Is Expensive Streaming Gear A Waste Of Money??

[@Senpai]

What was your best gear purchase ever? OR even more fun.. what was your worst? This is a safe space, no one is judging you..

[@Zephrii_o]

BEACN you actually put me on and it’s SUPER HELPFUL AND EASY TO USE! 10/10 RECOMMEND

[@edwardfletcher7790]

These videos are incredibly helpful ! I'd love to see a 3x setups at each level video ! 😆 Thank you for the amount of effort you put into this, we appreciate your advice 👍

[@theoutsiderjess1869]

The blue yeti was my worst gear purchase and a 40 dollar hdmi capture card was my best

[@DotsOnYTLive]

​@@theoutsiderjess1869 my 15$ capture card for my camnis 10/10, unfortunately my 40$ with an audio jack gives me some rough screen tearing. Any suggestion on a good 40 one? Is it the made-by-50-companies one on amazon?

[@dallascferguson]

I think the sony a7iii with the elgato 4k camlink was the best purchase. I love quality and having quality/reliable gear help aid that quality is very nice. Been going strong for close to 3 years with no hiccups.

[@drift_derek]

I’d love to see a 3-or 4-part series with multiple setups for each budget tier. Maybe C-tier (entry), B-tier (mid), A-tier (pro), and S-tier (master).

[@BronyumHexofloride]

I would add one further tier above S (master), S+ (Broadcast/Industry) for those who want to take the next step into the kind of gear used for TV, Live Events and Filmmaking

[@TheColinShowGaming]

Absolutely agree with you both!

[@vincentvanpiro]

Give this good man a beer!

[@fungdark]

I'd have loved for his "pro" setups to include headphones and a proper interface because not zero latency monitoring your audio is absolutely not "pro". "Pro" should also include acoustic treatment options for the same reason.

[@Brizzle55]

Man i couldn't agree more

[@SpuddGaming]

It’s definitely a lot easier to get a really high quality “low budget” setup these days compared to back when I started out which is great to see. I’d currently put myself in the pro setup category and continuing to try and push more towards the level that you have as I value high quality content but as I say it’s really great to see how accessible it’s becoming for creators. Great video as always!

[@Badlex727]

Dooooo the multiple setups! I think it’s a great time to do it since there’s such a variety available now! Might I recommend bringing in someone with a higher voice for the mic tests to compare alongside your voice and give a wider range of testing? Would be super cool and helpful

[@BionicLeg]

This was really helpful, I've been building my tech setup over the past few years little by little and it answered questions I've had about how other channels "looked". Thank you for doing this.

[@DrHaulcy]

I would love to see a video series comparing setups at different budget levels!

[@ljtech20]

This same concept applies to pretty much everything, not only streaming/content creation. We tend to overspend to get "better results", when what we have might just be good enough. Great advice, Harris!

[@PeakTimeRacing]

This video is sharp! Which lens did you get?

[@Clisare]

Could you do a video on IRL streaming gear? I use my phone and a wireless mic but it just isn’t as good quality as whatever Will Neff is using (for example) and I’d love to know what I should invest in!

[@Senpai]

iPhone 15 could be the Ultimate Stream Upgrade

[@ScrybeGaming]

Good stuff as always, Harris. I sit comfortably in the "reasonable/professional". But there's always the desire to spend more on gear...

[@WhoaItsClint]

I'd honestly love to see a longer video for each tier showing the actual setup instead of a timelapse brushing past it. I think there's definitely value in seeing how others do their full setup (including running the cables, mounting products, etc).

[@AwesomeGamesMoments]

One of the most informational videos out there. Thank you so much 🙏

[@VelocciYT]

Really interested about that camera in the high budget one, and the lighting too, looking to rebuild my setup so hoping to pick up some of this gear!

[@DirkWerning]

Great job. I’ve gone from the Logitech C920 with Amazon soft boxes and a headset to now a Sony ZV-E10 (Sigma 16mm lens) , amaran 60D with an aperture light done se, and a sennheiser MKE 600 shotgun mic. Little upgrades that hand made huge differences.

[@MiselHader]

Love the video, and yes I would watch an expanded series about different tier setups .. bring it on

[@wagonet]

2 years ago I started streaming and your content back then helped me so much. This new stuff is great! Even tho I don't need to upgrade love seeing all this gear. My favorite gear purchase by far, PC Panel Pro. It's so useful paired with wavelink software.

[@GameTechTalk]

🤩 That idea of a diffusing fabric over the big ass window (that is usually a nuisance of mine) in my room. Totally doing that one. (Oh and I'm I'd say Pro + tier equipped, good ideas don't always have to be costly) THANKS!!

[@casethewolf]

I wanna say that I put together a mid budget setup thanks to your recomendations on older videos and I am happy with how it has been coming together!

[@HAIRDIAPER]

Honestly love your videos for your real take on the huge market that is stream gear. Always honest with legit user case scenarios and trials. I'd love to see your take on multiple different setups at each level, if for nothing more than to help modify my personal current setup over time into something higher end than what I have currently. Options are cool. Harris is cooler.

[@robertquinonez_]

I just found your channel a few days ago, amazing, content. Oh, the EpocCam Pro is awesome!

[@d1mbo8]

Appreciate the hard work you put in! I actually loved the way the reasonably pro setup looked the most :D And yeah, I would love a multi level setup video

[@Hoaxcast]

I got my SM7b before they introduced the Wave DX but since it's release I've been telling folks (specifically those who want to stream / make videos) to just get a Wave DX. It sounds AMAZING, requires very little effort, and of course you get the creature comforts of the Wave Link software. I still love my SM7b and outside of the streaming world it is still king. I am lodged currently between mid and pro camps in my setup. I own a mirrorless (Canon EOS M50) but found it to be a big pain in the butt for what I was using it for (and it kept crashing mid stream which was annoying). I LOVED the extra colour accuracy, the blurred background and ACTUAL zoom rather than digital zoom, but the Elgato Facecam (not the pro because those seem to be impossible to get in Canada for some reason), has been the real MVP of the setup and has been extremely reliable and hassel free. So my current setup is Facecam + SM7b. That said, the budget options have improved DRAMATICALLY since I started 8 years ago. Like night and day.

[@geobucky]

I would definitely been keen to watch that series! My current set up is a GoPro Hero5 (birthday present from years ago), Seiren Mini, and some very cheap LED panel lights.

[@badboycris]

Great tips, and comparisons !! Keep on the great work.

[@QEngineering]

Herris, Rather then getting a $25 diffuser for your window you can just buy shower curtain liners from the dollar store. They are a probably thinner then the amazon diffuser but you can just double them up (or fold them in half). I've built lighting softboxes for photography with them a few times in the past and they do the job. Try it out. The SM7B sounds is a bit more punchy, but I'd say it's only 10% better for what 4x the cost? I would say that if you have $100 buy the Elgato mic rather then putting the money to the side to get a SM7B later. Love the video. 666k subs ... nice. 🍻

[@ComplexAce]

You should make low budget streaming setup vids

[@mograin_]

Yes please make the setup video! I really enjoyed this one and learned things. I now have new ideas for how I might want to do a streaming setup.

[@ohhhh]

YES! I would like this as a series. I was surprised at the budget setup really

[@PvtDamion]

I just wanted to say that I'm loving that two-tone colourway hair you've been rocking the last year or so. Oh yeah, I also love your content, thanks for the vid!

[@petermcginty3636]

Thanks Harris, great stuff. I use an OTT pro setup as I am a pro corporate speaker and my livestreams are for paying customers. It is a luxury and I am fortunate to have it - but it is worth it with the quality jump.

[@SkittsyKitten]

Super helpful info and I'd definitely love to see more setups in various price points. I think the most shocking thing for me was how inexpensive your choice of pro mic was. You see so many streamers using the hyperquadcast which is nearly double the cost of the elgato. I haven't listened to a side by side to really compare which is better but it's just interesting to know you can get really good pro quality audio for not a huge investment.

[@finnish8flash]

another great video def learn more things about some gear so thanks harris and looking forward to the next one

[@mberliner1988]

Love your videos Harris. Would like to see more budget, pro comparisons.

[@ShaunRF]

Great video! For budget stuff, I've been very happy with my Nexigo gear, a brand I don't ever see you mention. I have their super wide angle N980P webcam and their Glow Light stream light. Its great if you are limited on space and just want everything clipped to a monitor that is right in your face, and the results should be more than good enough for 90% for beginning streamers. Especially if you don't want to use your phone. For the mic, I went with the extremely common budget dynamic mic, the Samson Q2U.

[@AttackRaidan]

1:55 when you tell her “send nudes” and she responds with “okay, give me a second”

[@GreatTazGaming]

As always Harris you did a great job. Heck seeing the 3 budget, 3 mid, 3 entry pro, and 3 power pro setups would be useful to me at least. Also I know I'm budget currently but so is my PC. I'll be heading to the mid tier you showed for sure.

[@OMentertainment]

It's the concept of diminishing returns. Increasing these tiny elements either converts to improved workflow, specialized development, or trying to "reach beyond for artistic purposes", like Nolan likes to do, but that doesn't translate for streaming like it does for filmmaking.

[@SiNxRealize]

Seeing different budget build videos would be great to see. I love seeing more streaming tech videos like this from ya!

[@ProjectElevate]

Great info, I liked the alternate approach you took for the budget option. A series for each range would be great to watch!

[@ButtaBiskitHead]

As another homo sapien that wants to get into content creation SO badly...i would love for you to do a video series on a bunch of different setups. I am actually about to invest in some gear (camera, lens, lights) to try my hand out at creating content. The 2 cameras i'm looking into getting are the Lumix S5 IIX and Sony A7 SIII. I know these aren't "beginner" cameras....but the idea is to not have to buy another camera. Love your videos, btw. Your videos are so diligent, and your personality is so alluring. You can't pump videos fast enough, as far as i'm concerned ❤

[@maxmcconnell946]

would love to see that series about the different setups! i’m looking at getting a pro level setup soon for my channel on music production with some gaming

[@DarneIITV]

Definitely a love to see a series

[@Cafe655a]

Thanks for all the work! You are my go to tech guru to check in with before making and purchases.

[@RPGinger]

Thank you so much for this comparation!

[@queenielh]

I'm a sucker for Elgato products, exactly for the reasons you mention. They have amazing software for a great mid-range-budget gear that's not too complicated to setup and configure. I have not yet upgraded to the facecam pro, but have the regular facecam. 2 Keylight airs, Stream Deck Plus, Wave XLR + Wave DX. Mic arm(s), multi mount, the whole shebang 😆 It works well for me and the content I create for work.

[@markd5250]

I went budget pro ish.. I love the Elgato key lights. 2 of them light everything evenly. Added a Sony mirrorless 9Zv e10) with a sigma 16-55 F2,8, and a ATR 2500X-TR (USB) mic... Great to see how you showed the differences in light, sound and image

[@parrotmode]

YES I want to watch videos about multiple different setups at different budget tiers. Hope to see it!!

[@Behzat_Rasuli]

Dear Harris I have been following you for a very long time and I learned lots from you. Thank you soo much.

[@ShannonMoran]

Yes please I love all these set up videos and would love to have you break them down further

[@brandinimmo7837]

I learned a lot! Thanks Harris🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@Dartlin]

The wave dx sounded better in the test than the sm7B...testament to how fast tech is improving...similar stuff is going on with in ear monitors right now as far as budget options punching well above their weight

[@sebastianova]

The pro tier at 500 us for the camera was nice. I feel like the best thing one can do for streams is a quality Dynamic mic. I would go for Fifine since they seem to have good quality for affordable prices

[@PawFromTheBroons]

6:46 You can get this even cheaper with a white shower curtain. The unsung hero of guerilla filmmaking.

[@actualnotanewbie]

11:23 I've come to the realization that the SM7B isn't better than comparable mics, but it has way more bass. It's the Beats Headphones of microphones

[@BlueScreen64]

You'd be surprised to find out that it's actually other mics that lack bass and the SM7B is much closer to neutral. The Wave DX has terrible bass extension.

[@samwallflower7875]

As long as the audio👂is good the look doesn't matter. But if you are will spoken and charismatic like this guy, that's all you need. Nice work. Thanks for the good content.🤙

[@duskfallmusic]

[@PendelSteven]

11:31 The difference is that the SM-7b has been an industry standard in radiostudios for decades. It has a specific curve with quite a deep mid. We all know the sound of it. You sound like you could read the news when you use that SM-7b, not with the other mike. Which has irritating loud highs. Not nice after a few minutes. I don't like it. But you can tell I'm more into sound than picture. That helps.

[@Danieboy]

please do that idea of multiple budget setups and pro I LOVE THESE gear vidz, and here in Australia here things can get pretty expensive it's nice to see the options and details of gear that can be bought

[@crimsonwolfhunter5548]

I love your techs videos ❤ Thank you for the knowledge about different prices for setups It's really help me how to get started 😊

[@sam_jarman]

Harris always producing banger videos

[@J0elPeters]

The biggest difference; due to how the 7B is designed; you REALLY need to add better acoustic treatment (if you have any) in that recording space. The reflections are more apparent.

[@Shiggstream]

I'd love to see various options within the same price range - I'm currently trying to figure out an upgrade from my C920 that's under $300, as I got myself a couple softboxes, but I'm still not really happy with how it looks. Also mounting my facecam is a bit of a challenge with two monitors unless you want to mount right on top of one of them. Kinda want to avoid that but I don't know how.

[@quesadylan145]

I use a cheap mic arm with a thread adapter to mount my camera between my monitors! Works great

[@CoreyM97]

I’m glad I watch your channel cause it’s made me realize I can get the pro-like feel of my setup with a mid tier price range! Elgato for the win🎙️📷

[@coffeebeardtv]

Thanks to your tips I make money on social media now. Thank you for existing Harris!

[@michaelthompson9798]

This was a great 👍video to show. You don’t need to spend much money at all for a decent quality stream🤫💪😇🤩! I tired of seeing Twitch streamers trying to get dono’s for a $1500USD camera + lens combo, $500 Shure mic, $300+ lighting etc when even the budget option gives soooo much! At the end of the day, most streamers have a ~5% screen window for their face and the rest is their game for viewers. If you’re more an influencer showcasing products, then maybe a small budget increase for a slightly better camera is fine. No need to spend $2k+ on your stream setup for the vast majority imo.

[@ocelliotts]

I'd love to see more of these comparisons. I thought I was starting my sons streaming setup off cheap then I watched this and realized I'm basically between mid and pro LOL.

[@ZSwordlink]

The series would be so nice to watch. I would definitely watch it

[@LETHALxMODs]

Honestly love my streaming set up, I'd consider it a low level pro set up I guess? Cam: Sony A5100 w/Sigma 16mm Mic: Fifine K688 w/ Wave XLR Lighting: El Gato Ring Light (Also where I mount the Cam. This thing is pretty bright and has great diffusion as well, usually only have it at ~15%. Then I have (2) LIFX Colored bulbs in the back to create some separation. I only stream to like 3-5 viewers at a time but knowing I have great quality makes me enjoy streaming that much more.

[@jeffeisley]

would also love to see the inclusion of filming for YT & social media, example - "studio on a stand" that can be moved to different locations in the house

[@Mal4k1]

i would love multi gear setup vids. I have found all your videos to be the go to for streaming tips and knowing all the options would be helpful. I would also like to see a video about more in depth using cell phones as cameras, mainly comparing the difference between iphone and samsung. I'm a samsung user while rest of my family is iphone and we have a few extra old ones of each lying around.

[@financialphilosophers]

Great video for those of us with very little camera and lighting experience.

[@jonausherman5751]

I'd love to see more set up innovation!! I personally like using cell phones with touch portal as a stream deck replacement.

[@adonutplaysgames]

The change in quality didn't surprise. Been around the channel long enough to know the differences, I feel. What did surprise me was how much more I liked the WaveDX out of the box compared to the SM7B. The WaveDX sounded brighter out of the box, with the SM7B sounding more muted, almost muffled. I'd like to see a series for sure, perhaps from different brands too. Difficult, I know, considering how much Elgato has smashed it but it'd be nice for those that do not like Elgato (not sure why they wouldn't but hey ho!)

[@BrandonTheAnimeGuy]

The low budget setup was pretty good. Using the Camera of the phone for your webcam is amazing indeed. For less than 100 it was good. The Midrange setup is interesting. The Facecam Pro is amazing. The high end budget setup is actually really good too. Got the Elgato mic and XLR. Need to get the 4k Facecam. Then I think my setup is complete. Cheers!

[@Bunyip_Studios]

I used to stream on Twitch, been away for a couple of years, gonna restart again on Kick. I (will be) stream Miniature painting and sculpting in the Miniatures category. The main focus is therefore an area of the desk framing the work being done to the miniature. Up till now I've used a C920 and it's been fairly OK, I was thinking of getting an "ELP 4K Webcam, 2160P Zoom Web Camera with 5-50 mm Manual Lens, Variable Focus Ultra HD Camera" but I have no idea if it would be suitable for that task. And I don't want to waste £110 on a paper weight There are VODs on my Twitch account and here on KZbin if you want to look at the set up so you can better advise Best purchase was my Snowball Blue Microphone, worts was a supposedly 2K webcam, alright it was cheap, but you couldn't control it in any way

[@PiersCawley]

For me, it always comes back to the fact that pro gear is so *convenient*. You *can* light a scene really well with window light, diffusion, reflectors and the like. It'll take you an age, and it'll look great until the sun moves too far. Or you can bring in a bunch of overspecced LED heads on heavy duty stands with huge modifiers and get things dialled in quickly and (more importantly) repeatably. On pro productions, gear that saves you ten minutes of setup or teardown time between shots adds up to thousands of dollars saved remarkably quickly In this particular video, I don't think the really high end camera looked as good as the 'sensible' pro option, but I'm guessing you didn't spend as long getting everything dialled in, so I'm not sure it's a true comparison. The sensible option has a really good grade and higher contrast than any of the other options. Very easy to look at.

[@NaoKeysVT]

Thank you for including high end webcams. They've seen hugggeee improvement over the past couple of years. I ended up getting a Insta360 Link for my top down camera. Simple, light, fast focus. The jump to the 'Pro' stuff is nuts though. The lighting with the camera makes for a worldsss worth of difference.

[@StephanMartone]

Love the iPhone option and the iPhone app that can control the phone's camera settings - also happy to hear about the budget camera with sigma lens.

[@ArbyWan]

Awesome video! Been trying to figure out a webcam solution and since I'm on Android I am unable to use Epoc Cam. However I did learn that the Samsung S23 Ultra will in fact output Clean HDMI over USB-C so I am going to pick up a Camlink and see how that looks. Also recently picked up a PodMic USB and have been very happy with the performance as I have a lot of background noise and my Yeti Nano just picked everything up.

[@Poxenium]

I use an obsolete Android 7 phone as webcam with the free IP Webcam app. Can be plugged into OBS, needs 200ms offset in my case to be in sync with mic.

[@jefftroidvania]

I bought the Insta360 Link webcam because of your video on it and it's been absolutely amazing. I have the M200 but i could never get it to look as good as you were able to in this video

[@boonefarm2154]

I think a nice video would be a progress setup like a setup that the basic upcoming stream should have/looking, an upgrade setup for a 3-6 year streamer, one for a professional streamer and an ultimate streamer setup

[@eerietheghoul]

A new camera will be the next purchase for me. Seems like these days everyone’s quality has risen: thanks for the video Harris.

[@bruhthisb]

I would watch that series, this are super helpful, I wanted the shure SM7B but now I might just get the wave dx

[@berghy42]

Do it! I am eating up this kind of content because there are soooo many options it’s overwhelming 😅

[@mastapetz]

The Razer Siren mini sounded really boxy when you had it on the table but really good when you picked it up, that was kinda a surprise. I knew about the EpocCam but did NOT know about the the new software piece? I was kinda surprised that the quality change to the other cam was not as much as a jump as I expected.

[@michaelklaus]

I would love to watch your series on gear. I am still working with a mix of low and mid gear but that's mostly because I am not really streaming. I have just been working remotely a lot in the past few years. But especially when participating in some online course it is always fun to surprise people with the quality I achieve just by spending a few bucks and making good use of the software that is available. On the other hand what is not fun about those courses is that you can often hardly understand (and sometimes see) the poeple you're supposed to work with.

[@FaithInTheGlitch]

I'm rocking 2 90s sony camcorders. Is that pro? Or just retro? XD

[@NaudVanDalen]

I recently bought an €80 microphone kit, which includes a boom arm, shock mount, pop filter and windscreen. The Maono PM422. I watched a review on KZbin and thought it sounded good enough for what I need.

[@sirfluffysnugglebuttz5502]

i learn what route or what to change around my set up which honestly is my biggest battle. thank you for the tips

[@1tzelG_]

i had iPhone 6S specifically for Epoccam and Stream Deck free now. works very well. just get good light and adjust the settings. is a nice way to revive and give a 2nd life to an old iPhone.

[@_aPaladin]

, budget one is good.... but like anything the more expensive stuff allows for more flexibility. But Often times, constraints let you think outside of the box, which when you do actually go big budget is a massive bonus to have that experience.

[@Brizzle55]

Your videos got me back into streaming and has made me take it so much more serious. The only thing I'm hung on is webcam for now but I have everything else I need. I have a wave dx, wave xlr, stream deck +, got a crazy good deal on amazon on the wave dx and wave xlr. Do you feel like you need to put your face in stream to have a higher chance at being successful? From a viewer standpoint I do feel like it would be more engaging. Almost to affiliate 7 followers away! TLDR Man I love your videos keep it up

[@VetAwareProject]

I think a great video would within this series is you using all the stuff you own in the tiers, like complete setups, maybe your first mic if you still have it to the top of line gear you own and comparing. The comparison shots do give viewers a lot of difference in that you get what you pay for. That Lumix Camera and Lens looked amazing by the way.

[@cbdemented]

I use iVcam with my cell at 4k 30. It looks alot better than what you were using than Epocam with the ambient light in my room (I'm using an S21 for the phone). Gives me full access and even has a fairly decent bokeh effect, backgrounds or blur. You can also change to portrait mode and it allows for both wireless and usb connectivity. Almost no lag. Might want to check it out if you continue with other budget setups. Might be interesting to see what you come up with if you continue a series of different builds. I have what I guess would be a high end setup for sound with an SM7B and Rodecaster Duo, but a low budget for video using a spare cell phone I have. Love to see some other variations.

[@TigroGumi]

What should be noted is how the studio is setup, how the background looks.. how the room looks, how much that effects the look... that is also where the cheaper options cop out. I really good camera will still be able to look good if things aren't lit properly etc. That's how there isn't this massive massive difference between the setups... I think you should do the 3 videos but do one video all about setting up your room first. You could do budget room setups also with cheap LED lights you can buy, décor and show the upgrade to this with each prices range. So maybe you can include this in each setup. Would then be interesting to see what budget things remain in the more expensive setup.

[@passive-aggressive]

I love that new angle!!

[@rush97_]

Always appreciate what you do!

[@RadaCelestialWisdom]

Omg I so need to hear this! Thank you!!!

[@StephanMartone]

Would love to see more side-by-side comparisons between low-mid-pro setups. I'm thinking about mixing and matching between the levels so I can spend more on audio and less on video to start with and work my way up in quality where it makes sense.

[@ArkhamsBANE]

I would love to watch the kind of series with different levels of setups!