I was really surprised when you revealed your thoughts about a third monitor. I just recently thought about why people would want/need a third monitor, i wouldn't know how to fill the space and did know that tis is an unusual opinion!
I think the most overrated item is the Blue Yeti. You can get a better sounding mic for the same or less money. That, and nearly every yeti that either I or my friends have owned has broken in just a few years.
As a content creator for 10 years, yes on the Shotgun mics being underrated. For YEARS I used a shotgun mic on my streams. I switched to a dynamic mic when I moved my stream setup to a different, more echoey room, but I've missed my shotgun mic ever since.
I would love to see some more breakdowns of the best stream deck integrations with other companies. Like we know Elgato makes great stuff that integrates with steam deck but is it the best? Are there cheaper options?
0:09 To fix this issue: Set Studio mode to OFF (seriously, works for all of those lights) and have the Aputure Amaran P60c myself aswell... Sometimes it gets turned on after firmware updating, so keep an eye on it. Most LED video-lights that are run off of 110 or 230v have this feature, which tell the device to turn on in the last settings after power recovery.
The sub mix part bothered me as well while using GoXLR, and i found a solution by buying FiiO K5-Pro amp/dac, which I plug my headphones in, it has a dial for just the headphone sound, and I lower/higher it to my liking, while leaving the rest for the stream how they like it
Well, Shotgun Mic. I’ve got a Rode and a Shure… all on my museum of unused stuff😂, some of the worst audios I got. Now we go on “which piece and model” you got, ok. I actually got excited to try them again after hearing you.
Underrated mic: Samson Q2U. Been using one for a couple years now with my GoXLR and I still get compliments on how good I sound. It's always in stock on Amazon for $70 and it supports both XLR and USB. So if you don't have an interface, you can connect it to a Wave XLR or something similar if you want to control the EQ and add all that processing. Does it look better than a PodMic that is $30 more on screen? No; it looks like a normal stage mic. Get yourself a colored foam cover and call it a day. No need to spend more on a mic that sounds better (imo) than a PodMic.
Yup, picked up the q2u a few years ago and it was great. I picked up the SM7B about 6-8 months ago or so. Honestly I’m not the best at setting up audio so it doesn’t sound nearly as good as it could be but it’s still pretty good.
I started with a Blu Yeti, then went to an AT 2035 and finally upgraded to an SM7B and the difference is beyond belief. That may not be the case for everyone though. It brings out the warmth in lower toned voices, so it may not be a game changer for higher pitched voices, but it is by no means overrated. Sure it's the first mic people reach for when they're starting, but there's a good reason for that. It rejects a massive amount of room noise. Which is something that can really benefit someone who's just starting and hasn't sound treated their room. Plus it naturally rejects a lot of plosives. Meaning a streamer or youtuber won't have to have a big pop filter covering their face when they're doing their thing. I think a lot of the time people confuse popularity with something being overrated.
I see you point, but in this it's *definitely* overrated. I remember the TH-camr Gaming careers made a pole from twitch streamers that are using the SM7B. And I think something in the ball park of about 70% of content creators use it. Big and small. Regardless of that number, and excellent use cases aside, and good mic can still sound *terrible* if post processing isn't applied correctly or the gain is too high (I've heard some Narly peaks) , or bet yet room reverb. It can get that bad.
@@Pop_Shepski Correct, but thats exactly why it's a big issue. Because a lot of inexperienced users either due to effort or prior experience, won't know how to treat a new mic like this. I'm reluctant to say it, bits it's a big issue. And that's a fact.
@@Symba_Lysm I feel like if someone takes the steps to get themselves a SHURE in the first place, it would literally take extra work to go about making it sound like shit somehow instead of just following the simple steps it takes to be great
Didn't expect to see you here man, loved your insight very informative for a new content creator like me starting his channel, thank you you actually made me want to make the push from my shure58a to the shure sm7b as I do have a lower toned voice and no way to install much room sound filtering :)
I would say my favorite thing has been my Rode Podmic, I live in a really noisy environment and getting a dynamic mic has been a game changer. I managed to grab this mic for only $100 and got a free Focusrite 2i2 from a friend. The audio makes such a big difference without all the background noise I previously had on my stream/videos!
LOVED this video. As a minimalist myself, hearing you call out a couple of the overrated pieces of gear made my heart a little TOO happy. 😉 The third monitor is SO unnecessary for 95% of the people who own them. Been there, done that... became a place to set Discord and never look at it. 😂 The shotgun microphone also has had another added benefit, IMO: it removes a physical barrier (the dynamic microphone) from in front of the view of the camera, allowing your audience to connect easier. 🤷🏻♂ Appreciate your voice on these topics homie. 👊🏻
I had a third monitor for work and I’ve kept it, but it’s a dedicated discord/Spotify window pretty much. Could remove it but I have the two secondary’s mounted on top/bottom configuration so it doesn’t take up TOO much room
Yup. I have a full set of keys on the normal Streamdeck dedicated to premiere pro hotkeys. I can scrub, clip, and trim. Also delete and replace, every single clip without touching my mouse or keyboard. That functionality, when Im going through 40+ clips to edit (while Im watching Aplha gaming of course" Is just so incredible. Thats just one program. I also design games. I have buttons on my stream deck that drop code into Unitys scripter that I use often. Do you have any clue how much time I save not rewriting lines of code?
Stream deck opinions are split into 2 groups "why would you bother with an expensive keyboard, just make hotkeys (people who haven't tried to use hotkeys)" and people who have used the stream deck / wished it exist before it did.
I was going to buy an SM7B first, was advised against it. I didn't get it then (Although I have it now). I thought it would improve my audio. Instead, I fixed the room sound, the reverb and now even a £15 sounds great in the room.
@@choppercove no the Devine M-Mic USB W condensatormicrofoon white.. But it rose in price... I also bought the Nor tec mic.. And with a noise gate and an EQ it sounds very nice..
Blue yeti is a piece of shit to be honest hated it the entire time I had it. My Shure mic is amazing I love it. My SONY Alpha 7 III is my gem I love it dearly, my lens is shit though, I never advise it to people because cost I only have it because I use it for work. Stream deck I love but hardly used it since I bought the stream deck pedal this thing changed my life and is great for streaming in VR as well. Beacn Mix Create I love this it's amazing but the software shits the bed A LOT :( Damn that nail looks like it hurt.
Not a Streaming specific thing, but I have fallen in love with my standing desk. As someone who spends way too much time at their battlestation (thank you remote school), being able to just stand for a while to keep myself from falling asleep during the professors monotoned lectures is a godsend. I personally use my 3 monitors quite a bit, but the third one is definitely overrated in comparison to the second. Two is enough for any sane individual.
Little background. Im a content creator as well and I've worked on film sets and I master audio for a lot of voice over auditions. Im going to have to disagree with you on the shotgun mic. Even before you mentioned it, when I was listening to your voice in the begining, I thought to myself "that audio sounds really off". I have a good Senheiser I use on my black magic 6k pro, but when it comes to audio In my studio my Dynamic mic is my go to. The audio quality was SO much better when you did the example of switching them out. With the shotgun mic you where still getting reverb despite it being super cardiod. Maybe because that back wall isnt treated. On top of that there was just another big part about the audio that was off. Hard to explain. Like the audio footage(not the waveform) was compressed or something. Like it was missing part of the upper part of the waveform. It was just super noticeable to me and stood out like a sore thumb. Maybe Im just nitpicking. I do a lot of audio mastering for Voice acting and Im use to listening to voices over and over.
When recommending Shotgun microphones you should know that they aren't really meant to be used in a room that is not sound-proofed. The Oktava MK 012 is a small shotgun-like microphone that is meant to be used indoors and is way better for new streamers imo. You should try at as it's actually quite inexpensive. The channel "camera conspiracies" uses it all the time :) Kind Regards Jørgen
You just have to be careful with the 012 because it picks up handling noise extremely easily. If it’s not rigged up properly (and it doesn’t come with a shock mount) it can be a bit of a pain. Also getting one out of Russia might be a bit hard at the moment 😂
the biggest issue with shotgun mics is that mics are primarily penis shaped jewelry for streamers. it doesn't really matter how it sounds, it's only real use is to be conspicuously expensive and in the middle of the frame. Shotgun mics generally sound great but are out of the shot, therefore they aren't used.
Three great ways to do submixes without having to buy expensive hardware just to access the software: 1. Voicemeeter Potato comes with an app called VM Streamer view that mimics Elgato's Wave Link. Setup is a bit harder, but a license is much cheaper than a Wave mic. 2. The "Window Capture" and "Audio Monitor" plugins for OBS can, used in tandem, give just a ridiculous level of audio control. It can be a bit finicky, and might require a virtual audio cable to really make the most of it (for example, output apps to a virtual device and then listen to them through the monitor plugin) but it does give that same fine grained control. 3. Same as method 1 but with Touch Portal and the excellent Voicemeeter plugin. Right now you can't use sliders with Voicemeeter submixes, but you can use buttons with a bit of easyish custom code, and my understanding is an update to this plugin that supports sliders for submixes is coming.
Ayy can you link me to a video about the third one? I love my touch portal and tried to set up Voicemeeter this weekend and panicked and went back to what I was using.Thx
@@dangerdaveshorts I don't know of any videos about it (I might make one myself down the line but I'm waiting at minimum for a few plugins to update), but basically what you do is: 1. Follow Voicemeeter's instructions for setting up VM Streamer View 2. Make a Touch Portal button using the Voicemeeter plugin 3. Add a "Custom Command" (it's in the Voicemeeter section) that says: Strip[a].GainLayer[b] += 2; Where a is the hardware or VAIO input, and b is the hardware or VAIO output. Keep in mind it's 0-indexed. 4. Make another button that says the same, but -= instead of +=. One will add 2db, the other will subtract 2db. You can obviously change the number to change how much gain it adds or removes. So for example, if you wanted to increase your game volume for your audience, and your game is hardware input 2 and your OBS output is VAIO 1 (or the 6th output bus in Potato), you'd put: Strip[1].GainLayer[5] += 2; (you use one number lower because it's 0-indexed instead of 1-indexed).
The submixes recommendation confuses me. A) I just set the volume for me B) I set some filters in OBS to keep game audio at a certain level C) I can easily up or down audio for my audience separately in my recording software like streamlabs or normal OBS, especially once I get a streamdeck. No need for fancy mixers (or submixer software) if the software I already use does the job, right?
I just use an analog solution, and have my playback go through a physical mixer. PC audio and Xbox audio are going through different monitors so I can set the levels of what I hear through that and have the stream levels through OBS. Plus it means I can host XBOX parties on my pc with my nice mic and control the mix easier. I definitely wouldn’t want to mess with software to do the mix. Maybe it’s the knobs? It’s probably the knobs…
I avoided this channel for awhile thinking it was just overproduced advertising, and that might still be somewhat true, but the information here is always very helpful. I try not to be too paranoid that I'm just being played at all times, but the regular, casual information he drops always seems very valuable. Simple things like how you'll get more out of upgrading your audio rather than your camera, etc. I know he's an Elgato shill a bit but at least I feel like I know that, and his respect for Sony cameras just seems pretty legit. I'm glad I gave this channel a chance.
Stream deck is by far the most life changing piece of tech I have ever owned. You can use it to do so many things beyond scene transitions. I game stream in a sim pit and it is essential to control/monitor applications hardware lighting the whole set up. I also agree with the multi monitors most people probably don’t need 3 but I think work flow wise 1. A monitor dedicated to game/content creation 2. A monitor for stream related windows obs other utilities 3. A monitor for social media apps and web searches I’ve even worked a touch screen iPad into the rig that has its specific uses as well Is a must. It may be more expensive but the less hunting tabbing and minimizing I have to do better and less attention I have to divert from my tasks. Sometimes I’ll fire another game up on another monitor while I’m working and my workspace remains undisturbed. Good video, spot on in the camera gear too.
not sure about 90% of what you wrote here (seems to be true though0, but with the 3 monitor thing, I generally just combine what you have on 2 and 3 into one thing, I rarely need either of those things to take up my full screen
Just a little FYI, TC-Helicon is actually currently working on the Sub-Mixes for the GoXLR. (Not in beta yet, but scheduled for the next major release)
Well you told me to reply in the comments about a 3rd monitor. You said you didn't think 'we' need it either. Yes my battle station looks impressive, but in all honestly, I fill out all three monitors easily and then some. Depends on what type of content you are streaming as well. When you have the main game monitor In front, Chat and stream health to the left and then.... oh what is that to the right..... oh a monitor that I can actually have important references that I need in my face so that I don't have to alt tab. So well there ya go. Someone who absolutely needs three monitors. Not going to downvote the video, but ya..... you do see those downvotes on your end ;)
Personally I multitask enough to have 3 monitors, I could make my windows smaller and work with 2 but the more pixels the more real estate I have to bend to whatever will I may give it. Gotta watch my Alpha Gaming with light Spotify in the background as the 3rd monitor has that one gif of the cat hang drying laundry.
The only reason I'd want a third monitor is to streamline my coding process. Have my IDE on my left vertical monitor, Unity on my main and a browser on the right monitor, for Tutorials, stackoverflow, etc. For streaming, I'm good with just 2 monitors. Have Obs and Discord split on my Vertical, and gameplay on my main. Works perfectly!
I bought a big mixer years ago. It was great because I couple run all my audio through it but I can't isolate anything which is making it harder to make other content. What I'd like to see is what XLR interfaces work well with desktop mixers like the Beacn Mix Create.
This was a Good vid :) I use the streamdeck og for almost everything, and it is awesome how much you can control with it 🥰 But i am going too look into another microphone (shotgun-mic), i have the Blue Ember right now paired with the GoXlr. But sometimes the mic is in the way :p Anyways, awesome vid and keep them coming :)
Interesting video idea: Best microphones for those with asthma/breathing troubles. I thought of this because you said the Shure SM7B is overrated (respect the opinion), but it is AMAZING for those with asthma who breathe in and out super loudly. Just a thought!
Your "lingo" of mics is a little off.. Dynamic, condenser and ribbon mic are TYPES of mics, and based on how the mic is constructed and it's design. Dynamic is basically a speaker in reverse and doesn't require phantom power. Condenser requires phantom power and has a charged plate, and a ribbon mic is basically similar to an incandescent light, a thin layer of metal (usually corrugated) is suspended between the poles of a magnet. Shotgun, broadcast, handheld, wireless, lav, etc are STYLES of microphones and are based on how they are used. They could be any TYPE of mic as listed above. Just FYI
Submixes is something I have been wanting for so long but I'm not educated enough on the subject to find one I can use easily. A video on the topic would be great!
There's a Mackie mixer that i've been using for years! I can do 100 more things than the go XLR, and it has a killer pre amp and compressors, and the funny thing, it's the same price, i just whish i was usb, other than that is perfect, and it's the best thing for mixing gaming audio, consoles, and pc audio. The go xlr sat on my desk for 1 hr, then it was heading back to amazon. The SM7B is a great mic, just people don't know how to get the most out of it, i've seen streamers using the mic to record pool parties or group chatting with the mic 5 feet away, less than 1% of the twitch community actually know how to use it properly! I love mine!
I want to know how to turn your cameras on and off (I use sony) from the stream deck, that would save me so much time! Tried searching for it but not finding anything on this! Thanks Alpha Gaming team!
interesting list but I have to say that I hate the echo sound of any mic. I have left streams that I gone to check out because of echo. When a person spends $100+ on a mic and it has an echo it comes across as they were either lazy or too cheap to wanna fix it and spent the money to buy a camera. Echo for a mic would have been fine many years ago but now its mostly expected for a youtuber / streamer to not have echo and even more so when they spend $100+ on a mic.
I always enjoy watching your reviews and talks. However, as for the top 5 reviews "overrated/underrated"... I have a few thoughts: 1. Lighting.. I remember your Elgato LED desk lights review - not a prime choice. Any bicolor light that can have a double-baffle softbox attached - will be the right key-light choice. 2. Streambeats - I'm looking for the no-cost option. I am allergic to monthly memberships - what happened to the one-time purchase model? 3. You mentioned the Sony A7s (vintage digital) - does it have a clean pass-through to use with your fancy Elgato Camlink? 4. Audio - Rode Video Mic Go II in a desktop stand (in close proximity) sounds as good as any Senheiser or Shure option, and it has almost as good of a performance as the other 2 (for a camera mounted shotgun option) if you aren't concerned with manageable amounts of room echo. And 5. Bokeh - overrated, but ATEM mini switcher for mutiple HDMI camera sources needs more reviewing (provided your vintage A7s cameras have the clean HDMI pass-thru). I'm in China, not able to purchase the Amazon choice of all the products that you review. Blog on there TH-cam trooper. Big Fan, Empty Wallet here. :D love your reviews.
Oh goldfish terds... how did I miss the most obvious - Streamdeck - I don't use many of the fancy overlays and animations and bells and whistles that you need for your great reviews/shows. However, I would recommend an external silent keyboard that uses the old 2.4g USB transmitter (as an alternative), because ctrl + F-key row, and ctrl + shift + F-key row can offer 24 easy-to-press OBS options for scene switching and option switching that gamers can map with stickers or the old WordPerfect Cardstock template going across the top. And the cost is a fraction of the over-rated stream deck. Blog on there TH-cam Trooper.
Super useful for me as a content creation noob! Thanks for sharing your expertise. I’m definitely guilty when it comes to overlay stuff lol! Probably because graphic design/art is my comfort zone when it comes to creating.
You are heaven sent. I quit 15 years working for the same company to go fulltime content creation. I've been a "free agent" since August 1st and really, I have set time (4-5months) aside to rebuild mind, body and soul but still I want to keep my head in the game and it's been hard to focus... and I stumble on you. It's like some higher power is feeding me your list of videos based on the questions marks I needed answer for. (Let's name it "Algorigod") Thanks, a lot.
As someone who’s starting to get into content creation with the eventual goal of streaming, this video did wonders for me (I own a StreamDeck; currently turning it into an amazing productivity tool). I used to be obsessed about what makes “good” quality content, but you’re absolutely right. The moment I started investing in audio and lighting FIRST, I felt way more confident with my setup. Thanks for this :) Keep up the awesome hot-takes 🤘🏻
I completely agree with the Shure SM7B overrated. Its a good microphone but you need to spend another $400+ to make it even work AND THEN you have to know how to EQ and compress your voice to make it sound good.
I've got the smallest stream deck (6-button), and I almost always wish I had a larger one, but I have a hard time justifying the extra cost. So: Get a bigger one from the jump. I also started with a Blue Yeti, and it seems totally fine to me. I'd like to get a fancier one, but I don't know how much it would actually improve my audio relative to the cost.
Okay on the 3rd monitor thing I understand completely, but personally since I stream on YT, TTV, and tik tok I use my main for games, second for stream elements for YT notifications and have some things like sound audio and twitch alerts from obs and on my 3rd (vertical) I have my discord, chat and actual OBS (which is tiny so i can capture it with my phone in a tripod for obs)
Did you just Ronco quote us? "Set it and forget it." Rad video. Really good stuff. 100% agree with the triple monitor setups. 3rd monitor is solely for the stream pc and monitoring the stream. It's absolutely not necessary unless you got a multi PC setup however even then it's not needed as everything you do on your second monitor could be done on your stream pc monitor. Wheels on stands are great in studio productions. The ease of just slightly shifting a light is great.
6:17 the sm7b is GREAT for recording vocals, but it offers little in the way of dynamic for just sitting at your desk. One mic that I use is a real dark horse- the rode NTK. it's great when i record but it's also SUPERB for streaming-- especially when combined with a BBE
I have 3 1080P monitors and they are great, I use them all. they are cheap $70 monitors. I also have a stream deck and use it for scenes, sound fx, videos fx, ect.
1. Booming a shotgun mics in a simple room.... Overrated. Because the are not meant for that. I use and would suggest to use a small diaphragm microphone and use that. Anyway thanks for the video!
luckily my audio somehow isn't linked between OBS and GoXLR so whatever the audio is set to on OBS isnt affected by mixer when i turn it up or down in my headset
15:07 the GoXLR can use submixes! Simply add the individual channels (Music/System/Game/etc) in OBS. When you move the slider on OBS (which I have assigned to macros on my Streamdeck) it will change the output for your stream, but not your headphones. When you move the sliders now on the GoXLR it will change your headphone volume ONLY. The broadcast sound will be unaffected. With this method, once it's set up it's completely hardware based and you can just move a slider or smack a button and change things as you like!
SM7B has been a GODSEND for me. HEAVENLY. I do not have a soundproof room. I do not have the ability to have any soundproofing. I live next to a road with a glass window. I live near a hospital. You don’t hear any of it thanks to the SM7B and I’m able to play with that audio to make it sound great with minimal effort. I get what you’re saying - many people it won’t make a huge difference, but I ADORE mine.
Currently laughing at myself. I don't game. I don't stream. But, at 60 and re-training to be a librarian, I realise I have to acquire the skills, to know how to stream, to engage, to make content 'cause that is what I'll be helping teenagers without access do. I've been consuming TH-cam and Skillshare vids for weeks. There is a lot of crap out there. Today I discovered your channel. I love your enthusiasm, your to-camera personality and your “stuff-it” attitude.. You have my subscription and a very rare comment. Thanks for the tube. Now I can log out again.
I have a solution for the Submixes problem with the GoXLR - in OBS use different audio sources and set them to your GoXLR Chat, Music, System, and Mic/Aux instead of using your Broadcast Stream Mix. You can use the sliders in OBS to change the volume for your audience in streams (having different mixes in YT editing is also useful) and the sliders on the GoXLR itself is what you will hear. I just found this out recently and it's made streaming with the GoXLR Mini way more enjoyable for me and my audience
I totally agree with the SM7B being overrated, and I use one. Don't get me wrong, I love my SM7B, but it is 100% not necessary for live streaming. I got it because I also make music and do voice-overs, and I record in a small space with a lot of environmental noise and reflective surfaces. But for 99% of people, especially if your starting out, a shotgun mic, or even an elgato wave 3 or a hyperx quadcast with the right filters, will sound amazing.
Third monitor actually helps me a lot with my work flow when I edit for work or even in some situations on stream lol. But yeah third monitor isn’t necessary for sure!
I am a podcaster on twitch and I upgraded my audio first. I got my Rodecaster Pro and my Shure SM7B. Then I upgraded my webcam to the Logictech Brio 4k. However….My next upgrade is my desk because I do want a bigger 2nd monitor so I can get my setup to match.
I'm using a wireless DJI Mic that recently started getting interference no matter how I use it. With audio recorder without on cell phone. So I'm trying to think of a replacement while I send this in. Shotgun Mike or the new DJI Mic 2? Or maybe Rode
Love the ideas I learn from your channel, thank you. *Question* : I am buying a used Sony a7/S ii body without any lens. What lens would you recommend to get for it - the camera will be used as a webcam creating educational content using a Zoom streaming setup?
After trying tons and tons of gear...I'd say dynamic mics are underrated. Huge difference if you can't afford a treated room/studio to record. And I'd say filming in 4k is overrated (yes, I said it). Millions of people watching content on their tiny as* smartphones, I'm telling you they can't see a difference.
Stream deck is such a no brainer, I haven't made content/streamed in a couple of months, but I use stream deck (and improve it) every day. I used to use hours on organizing files in different folders etc, now it takes me minutes by having buttons for where to move files, rename, cut, copy, rename, to say a few. Also use it for controlling hue lights, windows shortcuts, as a sound board, website shortcuts
curious? How can I achieve a submix? I use Mac devices so I can't use a GoXLR anyway, but I want to start a twitch stream to go with my youtube channel I already have for just casual chatting and gaming for relaxing nights with my viewers that are less stress on my workflow. I can never get a good mix for me personally on test streams that I feel is good for my viewers too, (same issues you had). curious to which devices are out there that you would recommend to get that good submix so I can start streaming on Twitch as an outlet for fun.
My at2020 was $100 and works good for an all round music recording mic and streaming mic on a budget.. Yessss I have 2 32 in ch tv's for monitors but could use a third monitor just to see chat..
I stand by 3 monitors. I cant go back down to 1 or 2. LEFT: Vertical. When I am at work, Teams and Discord both displayed.. When I stream, Discord and Chat. MIDDLE: Game / Main Focus App or Window RIGHT: Browser for video or work productivity, or whatever I need to look up.
so about the camera thing... when i started streaming i was streaming from my ps4 and used the ps4 camera for a face cam, and then last year i think in February i ended up getting a pc and with that included an affordable webcam and used that all of last year. then earlier this year it dawned on me on that i have a canon rebel t2i just chilling in my closet (the camera was the last christmas gift i got from my mom before she passed) and i said to myself "wait... i have a perfectly working dslr i can use" so i bought what i needed for it and got it set up. one person who comes into my streams on and off even said "did you upgrade your camera? the quality looks more high quality". Best switch I could have done because i absolutely love it and yeah while dslr's are expensive, it's worth it but i would definitely say slowly work up to getting a better camera for yourself. that's all i wanted to say c:
I use to think 2 monitors was enough. Now I have 1.4 million followers on TikTok and when editing my videos I use 4 monitors. 3 with premiere and 4th one for spanish translations for subtitles. I think 2 is enough for the average creator though.
As someone who swears by 3 monitors, I do agree that most people don't really need it. For me it's part actually needing it and part it being impossible to give up after getting used to it.
Yah I spent way to much Time on over lays because I didn’t think I was entertaining. All my friends got me to stream and then I decided to change my stream into a safe place for other people to come hang out or even get support. I’m mentoring several young men now. I don’t make anything from it but it’s a very fulfilling experience
Monitors help with workflow. I personally only have 2, have had a 1 and 3 monitor set up at various stages. Find what works for you and what you want to do on a day to day. All my third monitor ever did was display my Outlook and Spotify feed, not a great use of energy.
The Number one way to grow your channel is your PERSONALITY be your self and create content that you want to watch look at who you watch on the daily what makes you watch them? Be your own character! Dont copy be you! 🤙🏻❤️
I agree with the majority of the video Harris. I only have two things to say about the video. Not sure if you are gonna end up reading this, but if you do, I would appreciate your feedback. I am gonna start off with the third monitor ordeal. I don't "really" need a third monitor, and I put that in quotations because the only reason I would want a third monitor is not to game on, but just for my Twitch Chat. I have my main monitor that I game on, and I got a second monitor for controlling my stream whether that is changing music, messing with the sub mixes and whatnot, to just interacting with my chat. I thought long and hard about getting a third monitor just for my chat so that way I can still control the stream, do my gaming stuff, but always keep up with chat and never having to worry about missing a message. Do you think that is a good enough reason to get a third monitor? And number two, I have the Elgato Stream Deck XL and I LOVE it very much. Seriously, anyone that DOESN'T have one NEEDS to pick one up. It is LITERALLY one of the BEST products I bought from Elgato. While I am learning how to do more advance tricks with it, I do want to ask, is it possible to use more than one Stream Deck at a time? I feel like even though I have 32 buttons, I run out of room really quick and I find myself having to constantly change folders just to do stuff. I would really love to use another stream deck (not the mobile app, an actual second Stream Deck), however I don't want to, not gonna say waste my money, but I guess a better word would be "invest" into another Stream Deck if I can only use one with my setup. Harris if you did read this, thank you for taking time out of your day reading this, note you are an AMAZING Content Creator, and I literally love every single one of your videos. I would love to hear your feedback and let me know what your opinion is on this topic. I hope you have a blessed day, and as always, keep it legendary fellow Spartan!
15:43 I gotta say I don't fully agree with this one, at least if underrated means you gotta have it. Sub-mixes is a great feature but it's not one of those things that are necessary. I guess if I put music on my streams for ME PERSONALLY it would be coz I like to game with the game's music. I don't like to sacrifice my experience just because people wanna hear music on a stream, so that would be a must.. but the larger reason I don't use music in my streams is copyright issues. I mean, I will post a video that my iPhone Photos app made to Facebook, and it will get a copyright strike. Yeah, really: The videos that the Photos app makes with the specific purpose for you to be able to post them to social media, gets copyright strikes. Is it legit strikes? Probably not, but it still happens. But what I can't live with, is not having a zero-latency optical in port so that I can stream from console without having mad delay in the audio from said console. And it has to be optical in coz the 3.5mm jacks from HDMI audio extractors always sound like piss.
I am a super small youtuber. So do not have much expensive stuff. I have a laptop 15 inch screen i5 16 GB RAM 500SSD 1650 gtx i have a logitech webcam and mic and headsett from from hyper X. Oh yes a green screen. But I need so much better lights. But cant afford right now. I did buy a secound screen. So I can have more control over a live stream. Have a great day still 🙂
What did I get from this entire well done video? I need to find out what exactly I am good at... hmmm.. what sets me apart! Damnit man, seems like an easy question, but it is not. Off to research me. Oh, and I suck at lighting and my audio needs a small upgrade.
People definitely over value the SM7B. It sounds good and I can appreciate it if it’s standardizing or normalizing the way a lot of the content we consume sounds, since so many popular individuals speak into one. But half of the people that buy it or want it just want that trophy to be seen next to their face more than they want to be heard clearly. The GoXLR take is misleading or a case of not thinking. You know all the sound channels the GoXLR gives you? You can just simply import them into OBS and set your gain/compressor/level for music, chat and game audio there. Set it and forget it. That way the simpler to access on-the-fly, physical buttons and faders on the GoXLR can be used to only adjust the sound for yourself, leaving your stream/record sound levels at consistent and enjoyable levels across all your content. I wish shotgun mics were as cheap to play around with and test as lav mics
100% agree on lights and audio being the first investments for anyone. I think SkillShare is only ok though, the video player is trash (At least it was last time I used it!), I found it frustrating that it isn't inspired by the TH-cam player, this one works so well... Skillshare one seemed to have a play and pause button and that was it, sometimes I wanna skip around with my keyboard or fullscreen with 'f', and it didn't do that. I found a lot of the classes to be very basic and a bit clickbait at times, quite lacking in depth, very beginner focused. Which might be great for some! Domestika is nice, it should be subscription based and not Udemy class based but, it goes deep on specific topics with legit industry tutors, I feel like not 'anyone' can make a class, which lifts the standard. They're also really well produced. Masterclass is great too, just might be a bit over the hill at times. It's classical, time tested fundamentals that will also be in style, but it's far from cutting edge in my experience! MZed classes are brilliant, and I'm curious what the Monthly/Studio classes are like, Casey did one recently.
Favorite underrated or overrated gear down that I missed.. put it down below and tell me why
and i don't have neither 😢
Gaming chairs.
I think you can tell which category it falls in.
@@ak_kalmar went from a gaming chair to a Steelcase Leap V2 and my entire body has thanked me
Underrated: the Switchpod that was briefly shown 😂. My camera has literally lived on that thing for so long now lol.
I was really surprised when you revealed your thoughts about a third monitor. I just recently thought about why people would want/need a third monitor, i wouldn't know how to fill the space and did know that tis is an unusual opinion!
I think the most overrated item is the Blue Yeti. You can get a better sounding mic for the same or less money. That, and nearly every yeti that either I or my friends have owned has broken in just a few years.
My Yeti somehow survives seven years later... Don't use it much now and it is visibly dented and damaged. Damn I need to hug that little guy.
If my blue yeti survives for a few years, then fair enough honestly.
What would cause a mic to break?? It just sits there
@@CrackedZac not enough excersize
i only think the blue yeti is good if bought used but brand new i dont think so
As a content creator for 10 years, yes on the Shotgun mics being underrated. For YEARS I used a shotgun mic on my streams. I switched to a dynamic mic when I moved my stream setup to a different, more echoey room, but I've missed my shotgun mic ever since.
I would love to see some more breakdowns of the best stream deck integrations with other companies. Like we know Elgato makes great stuff that integrates with steam deck but is it the best? Are there cheaper options?
0:09 To fix this issue: Set Studio mode to OFF (seriously, works for all of those lights) and have the Aputure Amaran P60c myself aswell... Sometimes it gets turned on after firmware updating, so keep an eye on it.
Most LED video-lights that are run off of 110 or 230v have this feature, which tell the device to turn on in the last settings after power recovery.
The sub mix part bothered me as well while using GoXLR, and i found a solution by buying FiiO K5-Pro amp/dac, which I plug my headphones in, it has a dial for just the headphone sound, and I lower/higher it to my liking, while leaving the rest for the stream how they like it
I have set one of the sliders to headphone volume and manage the submix in obs (via buttons on the streamdeck)
Let's take a moment to appreciate how much time and effort he puts into his content for us. Love the videos!
Well, Shotgun Mic. I’ve got a Rode and a Shure… all on my museum of unused stuff😂, some of the worst audios I got. Now we go on “which piece and model” you got, ok. I actually got excited to try them again after hearing you.
Underrated mic: Samson Q2U. Been using one for a couple years now with my GoXLR and I still get compliments on how good I sound. It's always in stock on Amazon for $70 and it supports both XLR and USB. So if you don't have an interface, you can connect it to a Wave XLR or something similar if you want to control the EQ and add all that processing. Does it look better than a PodMic that is $30 more on screen? No; it looks like a normal stage mic. Get yourself a colored foam cover and call it a day. No need to spend more on a mic that sounds better (imo) than a PodMic.
Yup, picked up the q2u a few years ago and it was great. I picked up the SM7B about 6-8 months ago or so. Honestly I’m not the best at setting up audio so it doesn’t sound nearly as good as it could be but it’s still pretty good.
🙏 I always watch your videos but I rarely comment. I should to start supporting my fav creators!! Thanks for your videos!!
I started with a Blu Yeti, then went to an AT 2035 and finally upgraded to an SM7B and the difference is beyond belief. That may not be the case for everyone though. It brings out the warmth in lower toned voices, so it may not be a game changer for higher pitched voices, but it is by no means overrated. Sure it's the first mic people reach for when they're starting, but there's a good reason for that. It rejects a massive amount of room noise. Which is something that can really benefit someone who's just starting and hasn't sound treated their room. Plus it naturally rejects a lot of plosives. Meaning a streamer or youtuber won't have to have a big pop filter covering their face when they're doing their thing. I think a lot of the time people confuse popularity with something being overrated.
I see you point, but in this it's *definitely* overrated. I remember the TH-camr Gaming careers made a pole from twitch streamers that are using the SM7B. And I think something in the ball park of about 70% of content creators use it. Big and small. Regardless of that number, and excellent use cases aside, and good mic can still sound *terrible* if post processing isn't applied correctly or the gain is too high (I've heard some Narly peaks) , or bet yet room reverb. It can get that bad.
@@Symba_Lysm that sounds like an individual problem, not an umbrella issue worth the effort of your reply here (:
@@Pop_Shepski Correct, but thats exactly why it's a big issue. Because a lot of inexperienced users either due to effort or prior experience, won't know how to treat a new mic like this. I'm reluctant to say it, bits it's a big issue. And that's a fact.
@@Symba_Lysm I feel like if someone takes the steps to get themselves a SHURE in the first place, it would literally take extra work to go about making it sound like shit somehow instead of just following the simple steps it takes to be great
Didn't expect to see you here man, loved your insight very informative for a new content creator like me starting his channel, thank you you actually made me want to make the push from my shure58a to the shure sm7b as I do have a lower toned voice and no way to install much room sound filtering :)
I would say my favorite thing has been my Rode Podmic, I live in a really noisy environment and getting a dynamic mic has been a game changer. I managed to grab this mic for only $100 and got a free Focusrite 2i2 from a friend. The audio makes such a big difference without all the background noise I previously had on my stream/videos!
LOVED this video. As a minimalist myself, hearing you call out a couple of the overrated pieces of gear made my heart a little TOO happy. 😉
The third monitor is SO unnecessary for 95% of the people who own them. Been there, done that... became a place to set Discord and never look at it. 😂
The shotgun microphone also has had another added benefit, IMO: it removes a physical barrier (the dynamic microphone) from in front of the view of the camera, allowing your audience to connect easier. 🤷🏻♂
Appreciate your voice on these topics homie. 👊🏻
I agree, I grabbed an old 32" tv for my 3rd "monitor" just for monitoring/tweaking Discord voice chat. I could easily remove it and be fine.
I had a third monitor for work and I’ve kept it, but it’s a dedicated discord/Spotify window pretty much. Could remove it but I have the two secondary’s mounted on top/bottom configuration so it doesn’t take up TOO much room
Engagement! 😛
Before I watch this, I think my stream deck is the coolest, and most underrated, tool I have. Imma respond to myself after watching lol
Well.... we're waiting!
yep
It did make the list as being underrated.
I know that there are tons more things my Stream Deck can do that I've yet to discover.
Yup. I have a full set of keys on the normal Streamdeck dedicated to premiere pro hotkeys. I can scrub, clip, and trim. Also delete and replace, every single clip without touching my mouse or keyboard. That functionality, when Im going through 40+ clips to edit (while Im watching Aplha gaming of course" Is just so incredible. Thats just one program. I also design games. I have buttons on my stream deck that drop code into Unitys scripter that I use often. Do you have any clue how much time I save not rewriting lines of code?
Stream deck opinions are split into 2 groups "why would you bother with an expensive keyboard, just make hotkeys (people who haven't tried to use hotkeys)" and people who have used the stream deck / wished it exist before it did.
I couldn't agree more with #4 - I use 2 monitors and the 2nd one is only ever on when I'm live
I was going to buy an SM7B first, was advised against it. I didn't get it then (Although I have it now). I thought it would improve my audio. Instead, I fixed the room sound, the reverb and now even a £15 sounds great in the room.
I hear ya...I have a 20 EUR microphone and it sounds great with a noisegate and an eq.
@@choppercove no the Devine M-Mic USB W condensatormicrofoon white.. But it rose in price... I also bought the Nor tec mic.. And with a noise gate and an EQ it sounds very nice..
Blue yeti is a piece of shit to be honest hated it the entire time I had it.
My Shure mic is amazing I love it.
My SONY Alpha 7 III is my gem I love it dearly, my lens is shit though, I never advise it to people because cost I only have it because I use it for work.
Stream deck I love but hardly used it since I bought the stream deck pedal this thing changed my life and is great for streaming in VR as well.
Beacn Mix Create I love this it's amazing but the software shits the bed A LOT :(
Damn that nail looks like it hurt.
Not a Streaming specific thing, but I have fallen in love with my standing desk. As someone who spends way too much time at their battlestation (thank you remote school), being able to just stand for a while to keep myself from falling asleep during the professors monotoned lectures is a godsend. I personally use my 3 monitors quite a bit, but the third one is definitely overrated in comparison to the second. Two is enough for any sane individual.
Only use I have for a 3rd monitor is content consumption while I’m using to other two for workflow
Little background. Im a content creator as well and I've worked on film sets and I master audio for a lot of voice over auditions. Im going to have to disagree with you on the shotgun mic. Even before you mentioned it, when I was listening to your voice in the begining, I thought to myself "that audio sounds really off". I have a good Senheiser I use on my black magic 6k pro, but when it comes to audio In my studio my Dynamic mic is my go to. The audio quality was SO much better when you did the example of switching them out. With the shotgun mic you where still getting reverb despite it being super cardiod. Maybe because that back wall isnt treated. On top of that there was just another big part about the audio that was off. Hard to explain. Like the audio footage(not the waveform) was compressed or something. Like it was missing part of the upper part of the waveform. It was just super noticeable to me and stood out like a sore thumb. Maybe Im just nitpicking. I do a lot of audio mastering for Voice acting and Im use to listening to voices over and over.
When recommending Shotgun microphones you should know that they aren't really meant to be used in a room that is not sound-proofed.
The Oktava MK 012 is a small shotgun-like microphone that is meant to be used indoors and is way better for new streamers imo.
You should try at as it's actually quite inexpensive.
The channel "camera conspiracies" uses it all the time :)
Kind Regards
Jørgen
Agree
Thanks for the extra info!
You just have to be careful with the 012 because it picks up handling noise extremely easily. If it’s not rigged up properly (and it doesn’t come with a shock mount) it can be a bit of a pain.
Also getting one out of Russia might be a bit hard at the moment 😂
@@Reactor10k That is true! :D
the biggest issue with shotgun mics is that mics are primarily penis shaped jewelry for streamers. it doesn't really matter how it sounds, it's only real use is to be conspicuously expensive and in the middle of the frame. Shotgun mics generally sound great but are out of the shot, therefore they aren't used.
Three great ways to do submixes without having to buy expensive hardware just to access the software:
1. Voicemeeter Potato comes with an app called VM Streamer view that mimics Elgato's Wave Link. Setup is a bit harder, but a license is much cheaper than a Wave mic.
2. The "Window Capture" and "Audio Monitor" plugins for OBS can, used in tandem, give just a ridiculous level of audio control. It can be a bit finicky, and might require a virtual audio cable to really make the most of it (for example, output apps to a virtual device and then listen to them through the monitor plugin) but it does give that same fine grained control.
3. Same as method 1 but with Touch Portal and the excellent Voicemeeter plugin. Right now you can't use sliders with Voicemeeter submixes, but you can use buttons with a bit of easyish custom code, and my understanding is an update to this plugin that supports sliders for submixes is coming.
Ayy can you link me to a video about the third one? I love my touch portal and tried to set up Voicemeeter this weekend and panicked and went back to what I was using.Thx
@@dangerdaveshorts I don't know of any videos about it (I might make one myself down the line but I'm waiting at minimum for a few plugins to update), but basically what you do is:
1. Follow Voicemeeter's instructions for setting up VM Streamer View
2. Make a Touch Portal button using the Voicemeeter plugin
3. Add a "Custom Command" (it's in the Voicemeeter section) that says:
Strip[a].GainLayer[b] += 2;
Where a is the hardware or VAIO input, and b is the hardware or VAIO output. Keep in mind it's 0-indexed.
4. Make another button that says the same, but -= instead of +=. One will add 2db, the other will subtract 2db. You can obviously change the number to change how much gain it adds or removes.
So for example, if you wanted to increase your game volume for your audience, and your game is hardware input 2 and your OBS output is VAIO 1 (or the 6th output bus in Potato), you'd put:
Strip[1].GainLayer[5] += 2;
(you use one number lower because it's 0-indexed instead of 1-indexed).
The submixes recommendation confuses me.
A) I just set the volume for me
B) I set some filters in OBS to keep game audio at a certain level
C) I can easily up or down audio for my audience separately in my recording software like streamlabs or normal OBS, especially once I get a streamdeck.
No need for fancy mixers (or submixer software) if the software I already use does the job, right?
I just use an analog solution, and have my playback go through a physical mixer. PC audio and Xbox audio are going through different monitors so I can set the levels of what I hear through that and have the stream levels through OBS. Plus it means I can host XBOX parties on my pc with my nice mic and control the mix easier. I definitely wouldn’t want to mess with software to do the mix. Maybe it’s the knobs? It’s probably the knobs…
I avoided this channel for awhile thinking it was just overproduced advertising, and that might still be somewhat true, but the information here is always very helpful. I try not to be too paranoid that I'm just being played at all times, but the regular, casual information he drops always seems very valuable. Simple things like how you'll get more out of upgrading your audio rather than your camera, etc. I know he's an Elgato shill a bit but at least I feel like I know that, and his respect for Sony cameras just seems pretty legit. I'm glad I gave this channel a chance.
Stream deck is by far the most life changing piece of tech I have ever owned. You can use it to do so many things beyond scene transitions. I game stream in a sim pit and it is essential to control/monitor applications hardware lighting the whole set up.
I also agree with the multi monitors most people probably don’t need 3 but I think work flow wise
1. A monitor dedicated to game/content creation
2. A monitor for stream related windows obs other utilities
3. A monitor for social media apps and web searches
I’ve even worked a touch screen iPad into the rig that has its specific uses as well
Is a must. It may be more expensive but the less hunting tabbing and minimizing I have to do better and less attention I have to divert from my tasks. Sometimes I’ll fire another game up on another monitor while I’m working and my workspace remains undisturbed.
Good video, spot on in the camera gear too.
not sure about 90% of what you wrote here (seems to be true though0, but with the 3 monitor thing, I generally just combine what you have on 2 and 3 into one thing, I rarely need either of those things to take up my full screen
I use a POD mic and I love it. When I’m in a game lobby my microphone quality always gets complimented. Underrated XLR mic in my opinion!
Just a little FYI, TC-Helicon is actually currently working on the Sub-Mixes for the GoXLR.
(Not in beta yet, but scheduled for the next major release)
Well you told me to reply in the comments about a 3rd monitor. You said you didn't think 'we' need it either. Yes my battle station looks impressive, but in all honestly, I fill out all three monitors easily and then some. Depends on what type of content you are streaming as well. When you have the main game monitor In front, Chat and stream health to the left and then.... oh what is that to the right..... oh a monitor that I can actually have important references that I need in my face so that I don't have to alt tab. So well there ya go. Someone who absolutely needs three monitors. Not going to downvote the video, but ya..... you do see those downvotes on your end ;)
Personally I multitask enough to have 3 monitors, I could make my windows smaller and work with 2 but the more pixels the more real estate I have to bend to whatever will I may give it. Gotta watch my Alpha Gaming with light Spotify in the background as the 3rd monitor has that one gif of the cat hang drying laundry.
this might be scuffed, but i only have a single monitor and i prop my iPhone up on my coffee mug and read livechat off of my phone xD
The only reason I'd want a third monitor is to streamline my coding process. Have my IDE on my left vertical monitor, Unity on my main and a browser on the right monitor, for Tutorials, stackoverflow, etc. For streaming, I'm good with just 2 monitors. Have Obs and Discord split on my Vertical, and gameplay on my main. Works perfectly!
thats smart
I bought a big mixer years ago. It was great because I couple run all my audio through it but I can't isolate anything which is making it harder to make other content. What I'd like to see is what XLR interfaces work well with desktop mixers like the Beacn Mix Create.
Read that last sentence as "Bacon Mac n Cheese" on the scroll-by and had to come back to see how it related to mixers 😅
The Sennheiser MKH50 was a life changing addition to my setup. Great audio with no mic in frame? Yes please.
This was a Good vid :) I use the streamdeck og for almost everything, and it is awesome how much you can control with it 🥰 But i am going too look into another microphone (shotgun-mic), i have the Blue Ember right now paired with the GoXlr. But sometimes the mic is in the way :p Anyways, awesome vid and keep them coming :)
Interesting video idea: Best microphones for those with asthma/breathing troubles. I thought of this because you said the Shure SM7B is overrated (respect the opinion), but it is AMAZING for those with asthma who breathe in and out super loudly. Just a thought!
I definitely love my third monitor. Being able to have one monitor for each thing I'm using/doing is just a huuuge QOL improvement for me.
Your "lingo" of mics is a little off..
Dynamic, condenser and ribbon mic are TYPES of mics, and based on how the mic is constructed and it's design. Dynamic is basically a speaker in reverse and doesn't require phantom power. Condenser requires phantom power and has a charged plate, and a ribbon mic is basically similar to an incandescent light, a thin layer of metal (usually corrugated) is suspended between the poles of a magnet.
Shotgun, broadcast, handheld, wireless, lav, etc are STYLES of microphones and are based on how they are used. They could be any TYPE of mic as listed above.
Just FYI
Submixes is something I have been wanting for so long but I'm not educated enough on the subject to find one I can use easily. A video on the topic would be great!
You can replicate the same effect using Voicemeeter. It’s free.
This comment
Voicemeeter can be used to create submixes, but there is also a plugin for obs called audio-monitor that can be used
@@JadeNeoma Thank you Jordyn Young
There's a Mackie mixer that i've been using for years! I can do 100 more things than the go XLR, and it has a killer pre amp and compressors, and the funny thing, it's the same price, i just whish i was usb, other than that is perfect, and it's the best thing for mixing gaming audio, consoles, and pc audio.
The go xlr sat on my desk for 1 hr, then it was heading back to amazon.
The SM7B is a great mic, just people don't know how to get the most out of it, i've seen streamers using the mic to record pool parties or group chatting with the mic 5 feet away, less than 1% of the twitch community actually know how to use it properly!
I love mine!
I want to know how to turn your cameras on and off (I use sony) from the stream deck, that would save me so much time! Tried searching for it but not finding anything on this! Thanks Alpha Gaming team!
interesting list but I have to say that I hate the echo sound of any mic. I have left streams that I gone to check out because of echo. When a person spends $100+ on a mic and it has an echo it comes across as they were either lazy or too cheap to wanna fix it and spent the money to buy a camera.
Echo for a mic would have been fine many years ago but now its mostly expected for a youtuber / streamer to not have echo and even more so when they spend $100+ on a mic.
0:12 You need to check if “studio mode” is set to on for the Aputure p60c
I run a ton of mics. The 416 is good, but try out the Senn P50. Thank me later or Gerald Undone
Agree on expensive camera and mic as overrated
Overlays. . .I like minimalist looking
How do you turn on and of your cameras from the steam deck , it looks op
Engagement. Stuff. Love ya Harris
I always enjoy watching your reviews and talks. However, as for the top 5 reviews "overrated/underrated"... I have a few thoughts: 1. Lighting.. I remember your Elgato LED desk lights review - not a prime choice. Any bicolor light that can have a double-baffle softbox attached - will be the right key-light choice. 2. Streambeats - I'm looking for the no-cost option. I am allergic to monthly memberships - what happened to the one-time purchase model? 3. You mentioned the Sony A7s (vintage digital) - does it have a clean pass-through to use with your fancy Elgato Camlink? 4. Audio - Rode Video Mic Go II in a desktop stand (in close proximity) sounds as good as any Senheiser or Shure option, and it has almost as good of a performance as the other 2 (for a camera mounted shotgun option) if you aren't concerned with manageable amounts of room echo. And 5. Bokeh - overrated, but ATEM mini switcher for mutiple HDMI camera sources needs more reviewing (provided your vintage A7s cameras have the clean HDMI pass-thru). I'm in China, not able to purchase the Amazon choice of all the products that you review. Blog on there TH-cam trooper. Big Fan, Empty Wallet here. :D love your reviews.
Oh goldfish terds... how did I miss the most obvious - Streamdeck - I don't use many of the fancy overlays and animations and bells and whistles that you need for your great reviews/shows. However, I would recommend an external silent keyboard that uses the old 2.4g USB transmitter (as an alternative), because ctrl + F-key row, and ctrl + shift + F-key row can offer 24 easy-to-press OBS options for scene switching and option switching that gamers can map with stickers or the old WordPerfect Cardstock template going across the top. And the cost is a fraction of the over-rated stream deck. Blog on there TH-cam Trooper.
1000 percent overlays are overrated. they take a lot of time and add very little to the stream
Super useful for me as a content creation noob! Thanks for sharing your expertise. I’m definitely guilty when it comes to overlay stuff lol! Probably because graphic design/art is my comfort zone when it comes to creating.
Solid video
for the sub mix you could have done an audio router, i used it so i dont hear the music but audience does
Commenting because you want engagement and it made me laugh
You are heaven sent. I quit 15 years working for the same company to go fulltime content creation.
I've been a "free agent" since August 1st and really, I have set time (4-5months) aside to rebuild mind, body and soul but still I want to keep my head in the game and it's been hard to focus... and I stumble on you. It's like some higher power is feeding me your list of videos based on the questions marks I needed answer for. (Let's name it "Algorigod")
Thanks, a lot.
Got nothin' to say, just boosting engagement.
As someone who’s starting to get into content creation with the eventual goal of streaming, this video did wonders for me (I own a StreamDeck; currently turning it into an amazing productivity tool). I used to be obsessed about what makes “good” quality content, but you’re absolutely right. The moment I started investing in audio and lighting FIRST, I felt way more confident with my setup. Thanks for this :) Keep up the awesome hot-takes 🤘🏻
I completely agree with the Shure SM7B overrated. Its a good microphone but you need to spend another $400+ to make it even work AND THEN you have to know how to EQ and compress your voice to make it sound good.
I've got the smallest stream deck (6-button), and I almost always wish I had a larger one, but I have a hard time justifying the extra cost. So: Get a bigger one from the jump.
I also started with a Blue Yeti, and it seems totally fine to me. I'd like to get a fancier one, but I don't know how much it would actually improve my audio relative to the cost.
Okay on the 3rd monitor thing I understand completely, but personally since I stream on YT, TTV, and tik tok I use my main for games, second for stream elements for YT notifications and have some things like sound audio and twitch alerts from obs and on my 3rd (vertical) I have my discord, chat and actual OBS (which is tiny so i can capture it with my phone in a tripod for obs)
Did you just Ronco quote us? "Set it and forget it."
Rad video. Really good stuff.
100% agree with the triple monitor setups. 3rd monitor is solely for the stream pc and monitoring the stream. It's absolutely not necessary unless you got a multi PC setup however even then it's not needed as everything you do on your second monitor could be done on your stream pc monitor.
Wheels on stands are great in studio productions. The ease of just slightly shifting a light is great.
6:17 the sm7b is GREAT for recording vocals, but it offers little in the way of dynamic for just sitting at your desk.
One mic that I use is a real dark horse- the rode NTK. it's great when i record but it's also SUPERB for streaming-- especially when combined with a BBE
I have 3 1080P monitors and they are great, I use them all. they are cheap $70 monitors.
I also have a stream deck and use it for scenes, sound fx, videos fx, ect.
1. Booming a shotgun mics in a simple room.... Overrated. Because the are not meant for that. I use and would suggest to use a small diaphragm microphone and use that. Anyway thanks for the video!
luckily my audio somehow isn't linked between OBS and GoXLR so whatever the audio is set to on OBS isnt affected by mixer when i turn it up or down in my headset
I got a 32 inch flat TV on Black Friday for my 3rd monitor, mounted it vertical behind my setup and it makes reading chat while gaming almost too easy
I use my Elgato quite indepth to edit my videos actually, cause of the built in API stuff for Premiere and Photoshop =]
15:07 the GoXLR can use submixes! Simply add the individual channels (Music/System/Game/etc) in OBS. When you move the slider on OBS (which I have assigned to macros on my Streamdeck) it will change the output for your stream, but not your headphones. When you move the sliders now on the GoXLR it will change your headphone volume ONLY. The broadcast sound will be unaffected. With this method, once it's set up it's completely hardware based and you can just move a slider or smack a button and change things as you like!
What are your thoughts on showing your face and talking vs very well edited videos compiled of clips and maybe an avatar pop up now and then?
100% agree about audio > lighting > lens > camera body. But maybe more like audio = lighting > lens > body?
SM7B has been a GODSEND for me. HEAVENLY. I do not have a soundproof room. I do not have the ability to have any soundproofing. I live next to a road with a glass window. I live near a hospital. You don’t hear any of it thanks to the SM7B and I’m able to play with that audio to make it sound great with minimal effort.
I get what you’re saying - many people it won’t make a huge difference, but I ADORE mine.
Charisma - #1 underrated gear. Do an episode on that. Maybe do a collab with @charismaoncommand
Currently laughing at myself. I don't game. I don't stream. But, at 60 and re-training to be a librarian, I realise I have to acquire the skills, to know how to stream, to engage, to make content 'cause that is what I'll be helping teenagers without access do. I've been consuming TH-cam and Skillshare vids for weeks. There is a lot of crap out there. Today I discovered your channel. I love your enthusiasm, your to-camera personality and your “stuff-it” attitude.. You have my subscription and a very rare comment. Thanks for the tube. Now I can log out again.
I have a solution for the Submixes problem with the GoXLR - in OBS use different audio sources and set them to your GoXLR Chat, Music, System, and Mic/Aux instead of using your Broadcast Stream Mix. You can use the sliders in OBS to change the volume for your audience in streams (having different mixes in YT editing is also useful) and the sliders on the GoXLR itself is what you will hear.
I just found this out recently and it's made streaming with the GoXLR Mini way more enjoyable for me and my audience
As a Xbox streamer I fully utilize 3 monitors. Main monitor for Xbox. Right monitor for OBS/Chat. Left monitor for discord, Spotify & web browser.
I totally agree with the SM7B being overrated, and I use one. Don't get me wrong, I love my SM7B, but it is 100% not necessary for live streaming. I got it because I also make music and do voice-overs, and I record in a small space with a lot of environmental noise and reflective surfaces. But for 99% of people, especially if your starting out, a shotgun mic, or even an elgato wave 3 or a hyperx quadcast with the right filters, will sound amazing.
Third monitor actually helps me a lot with my work flow when I edit for work or even in some situations on stream lol. But yeah third monitor isn’t necessary for sure!
I am a podcaster on twitch and I upgraded my audio first. I got my Rodecaster Pro and my Shure SM7B. Then I upgraded my webcam to the Logictech Brio 4k. However….My next upgrade is my desk because I do want a bigger 2nd monitor so I can get my setup to match.
Giving you some free engagement
I'm using a wireless DJI Mic that recently started getting interference no matter how I use it. With audio recorder without on cell phone. So I'm trying to think of a replacement while I send this in. Shotgun Mike or the new DJI Mic 2? Or maybe Rode
Love the ideas I learn from your channel, thank you.
*Question* : I am buying a used Sony a7/S ii body without any lens.
What lens would you recommend to get for it - the camera will be used as a webcam creating educational content using a Zoom streaming setup?
After trying tons and tons of gear...I'd say dynamic mics are underrated. Huge difference if you can't afford a treated room/studio to record. And I'd say filming in 4k is overrated (yes, I said it). Millions of people watching content on their tiny as* smartphones, I'm telling you they can't see a difference.
vid doesnt start til 3:30 lol fair play
Stream deck is such a no brainer, I haven't made content/streamed in a couple of months, but I use stream deck (and improve it) every day. I used to use hours on organizing files in different folders etc, now it takes me minutes by having buttons for where to move files, rename, cut, copy, rename, to say a few.
Also use it for controlling hue lights, windows shortcuts, as a sound board, website shortcuts
curious? How can I achieve a submix? I use Mac devices so I can't use a GoXLR anyway, but I want to start a twitch stream to go with my youtube channel I already have for just casual chatting and gaming for relaxing nights with my viewers that are less stress on my workflow. I can never get a good mix for me personally on test streams that I feel is good for my viewers too, (same issues you had). curious to which devices are out there that you would recommend to get that good submix so I can start streaming on Twitch as an outlet for fun.
My at2020 was $100 and works good for an all round music recording mic and streaming mic on a budget.. Yessss I have 2 32 in ch tv's for monitors but could use a third monitor just to see chat..
I stand by 3 monitors. I cant go back down to 1 or 2.
LEFT: Vertical. When I am at work, Teams and Discord both displayed.. When I stream, Discord and Chat.
MIDDLE: Game / Main Focus App or Window
RIGHT: Browser for video or work productivity, or whatever I need to look up.
so about the camera thing... when i started streaming i was streaming from my ps4 and used the ps4 camera for a face cam, and then last year i think in February i ended up getting a pc and with that included an affordable webcam and used that all of last year. then earlier this year it dawned on me on that i have a canon rebel t2i just chilling in my closet (the camera was the last christmas gift i got from my mom before she passed) and i said to myself "wait... i have a perfectly working dslr i can use" so i bought what i needed for it and got it set up. one person who comes into my streams on and off even said "did you upgrade your camera? the quality looks more high quality". Best switch I could have done because i absolutely love it and yeah while dslr's are expensive, it's worth it but i would definitely say slowly work up to getting a better camera for yourself. that's all i wanted to say c:
I use to think 2 monitors was enough. Now I have 1.4 million followers on TikTok and when editing my videos I use 4 monitors. 3 with premiere and 4th one for spanish translations for subtitles. I think 2 is enough for the average creator though.
As someone who swears by 3 monitors, I do agree that most people don't really need it. For me it's part actually needing it and part it being impossible to give up after getting used to it.
I mostly got a third monitor for my work but it's very useful while I'm streaming or editing videos for my YT
@@maliwarn7897 yup, that's pretty much why I have 3 monitors as well :P
What would you suggest for a starter camera? I currently just use the normal Logitech C920
Great video bro, I use my stream deck 15 key for my video editing. I don't use my keyboard for any shortcuts while editing now.
What you explained with sub mixes sounds like a blessing!!! I think every gamer/streamer has that problem. How do you get sub mixes?
Yah I spent way to much Time on over lays because I didn’t think I was entertaining. All my friends got me to stream and then I decided to change my stream into a safe place for other people to come hang out or even get support. I’m mentoring several young men now. I don’t make anything from it but it’s a very fulfilling experience
Monitors help with workflow. I personally only have 2, have had a 1 and 3 monitor set up at various stages. Find what works for you and what you want to do on a day to day.
All my third monitor ever did was display my Outlook and Spotify feed, not a great use of energy.
The Number one way to grow your channel is your PERSONALITY be your self and create content that you want to watch look at who you watch on the daily what makes you watch them?
Be your own character!
Dont copy be you! 🤙🏻❤️
I agree with the majority of the video Harris. I only have two things to say about the video. Not sure if you are gonna end up reading this, but if you do, I would appreciate your feedback.
I am gonna start off with the third monitor ordeal. I don't "really" need a third monitor, and I put that in quotations because the only reason I would want a third monitor is not to game on, but just for my Twitch Chat. I have my main monitor that I game on, and I got a second monitor for controlling my stream whether that is changing music, messing with the sub mixes and whatnot, to just interacting with my chat. I thought long and hard about getting a third monitor just for my chat so that way I can still control the stream, do my gaming stuff, but always keep up with chat and never having to worry about missing a message. Do you think that is a good enough reason to get a third monitor?
And number two, I have the Elgato Stream Deck XL and I LOVE it very much. Seriously, anyone that DOESN'T have one NEEDS to pick one up. It is LITERALLY one of the BEST products I bought from Elgato. While I am learning how to do more advance tricks with it, I do want to ask, is it possible to use more than one Stream Deck at a time? I feel like even though I have 32 buttons, I run out of room really quick and I find myself having to constantly change folders just to do stuff. I would really love to use another stream deck (not the mobile app, an actual second Stream Deck), however I don't want to, not gonna say waste my money, but I guess a better word would be "invest" into another Stream Deck if I can only use one with my setup.
Harris if you did read this, thank you for taking time out of your day reading this, note you are an AMAZING Content Creator, and I literally love every single one of your videos. I would love to hear your feedback and let me know what your opinion is on this topic. I hope you have a blessed day, and as always, keep it legendary fellow Spartan!
15:43 I gotta say I don't fully agree with this one, at least if underrated means you gotta have it. Sub-mixes is a great feature but it's not one of those things that are necessary. I guess if I put music on my streams for ME PERSONALLY it would be coz I like to game with the game's music. I don't like to sacrifice my experience just because people wanna hear music on a stream, so that would be a must.. but the larger reason I don't use music in my streams is copyright issues. I mean, I will post a video that my iPhone Photos app made to Facebook, and it will get a copyright strike. Yeah, really: The videos that the Photos app makes with the specific purpose for you to be able to post them to social media, gets copyright strikes. Is it legit strikes? Probably not, but it still happens.
But what I can't live with, is not having a zero-latency optical in port so that I can stream from console without having mad delay in the audio from said console. And it has to be optical in coz the 3.5mm jacks from HDMI audio extractors always sound like piss.
I am a super small youtuber. So do not have much expensive stuff. I have a laptop 15 inch screen i5 16 GB RAM 500SSD 1650 gtx i have a logitech webcam and mic and headsett from from hyper X. Oh yes a green screen. But I need so much better lights. But cant afford right now. I did buy a secound screen. So I can have more control over a live stream.
Have a great day still 🙂
What did I get from this entire well done video? I need to find out what exactly I am good at... hmmm.. what sets me apart! Damnit man, seems like an easy question, but it is not. Off to research me. Oh, and I suck at lighting and my audio needs a small upgrade.
People definitely over value the SM7B. It sounds good and I can appreciate it if it’s standardizing or normalizing the way a lot of the content we consume sounds, since so many popular individuals speak into one. But half of the people that buy it or want it just want that trophy to be seen next to their face more than they want to be heard clearly.
The GoXLR take is misleading or a case of not thinking. You know all the sound channels the GoXLR gives you? You can just simply import them into OBS and set your gain/compressor/level for music, chat and game audio there. Set it and forget it. That way the simpler to access on-the-fly, physical buttons and faders on the GoXLR can be used to only adjust the sound for yourself, leaving your stream/record sound levels at consistent and enjoyable levels across all your content.
I wish shotgun mics were as cheap to play around with and test as lav mics
100% agree on lights and audio being the first investments for anyone. I think SkillShare is only ok though, the video player is trash (At least it was last time I used it!), I found it frustrating that it isn't inspired by the TH-cam player, this one works so well... Skillshare one seemed to have a play and pause button and that was it, sometimes I wanna skip around with my keyboard or fullscreen with 'f', and it didn't do that. I found a lot of the classes to be very basic and a bit clickbait at times, quite lacking in depth, very beginner focused. Which might be great for some! Domestika is nice, it should be subscription based and not Udemy class based but, it goes deep on specific topics with legit industry tutors, I feel like not 'anyone' can make a class, which lifts the standard. They're also really well produced. Masterclass is great too, just might be a bit over the hill at times. It's classical, time tested fundamentals that will also be in style, but it's far from cutting edge in my experience! MZed classes are brilliant, and I'm curious what the Monthly/Studio classes are like, Casey did one recently.