I personally find it interesting to see what people’s streaming and/or recording setups are like, so when I was doing interviews with streamers and community members that’s one question I’d always ask, and try to get a picture from them to share. I had my camera out and took some pictures of my current studio setup, so thought I’d share them. I recently moved my entire setup twice, once to a new spot and then back again because the new one didn’t work out like I thought it would.
Here’s how my current streaming / recording setup looks.
And here’s a look at my embarrassing cable hell behind the desk.
And here’s the view from where I sit as I stream and record.
Perhaps you’re curious about specifics. So, here’s my view, but annotated.
My main machine is a iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017), 4.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, 64 GB 2400 MHz DDR4, and Radeon Pro 580 8 GB. I have wired and wireless Apple keyboards, and wireless Apple mouse. I also have a wired Razer gaming mouse. I use the wired KB and mouse so I don’t destroy battery whilst gaming. I use the less than great built-in camera for my face. On my iMac I run OBS for streaming and scene switching. The iMac does most of the work, both playing and streaming.
On the table I have a Raspberry Pi 400, which currently pretty much only runs Foundry VTT so far. The Pi is plugged my Elgato HD 60 S+. The Elgato is then connected to an HDMI splitter box which right now feeds only a 27″ Sceptre 1440p 144Hz monitor. Of course, the Eglato is connected to my iMac via USB for AV capture. Not shown is my Nvidia Shield TV, on which I pretty much only run GeForce Now, or at least I did when it worked, for video game play and streaming. The Shield would simply be swapped into place instead of the Pi.
For both computing devices on the table, I use wired 1 Gbps / Cat 7 ethernet which connects directly to a 1 Gbps fiber router. Elsewhere in the house I use a Wifi 6 wireless mesh router, to which I connect all my other devices.
Under the table is also a 1000VA/600W UPS with 10 Outlets, and I pretty much use all of them. It kicks in to cover for kinda frequent quick power loss or brown outs, and it is just enough to give me time to safely shut everything down for less frequent longer outages. As I write this, the last time it was necessary and kicked in was just yesterday!
I use two other cameras, both Logitech C920 1080p, for whole desk view, on a scissor arm in the middle between the monitors, and dice / close up view, attached to a desk stand on my left side, which I can easily move around as needed.
In the center, above the desk view camera, I have a Blue Yeti Silver USB mic, with shock mount on boom mic stand. (I just realized I’ve had this mic for over 12 years! I actually have two of these entire setups available. Way back in the day, I would record using both, one to each side, to do binaural / separated stereo, but only have one currently in use.) I have my mic set to stereo in a cardioid pickup pattern.
The other thing on the table is my huge red mug of black tea, my own take on a builder’s cuppa with half and half milk and dark brown sugar. (I start every day with this, first thing, and then move on to several liters of carbonated lemon-lime water for the rest of the day; both of which I’m sometimes drinking on stream. Rarely I’ve also had dark beer in an imperial pint glass, instead of moving to water, whilst playing.)
The desk is an Ikea dining table. I use this for my desk because it has way more table surface than a typical desk and there’s nothing under the desk to hit my knees or shins on, which is something I absolutely cannot stand about most work desks. And, I sit on a work chair to which I added upgraded rollerblade style wheels. Under that is an Ikea oriental runner rug.
Behind me to my left side is a second table (on which is my library card catalog and above which is a rather large empty picture frame), which I don’t use for streaming stuff (yet?).
Further behind me on the wall I have a 6×9 green screen backdrop, which I’ve hung sideways.
Attached to the table are two LED task lights, on the back corners of the table, one on each side. Whilst streaming, I use these to light both myself and the green screen behind me. One task light is actually a lighted magnifying glass, in case I need it.
Well, that’s about it! Except for the occasional cat, and, you know, maybe an actual physical game, that’s pretty much everything I have and use for my current streaming and recording setup.