The Studio section¶
After loading sources, NotebookLM allows you to work on content through the Studio section, which contains a series of tools for processing data in different ways. Each tool is represented by a button: when the pencil icon appears, it means the tool is customizable.
The Studio section is located in the right column of the interface and represents the operational heart for transforming sources into structured content. Available tools range from multimedia content generation (audio and video) to creating educational materials (flashcards and quizzes), through visualizations (mind maps, infographics) and synthesis documents (reports, presentations, data tables).
All tools work on the sources selected at the moment they're activated: if you want to process only specific sources, simply select them before clicking the desired tool's button.
Audio Overview¶
Audio Overview generates a discussion between AI hosts who analyze and connect key topics in selected sources. The result isn't a simple text reading, but a dialogue reminiscent of a podcast format.
Clicking the pencil icon accesses customization.
Format: four options that determine the conversation's structure and style.
- Deep dive: an animated conversation between two hosts analyzing and connecting topics in the sources
- Brief: a concise overview to quickly grasp the main ideas
- Critique: an expert review of sources, with constructive feedback to help improve the material
- Debate: a thoughtful debate between two hosts illustrating different perspectives on the sources
Language: selectable from over 80 supported languages, including Italian.
Length: two options between Short and Default.
Custom prompt: allows you to indicate what the AI hosts should focus on. For example, you can ask them to focus on a specific source, a particular topic, or adapt the explanation to a specific audience.
Once audio is generated, to create another you must first delete the existing one; you can download it to your computer before deleting.
Interactive mode: for English audio, a feature is available that lets you participate in the conversation. While listening, you can interrupt the hosts to ask questions by voice; the hosts respond based on the sources and then resume the original discussion.
Video Overview¶
Video Overview transforms sources into a video of AI-narrated slides, automatically extracting images, diagrams, quotes, and numbers from uploaded documents.
Clicking the pencil icon accesses request customization.
Format: two available options.
- Explainer: a structured and detailed overview that relates the sources
- Brief: a quick overview to grasp the main ideas
Language: selectable from supported languages.
Visual style: determines the video's graphic appearance. Options include Classic, Whiteboard, Kawaii, and Anime, or you can leave automatic selection. With the Custom option, you can describe the desired style to generate a tailored one.
Guidance prompt: allows you to indicate what the AI hosts should focus on, specifying a use case, particular source, or program structure.
The video can be played directly in NotebookLM, downloaded, or shared via link.
Mind map¶
The mind map generates a graphic representation of relationships between key concepts present in sources. It's the only Studio section tool that doesn't allow customization, but offers a particularly useful visualization for getting an overview of content and identifying connections not immediately evident in linear reading.
Map structure¶
The result is an interactive diagram that positions the main topic on the left and organizes related themes in a branching hierarchical structure:
- Central node: the starting point on the left, represents the main topic of selected sources
- Primary nodes: main themes branching directly from the central node
- Secondary nodes: subtopics or specific aspects branching from primary nodes
- Terminal nodes: detailed information or specific examples at the map's edges
The number of levels isn't fixed but depends on topic complexity and number of sources.
Interacting with the map¶
The map is fully interactive:
- You can increase or decrease zoom and move between different areas
- Branches can be expanded to view subtopics or collapsed for a general view
- Clicking a node opens the chat with a detailed analysis of how that concept is treated in sources, with direct references to relevant passages
Exploration strategies¶
The map offers different approaches for exploring content:
Progressive exploration: start from the central node and follow branches toward increasingly specific details, useful for understanding the general structure of the knowledge corpus.
Targeted search: scan the map to quickly identify nodes relevant to a specific aspect, directly accessing desired information.
Connection identification: observe how some concepts appear in different branches, highlighting cross-cutting relationships between topics.
Gap detection: areas with less branching may indicate topics less developed in sources, suggesting where deeper exploration might be needed.
The map can be downloaded as an image or shared through the notebook.
Report¶
The Report button activates generation of synthesis documents based on a prompt describing the desired result. Clicking it opens a panel with two levels of options:
In the upper row are four available formats:
- Free format: allows writing any prompt to get the desired report type
- Summary: creates a content synthesis, with the possibility of adding custom requests
- Study guide: generates an organized structure for systematic learning
- Blog post: produces text suitable for online publication
In the second row, NotebookLM proposes report suggestions specifically calibrated to the loaded content. Having analyzed the sources, the system offers various hypotheses, all further customizable.
Clicking the pencil icons allows you to request analysis of only part of the sources, give more weight to certain topics, or specify preferred writing style.
Results are always textual and detailed, with references to original sources.
Flashcards¶
Flashcards are cards with a question or phrase to complete on one side and the answer on the other, a classic tool for study and memorization.
Configurable parameters:
Number of cards: three options between Fewer, Standard, and More.
Difficulty level: Easy, Medium, or Hard.
Custom prompt: allows specifying the flashcard topic. For example, you can limit cards to a specific source, focus on a particular topic, or request that the front contain few words to facilitate memorization.
Each flashcard includes an "Explain" button that generates a detailed explanation of the question and answer, with direct references to the source parts from which the information was derived.
Quiz¶
Quiz generates multiple-choice questions, each with four options of which only one is correct.
Configurable parameters:
Number of questions: three options between Fewer, Standard, and More.
Difficulty level: Easy, Medium, or Hard.
Custom prompt: allows specifying the quiz topic. For example, you can limit the quiz to a specific source, focus on key concepts of a topic, or create a quiz to prepare for an exam on a particular theme.
When you select an answer, the system confirms if it's correct or indicates the error and shows the right answer. Here too the "Explain" button generates a textual explanation with references to specific source parts.
Infographic¶
The infographic transforms source information into a visual summary presenting key points, data, and relationships between concepts in graphic format.
Customization:
Language: selectable from supported languages.
Orientation: Horizontal, Vertical, or Square, depending on intended use.
Detail level: three options between Concise, Standard, and Detailed (in beta).
Custom prompt: allows describing the desired infographic, specifying style, colors, or content to highlight. For example, you can request a specific color theme and indicate which statistics to emphasize.
The generated infographic can be downloaded as a PNG file or shared via link.
Presentation¶
The presentation reworks sources into a slide format, ideal for sharing or reviewing key concepts.
Customization includes:
Format: two options with different purposes.
- Detailed presentation: a complete presentation with text and details, perfect for sending via email or reading independently
- Presenter slides: clean, graphic slides with key discussion points to support the speaker
Language: selectable from supported languages.
Length: two options between Short and Default.
Custom prompt: allows describing the desired presentation, specifying overall structure, audience, style, and topic. For example, you can request a presentation for beginners with a bold and playful style, focused on step-by-step instructions.
The presentation can be viewed directly in NotebookLM in full-screen mode, downloaded as PDF, or shared via link.
Data table¶
The data table organizes information extracted from sources in tabular format, useful for comparisons, structured lists, and data synthesis.
Customization includes:
Language: selectable from supported languages.
Custom prompt: allows describing the desired table, specifying columns and type of information to extract. For example, you can request a table with main results from research articles organized by title, author, and key finding; or extract quotes grouped by topic and author; or create a list of items with specific characteristics in defined columns.
Actions on elements¶
When viewing the list of elements created in the section, on the right of each element you can see the three vertical dots icon. Clicking it opens a popup with possible actions, which may vary depending on the element's specific type.
An example of what you can do on a report:
Possible actions can range from changing the name to downloading the file, from viewing to sharing to deletion. Note that elements in document, presentation, and data table formats can be exported as documents and/or as tables to Google Drive managed with the same account used for NotebookLM.