STACK #184 Feb 2020

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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This is where you go all out. Start with the top gear or make an investment in your audience’s listening and viewing pleasure with the right equipment to give you that professional sheen, regardless of whether you’re streaming or content creating. BEST BITS

Studio time By now you know that video is only as good as its supplementary tools. Lighting is that first stop. The Elgato Key Light works in this category, too, but you can also light up mobile illumination with the Manfrotto Lumimuse 8 On-Camera LED Light. At home, you’ll want to match that lighting to an Elgato Green Screen. Opt for this version if you’re framed in tight and only need to block a small background

behind you. Or nab the Elgato Green Screen MT for a wider angle and more potential background distractions (or mess) to obscure. Hit the deck Gun for the Elgato Stream Deck XL if you want the big daddy of streaming decks. Where the Mini and regular versions have fewer buttons, the XL gives you an epic 32 customisable LCD keys. Personalise them with still or dynamic icons and integrate this stream deck beast with

crisp sound). Slip either of these mics into a Stadium MICARM Microphone Boom Arm to float them in front of your gobs. Say cheese Speaking of cheese, you’ll have to invest some cheddar for the best camera gear. In a home studio configuration, you really should step

beyond a webcam if you’re looking for the best results. With the Nikon Z 50 mirrorless camera, the included Nikkor Z 16–50mm lens offers range versatility: portrait for home, and wide-angle when out and about. The real calling card is the 4K video recording, which is great for high-detailed content creation or 4K streaming on compatible platforms. Keep things ultra-steady at home or on location with a Manfrotto 190X tripod that goes tall or small for low-level shots.

all of your favourite streaming software. If you have a 4K gaming PC or console and want to record or stream (or, heck, both simultaneously) in gorgeous 4K resolutions at a responsive 60 frames per second, invest in the Elgato Game Capture 4K60 PRO MK.2 for stunning results. The good news is you don’t have to spend a motza to dip your toe in the streaming or content creation game to see if it’s your jam. But if you want to up your game, upgrading your gear is an investment in your audience’s eyes and ears that they’ll thank you for with Internet cred: thumbs up, shares and subscriptions.

Sights ’n’ sounds For a direct-to-PC USB mic that delivers high- quality goods, get your laughing gear near a Blue Yeti X. LED metering offers at-a-glance gain feedback (or at-a-press muting), with some fantastically versatile software-driven control for real-time tweaking of how you sound. For even more control, use the Focusrite Scarlett Solo Gen 3 to add real-time effects atop low-latency input. Connect a studio-quality mic like the Rode NT1A and you won’t cop viewer flak for FLAC-quality audio (read: really, really

Camera mobility Webcams are a great option if mobility is

important in your streaming game. For those who stream on the go with a gaming laptop whose webcam isn’t up to snuff, consider grabbing the Logitech C922. The automatic zoom and lighting adjustments do a great job of keeping you in focus.

48 FEBRUARY 2020

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