Amir Rezaei in the flexible recording studio, designed with simple means to accommodate a variety of needs. Photo: Marianne Norén.
Published Apr 14, 2025
Maxistudion is KTH’s new, modern recording studio. Located in the machine houses at Brinellvägen 68, it is freely available to all employees who need to create video productions or webinars.
For pedagogical questions regarding video recording in the Maxistudio, please contact e-learning@kth.se
For more information about introductory sessions and technical support for the Maxistudio, please contact itm-maxistudion@kth.se
Amir Rezaei, media producer at Digital Learning, has been a driving force in the development of Maxistudion, a collaboration between the IT and Learning departments.
“I saw a need for a simple and efficient recording studio to meet KTH’s overall goal and vision of increased digitalisation in teaching,” Rezaei says.
For Rezaei, it is crucial that the studio is free to use, to encourage more employees to experiment, learn and develop new ideas around video in their work.
Focus on user-friendliness
The studio, completed in the autumn term of 2024, is fully automated. It features a user-friendly interface that, Rezaei says, allows users to start recording quickly and independently.
“When producing digital educational material on a large scale, it cannot be too expensive or complicated. In this studio, teachers can do all the recording themselves and feel comfortable in the environment. It is reminiscent of the teaching situation in a classroom,” he says.
Maxistudion is designed to evolve and adapt to various types of digital productions. While the primary focus is on supporting KTH’s teachers and researchers, administrators have also begun using the facility.
“For me, it’s important to get as much feedback as possible from different users and subject areas to understand what technology will dominate in a few years,” Rezaei says.
He adds that educational and technological innovation must progress in harmony. Rezaei is particularly interested in learning more about the needs of researchers in digital production and how the studio can develop to meet those demands.
“I want to create the dynamic that happens when multiple minds come together to think about a problem,” he says.
Text: Marianne Norén
User experiences from Maxistudion
Jennie Reponen Hermanson, HR administrator
Jennie Reponen Hermanson, photo: private.
What have you used Maxistudion for?
“I have produced training materials and digital lectures for internal training programmes for employees. It has been about creating learning that is explanatory, instructive and competence-enhancing. We have also recorded interviews and panel discussions as part of our learning material, which has given us the opportunity to document, make available and disseminate to a larger target group.”
How does it work to record in the studio?
“It has been a positive experience. The access to a studio internally at KTH enables us to create films with high production standards, including good sound quality, lighting and image composition, without major time consumption.”
Thoughts on how Maxistudion can be developed?
“The co-operation and technical support have been very good. If I were to suggest something, it would be to offer employees shorter inspirational sessions to show that it does not have to be difficult to produce digital learning material.”
Marcus Lithander, teacher and researcher at Digital Learning (ITM)
Marcus Lithander, photo: Anna Gullers
What have you used Maxistudion for?
“We have produced about ten courses in lifelong learning. In each course, we have between 15 and 25 lectures recorded in Maxistudion. We have received very positive feedback from students in our course evaluations.
“The courses have been very popular and last year we had more than 5,000 registered students. One reason we’ve been able to scale up our course activities is that we can record a lot of material in a simple and professional way.”
How does it work to record in Maxistudion?
“Overall, it’s very easy. It is easier to work in the studio compared to, for example, recording via my own computer or recording Zoom lectures. When I come into the studio, I basically just click a button and the whole system starts, then I record and upload the material into the course.
“If something goes wrong, I just do a retake because everything is so easy. Lately, I’ve also been recording live lectures that we have on Zoom in the studio. Then I have time to upload the film during the break in the lecture. I upload the film to KTH-Play and then Canvas – then it’s ready.”
Thoughts on how Maxistudion could be developed?
“I have discussed with Amir and others the possibility of running several types of discussions in the studio. I think the conversation is a good format for teaching. We have tried that in a new course we’re developing.”
