LAST UPDATED: 24 JULY 2020
This is a rundown of all the gear that I am currently using to record. It frequently changes as I test out new gear for a review. Please keep in mind, this is complete overkill, and you DO NOT need this type of setup to make content. You can easily get by with a $50 webcam and $50 microphone.
AUDIO RECORDING
Neumann U67 Reissue
This is one of the holy grail microphones that was reissued by Nuemann. This is not a simple clone or mock of the original, it is as close to the original U67 as you can possibly get with a few components updated to meet current electrical requirements and the tube used due to issues with availability. I am unable to determine if this is an exact sound of the U67, but I have read some people saying that it sounds like a U67 sounded like right out of the box, and others say it is quite different. All I can say is I think it sounds excellent.
Buy it on Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/NrO97
Hakan P110 Pop Filter
This is not a pretty pop filter but it is marketed as one of the most transparent options on the market. It does not color the tone of your microphone, but it protects it from plosives. It’s the epitome of a piece of gear doing it’s job and doing it well.
Hakan P110 Pop Filter: https://imp.i114863.net/Za2Ag
Mogami XLR Cables
You don’t need the highest quality cables, but if you buy these they will help reduce any kind of RF interference and they can really take a beating.
Buy it on Amazon: ttps://geni.us/mogami
Buy it on Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/1xeW9
OC White Ultima Pro
This boom arm is more expensive than a lot of microphones. You DO NOT need an arm like this. I got this because there were very few low profile boom arms available at the time. This style is perfect for video as it helps keep the boom arm from blocking your face:
Buy it from OC White: https://www.ocwhite.com
Universal Audio X8
This thunderbolt 3 audio interface is insane. It has amazing preamps and A/D converters, and also has DSP processing built in so you can run UA’s plugins with near 0 latency.
Buy it on Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/zMg2r
Furman M-8x2 Power Conditioner
This helps reduce any kind of noise that is introduced to your recording from dirty power. There’s nothing more to be said about this thing. It’s a power strip that helps reduce noise.
Buy it on Amazon: https://geni.us/M8x2
Buy it on Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/OqBmW
Audimute Treatment
This is high quality sound treatment to help reduce reflections around your room, and to help limit sound from outside making it into your studio or from inside your studio to the outside.
Buy it from Audimute: https://www.audimute.com/
AUDIO PLAYBACK
Neumann KH80 Monitors
These are excellent near field monitors. I have limited space so I wanted smaller speakers, and these have a surprising extension into the lower frequencies.
Buy them on Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/vMzZv
Isoacoustics Stands
If you have your monitors directly on your desk, you have them setup wrong. First, the speakers will resonate on your desk and affect what you’re hearing. Secondly, they will be at the incorrect level. You want them at or near ear level. These stands accomplish both things.
Buy them on Amazon: https://geni.us/isostand
Buy them on Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/yMgm3
Sony MDR7506
These headphones are very bright, but they are my go to tracking headphones because they have a good amount of isolation which limits bleed into the microphone, and they allow me to hear every single detail of what I’m recording.
Buy them on Amazon: https://geni.us/7506
Buy them on Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/KbKZN
Sennheiser HD650
So far out of all the headphones I’ve tried (which is more than I’d care to admit) these are my favorite sounding. They are a bit on the dark side, but maintain a nice amount of detail as well as having a nice soundstage. However, since they are open back headphones, they aren’t ideal for tracking.
Buy them on Amazon: https://geni.us/sennhd650
Buy them on Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/mMR2M
VIDEO RECORDING
Canon 90d
I would have been perfectly happy sticking with the Canon 70d if it had clean HDMI output. That’s why I upgraded to this camera. It allows for clean HDMI output, 4k video, and if you’re in the Canon ecosystem it works great.
Buy it on Amazon: https://geni.us/c90d
El Gato Cam Link
This captures 4k footage from an HDMI source into your computer. I use it if I want to use my Canon 90d as a webcam for live streams. Simple enough.
Buy it on Amazon: https://geni.us/egcam
Sigma 18-35mm Lens
I really like the canon 10-18mm lens for wide angle, but it didn’t provide me an aperture wide enough to get decent bokeh. That’s why I picked this guy up and it does everything I want it to.
Buy it on Amazon: https://geni.us/s1835
Canon 10-18mm Lens
This was my main lens for years, and I love it. But it didn’t provide me the depth of field I wanted. I now use it for my b-roll when I am doing overhead shots of what’s in the box.
Buy it on Amazon: https://geni.us/can1018
Canon 24mm Lens
It’s a pretty wide angle lens, and it has a wide aperture. If 50mm is too tight, and 18mm is too wide, this is what I’ll throw on my camera.
Buy it on Amazon: https://geni.us/can24
Canon 50mm Lens
My studio is a bit too small to get a lot of use out of this. I got this for photography, but if I do want a tighter shot, or if I’m far away from my camera in a different room, I’ll grab this lens.
Buy it on Amazon: https://geni.us/can50
K&F Tripod
This is a higher tier tripod than I’m used to, but the reason I picked it up is because it has a relatively fluid head, but most importantly it has a tilting boom arm that allows me to get overhead shots of my desk without having a bulky overhead system.
Buy it on Amazon: https://geni.us/kftripod
El Gato Desktop Camera Mount
This is something I’ve been wanting for years. A desktop camera mount. This clip right on to your desk, have a fairly long extension and have a typical camera threading.
Buy it on Amazon: https://geni.us/egmount
Neewer Flexible Panel Lights
This is another piece of kit that I had been wanting for a long time. They are extremely light flexible light panels that are relatively affordable compared to the competition. As far as color accuracy…I have no idea because I’m color blind.
Buy it on Amazon: https://geni.us/newfoldlight
Limostudio Softbox
I don’t know if this is a particularly good light, but it acts as my hair light and hangs over my head. I’ve been using it for maybe 4 or 5 years and had no problems.
Buy it on Amazon: https://geni.us/limolight
GUITAR
Boss TU3
This is the first pedal every guitarist / bassist should buy. If you can’t play in tune, you won’t sound good, regardless of how amazing you are at your instrument.
Buy it on Amazon: https://geni.us/btu3
Buy it on Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/QDP6o
TC Electronics Ditto Looper
This is a fun song writing tool. It allows you to quickly layer ideas on top of each other, so you can record a rhythm part and come up with a lead part quickly. I use it for microphone shootouts to record a guitar clip and remove any variability due to guitar performance.
Buy it on Amazon: https://geni.us/ditloop
Buy it on Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/Pxj6e
Friedman Dirty Shirley Pedal
This is one of my favorite sounding preamp / distortion / overdrive pedals. It gives just the right amount of grit. It also has the versatility to go from a classic rock sound to a full on metal sound. I love this thing!
Buy it on Amazon: https://geni.us/dirtyshirley
Buy it on Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/ezvAO
Earthquaker Devices Avalanche Run
This is a nice reverb and delay pedal. I use it for my lead tones to add a bit of character and depth. It’s not my favorite reverb or delay tone, but it gets the job done.
Buy it on Amazon: https://geni.us/avrun
Buy it on Sweetwater: https://imp.i114863.net/rM4XG
Revv D20
After years of using the Marshall DSL15h, and years of being unhappy with the tone, I finally upgraded my amp the Revv D20. This is an amp of a completely different breed, it is a pedal platform. It is 4 or 20 watts, it has USB out, it has two notes sims and it is insanely fully featured, and fits my needs perfectly. Probably wouldn’t be loud enough for gigging, but for studio recording, it’s ideal.
Buy it on Amazon: https://imp.i114863.net/7ZjaA
Box of Doom ISO Cab
This cab literally saved my YouTube channel and allowed me to keep making reviews that include music tests. This is an isolation cab that decreased the sound from the speaker by around -30dB! Let me know in the comments if you want a full video on this cab. I might make one anyways because it did so much for me.
Buy it from Symbioses: https://www.theboxofdoom.com/brands/box-of-doom/
COMPUTERS & PERIPHERALS
2017 27” iMac
This thing works fine. It has a beautiful display, and handles my really hefty 1080p video editing fine. Although when I have 3 video streams at the same time, it does start to get choked up. An upgraded version might be a better option.
Buy it from Apple: https://www.apple.com/
Keychron K2 (Blues)
The only decent mechanical keyboard for mac that I could find before this was the Das Keyboard. Then I saw this wireless K2, and ordered it with the blue switches immediately. It does everything it needs to do, feels great to type on and sounds awesome. One thing I would like is a 10-key.
Buy it on Amazon: ttps://geni.us/k2blue
Logitech MX Master 2s
It’s a very full featured mouse, but the thing I love most about it is the ergonomics, and the battery life. It lasts 30 days and feels great no matter how long you’re editing a video.
Buy it on Amazon: https://geni.us/mx2s
Apple Magic Trackpad
I almost exclusively use this for video and audio editing to scrub through the timeline quicker, and to swtich between my desktops on Mac. It’s really nice to have the gesture controls.
Buy it from Apple: https://www.apple.com/