NotebookLM - Studio Deep Dive

This guide offers an in-depth exploration of NotebookLM's Studio feature, highlighting its versatility in creating customized outputs like podcasts, slide decks, infographics, and more. Users can tailor their content by adjusting formats, languages, and prompts, making it a powerful tool for generating engaging and informative materials. With continuous updates and interactive capabilities, this guide is essential for anyone looking to maximize their use of NotebookLM for research and content creation.

Faculty Center for Professional Excellence

Google

NotebookLM's "Studio" is arguably its most sought-after feature. This is also a feature of NotebookLM that is continously being updated, with more output options being made available on a regular basis.

Audio Overview

The Audio Overview feature allows you to generate an AI podcast based on your sources. Clicking on the tile itself will automatically generate a default podcast. To customize this further, click on the pencil icon. This holds true for other Studio outputs that have that option.

We can change the Format of the overview, the language, as well as the length. Additionally, and critically, we are able to give prompts and guidance to the AI hosts regarding topics to focus on, items to avoid, and how to respond to questions.

Once you have made your customizations and set the Studio output to generate, you will see the items in progress and those completed in this area.

The Interactive mode icon can be used to jump into the podcast and ask a question for the hosts using your own voice.

First start the audio podcast.

Click "👋 Join" to ask a question. The hosts will pause and wait for you to ask a question and then respond.

Slide Decks

Slide Decks are a BETA feature, meaning they are more frequently changed and updated and are not considered 100% stable. You can generate a slide deck based on your sources and can be further customized as we've seen with outputs displaying the pencil icon.

Once again, customization is possible and can change the format of the deck to be either a comprehensive deck with full text and details or "Presenter Slides" that show case key talking points. Length and language can also be changed, as well as a custom prompt to direct the Gen-AI tool further.

Once the Slide Deck is generated, it will show in the list here.

The Slide Deck is shown in a preview mode.

You can also play the Slide Deck as a slideshow.

Click "Revise" should you want to make edits to the Slide Deck.

Enter the details on how you want to change the slide(s)

Pending changes can be found here and can be further edited or cleared.

Click "Generate revised deck" when you are done making changes.

You can see the revised Slide Deck is now generating.

Infographic

Infographics are another BETA feature in Studio.

You are able to customize the infographic output by choosing the language, orientation of the output, visual style and the level of detail. Once again, you can describe the infographic with prompts before you generate the output.

Once the Infographic is generated, it will show in the list here.

A preview of the Infographic is shown.

Video Overview

NotebookLM allows you to generate explainer type videos, presented by an AI voiceover.

Customize the video overview and select between the "Explainer" type video or a "Brief." Change the language if you wish and choose a visual style that suits your needs. You can also tell the AI host to focus on specific items, how to frame the video, and much more.

Once generated, you can preview the video in the panel and play directly. You can also change the speed of the video, rewind and fast forward, and make the video full-screen.

The "More options" menu opens and allows you to Download the video.

You can also share the video directly from here.

Quiz

The Quiz feature generates an interactive quiz based on your sources.

Once generated, you can open the Quiz output.

This will open to the 1st question in the quiz and you can see the total number of questions generated, which is limited to 10 at this time per quiz. The pencil icon allows you to delete the question should you want to remove it.

Simply click on the answer you want to select.

If you need a hint, you can click on the button to show a clue.

An example of a hint

A wrong answer is outlined in a red box and has an X and "Not quite" written next to it.

A correct answer is outlined in a green box and as a ✔️ and "Right answer" written next to it.

Clicking the "Explain" button prompts the Chat explains to analyze your sources and provide details to the correct answer.

The Chat explains why your answer was incorrect and gives you the reference points from where the information is being generated and reported from.

Flashcards

Study aids such as Flashcards can be generated and further customized to fit your needs.

Once generated, you can locate the Flashcards from the output menu.

When opened, the first Flashcard is shown. You can click "See answer" to flip the card

The correct answer is displayed and the "Explain" button allows you to prompt the chat and receive further details on the correct answer.

To navigate to the next Flashcard, click on the next arrow.

You are able to mark incorrect questions by clicking on the X icon

You can also mark correct questions by clicking on the ✔️ icon

The more actions menu allows you to restart, shuffle, and download the set. You can also delete individual flashcards here as well.

Reports

Reports are a great studio output option.

There are many formats that you can choose from and customize each one. Suggested formats are generated based on your sources.

Once generated, the report is available to open from the output menu.

You are able to copy the content directly with formatting to paste into another location, like a Google Doc.

The more options menu at the top allows for further actions.

You can view the original prompt by clicking "Show prompt" or you can delete the report.

Mind Maps

Organize key topics and more from your sources.

The mind map is completely interactive and opens further levels.

Clicking on a branch will prompt the Chat as shown here.

You can continue to explore the mind map branches where there is a > icon.

Actions for Studio Outputs

The more menu located next to completed Studio outputs allows you to rename, download, share and delete the output.