Video Creator Gift Guide

Some context for this week's show

This week on The Video and Livestreaming Show we're doing our 2023 Video Creator Gift Guide.

It feels like a weird time to be doing this. If you're anything like me, you probably have serious Black Friday / Cyber Monday fatigue. I totally get it.

This isn't really about buying and selling stuff, necessarily, it's about exploring ways to support the Video Creator in your life through their likely love language (gear) —and if that video creator happens to be yourself, there's absolutely no judgment here.

We ( Sam Proof and I) are big proponents of starting scrappy and finding new ways of using things you already own. But this time of the year marks not just the holiday season, but also the end of another calendar year.

If you've showed up and created things and put them out into the world despite challenges, it can be a great opportunity to reflect and reward yourself, and perhaps invest in something that will make your content workflow easier or more enjoyable in 2024.

Price points

Whether you're buying for yourself or someone you love, it's important to know your budget.

Obviously a lot of video gear can be hundreds or thousands of dollars, but there's a relevant gift opportunity at any price point.

If you're looking for a stocking stuffer consider things like:

• Mini tripods
• Phone accessories
• Selfie lights
• Cold shoe mounts and accessories
• Cables

If you're happy to spend more money, it might be worthwhile having a conversation with the video creator in your life (or giving them money or a gift card). They will likely know what they'll need and have preferences about brands and systems.

Video gear I'm excited about

Obviously we'll talk about specific gear that we would recommend or like to own this week on the show, but I wanted to touch on some things I'm excited for.

Rode VideoMic NTG

R?DE make great microphones and audio gear. The Rode VideoMic NTG has been on my wishlist for years and I decided to finally purchase it this year.

Admittedly most of the time when you see or hear me, I'll be on my Shure SM7B via the Rodecaster Pro, but:

1. Sometimes it's good to have a back up recording on my camera and the on-board microphone on the camera isn't great (but this is made worse by the fact that it lives inside a teleprompter 24/7).
2. I'm starting to experiment more with phone video (and the built in microphone is not great).

The VideoMic is a shotgun style condenser microphone.

• Connection options: 3.5 mm for connecting to your camera, USB to connect to your phone or computer. (Other accessories are available to connect to XLR devices.)
• If you use the microphone as a USB device on your computer it acts as both an input and output device. This is predominantly for monitoring purposes, but if your computer doesn't have an audio setup, you can plug your headphones straight into the port on the microphone and use it for live streams and video calls. (Though the first time I experienced this, I wasn't expecting it, so double check your audio settings before you get started.)
• The cables that come with the microphone are designed for on camera mounting and are reasonably short. I did invest in the longer Rode VC1 3.5mm Extension cable for added flexibility. I was delighted to discover that a standard USB-C to USB-C cable worked great with my computer.

Cages and Rigs

Sometimes how you put your gear together is more important than any individual piece of equipment.

I've spoken at length about how my Sony ZV-E10 camera lives inside a Desview Teleprompter with a Feelworld monitor off my Elgato Key Light with the Multi Mount system. And if those words mean nothing to you, here's a picture:

Again, the exact combination of gear is less important than the convenience that is created through knowing if I press a few buttons I'm ready to record or go live at a moment's notice. Reduce that friction wherever possible!

As I start to dabble in phone camera content, I wanted to take that same approach and build a rig.

• I want to have the phone camera at a reasonable eye level on a desk
• I want to be able to mount cold shoe accessories (microphones and lighting)
• I am mostly interested in creating vertical content with my phone (but wanted the option of horizontal too)

I ultimately purchased the NEEWER Universal Phone Cage Kit with Dual Handles (PA009).

The cage itself has 4 cold shoe mounting options and the handles can each hold another accessory.

I haven't really had much time to experiment with this setup yet, but I'm keen to turn my attention to it when I find the time.

I'm a bit obsessed with cold shoe mounts and accessories at the moment and I'll tell you more about that during the show.

What's on your list?

I'm curious to hear about what's on your wishlist too! Let me know during the show or in the comments below.

Garrin Bulani said he thought the Elgato Prompter was the thing to get for 2024.

Rumour has it that Mrs. Claus is bringing Michelle J Raymond a Rode PodMic USB, and, no, I cannot reveal my sources. ??

What's on your wishlist?

Join us live

Check the event links for time and date in your local time zone.

• Video Creator Gift Guide (Watch on YouTube)
• Video Creator Gift Guide (Watch on LinkedIn)

Have a great week

I hope you have a great week!

Remember if you're interested in video, livestreaming and content creation:

• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to the Learn Livestreaming channel on YouTube

BONUS: Garrin Bulani on Video, Influence and MicroStudio

Watch on YouTube

Last week on the show we spoke to Garrin Bulani ?? from MicroStudio.ca | ?????????????? ???????????????? ?????????????????? ?? about video, influence and MicroStudio.