I often get asked what I use for streaming. I'm nosy about other models' equipment too, so here you go! If anyone has suggestions for upgrades or wants to sponsor new equipment, you can send me a gift at wishtender.com/larah_sky .
The photo above is a realistic look at what my desk looks like. I could have tidied it but this more accurately reflects what I work with.
There will be a lot of links and info on this page (sorry) but hopefully, some of you will find this useful. This page contains affiliate links
Webcam - Logitech C920
I have 2 of these. One for home, and one for travel. I've used this for years and the only real issue I've had is the mic can be a bit muted. There's a reason this is a camgirl basic.
I generally use this for filming clips but it can be used for streaming too. It gives great-quality images with good autofocus. The mic doesn't seem to work when you stream though and you have to use the cable that was supplied with it or it won't stream and charge at the same time (or use a dummy battery).
Note that if you use a dummy battery or connect to power while filming you should use a mic that isn't connected to the camera or you'll get an electrical hum in all your clips.
Once it's set up it's so fast to use. I wanted one for months before buying it and it's made such a difference to my streaming experience. I would recommend getting the standard 15 key size over the small.
You can also program this with shortcuts for photoshop and editing software.
This mic gives good audio and comes with an app to adjust the background noise, tone, etc. I'm considering upgrading but for now this works well.
I have it sitting on the desk but sometimes have it on a boom arm.
I only use one point of light just now with a cover over it to soften the light. I sometimes use a desk lamp if I want more warmth or extra lighting. My main light is on a boom arm.
Currently considering upgrading to an elgato keylight or neewer keylight.
I usually take a clip on ring light when travelling to save space.
I use this for my ring light and sometimes mic if I feel like moving around more.
I find this really easy to use and fast to set up. I did have to drill a hole to one side to mount the screen arm as I have a large all-in-one computer and single screen, instead of 2 screens on the computer arm. I haven't had any issues with stability.
Treadmill / walking pad
I set this to a low speed when I'm editing videos. It helps me zone out and concentrate. I find the noise at a low speed quite quiet but I do wear headphones sometimes anyway due to my noisy neighbours.
Noise cancellation is good. It did take me a while to get used to the button functions.
I like the way it looks on my desk but I wish I'd got a more poweful desktop now that I do more editing. Otherwise it's perfectly ok for streaming and basic tasks.
When I travel I used to use a Dell XPS which is great for video and photo editing but I had to replace due to its age. I still use it at my studio when streaming there. Now I use a HP Probook which works well for travel but I wouldn't use all the time due to the screen size. I'm very used to having two screens when I stream and edit so struggle with one.
I store all of my clips and pics on here as I can move between my computers. It's faster than dropbox when I need to edit files and I like to have something physically there.
This dock is useful for connecting your laptop to your other screens or desktop if you want to ake. It makes it easy to keep your desk set up if you are taking parts away for travel etc.
I still have to use the ports on my desktop for some things such as SD card but this makes cables more accessible and is useful to quickly add and take away parts of the set up.
It only has 4 USB so I still need to use a multi-USB extension as I have so many cables.
Ethernet Adaptors & Multi USB
When streaming you want to be wired into your internet for the least lag and most reliable connection.
You're also going to need a few USB connections if you want to improve your quality. I use a USB-C to ethernet adaptor with USB ports on my laptop and a multi-USB on my desktop.
Editing Software
Affinity - I love this software! I mainly use publisher but have all three programs. I changed from using adobe last year and this software is a good replacement. It takes a while to get used to the new shortcuts but you can also set your own shortcuts to make things easier. For a one-off price instead of a monthly subscription it's a great investment.
Affinity Designer + Publisher is great for making transparent text overlays or title cards with images. I tend to use Canva when I'm lazy and affinity when I want something more custom. Time wise they take around the same to design but Canva needs less thought.
Canva - for fast edits and thumbnails. I use pro for the background removal tool - this can be done in affinity but I find canva faster when I don't want to spend much time planning my designs.
Corel Video Studio 2023 - I originally bought this in 2021 and have upgraded twice as the yearly updates were released. I use the ultimate version. It is a one-off fee but has additional software packages and upgrades yearly.
I wanted an easy-to-use program that I could use with my green screen. I do find the software a little limiting for some of the editing I want to do, but it works well for me to edit quickly without spending hundreds per year.
Streaming Software
OBS - I love being able to change screens quickly and add overlays and animations.
MFC Alerts - makes cute tip notifications, can add countdown on screen, top tipper, etc
Charlesbot - useful for making in-room announcements.
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