Gear · Studio & desk
The gear I use. And what I'd buy first.
Everything on my desks, straight from my device inventory. Eight categories, two honest answers each: what I use every day, and what I would tell you to start with instead.
The map
Eight categories.
The video
The creator gear beginners should buy first. It's not mine.
Category 01
Camera
Start with the phone you already have. If it gives you clean footage and reliable focus, it is the better camera until your workflow outgrows it.
Your phone becomes the limitation: lenses, low light or long recordings.
Nothing from this category is in the inventory yet. Check back soon.
Category 02
Audio
Buy the mic that matches how you record. Sitting at a desk? A desk mic on an arm. Moving around? Then wireless earns its charging and pairing.
You move while you record, or bad audio is the thing viewers notice first.
EMEET Airflow Headphones
Open-ear headphones for comfortable all-day wear during work sessions.
In useFifine M9
Budget premium lavalier microphone compatible with any device. Used for mobile recording.
In useFifine Tank 1
Studio XLR mic on budget. USB/XLR connectivity for recording and streaming.
In useFifine Tank 3
Budget USB/XLR microphone for content creation and podcasting.
In useLogitech Zone Vibe 125
Wireless headset for meetings and calls. Comfortable for extended use.
In useMaono PD100X
XLR microphone for professional audio recording and podcasting.
In useMaonocaster G1 Neo
Audio interface/mixer for podcast and streaming setup.
In useNearStream AMIX40U Audio Interface
Multi-channel audio interface for advanced recording setups.
In useSamson G-Track Pro
USB professional microphone with multiple polar patterns (cardioid, figure-eight, omni). Built-in mixing and headphone monitoring. First unboxing video on channel, helped grow from 150 to 4K+ subscribers.
In useSwanScout 707M
Wireless lavalier microphone for on-the-go content creation.
In useTurtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen3
Gaming headset also used for content creation and audio monitoring.
In useFifine SC-3 Audio Interface
Audio interface/mixer for podcast and recording setup. Reviewed on channel.
On the review benchMaono PS22 Audio Interface
Audio interface for XLR microphone connectivity and audio production.
On the review benchSANAG C16S Open-Ear Headphones
Open-ear design headphones for situational awareness while working.
On the review benchSoundPeats PearlClip Pro
Clip-on wireless earbuds for mobile use and travel.
On the shelf
Category 03
Lighting
Sit near a window and learn position before you buy power. A modest light in the right place beats an expensive one used badly.
You need the room to look the same at any time of day.
Nothing from this category is in the inventory yet. Check back soon.
Category 04
Computer
One machine that handles your heaviest regular task. Find the bottleneck before the budget; proxies kept my old laptop editing 4K.
A real bottleneck, not a spec sheet.
- Reign Vanguard Zeus
Custom Desktop PC
Custom desktop PC for content creation, DevOps work, and heavy workloads. Windows-based setup.
In use - Lenovo
Lenovo Tab M9
Tablet with folio case for mobile content consumption and productivity.
In use - Lenovo
Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i
16-inch 3.2K Mini-LED display, Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, 64GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, Luna Grey finish. Primary laptop for DevOps work and content creation.
In use - Samsung
Samsung Tab S9
Premium Android tablet for content creation and mobile work.
In use
Category 05
Storage
Enough local storage, a predictable folder structure and one separate backup. Centralise later.
Several machines (or people) need the same files and you lose track of the current copy.
Synology DS423+ NAS
4-bay NAS for automated backups, Docker testing lab, private cloud (Synology Drive), Plex media server, content archive, and remote access via Tailscale VPN.
In use
Category 06
Desk setup
Copy principles, not products. Find the action you repeat every morning, like plugging in four cables, and remove it.
Multiple machines share one desk and switching between them is friction.
- Dell
Dell WL3024
Wireless monitor for flexible workspace configuration.
In use Elgato Stream Deck Pedal
In useElgato Stream Deck Plus
LCD keys with touch strip for studio automation, OBS scene switching, and workflow orchestration. Used as control plane for recording setup.
In useEVICIV Portable Monitor
Portable monitor for dual-screen setup while traveling or working in coffee shops.
In useHiDock P1 AI Meeting Copilot
AI-powered meeting notes and transcription device for capturing meeting insights.
In useLogitech MX Creative Console
Productivity console with dial and keypad for video editing in DaVinci Resolve and OBS control. Premium metal build.
In useLogitech MX Master 3S
Premium wireless mouse for productivity workflows.
In useStream Dock Slim
Compact stream control device for quick access to streaming functions.
In useMT-VIKI DisplayPort KVM Switch
KVM switch for managing multiple computers with shared peripherals.
On the shelfX-Central Monitor Stand
Ergonomic monitor stand for workspace organization and improved posture.
On the shelf
Category 07
Teleprompter
Not first. Try it on one scripted video a month and let it earn its setup time.
Scripted long form becomes a repeated part of your process.
Nothing from this category is in the inventory yet. Check back soon.
Category 08
Webcam
If your work is calls, teaching and tutorials, a good webcam can beat a creator camera because it is always ready. Fix light and audio first.
Readiness matters more to you than the last bit of image quality.
EMEET StreamCam One
Webcam for streaming and recording. Part of content creation setup.
In useObsbot Tiny 2
4K webcam with AI tracking and auto-framing. Used for video calls and content recording.
In use
Extras
Everything else
Not every gadget fits the creator map. These are the extras that live around the desk.
It solves a problem you actually have.
Amazfit Balance Smart Watch
Smart watch for health tracking and productivity.
In use
The starter kit
If I were starting from zero, in this order.
- Whatever camera you already have that produces a usable image. Don't buy a new one yet.
- Reliable audio that fits how you record.
- Basic lighting, or better use of the natural light you have.
- Enough storage, plus a real backup of it.
- An editing machine that handles your workload.
- A stable stand or tripod and simple desk ergonomics.
Only once you're publishing regularly: a teleprompter, extra lenses, capture hardware, a NAS, a switcher, control surfaces and premium lighting. Every one of those has a trigger, and the trigger is the workflow, not the fact that I own the thing.
- Some of this gear was sent to me for review
- Some links may be affiliate links
- Neither changes what I recommend
Your turn
What did you buy too early?
Tell me the creator product you bought before your workflow was ready for it, or ask what fits your setup.