Software I use, gadgets I love, and other things I recommend.
I’m often asked about the things I use to build software, stay productive, or buy to fool myself into thinking I’m being productive when I’m really just procrastinating. Here’s a big list of all the things I have and love.
Workstation
14” MacBook Pro, M1 Pro, 32GB RAM (2021)
I was using an Intel-based 13” MacBook Pro prior to this and the difference is night and day. I’ve never heard the fans turn on a single time, even under the incredibly heavy loads I put it through with rendering videos or editing photos.
Dell U3219Q Display
For my main workstation display I choose a 32” display for having more screen estate. This is extremely useful for development, video and photo editing.
Caldigit TS3+
The Caldigit TS3+ is a game changer for professionals who demand fast and reliable connectivity. With its sleek design and impressive features, it delivers lightning-fast transfer speeds and performance, making it the ultimate docking station for my needs.
Main Light: Godox SL60W + Neewer 120cm Softbox
The Godox SL60W combined with the Neewer 120cm Softbox makes a fantastic lighting setup. The SL60W provides plenty of power and the softbox provides a beautiful soft light. Together they create stunning and professional looking images.
2nd Light: HUE Play Bar + Light Strip
The HUE Play Bar and Light Strip are perfect for adding ambient lighting to your workspace. With a wide range of colours and adjustable brightness levels, they provide a customisable and enjoyable lighting experience. Plus, their sleek and modern design will enhance the look of any desk or workspace.
Apple Magic Trackpad
The Apple Magic Trackpad is a fantastic accessory for any Mac user. Its intuitive Multi-Touch gestures make navigating your computer a breeze, and its sleek design fits seamlessly into my workspace.
Apple Magic Keyboard Touch
The Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID is a breakthrough for anyone who values security and convenience. Its Touch ID feature lets you authenticate easily and securely with just a touch of your finger. The keyboard’s sleek design and low-profile keys also make typing comfortable and enjoyable.
Logitech MX Master 3
The Logitech MX Master 3 is a top-of-the-line mouse that offers unparalleled comfort and precision. With an ergonomic design and customisable buttons, it adapts to your unique needs and preferences.
Herman Miller Aeron Chair
The Herman Miller Aeron Chair is an iconic piece of office furniture that provides exceptional comfort and support. Its unique design and materials mould to your body, providing personalised comfort and reducing pressure points. Plus, its sleek and modern look will enhance the aesthetics of any workspace.
Video Workstation
3x Dell U2720Q Display
For my main workstation display, I choose a 32″ display to have more screen real estate. This is very useful for development, video and photo editing.
Caldigit TS3+
The Caldigit TS3+ is a game changer for professionals who demand fast and reliable connectivity. With its sleek design and impressive features, it delivers lightning-fast transfer speeds and performance, making it the ultimate docking station for my needs.
Focusrite 2i2 Audio Interface
The Focusrite 2i2 audio interface is a reliable, high-quality option for a simple yet professional audio recording setup.
Main Light: Godox SL60W + Neewer 120cm Softbox
The Godox SL60W combined with the Neewer 120cm Softbox makes a fantastic lighting setup. The SL60W provides plenty of power and the softbox provides a beautiful soft light. Together they create stunning and professional looking images.
2nd Light: Godox SL60W + Neewer 90cm Softbox
The Godox SL60W combined with the Neewer 90cm Softbox makes a fantastic lighting setup. The SL60W provides plenty of power and the softbox provides a beautiful soft light. Together they create stunning and professional looking images.
Glide Gear TMP 100
The Glide Gear TMP 100 is a versatile and affordable teleprompter solution for video production. It’s a great investment to improve the quality of your video production and the way you participate in video meetings such as Google Meet, Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
Lilliput A11 Field Monitor
The Lilliput A11 field monitor is an excellent choice for use with the Glide Gear TMP 100 teleprompter. Its high-resolution display and accurate colour reproduction provide a clear and reliable viewing experience, ensuring that on-camera performances are captured flawlessly.
Atem Mini Extreme ISO
The Atem Mini Extreme ISO is a powerful and versatile video switcher that enables seamless and professional live streaming and video production. It’s overkill for my current needs, but the Super Source feature takes video conferencing to the next level.
Main Camera: Sony ZV-E10 with Sigma 16mm lens
The Sony ZV-E10 coupled with the Sigma 16mm lens is a powerful combination for any content creator or vlogger and probably the most expensive webcam you can buy. Although I’ll be using it mainly for video conferencing, they make for a reliable and high performance video production setup that is sure to raise my online profile.
2nd Camera: Sony ZV-E10 with Tamron 11-20mm lens
I use another Sony ZV-E10 with a Tamron 11-20mm lens as a second camera to give me a different angle to my setup.
Mic: Sennheiser MKE600
The Sennheiser MKE600 microphone is a high-quality option for capturing professional-quality audio in a variety of settings. Its directional design focuses on capturing sound from the subject while minimising background noise. Together with the RØDE PS1A boom arm it’s a solid choice for anyone in need of quality audio recording.
Elgato Streamdeck MK II
The Elgato Stream Deck is not only for streamers, but also for developers. Its customisable LCD buttons can be programmed with frequently used functions, macros and commands for development workflows. This streamlines the development process, making coding faster and more efficient.
Apple Magic Keyboard Touch
The Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID is a breakthrough for anyone who values security and convenience. Its Touch ID feature lets you authenticate easily and securely with just a touch of your finger. The keyboard’s sleek design and low-profile keys also make typing comfortable and enjoyable.
Logitech MX Master 3
The Logitech MX Master 3 is a top-of-the-line mouse that offers unparalleled comfort and precision. With an ergonomic design and customisable buttons, it adapts to your unique needs and preferences.
Development tools
Visual Studio Code
I don’t care if it’s missing all of the fancy IDE features everyone else relies on. VS Code is arguably the best and most text editor ever made.
Warp Terminal
Warp Terminal is a third-party terminal emulator that offers some additional features such as multiple tabs and panes, customisable themes and support for different shells.
Productivity
Alfred
It’s not the newest kid on the block but it’s still the fastest. The VS Code of the application launcher world.
Obsidian
Using a simple, yet flexible and customisable editor for daily notes and all the other things we need to take care of throughout the day is a game changer for me. Things finally fell into place for me after applying Tiago Forte’s PARA method (building a second brain) to my note-taking life.
1Password
While not a productivity tool per se, 1Password is the backbone of my of my digital life. Not having to worry about accounts, passwords and other secure is like driving a bulletproof car.