<h1 id="375d6605-cdce-44a4-b7f8-d3e3e7b3e0ca" data-toc-id="375d6605-cdce-44a4-b7f8-d3e3e7b3e0ca">How to Set Up Meld Studio for Video Recording &amp; Streaming (the Easy Way)</h1><p>If you're creating courses, content, or live streams — and want something <em>smoother</em> than juggling Zoom and three browser tabs — let me introduce you to a brilliant little tool:</p><p>🎥 <strong>Meld Studio</strong></p><p>It’s totally free (yep), works on both Mac and Windows, and it’s <em>stupidly</em> good for recording and streaming without the usual tech faff.</p><p>In this walkthrough, I’ll show you:</p><ul><li><p>How I’ve set up Meld Studio for my own videos</p></li><li><p>How to build scenes from scratch</p></li><li><p>How to work with green screen effects</p></li><li><p>A few cheeky tricks to improve your sound and visuals</p></li></ul><p>Let’s get into it 👇</p><hr><h2 id="93bf1b75-c020-44ae-8912-a10403b0189b" data-toc-id="93bf1b75-c020-44ae-8912-a10403b0189b">The Basic Setup (Before We Build It From Scratch)</h2><p>Here’s what I had running before I wiped everything to walk you through the setup:</p><ol><li><p><strong>Front camera only</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>Monitor screen + circle cam overlay</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>Circle camera on its own</strong></p></li></ol><p>Simple. Clean. Effective.</p><p>Now let’s recreate it together from scratch.</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="true" autoplay="false" disablekbcontrols="false" enableiframeapi="false" endtime="0" ivloadpolicy="0" loop="false" modestbranding="false" origin="" playlist="" progressbarcolor="white" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ef-QRGmKRlU?si=GngdAU-fv7scQIE3" start="0"></iframe></div><hr><h2 id="98b45a90-40b5-458f-9bdd-4f927daa0b32" data-toc-id="98b45a90-40b5-458f-9bdd-4f927daa0b32">Start Fresh: Installing Meld + First Scene</h2><p>Once you download Meld Studio from <a target="_blank" href="http://meldstudio.co">meldstudio.co</a>, install it and open it up — you’ll see a default scene ready to edit.</p><h3 id="63821344-add0-4ce5-8165-0acc446a2713" data-toc-id="63821344-add0-4ce5-8165-0acc446a2713">Step 1: Rename your scene</h3><p>I renamed mine to <strong>Front Camera</strong> — nice and clear.</p><h3 id="0691adcc-811c-467c-a277-48acffba578b" data-toc-id="0691adcc-811c-467c-a277-48acffba578b">Step 2: Add a layer (aka your camera)</h3><p>You’ll be working with <strong>scenes</strong> (your layouts) and <strong>layers</strong> (the stuff inside them).</p><p>I added my <strong>Elgato Facecam Pro</strong> as a video device layer.</p><p>You can resize and crop it to hide any doorframes, mess, or rogue plant pots in the background.</p><p>✂️ Pro tip: Use the crop tool and those handy pink guides to center yourself perfectly.</p><hr><h2 id="5c9403de-74c3-4f9c-80e8-a53773352d97" data-toc-id="5c9403de-74c3-4f9c-80e8-a53773352d97">Make a Circle Cam Overlay (The Cute One)</h2><p>Want that little floating circle of your face on screen? Here’s how to do it:</p><h3 id="f2694ecd-9fa0-4e33-98b2-8edcd22374d4" data-toc-id="f2694ecd-9fa0-4e33-98b2-8edcd22374d4">Step 1: Add a new scene</h3><p>Call it something like <strong>Circle Camera Icon</strong>.</p><h3 id="720e3481-3824-4e3b-859f-7a9e73d444e9" data-toc-id="720e3481-3824-4e3b-859f-7a9e73d444e9">Step 2: Add your video device again</h3><p>Crop it into a <strong>square</strong> first — this part’s important. If you crop a rectangle into a circle, you’ll get weird flat edges.</p><p>Make sure your dimensions are equal (e.g. 842 x 842), then center yourself.</p><h3 id="6a2f6d63-959f-4eb0-9249-09e15bea5e41" data-toc-id="6a2f6d63-959f-4eb0-9249-09e15bea5e41">Step 3: Round it into a circle</h3><p>Grab the white circular handle and drag it all the way to the middle.</p><p>Boom. You’re now floating.</p><hr><h2 id="8904583f-8afa-469f-9143-0f75cf9c2c55" data-toc-id="8904583f-8afa-469f-9143-0f75cf9c2c55">Add a Screen Share + Picture-in-Picture</h2><p>Now let's add your monitor screen as the background and overlay your circle cam on top.</p><h3 id="d82585b2-a7bb-4adb-afcc-3b16742118db" data-toc-id="d82585b2-a7bb-4adb-afcc-3b16742118db">Step 1: Add a <strong>Display Capture</strong></h3><p>Pick your monitor (mine’s the left one).</p><h3 id="654669a7-fc73-4b52-86bd-0b8578ce1439" data-toc-id="654669a7-fc73-4b52-86bd-0b8578ce1439">Step 2: Duplicate the <strong>Circle Camera</strong> scene</h3><p>Use the little duplicate icon, then resize and position your floating face wherever you want it.</p><p>You're now in proper tutorial mode 💪</p><hr><h2 id="2047c421-be03-4f42-97b9-0ddb131bb472" data-toc-id="2047c421-be03-4f42-97b9-0ddb131bb472">Add Your Microphone + Audio Settings</h2><h3 id="9896539c-afb3-4736-a2e1-05e9318f24f5" data-toc-id="9896539c-afb3-4736-a2e1-05e9318f24f5">Step 1: Add your mic in the <strong>Audio Mixer</strong></h3><p>I used my <strong>Shure Digital mic</strong>. Once it’s in, you’ll see the levels moving.</p><p>🎚️ Aim for your levels to sit between <strong>-3 and -6 dB</strong> — not hitting the red.</p><h3 id="283d9e13-3fdb-465b-8e9b-2df87a50e73e" data-toc-id="283d9e13-3fdb-465b-8e9b-2df87a50e73e">Step 2: Add audio from media files (optional)</h3><p>If you’re playing videos or background music, make sure the <strong>audio track toggle</strong> is ON for that media layer.</p><p>And if you want that track to play across <em>all</em> scenes?<br>Go into <strong>Edit → Global Audio Track → Toggle On</strong>.</p><p>Otherwise, it’ll stay local to just that one scene.</p><hr><h2 id="dfeec2b4-2127-47e9-b4cd-5afa6f9aecf8" data-toc-id="dfeec2b4-2127-47e9-b4cd-5afa6f9aecf8">Bonus Audio Tweaks (for Clearer Sound)</h2><p>💡 Two effects I recommend:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Magic Mic</strong> – Cleans up background noise, fans, traffic, etc.</p></li><li><p><strong>Gain</strong> – Boosts your mic volume without shouting.</p></li></ul><p>You can add these in the <strong>Effects</strong> section under your audio track. Easy.</p><hr><h2 id="0185df6d-26c5-4927-89d4-53b3d4ad6ab6" data-toc-id="0185df6d-26c5-4927-89d4-53b3d4ad6ab6">Playing With Fire (and Green Screens 🔥)</h2><p>Got a green screen? Want to layer yourself over a fire background like some kind of digital wizard?</p><p>Here’s the process:</p><h3 id="efd89b7e-d30d-41cf-a8c0-d83fe19d7133" data-toc-id="efd89b7e-d30d-41cf-a8c0-d83fe19d7133">Step 1: Pull down your green screen</h3><p>Make sure it’s well-lit and wrinkle-free (creases cause issues with transparency).</p><h3 id="7fea118e-957e-4974-aacd-986d7ddef67b" data-toc-id="7fea118e-957e-4974-aacd-986d7ddef67b">Step 2: Add your background media</h3><p>I used a fire video. Set it as the bottom layer.</p><h3 id="2f353244-0317-47bb-9ce0-35ea4e9539d6" data-toc-id="2f353244-0317-47bb-9ce0-35ea4e9539d6">Step 3: Add your camera (top layer)</h3><p>Resize and crop as needed.</p><h3 id="6e8e1ca2-ae1c-48ff-83d2-4ff689b1c48d" data-toc-id="6e8e1ca2-ae1c-48ff-83d2-4ff689b1c48d">Step 4: Add the <strong>Chroma Key effect</strong></h3><ul><li><p>Go to <strong>Effects → Add → Chroma Key</strong></p></li><li><p>Use the <strong>eyedropper</strong> tool to select the exact green from your screen</p></li><li><p>Turn the effect <strong>on</strong>, then adjust the <strong>threshold</strong> until you disappear cleanly (no ghost-ears or fuzzy hats)</p></li></ul><p>Now you're on fire. Literally.</p><hr><h2 id="06da5a26-ecdb-49a9-b4c8-42c546cebc96" data-toc-id="06da5a26-ecdb-49a9-b4c8-42c546cebc96">Optional: Set Up a Stream Deck</h2><p>Want to switch scenes, mute your mic, or start recording with a button press?</p><p>You can hook up a <strong>Stream Deck</strong> by Elgato — it’s a little pad of programmable buttons that plays super nicely with Meld Studio.</p><p>One tap = smooth transitions, audio control, scene changes, and more.</p><p>Gamechanger if you’re doing this regularly.</p><hr><h2 id="bfac63d4-3a6a-4fd6-af4e-747220c92047" data-toc-id="bfac63d4-3a6a-4fd6-af4e-747220c92047">That’s It — You’re Set Up 🎉</h2><p>You’ve now got:</p><ul><li><p>Clean scenes for your face, screen, and overlays</p></li><li><p>Great sound with no background noise</p></li><li><p>The power of green screen, if you fancy it</p></li><li><p>And a basic understanding of audio, effects, and scene control</p></li></ul><p>I’ll be sharing more Meld Studio tutorials soon (especially with the Stream Deck), but this guide should get you recording and streaming without swearing at your setup.</p><p>Catch you in the next one 👋</p><hr><p><em>📌 Found this post but haven’t booked a K2R call yet? You can do that at </em><a target="_blank" href="http://helpwithdigital.com"><em>helpwithdigital.com</em></a><em>. We’ll get your tech sorted — fast.</em></p>

Step-by-step guide to setting up Meld Studio for clean, pro-looking video content with scenes, overlays, audio, and green screen.

Getting Started with Meld 2025

How to Set Up Meld Studio for Video Recording & Streaming (the Easy Way)

The Basic Setup (Before We Build It From Scratch)

Start Fresh: Installing Meld + First Scene

Step 2: Duplicate the Circle Camera scene

Step 2: Add audio from media files (optional)

Playing With Fire (and Green Screens 🔥)

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Getting Started with Meld 2025

Getting Started with Meld 2025

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