Specialty Creative Gear for VIDEO CREATORS
If you’re like me, you're always looking for the next shiny gadget to solve a pain point in video editing and filmmaking. Today, I have a highly curated list of 12 secret gear items that I fell in love with in 2024, and I thought it would be fun to share with you how they have made a difference in my life - so maybe they could help you, too? Some items are on sale now the week I’m posting this, but I warn you - please don’t buy anything just because it's on sale - only buy if it makes sense for your needs. Some of the links below are affiliate links that help support this channel and website at no extra cost to you.
TP Link Smart Plug
This wifi smart plug works with Apple homekit, so it can natively turn things on and off with an iPhone or Mac. I use them to turn on my office lights and Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro ISO, which lacks an off/off switch. This YouTube tutorial walks you through the Homekit setup for the StreamDeck.
Calibrite Colorimeter
The 123 Calibrite colorimeter helps me set the correct brightness on any computer display. Often, the brightness is way overcranked for the sRGB standard, and since I usually work on things that need to live in the sRGB space on a webpage, this helps me make better color and brightness decisions. This is the least expensive colorimeter I’ve used, and it works great for computer monitors.
Monitor Arm
A good monitor arm for a computer display saves me significant desk real estate but also quickly adjusts for unwanted glare and reflections. I love these specific arms because they’ve held the weight of even very heavy monitors like my Flanders Scientific color reference display.
Wacom Tablet
A pressure-sensitive drawing tablet is an essential tool for any compositor who demands control, speed, and comfort. The medium-size Intuos Pro has been my favorite for many years because it just works. The most important DaVinci Resolve setting with the pen settings is to put one of the buttons to the middle click and the other to the right click. This gives you copy/paste and all the panning/zooming control you need to work effectively.
Earthworks Ethos Mic
I think Earthworks makes some of the world's best condenser studio and stage microphones, and the Ethos is a hidden gem. I’ve used the Ethos for almost two years on creative video tips, and I love it. Not only does the thing sound incredible right out of the box, but it also looks dope with the brushed stainless steel. Condenser mics often get overlooked for podcasts and YouTube-style tutorial videos because there’s a misconception that they aren’t suitable for untreated rooms. Those people are wrong to think that; the Ethos has always sounded great, so it has my full endorsement.
Ulanzi Cooling Fan
If you have a Sony A7IV and shoot video - this is a must buy accessory. It prevents overheating. And it just works, nuff said.
Weebill 3S Gimbal
What’s not to like about the Zhiyun Weebil 3S gimbal? It’s lightweight, easy to balance, and super easy to fit into a backpack for travel. There are a ton of gimbals out there that can up your production value, but I have found this one to work great for me. 10% off with the code "ZY10TOZXQ510"
Tentacle Sync E
Timecode generators make our lives as video editors so much easier and Tentacle sync makes the best system for most productions. They’re small, lightweight, last all day, and integrated with iOS apps like the Blackmagic Camera app, which is becoming more and more important. The Tentacle Sync E allows cameras to start and stop recording at will during event-style shoots and never worry about the difficulty of syncing to better audio or another camera later in post. The timecode boxes can output either audio timecode for cameras that don’t support metadata timecode or for the Sony FX cameras that I love - those accept metadata timecode with the simple, lightweight USB cable.
JJC Bluetooth Remote
This tiny remote allows you to start and stop your Bluetooth camera remotely. This works great on any sony camera I’ve used and also has a zoom in out button that is great for power zoom lenses.
Steelcase Leap v2 Chair
Herman Miller makes the Aeron chair, but I feel more supported and comfortable in the Steelcase Leap v2 chair. So, this has found a home in my edit suite because it just gets out of the way and doesn’t cause discomfort during long editing days. I put a link to Madison Seating because that is where I purchased mine. I saved a lot by buying a refurbished chair instead of a brand-new one. The refurb looks new!
Hammerly Ceramics Coffee Mug
I love art that serves a function. I also love coffee, like I really love coffee. Hammerly Ceramics is a boutique shop in Boulder, Colorado that hand-makes the coolest coffee mugs I’ve ever seen. They aren’t cheap, but that’s because they’re unique and hand-made. This is the sort of mug I plan to keep and use for decades.
Watershed Ocoee dry bag
You might not know this about me, but I’m a bit of an adrenaline-adventure sort of guy. That means I like to be outside in situations when my precious electronic things might get wet and destroyed. So, one of the bags I finally splurged on this year was the Watershed Ocoee dry duffle bag that I’ve had my eye on for many years as a whitewater kayaker. This is way lighter than a pelican case, which makes it great when hiking or portaging through the woods, but it also is extremely waterproof. Watershed has a patent on the closure zipper system that no other drybag has, which makes it the best.
