After investing over 4 years and 10k in equipment, software, and experiments, I’m finally at a point where I’m super satisfied with my Online Training Gear and Home Office setup!
Despite always existing room for improvement, here is the list and links to each item, on top of the reasons I like (👍🏻) and dislike (👎🏻) them. The investment is at the time of purchase, currently, it may be different:
#1 Lenovo Legion 5 Pro 2022
€1,799.90
High-performance laptop for managing training sessions, content creation, and video editing.
Pros:
👍🏻Powerful
👍🏻Low keys profile
👍🏻Gaming
Cons:
👎🏻Noisy
👎🏻Battery life is miserable
👎🏻Almost zero upgrade possibility (it’s a laptop)
Why?
A powerful machine with a powerful graphics card allows you to create advanced effects and scenes, and if you need to edit video for content creation, you can do it!
#2a Audio-Technica ATR 2100x
€73.55
High-quality microphone for clear audio in live and recorded sessions.
Pros:
👍🏻Amazing studio sound
👍🏻Dynamic microphone, good for non-treated rooms!
👍🏻Much cheaper than same-quality alternatives!
Cons:
👎🏻No volume control of the audio feedback port!
Why?
Investing in the audio quality your participants get from you should be your TOP priority!
#2b Renfox Microphone Arm
€25,00
Essential for maintaining proper lighting and microphone positioning during online sessions.
Pros:
👍🏻Budget-friendly
👍🏻Simple to use
👍🏻Bunch of accessories (Ring-light, velcro strips for cable management, different mounts, pop-filter, wind cover, and more!)
Cons:
👎🏻Not that sturdy
👎🏻Feels relatively cheap
Why?
Clears space on your desk and remove some noise form the vibrations when typing.
#3Sihoo M102C Chair
€160.00
Essential for maintaining proper lighting and microphone positioning during online sessions.
Pros:
👍🏻Confortable and stable
👍🏻The arm-rests go all the way up so I can get beneath my desk (or when gaming)
Cons:
👎🏻A bit cheap on some parts (plastic)
👎🏻Head-rest has the tendency of loosing up its screws and becoming completely loose
Why?
Spending many hours sitted in an uncomfortable and not-ergonomical chair will generate pain, and possibly even injuries in the long run.
#4 Flexispot EB2 + Mahogany Table Top
€299.49 + €40,00
Motorized standing desk for versatile workstation setups and a beautiful whole wood table top.
Pros:
👍🏻Height adjustment at the press of a button
👍🏻Memory buttons
👍🏻Sturdy and silent
Cons:
👎🏻Lowest setting is not that low.
👎🏻Can’t easily connect with the API for automation.
Why?
A standing desk is a huge improvement in quality of life, ergonomics and energy while delivering sessions.
#5 Titanwolf Deskpad
€20.00
Large deskpad for workspace organization.
Pros:
👍🏻Big and bright
👍🏻Washable
👍🏻Smooth and precise (perfect for CS2)
Cons:
👎🏻Easy to stain
Why?
When I’m not working I like to play some competitive Counter Strike 2, and having a big pad allows to use the mouse easily, and also adds some aesthetics and organization to the desk.
#6a IKEA Dagoto Foot Support
€19,99
Foot support for enhanced ergonomics when sitting.
Pros:
👍🏻Tilts
👍🏻Anti-slippery
👍🏻Lightweight
Cons:
👎🏻Feels cheap (plastic)
👎🏻Noisy when tilting the base
Why?
Not only taking care of your legs while sitting will help with your overall posture, it helps me reach the floor since my desk is a bit tall.
#6b Duronic DM-MAT1
€30.57
Durable mat for additional comfort when standing.
Pros:
👍🏻Anti-slippery
👍🏻Confortable
Cons:
👎🏻May tear if not handled properly (or if you also have kids like me)
Why?
A standing desk may place you standing up still during long hours, so having a more comfortable and cushioned surface help your feet, kness, and joints in general.
#7 Live Drawing Station (Mic/Phone Arm + Old phone + App)
€100,00
A mic/phone arm, with an old phone using the Dev47apps Droidcam Pro app turns into a live drawing station.
Pros:
👍🏻Cheap
👍🏻Versatile
Cons:
👎🏻Another App running on the background
👎🏻Requires an old phone you have lying around
Why?
By including live drawing into your sessions, you add a dynamic, interactive, and human touch to it.
#8 Elgato Stream Deck XL
€205,74
32 programmable buttons for advanced control and managing live sessions and content.
Pros:
👍🏻Automation, customizable, and plug-ins
👍🏻Execute actions while in contact with audience
👍🏻SDK (developed my own plugins)
Cons:
👎🏻Expensive
👎🏻If you are not geek, existing plug-ins may not help you/be easy to use.
Why?
The ability to change scenes, play sound-effects or even automate repetitive tasks related with online training made my sessions flow better, and provide a more fluid experience for the attendees.
#9a LG Ultragear 34N850-B:
€578.50
Ultrawide curved monitor for multitasking and immersive work.
Pros:
👍🏻Crisp and colorful.
👍🏻Many apps open at once.
👍🏻Curved.
Cons:
👎🏻Once you go curve, you don’t want to go back.
👎🏻Need a lot of space on the desk.
Why?
I once had 3 monitors and it felt too much. A ultra-wide feels more natural and manageable (with the laptop monitor serving as support).
#9b HUANUO Monitor + Laptop Arm
40€
Attach to your desk to elevate and customize your monitor and laptop position. I even use it to hold my main camera and additional lights.
Pros:
👍🏻Stable and affordable
👍🏻Clears space desk
👍🏻Route and organize cables
Cons:
👎🏻None in my opinion.
Why?
Having a clear desk, with no cables lying around helps me think with more clarity. Clean desk, clean mind, more focus in your session.
#10 Logitech 930e
€139,99
My first external webcam. Reliable for video conferencing and online sessions.
Pros:
👍🏻Cheap (when in sales much more cheaper)
👍🏻Adjustable positioning
👍🏻Physical cover for privacy
Cons:
👎🏻Not so great video quality
👎🏻Today offers are better for the same price
Why?
Having an external webcam (not the attached to your laptop) allows you to better set up your angle and positioning, improving your posture and online presence.
#11 Logitech G502 X Lightspeed Plus
€140.00
Precision mouse for efficient navigation (and headshots 😉)
Pros:
👍🏻Super ergonomic (specially for big hands)
👍🏻8 customizable buttons
👍🏻Low-latency wireless (Lightspeed technology)
Cons:
👎🏻A bit heavy.
Why?
An ergonomic and precise mouse may not be the most essential online meeting gear, but if you also enjoy gaming I highly recommend you finding one that suits your style and hand.
#12 Deltahub G Carpio:
€40,00
Ergonomic wrist support for prolonged use (and headshots x2 😉)
Pros:
👍🏻Lightweight
👍🏻Silicone wristwrap to keep in place
👍🏻Teflon feet for maximum smoothness
Cons:
👎🏻Needs time to adapt.
Why?
If you move your mouse hand a lot, having a frictionless experience not only gives a more consistent feel when gaming, it will feel effortless when working.
#13a Fujifilm XT-4
€2,049.00
High-quality Mirrorless camera for recording and photography.
Pros:
👍🏻Professional quality.
👍🏻Versatile and feature rich.
👍🏻Inter-exchangeable lens.
Cons:
👎🏻EXPENSIVE!!!
👎🏻Bulky!
Why?
As I am a photography enthusiastic, when the time came to choose my photo camera, I went for one that could also be used as a high-end web-camera. Off course, first, improve your audio, and there are now much cheaper alternatives out there with high quality. If you already have a good Photography camera laying around, check the next item.
#13b Elgato Camlink
€88.79
Device for connecting DSLR or Mirrorless cameras to computers for live streaming.
Pros:
👍🏻Compact
👍🏻Reliable
👍🏻Performant
Cons:
👎🏻Pricey (but cheaper options have bugs or do not support many cameras/resolutions)
Why?
Taking your online video presence to the next level may require a high-end camera, and for you to take advantage of that you may need a capture card.
#14 Sony XM4 Silver
€304.90
Noise-cancelling headphones for focused work.
Pros:
👍🏻Excelent Audio quality.
👍🏻Excelent noise-cancelling.
👍🏻Wired mode (low latency, good for gaming 😉)
Cons:
👎🏻Pricey
👎🏻Not as confortable as my previous QC-II from Bose
Why?
One way to improve your focus in a non-isolated environment is using noise-cancelling headphones, you will be able to hear your participants much better as well.
#15 Elgato Prompter
€250,00
Teleprompter and monitor integrated for delivering polished presentations (and producing content)
Pros:
👍🏻One single connection for power and display
👍🏻Perfect balanced size (not too big, not too small)
👍🏻Integrates with Stream Deck
👍🏻Creates the direct eye-contact effect
Cons:
👎🏻Not really suitable for large group calls (faces get pretty small and it’s not the same connection)
Why?
If you really want to elevate your connection with your audience, and produce content for videos faster by being able to read a script, this is definitely for you!
#16 Wooting 80HE
€320.00
High-performance analogical keyboard for precision and comfort (and gaming)!
Pros:
👍🏻Magnetic switches
👍🏻Super customizable, hot-swappable
👍🏻Rapid Trigger, custom actuation points
👍🏻ZYNC RAW case (heavy, sturdy, beaultiful)
Cons:
👎🏻Pricey
👎🏻If you’re not a gamer, specially FPS games, may not be for you
Why?
Even with the noise cancelling headphones, I just love the typing experience and sound this bad boy makes!
Additional Tips:
Cable Management
Invest in cable management since having a bunch of wires hanging around will not only be dangerous (for you and your equipment), but it also clutters your space and eyesight. My personal choice is velcro strips and some cable sleeves. I’ve made a post about it here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rafadasilvarib_workfromhome-training-coaching-activity-6995796677982867457-QFyW?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
Clutter and Supplies
I’ve invested in two small drawers that are glued with tape below the tabletop. They are small enough to avoid hitting the desk frame and big enough to hold pens, post-it notes and other small tech equipment like cables, prompter remote control, etc.
But wait! That only makes €6420,78… not over 10k!
Definitely, but this is only the current setup. Before these items, I also had a previous laptop, desk, tabletop, microphones, and teleprompter. Oh, and I’m not even listing the cables and other minor accessories (that unfortunately are not free).
Hope you enjoy this list, and if you get the chance to acquire some of these items (or others) drop a comment on your experience with them, or reach out to me here!