I ignored NotebookLM's customization tools for months, and it was a mistake
by Anu Joy · Android PoliceNotebookLM has become one of my favorite AI tools for making sense of large amounts of information.
Whether I am researching a topic, reviewing documents, or trying to understand a lengthy report, it does an impressive job of turning source material into something more manageable.
For a long time, though, I used NotebookLM's generated outputs exactly as they came.
I would create Audio Overviews, Mind Maps, or summaries, and accept whatever the tool produced by default. The results were often good, but they did not always match what I wanted.
That changed when I started experimenting with NotebookLM's customization options.
Instead of relying on the default outputs, I began giving the tool more specific instructions about the format, audience, and information I wanted it to focus on.
Now, customizing NotebookLM's outputs is one of the first things I do whenever I create a new notebook.
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Custom prompts made Audio Overviews far more useful
Audio Overviews were the first place where I realized how much I had been leaving on the table by relying on NotebookLM's default outputs.
To customize an Audio Overview, click the arrow button on Audio Overview and enter a prompt describing what you want the hosts to focus on.
You can also choose from several preset options, including Deep Dive, Brief, Critique, and Debate, depending on the type of discussion you're looking for.
NotebookLM even lets you adjust the episode length, with Short, Default, and Long options available.
NotebookLM also helps by suggesting prompt ideas based on the contents of your notebook.
At the bottom of the prompt window, you'll find several notebook-specific suggestions that can help guide the discussion without having to come up with everything yourself.
For example, if I'm reviewing a long report, I don't need a broad discussion of every major point. Instead, I might ask NotebookLM to focus on actionable takeaways or explain the most important findings.
The resulting audio feels less like it's tailored to my specific goals.
Mind Maps became more useful when I gave them direction
At first, I treated NotebookLM's Mind Maps as a quick way to visualize a notebook's contents.
The results were usually fine, but it did not always organize them in the way I wanted. That is because NotebookLM was making its own decisions about which concepts deserved the most attention and how they should be connected.
After I started customizing the output, the Mind Maps became much more useful.
When reviewing a long report, I could have it highlight key themes and supporting evidence.
For project planning, I could ask it to emphasize tasks, dependencies, and outcomes.
NotebookLM's Data Tables are only as good as the prompt
One of the most useful NotebookLM features I've discovered is the ability to generate tables from my source material.
At first, I used the default version, which often produced a reasonable overview of the information. But like many of NotebookLM's outputs, the results became much more useful after I started customizing them.
Instead of asking for a generic table, I began specifying exactly what I wanted to compare.
For example, while reviewing multiple articles on the same topic, I could ask NotebookLM to create columns for key arguments, supporting evidence, limitations, and conclusions.
The customization doesn't need to be elaborate, either. Even simple instructions such as "compare these sources by their recommendations" or "create a table of key findings and supporting evidence" can produce more useful results than the default output.
The customization goes much further
Audio Overviews, Mind Maps, and Data Tables are only part of the story. The same customization tools appear throughout NotebookLM.
Video Overviews allow you to select formats like explainers or briefs, modify the visual style, and instruct the AI hosts on what to emphasize.
Flashcards and quizzes allow you to control the number of questions, difficulty level, and even provide custom instructions.
You can tailor Slide Decks for different audiences and presentation lengths, while reports offer templates ranging from study guides to briefing documents.
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The real magic happens before you click Generate
NotebookLM works much better when you give it some direction.
A few extra seconds spent customizing an output can completely change the result, whether that means focusing an Audio Overview on specific takeaways or organizing a Mind Map around a particular question.
The default outputs are still useful when you need a quick overview.
But if you are using NotebookLM regularly, it is worth exploring the customization options hidden behind those small arrow buttons.