ROCKING VIRTUAL MEETINGS

Laptops

Lenovo ThinkPad
MEDIUM
Price: $624.99

I am using three laptops in my setup. I like to be able to run a power point on my main laptop, my whiteboard camera on a second laptop and have the third one free to pull up websites or other materials to share with my audience during the meeting.

Mixer

Mackie ProFX Series
LOW/SPLURGE
Price: $299.97

The mixer isn’t strictly necessary, but it is nice to have all the audio from our different sources in one place. It’s also nice to have the ability to monitor the audio through my headphones to hear exactly what the audience is hearing. And have physical volume and mute buttons.

Switcher

Datavideo SE-3200 HD-12
LOW/SPLURGE
Price: $5499.99

It’s an indulgence, but this switcher is the Cadillac of switchers. I love that the control panel is separate from the body of the unit, so it can sit on my desktop without a bunch of wires coming out of the back. The Blackmagic switchers are pretty, but don’t offer the open source functionality of the Datavideo model.

Recorder

Datavideo HDR-1
LOW/SPLURGE
Price: $499.00

I love that this unit records onto a USB stick instead of onto a proprietary tape or SD Card. Plus, it has a button for quick recording and snapshots. You can record using software, but it’s always reassuring to see the pulsing red light on this physical box as a backup.

Capture Card

HD60 Pro
MEDIUM
Price: $240.00

You need a way to get the video from your cameras and other sources into your PC.

Capture Card

Blackmagic Design DeckLink Duo 2
LOW
Price: $495.00

This will bring four sources into your PC to make it easier to control all your cameras using your broadcast software.

Network Switch

NETGEAR 5-Port Gigabit
MEDIUM
Price: $28.99

Having wired internet for your streamPC and other devices will bring stability to your system. You don’t want your internet to be unstable while you’re broadcasting on Zoom!

Stream PC

Origin Neuron
LOW/SPLURGE
Price: $3324.00

The Stream Decks are great for one button control of what’s going on. They come in different sizes and are highly versatile. Allows worry free control during a presentation.

HDMI Splitter

Techole
LOW
Price: $16.99

Used to split an HDMI signal so I can send the feed from one source to my recorder and a screen simultaneously.

HDMI/Audio Splitter

J-Tech Digital
LOW/SPLURGE
Price: $34.99

Using this device to embed audio in my recordings.

HDMI to SDI

Blackmagic
MEDIUM
Price: $55.00

Depending on what kind of Switcher you buy, you’ll need these converters to change from HDMI to SDI format. The Switcher is an investment, but don’t forget all the converters and cables you’ll need to support your configuration.

SDI to HDMI

Blackmagic
MEDIUM
Price: $55.00

Convert SDI back to HDMI depending on your switcher.

Main Camera

PTZOptics
MEDIUM
Price: $1699.99

Get a good camera. It makes a big difference. I like that this one has the ability to pan, tilt and zoom with a remote. I also like that it has multiple outputs so that using it is highly flexible.

Room Cameras

Akaso V50X
MEDIUM
Price: $99.99

These Akaso cameras give me just as good of a shot for 20% of the price of a go pro! Plus, the Go Pro has a weird feature where when it starts up, you always have to press buttons to get it to show a live shot. The Akaso just works.

Whiteboard Camera

Kaptivo
MEDIUM
Price: $295.00

This camera makes it easy to turn a regular whiteboard into a virtual accessory. The software converts the whiteboard images into a PDF automatically to make it easy to share with colleagues and clients after or during your meeting.

Camera Mount

Arkon Camera Wall Mount
MEDIUM
Price: $37.48

You are always going to want to tweak the camera angles or the lights a little and it is very frustrating to tweak unless you have a good camera mount with the ability to move on every axis. So, yes, these mounts are crazy expensive, but ultimately, they are worth it.

Microphone

Blue Yeti
HIGH
Price: $129.99

A great microphone for picking up everything in a studio. I mounted mine to a pole on the ceiling in the middle of the room. Perfect for vocals, musical instruments, podcasting, voiceovers, interviews, field recordings, conference calls.

In Ear Monitor

Shure PSM300
LOW/SPLURGE
Price: $799.99

“Easy to setup and operate, PSM300 systems offer one-touch frequency scan and sync to find and assign a clean wireless channel; adjust the volume and use Mix Mode technology or stereo mode to create a personal mix from two channels of audio.”

Custom Molded Pilot Earpieces

PilotStuff
LOW/SPLURGE
Price: $149.00

This camera makes it easy to turn a regular whiteboard into a virtual accessory. The software converts the whiteboard images into a PDF automatically to make it easy to share with colleagues and clients after or during your meeting.

Lavalier Microphone

Shure WL185
LOW
Price: $108.00

This company sends you special putty that you put in your ears to make a mold. You then send them back the molds and they use them to create custom earbuds for whatever headset you have for your system. It makes my Shure 215 Earbuds a lot more comfortable to wear for a long day of online meetings.

OBS

Open Broadcast Software
HIGH
Price: FREE

This is the software that I use to control all of the different scenes, transitions and sources during my presentations. It’s user friendly, it’s versatile and it’s free!

Voice-Meeter

VB-Audio
HIGH
Price: FREE

You’re going to need software to help set up all of your audio if you get into using multiple inputs and a mixer.

Spotify

Spotify
MEDIUM
Price: $15.99/12

Playing music during meetings to start the meeting, during breaks, and at the end of meetings has been very well received by my audiences.

SoundFX

Artlist
LOW
Price: FREE

A well placed sound effect can help you firm up a point during a virtual meeting or provide comic relief to combat Zoom Fatigue!

Blackout Curtains

Nicetown
HIGH
Price: $31.95

To control the light in my studio and be fashionable… I recommend the “Fresh Green” color!

Studio Lights

Viltrox
HIGH
Price: $54.99

I like that these lights are easy to use and come with the option of battery power. I also like that they have filters and gates on them to soften the light. And, I have 7 of these in my studio, which can all be controlled with one remote. If I had it to do all over, I might consider the Elgato lights since they can be controlled thru a Stream Deck.

Acoustic Tiles

DEKIRU
HIGH
Price: $38.86

I put a few on the ceiling and a few on the far wall to deaden the echo/reverberation in the room.

Table Cover

Banner Buzz
LOW/SPLURGE
Price: $27.00

It’s a nice touch!

Personal Protective Equipment

Allegro Industries 9910-10
HIGH
Price: $22.84

Better safe than sorry during your meetings, even if they are over zoom. Important to have some laughs during these tough times. Whenever I put this hood on during a virtual meeting it always gets a smile from the audience!

Air Conditioner

Frigidaire FGRQ0633U1
MEDIUM
Price: $349.99

All this equipment in a studio room has the consequence of making it very warm! Lots of heat generated by the lights and equipment. I researched the quietest window A/C unit on the market and this Frigidaire somehow keeps the room cool and is whisper quiet!

Cable Labeler

Brady BMP21-PLUS-KIT1
LOW
Price: $185.94

The professional way to label your miles of cable. Makes troubleshooting and upgrading much easier!

Professional Installers

HIGH

I had a lot of help selecting the equipment, configuring it and installing it from professionals on the hardware and software side of this studio. If you want help setting up your studio, please email Jonathan@Recession.com and I am happy to refer you to the professionals that helped me get my system built and optimized!