A mobile podcast and video studio handcrafted from cedar and recycled plastic bottles has launched in the Midlands.
It offers creators and brands a premium recording space that can be delivered and set up almost anywhere.
The Pod is a bespoke, Airstream-style trailer designed to give production teams a high-end studio environment on location, without the usual logistical and technical challenges that come with remote recording.
It has been developed for creators, brands and organisations looking to produce ambitious video and podcast content while maintaining broadcast-quality standards.
The project is led by former BBC producer James Peacock, more recently of Folding Pocket and Platform Media. He teamed up with local carpenter, designer and entrepreneur Piers Roberts to bring the idea to life.
Peacock said the concept came from years of planning complex location recordings and wishing a studio could simply be moved into place when needed.
Built by Coventry-based Max Media, the studio has taken more than two years to complete and draws inspiration from the Midlands’ long-standing motoring heritage.
The design combines traditional boat-building craftsmanship with modern production technology, to be visually distinctive and practical for professional use.
Inside, The Pod can accommodate up to four people and is fitted with top-of-the-range audio, video and lighting equipment, including Sony FX30 cameras and Earthworks Ethos microphones.
It also includes its own Wi-Fi connectivity, solar power, underfloor heating, an internal sound system, television, coffee machine and fridge, for extended sessions.
The structure measures seven metres in length, 2.3 metres in width and weighs just over two tonnes. Roberts said the studio has been built using sustainable materials, including western red cedar and insulation made largely from recycled plastic bottles, adding that the level of detail means there will only ever be one Pod, with the design now patented.
Max Media plans to take The Pod to events, exhibitions and festivals across the UK, while also offering it for team-building sessions, media training days, corporate away days and original podcast and video productions.
Bookings are now being taken with more details are available at max-media.co.uk.
