Video calls

are more personal and professional

with direct eye contact

The problem is

when you Zoom call (or what have you) the way most people do, you can either look at the camera, or you can look at the other person. But you can’t look at both simultaneously. Unfortunately, looking down at your screen makes you appear disinterested (you know that vacant “Zoom stare”), while looking into the camera prevents you from seeing their facial expressions.

Thus far, people have handled this technology constraint in one of six ways

place a tiny Zoom window under or beside your camera to approximate real eye contact
look into the lens and sacrifice seeing your call-mate
use a teleprompter with a two-monitor setup and lots of gear
put a camera in front of your screen (e.g., the Plexicam)
tech companies are even working on radical solutions such as Project Starline from Google or AI gaze-redirection from Nvidia.
or you just accept flawed communication without these workarounds, because that’s what everyone else does.

Can we all agree, each solution comes with compromises that we’ve silently tolerated because the tech industry has not given us a better way to videoconference? This was inexplicable to me, so I had to look into why the problem has resisted innovation for over 20 years and over a billion users. Turns out, there was no rational explanation for why the market has failed to offer an adequate solution. So I had to create one.

INTRODUCING THE CONVO CASTER™

The Convo Caster™ gives you the next-best thing to in-person conversation. It is studio-grade equipment that lets you be at your best on camera – right in your own home office or dedicated studio. Now you can talk directly to your audience, and not a computer screen or a camera lens. See the person you’re talking to, while appearing “present” for maximum production quality. And when the other person has this setup on their end, you can both make direct eye contact, thus forming the personal connection we humans so desperately crave.

It’s made for situations where communication quality is essential – including podcasters and content creators, presenters in virtual events, coaches and therapists consulting with clients, students and teachers, remote workers, and salespeople selling big-tickets items. When communication really matters, you need a Convo Caster™.

Of course, do-it-yourselfers have used setups like this for years. But they require two monitors, more space (often), and are basically hacks because existing products and setups weren’t made just for videoconferencing. Instead, the Convo Caster’s setup is less complex and more space-efficient. It’s simply a better way to do videoconferencing because it’s tailor-made for desktop home-studios.

FEATURING

What's included

The Convo Caster™ is a 3-piece kit, consisting of main body frame, special tripod, and software program (MirrorMod™) to mirror-flip the screen on your Windows 11 device. It’s the hub of your videoconferencing setup which you customize with your own camera, computer, lighting, stands and microphone. Teleprompter main body and MirrorMod™ software also sold separately.

Super versatile

Comes with mounting holes, extra rails, and knobs galore to accommodate a wide variety of equipment, adapters and brackets, allowing precise adjustment.

Semi-portable

It comes with a durable, hardshell case. The rig can be assembled/disassembled in about 15 minutes after you do it a few times.

MirrorMod™ software

flips your screen upside-down and backwards so you can see it in a mirror. Using this one-monitor setup, you can also use the Convo Caster™ as a conventional teleprompter for reading intros, bios or presentations; or screen share apps such as PowerPoint. MirrorMod™ software also sold separately for use in your own setup.

Gaze-angle reduction

Entry-level products put a camera in front of your screen (e.g., in front of the person’s face), which causes misalignment when your call-mate moves around. The Convo Caster™ handles this situation better. When your call-mate moves around, the angle of your off-center gaze is cut in half due to you looking at them in a mirror. And none of your screen is blocked by the camera or cable. Unfortunately, the practicality of middle-screen cameras are half of what they could be due to these design limitations.

Large screen capacity

The Convo Caster™ platform accommodates screens up to 16 inches (diagonal), or even larger, so you can really see who you’re talking to. Say goodbye to tiny talking heads.

Professional build quality

Its frame is heavy duty, all-metal construction, made for the desktop.

Folds up, out of the way, when not in use

A laptop then fits part-way underneath it.

Is it right for you?

Designed for prosumers to professionals

The Convo Caster™ is made for the middle market (where the upgrade is needed most). In contrast…

Entry-level solutions include products such as the Center Cam, Meca 3-in-1, iContact Camera, Plexicam, and the VoxCast (options from #4 above). They are the best solutions in the all-in-one category, from $115–432. However, their biggest advantage for casual consumers – their built-in camera (and sometimes light) – is their biggest weakness for public or professional communicators. That is, you can’t use high-end equipment in your setup, such as a DSLR camera, camcorder or custom lighting effects. This limits your production quality, and your options in general. I feel the benefits of these setups don’t exceed the drawbacks enough for most consumers to go out of their way to buy and use regularly.

Now at the top-end of the market, Google Project Starline is a booth with a 4K monitor, multiple cameras, AI processing, and special compression technology. This version was estimated to cost tens of thousands of dollars, if you could even buy it. The next gen version promises to be smaller and cheaper, but still a commercial grade installation for large businesses.

Bottom line: The Convo Caster™ is not the cheapest solution. And it’s not the ultimate videoconferencing technology. Rather, it is maximum production value, along with greatly improved user experience, at an affordable price. The result is worth the effort and expense for professional communicators.

Camera compatibility

The Convo Caster™ is designed for high production quality on a reasonable budget, so almost any camera will fit in the enclosure – including

webcams
mirrorless DSLR cameras
camcorders
and even some commercial broadcast cameras.

An adaptor may be needed to achieve the right height (using a third-party mount). Multiple threaded-hole sizes available.

Microphone

In-camera microphones will have poor reception because they’re isolated behind the enclosure. A high-quality, external microphone is highly recommended.

Compatible computers

The Convo Caster’s platform will hold almost any 2-in-1 convertible laptop or tablet, with up to a 16” (diagonal) screen, that lays flat. A 16” screen is ideal. Slightly larger screens may work okay, but their edges may overhang the platform, and not be visible in the mirror from certain angles. Smaller screens work, but the experience isn’t as good. Touch-enabled device recommended.

System requirements for MirrorMod™ software

2-in-1 laptop or tablet PC running Windows 11.
MirrorMod™ software effectively runs a 2^nd (virtual) monitor on top of the primary monitor screen (the only software I know of that does this for PC), so you need a fast computer to avoid lag. A dedicated graphics chip helps. Therefore, MirrorMod™ probably will not work well with graphics- and processor-intensive video games.
For Apple users: No Macbooks currently lay flat, so they won’t work in a one-monitor setup. But some iPads can be used in a two-monitor setup. That is, Mac, Macbook or PC as screen #1, connected to iPad as screen #2 – using software such as Luna Display, Duet Display/Duet Air (paid versions), or Sidecar (included in recent Macs) to connect computer to external monitor (i.e., in lieu of MirrorMod™). Several softwares will connect and mirror flip a 2nd screen.

Tripod options

The provided tripod is the only one approved for desktop use (i.e., sturdy and balanced enough). Others can tip over. However, large-footprint, heavy-duty tripods can be used to hold the Convo Caster™, while another tripod holds your camera, in a floor-standing, two-tripod setup. Multiple threaded-hole sizes available.

Drawbacks

Keyboard access

When your convertible laptop is in tablet mode, you can’t use your keyboard. So if you need to type a lot while you’re presenting, you may want to go with a two-screen setup. You can do this with a Convo Caster™, two computers (one is used just as a display), and third-party software such as Duet Air to “extend” and mirror flip your display.

Gallery view

The Convo Caster™ is not designed to improve the way you see video calls in gallery view (a grid of many participants). It does help in this case, but its wheelhouse is really one-to-one communication. Consider switching to “display the person talking” mode for best results.

PRICING & AVAILABILITY

The Convo Caster™ is currently in open beta sales to the public.

Convo Caster complete kit: $599.
Convo Caster main body (à la carte): $499.
Desktop tripod: $36.
MirrorMod™ software (à la carte): $75.