My Zoom / Video-Call Setup: Advanced Tech – Video switcher, Stream Deck, Mountings

Article 4/4

Let’s start with honesty: You do not need a live production console to run a good video call. But if your work depends on video calls and once you have it… you will not want to go back.

The central device in my setup is a “video switcher”, or better, a small video production studio on steroids, the RØDECaster Video, €850.

What changes with a video switcher

The big shift is that it’s no longer “camera → computer → software → meeting”.

Instead, the console becomes the hub:

• multiple camera inputs, easily switchable with dedicated buttons
• integrated audio control
• a dedicated production screen with preview of video and audio levels (I am using a small HDMI preview monitor for this)
• a clean final output that goes into Zoom/Teams like a camera feed

And then there are the features that make it more than a switcher:

1) Fast camera switching (without fuss)

I can cut between my cameras depending on what I’m doing:

• teleprompter eye-contact camera for 1:1
• main camera for presentations
• utility angle to show drawings or objects

This sounds like overkill until you try it — and realize how much calmer it feels to switch angles instead of physically moving cameras or constantly re-framing.

2) “Einspieler”: built-in video clips for explanations

“Einspieler” are short, pre-produced clips you can play during a live session:

• a quick intro bumper
• a short explanatory animation
• a 10–20 second “this is what I mean” example

They are extremely useful in educational or explanatory calls because they:

• break monotony
• reduce verbal complexity
• keep attention high

Rules for using them without annoying people:

• Keep them short.
• Use them only when they add clarity.
• Don’t turn a meeting into a TV show.

How I use this in real video calls

A typical “important call” flow looks like this:

1. Join the call with my standard “main camera” scene.
2. If it’s a 1:1, switch to the teleprompter camera for true eye contact.
3. If I share my screen, switch to the camera above the Studio Display so I can actually read what I’m presenting.
4. If I need to explain something visually, play a short “Einspieler” clip and then return to the camera.
5. End the call without touching cables or reconfiguring anything.

The biggest benefit is not the tech. It’s the calmness:

• no scrambling
• no “can you hear me now?”
• no “why does my camera look terrible today?”

Elgato Streamdeck

Beneath the monitor I have this small device, Elgato Streamdeck, €139, with 15 buttons on it. Without using my mouse I can…

• Turn on/off the complete studio lighting in the room, including control over the window blinds
• Mute/unmute my microphone
• Stop/start my video feed
• Start sharing my screen, or end my share
• Leave the meeting
• Move the meeting window from the main screen to the teleprompter and back
• and other shortcuts

Mounting stand

Most of my equipment is mounted using the  Selfie Desktop Live Stand Set 6-in-1. This keeps my desktop uncluttered.

Final note: start with the basics

If you want to improve your calls, don’t start with a video console.

Start with:

1. Headphones (for everyone)
2. A decent microphone
3. Good light
4. Stable internet (Ethernet if possible)

Then, if you still feel the itch… welcome to the Spielkind club.

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Read the whole series: My Zoom / Video-Call Setup (Version 4)

• Article 1: Why I Built It (and why you might, too)
• Article 2: Sound First – Why Audio Matters More Than Video (and why it’s about respect)
• Article 3: Great Video – Three Cameras, One Teleprompter, and Lighting That Actually Helps
• Article 4: Advanced Tech – Video switcher, Stream Deck, Mountings