big companies. Those misunderstandings withhold them from taking more control over their video content.

At AVEX, we understand that it can be a challenge to make the right decision when it comes to an in-house studio. That’s why we’ve helped dozens of organisations, such as Heineken, ABN Amro and the St. Antonius Hospital, with setting up their own, user-friendly studio. We know exactly which solution suits your wishes, budget, and frequency of use.

Do you want to discover what an in-house studio can do for your organisation? Schedule a non-binding advisory meeting with one of our experts, and take the step to professional in-house video content today.