I’ve had some ask how my office is set up, and what equipment I use for my various recordings. Since I do podcasts (RunGeekRadio), live streams (Beachcasts on Twitch), and video recording (Beachcasts on YouTube), I needed a versatile setup that facilitated all of these various activities. So, below I will share each aspect of my office/studio, and how I have it set up.
NOTE: I will return to this post from time to time and update it as I update equipment, so it will serve as a good resource to point folks at.
First, here is what takes up 6-feet wide by 5-feet deep. I often hear folks say they can’t do what I do because they don’t have space. Though, in reality, it is pretty compact.
I use 2 laptops, and one external monitor/TV.
Everything sits on an adjustable desk from Ikea. I really love this desk for its simplicity, along with being able to hide all the cords underneath because of the handy cord hammock under it. And it is motorized, making it a breeze to raise or lower. I typically set it to 26 inches high when sitting, and 43 inches when standing. Then I simply pull the standing mat forward, and I continue working in a very similar way whether sitting or standing.
Computers and Software
My primary laptop is a Dell 7000 series Inspiron with a 17-inch touch-screen. (No, I never move it. It’s basically a desktop rather than a laptop.) With an Intel i7 CPU, 16 GB RAM, and 1 TB SSD, it is able to handle most anything I throw at it even at 6 years old. I run Ubuntu 18.04 LTS as the OS, and yes, I am able to do anything I want to on it. Been using Ubuntu for 10 years, and always feel limited on Mac or Windows. This laptop sits on a SlateGo mobile laptop desk/pad, made of bamboo, which really helps keep it cool. I don’t think it is sold in this form factor any longer, which is sad.
I do all my audio recordings on this laptop using Audacity software.
With this laptop, I use a Maxkeyboard Nighthawk X8 mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX brown switches. I like the mechanical keyboard feel and feedback, and the brown switches give me just enough noise to enjoy the experience. There is a slight clicking, but not as clicky as the blue switches. I recently purchased some rubber rings to install on each key, so the bottoming out noise will not bother others when I’m on conference calls. I haven’t installed them yet.
I also use a Microsoft Arch mouse, but hate it because it is constantly falling asleep. I’ll be looking for something new soon, which is a shame because I otherwise like the mouse.
My external monitor at the moment, and for the past 6 years, is a Samsung 27 inch TV. However, I am looking at a new 32-inch curved screen Dell. So this may be changing soon. Santa is coming!
The monitor is mounted on a Humanscale M8 monitor arm, which is wonderful and strong. I get only minimal movement from it, even with such a large/heavy screen mounted on it. A new monitor will be much lighter and will be truly amazing.
The secondary laptop is a 13-inch Macbook Pro with Intel i5 CPU, 16 GB RAM, and 256 GB SSD. This laptop is what does all the recording, editing, and streaming of video to Twitch and YouTube. At the time of this writing, I am using OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) to record or stream, and I am using DaVinci Resolve 16 for video editing as needed.
The Mac is mounted on a Roost laptop stand. This was recommended to me by a few friends in the programming space, and it has been amazing. However, you will want an external keyboard and mouse to go with it, as it is hard to type when a laptop is raised from the table. So, next I will talk about those.
The external keyboard is the Apple Magic Keyboard, which is wireless and connects via Bluetooth. The feel of typing on it is really nice, and has a mechanical “feel”. Kinda like the old-style Macbook Pro keys, before they ruined them with butterflies. It charges via USB connection to the laptop, and only needs charged every 3 months.
Instead of a mouse as an external for the Mac I use the Apple Magic Trackpad. It is larger than the trackpad on the Mac, and has all the same features, including Force Touch feedback to simulate a click. It is also Bluetooth and only needs charged every 3 months.
How does it all work?
Yes, I record and stream video from the Mac, though all of my coding and activity is happening on the Dell. For 9 months I struggled doing streams and recordings on a single system. However, I found that running the required software for recording (OBS) and development (IDE, Docker, etc.) to be too much for a single system, even as strong as my laptops are. Which leads to a vital piece of hardware needed to do this, a capture card. I recently purchased the Razer Ripsaw HD capture card. (Not to be confused with the original Razer Ripsaw, which was garbage.) The desk clamp shown in the picture is an extra thing I bought to simply hold it steady on the back of my desk, and has a handy arm (it’s actually a headphone holder) for any cables not being used.
Why the Ripsaw HD? Because it is totally plug-n-play, and doesn’t require any additional software to work. And it also has 4K passthrough from the source to the external monitor. In addition, it sends 1080p video to the 2nd laptop at 60 fps.
How does the Ripsaw HD work? By using this capture card it enables me to capture the screen from the Dell, and use it in the OBS recording. To do this it sits in the middle of everything. Basically, the HDMI coming out of the Dell is plugged into the capture card, and then another HDMI goes from the capture card to the external monitor. This enables the Dell to use the monitor without any issues, up to 4K video. Meanwhile, there is another USB-c output on the Ripsaw HD that plugs into the USB or USB-c on the 2nd laptop, and can be used as a viewing video source. Then it is a simple matter to add it as a source in an OBS scene.
Audio/Video Stuff
Also for a video cam, I use the Logitech C920 webcam. At 1080p and 30 fps, it does a great job for under $70. I have 2 of them, and sometimes incorporate the 2nd as an additional view in b-roll footage. They are also handy when I travel, with an extra little hard case I picked up. It is a very versatile webcam. (I’ve added a Nexmo lens cover that can be opened/closed because I bought this up before they came out with the C920S that comes with a privacy cap.)
I’ve thought of upgrading to the Logitech Brio, but honestly, don’t see the need to spend an additional $200. Maybe someday, but for now the C920 does the job.
As for audio, I have 2 different configurations. For podcasting, and YouTube videos, I use the Rode Podcaster as my primary microphone. The sound is amazing, and hard to beat. I have it mounted on a Rode PSA1 studio boom arm, with a Rode PSM1 shock mount to prevent desk movement vibrations and sounds. It also has a Rode WS2 pop filter to help keep the audio crisp and free of pops from my talking.
It connects via USB to the Dell, and has an external headphone jack on the top that allows me to hear myself, and any system sounds, while I’m recording. As a dynamic mic, it is very directional and requires me to speak directly into it. This avoids any other background noises, like keyboard typing or air conditioning hums.
Additional audio is provided by a Rode Wireless Go setup. I’ve been using it for live streaming, so I’m not required to be close to the larger Podcaster mic. I also picked up the new Rode Lavalier Go to enable me to clip it on my t-shirt for ease of use, and then clip the Wireless Go on my belt. I picked up an added SC7 cable for connection to a mobile device or Mac.
Lighting
As the last bit of equipment, this would not be complete without talking about lighting. In addition to overhead lights, and natural light coming from the large window beside my desk, I’ve added some face lights that help eliminate shadows, and enable the webcam to do a much better job. They were created with a few parts. First, there are 2 inexpensive tripods to use as holders. Each one holds a square Tolifo LED panel light that has adjustable brightness. (here are the power adapters to go with them)
However, I found that even at lower levels the light was a little harsh and needed some diffusion. That is when I picked up the added panels and arms to hold them. This made all the difference in the quality of light, and means I do not have blaring light forced into my eyeballs. Yay, I can actually see the displays! It is very soft, and provides a great spread.
Extras
Some may have noticed the additional Bluetooth speaker on the desk. This is the JBL Charge 3, which is connected to a Google Chromecast Audio and plays music most of the time each day. It has great sound, but I don’t think either of these things are produced any longer.
Closing
I hope you found this enlightening/helpful. Let me know if there are any other aspects of the setup you’d like more details on. And watch for a future post on how I set up OBS.