For creatives, new gear can be inspiring, it opens possibilities!My rule is: unless I have a project ready for production I won’t buy it. Which I break often 😂
We need a local G.A.S. recovery group! I bought yet another pcs of Kit, the Akai Force. I already have the Key61, and had the MPC One Plus. Why did I buy the Force? No idea. I get bored, research the heck of a something, and then feel the need to buy it. LOL. The reality is, it will sit there on the desk doing nothing! Beyond the obvious, I feel like GAS was a good thing at one point. When my studio was all physical keyboards, amped through proper mixer and recorders, I would use most all the keyboards to lay down LIVE played tracks for ambient and improvisations. As time has gone on, I feel like my gear is just me seeking that perfect all-in-one workstation solution. Have to admit, I REALLY miss the old school way of thinking when it comes to synths/samples, and making music. There's far more creativity in physical individual instruments. As a side note, feeling depressed much of my life, I buy stuff to distract me from reality! A new TOY! LOL. Some people buy really expensive toys, some buy collectable cheap things. Music nuts buy fun instruments in the homes of inspiration. Good things I'm divorced. At least I'm not taking money away from anyone, LOL.
If you haven't pressed checkout, use the coupon ZZ-CatMulvihill to get 5% off the cart! It's small but adds up. I mean, once you decide what's actually solving your problems 😉
@@CatMulvihill I’ve been waiting for the teleprompter to be released and also for my yearly bonus, so you better believe this week that is what I’ll do! Thanks for the tips! Would be interested to know how you avoid the “bug eye” effect that so many RUclipsrs with ring lights get?
You could use the extra camera for photography and then you have a really good hobby. Planning an assignment and going out with a real camera on an afternoon of photography is excellent for your mental health😊😊😊😊
Who hasn’t admired the view of an airplane cockpit? Being surrounded by all those buttons and lights! I think that is the “problem” most of us are solving with new gear… wanting to be surrounded by lights and buttons, since that setup suggests we are controlling the environment (perhaps the world?) around us! All kidding aside, great video and subject as always.
I bought the RodCaster Duo just because I wanted to experience it after watch 30 videos on the device. My Vocaster Two was just fine. I blame Tom Buck . . . just kidding. I really enjoyed when you two did that collaboration a while back. Actually I too wanted to increase my audio levels. I was proud of myself for not picking up an Elgato Promter. I just dug in and reconfigured stuff I already had and it only cost me about $25 for a few mounting brackets. It's not a Prompter but no more friction after I permanently mounted it on my desk and acquired as second camera for it. I enjoyed the video! 😀
I have literally been going back and forth on the RCP and ZVE10 for about a year and finally came to the same conclusion that I don’t need them. Glad I’m not the only one who felt that way!
I love the process of trying to justify a purchase. I must say I'm getting better at looking forward to how often a piece of gear will actually be used to help eliminate G.A.S.
This is really interesting - I thought G.A.S. was a term just used by electronic musicians (of which I'm one). The biggest battle I face (over and above the desk space you mentioned) is always power sockets and cables - add all the gear like streamdeck, camera, and mic that we both use for RUclips etc - and then throw in the extra drum machine, two synthesizers and various guitar pedals that I'm playing with. Under my desk the cabling is a disaster area! 😆. Great video as always Cat. ✨🪐
Great video as always Cat! I use to have a lot of "GAS" 😂 but I have learned to just take a step back. I definitely buy a lot less stuff these days, but it's still a constant fight and struggle.
For my online teaching and meetings, I use 3 Stream Decks (+, XL and MkI), the pedal and prompter, and although I did not buy my first Stream Deck to solve problems, it did improve the quality of my online presentation. Today I am still very happy using these tools and looking back, I think it actually triggered me to think and learn about improvements (using OBS, lower-thirds, green screen, multi-actions etc.,) for example with the help of your excellent YT channel. In your previous videos, you mentioned the Loupedeck live and Master MX3 mouse, which do not seem to be part of your setup anymore (see 7:36). Do you regret buying these? And does having a professional YT channel where you can discuss this gear make it less regretful?
Oh, I'm post GAS, but went over to the BAS (Bag Acquisition Syndrom), oh well.... and it's not even cheaper compared to lots of tech 🙂 Taking my medication --> checking my banking account so...
Hey Cat.. Great video and I am like you (used to be) in that I have fomo and dont like missing out, and a lot of purchases have been impulse buys. But I dont ever ask what is it trying to solve, because I don't really care. I want it and I buy it. I love spending money and I spend on cool new toys even if I dont "NEED" Them :). I have both RCP's and they are in a box. in the garage. I have no need for either of them but have them anyway.. I am about to order the new RCP video
@@CatMulvihill nah will probabably buy it anyway (and put it in a box at some point). . More money than sense :) My theroy is I may as well spend it, so the tax man does not get ;-)
This video has great timing since I've been considering the exact products on your desk for an audio setup here in my home office ;-). I'm very curious though - why do you have the Rode Streamer X? I saw your video review on it... But with the gear you have now on your desk, you could accomplish the audio interface + mixing + productivity shortcuts with just an Elgato Wave XLR and your Streamdeck+, and then configure the EQ settings with Elgato Wave Link software. And technically only the Streamdeck+ would need to be on top of the desk, since you could mute the mic and mix 4 tracks with it. It would save a TON of space on the desk. That's what I'm thinking of doing here. Am I missing something? What's the value prop for adding the Rode Streamer X for your specific use cases? And also do you find that you end up using all three Streamdecks or mostly just one or two most of the time?
Cat you have touched upon something that I've made central to not just purchases by my world view. I heard a person say "computer science in its simplest form is the use of computers to overcome obstacles" to me the identification of problems and ability to apply intelligence to improvements is the cornerstone of human accomplishment. It also helps that most of my career has been in sales and that job's success requires quickly finding out the unique pain point and explaining why our specified product or service fixes that pain point without too much impedance. So I look at EVERYTHING from the standpoint of "what is solving and for whom?". I find this with the AI craze right now. Generative AI ...great however my pain isn't centered an my creation of art or crafting text. I most certainly have G.A.S but I've found that I love integrated product that do multiple functions thus needing less STUFF to connect everything. My G.A.S has ascended to a new level (well that's my hope)
As a computer scientist, if I may add, there is a saying: Computer science is about computers in as much as astronomy is about telescopes! Take a look at the many videos on the Halting problem to see that another foundational aspect of computer science is about proving things that are impossible for a computer to ever do.
@@mshonle No idea why the few programming classes I took over the years never addressed the Halting Problem. I find stuff like this and Turing Test discussions fascinating. I like Spanning Tree's "Understanding the Halting Problem". It's rather daft to think that computers ultimately can be designed to be omniscient despite being created by less than omniscient humans.
Thanks for this reflection! For the integrated products with multiple functions, it sounds to me like that's addressing the issue of fewer connections 😉
So true. As Einstein once said: A thing isn’t perfect, when you can’t add more to it, but when you can’t take anything away without compromising its function. I always strive for making my desk setup as simple as possible (inkluding reducing all the „channels“ in Windows), but not simpler than necessary.
@@daktariwameno Was just chatting about computer docks and the proliferation of USB ports (Port Wars) which certainly seems antithetical to "simplify but not too simple" ethos. One Audio Engineer said "I produce and mix everything in box now" when asked why he had so much analog gear racked up he admitted "it's mostly about nostalgia" When G.A.S gets me it's usually for the same reason. Sentimental bindings.
Aahhh. The G.A.S. I have the exactly same thing with Rodecaster. Basically it just sits on my desk and does it job. Basically I could use any audiomixer with xlr inputs. It is an overkill. But I love my ZV E10. I have it in my elgato teleprompter and it is easily reacheable. My money drains have been: - 5 mics that I do not use. I only use a SE7. It's clear and it's cheap. - Four webcams which I bought before the ZV E10. I hoped to have a good quality, but a good dslr- camera is just something else - Wirecast keyboard. Totally useless since I changed to ECamm. - Three different light diffusors for cob light, and the cob light in it self. I now use led panes and a shower curtain. No heating up. No fan noise. And a shower curtain gives a lot better diffusion - Different kind of acoustic elements. A soft carpet and some blankets do the trick better. But I am quite sure, I need another camera for my setup...
@@portersblackboard Thank you for asking. I use it on a few ways, apart from my own microphone. (A). I just an old iPhone which is connected to one channel, visa Bluetooth. The iPhone pays Spotify and I play copyright free music sorting the wait periods (start, break, and the end). (B) With the sound pads, I pre-recorded 1 minute of "think music", which I use when I run a poll question. (C) I bring in guests into my sessions and I plug their audio into the extra mic channels, then I can use the built-in pre-amps for each channel to up the quality of their audio. These units are just fantastic. Thank you for asking.
@@petermcginty3636 Hello Peter, thanks so much for the tips on extra use of the Rodecaster! I never thought about using copyright free music on Spotify. That is an excellent idea to save myself from those pesky copyright strikes. And I will certainly use your idea with the 1 minute think music. I will likely do 1, 2, 5 and 10. Till now I rarely used those buttons since I have a StreamDeck.
Curse you, @Cat Mulvihill!! Curse you and your logic and reasonableness!! How can I address my need to "keep up with the Jones" after watching this stupidly WISE video!!! NO! I say NO!! And just to be clear: The problem I am trying to solve is the gaping need in my emotional life for the approval of complete strangers when I can show off my cool gear!!!
Can't be done. Once G.A.S. takes hold it's for life.
😂 It sure is persistent!
For creatives, new gear can be inspiring, it opens possibilities!My rule is: unless I have a project ready for production I won’t buy it.
Which I break often 😂
At least you're honest 😉
We need a local G.A.S. recovery group! I bought yet another pcs of Kit, the Akai Force. I already have the Key61, and had the MPC One Plus. Why did I buy the Force? No idea. I get bored, research the heck of a something, and then feel the need to buy it. LOL. The reality is, it will sit there on the desk doing nothing! Beyond the obvious, I feel like GAS was a good thing at one point. When my studio was all physical keyboards, amped through proper mixer and recorders, I would use most all the keyboards to lay down LIVE played tracks for ambient and improvisations. As time has gone on, I feel like my gear is just me seeking that perfect all-in-one workstation solution. Have to admit, I REALLY miss the old school way of thinking when it comes to synths/samples, and making music. There's far more creativity in physical individual instruments. As a side note, feeling depressed much of my life, I buy stuff to distract me from reality! A new TOY! LOL. Some people buy really expensive toys, some buy collectable cheap things. Music nuts buy fun instruments in the homes of inspiration. Good things I'm divorced. At least I'm not taking money away from anyone, LOL.
Oh man, the timing of this, just as I have a filled Elgato cart I’ve been sitting on.
If you haven't pressed checkout, use the coupon ZZ-CatMulvihill to get 5% off the cart! It's small but adds up.
I mean, once you decide what's actually solving your problems 😉
@@CatMulvihill I’ve been waiting for the teleprompter to be released and also for my yearly bonus, so you better believe this week that is what I’ll do! Thanks for the tips! Would be interested to know how you avoid the “bug eye” effect that so many RUclipsrs with ring lights get?
Don't hold back, man! Elgato make great stuff for the price point.
You could use the extra camera for photography and then you have a really good hobby. Planning an assignment and going out with a real camera on an afternoon of photography is excellent for your mental health😊😊😊😊
Who hasn’t admired the view of an airplane cockpit? Being surrounded by all those buttons and lights! I think that is the “problem” most of us are solving with new gear… wanting to be surrounded by lights and buttons, since that setup suggests we are controlling the environment (perhaps the world?) around us! All kidding aside, great video and subject as always.
Your friend could get a "dummy battery" to power their camera. The dummy battery is usb powered, like a phone charger.
I bought the RodCaster Duo just because I wanted to experience it after watch 30 videos on the device. My Vocaster Two was just fine. I blame Tom Buck . . . just kidding. I really enjoyed when you two did that collaboration a while back. Actually I too wanted to increase my audio levels. I was proud of myself for not picking up an Elgato Promter. I just dug in and reconfigured stuff I already had and it only cost me about $25 for a few mounting brackets. It's not a Prompter but no more friction after I permanently mounted it on my desk and acquired as second camera for it. I enjoyed the video! 😀
Ooh! Ooh! Bright...Shiny !
😂
I have literally been going back and forth on the RCP and ZVE10 for about a year and finally came to the same conclusion that I don’t need them. Glad I’m not the only one who felt that way!
I'm dealing wiith this gear-anxiety. Thanks for your help.
I bought and then ditched my RCP2 for exactly the same reason as you, Cat. I love the question about solving a problem. G.A.S. no more…
I'm sure we're not the only ones!
I love the process of trying to justify a purchase. I must say I'm getting better at looking forward to how often a piece of gear will actually be used to help eliminate G.A.S.
GAS is a guilty pleasure of mine. 🤪
😂 Everyone needs a hobby!
Your insights deeply resonate with me, as I've encountered similar challenges. This has inspired me to refocus on what truly matters and is essential.
Sage advice, Cat. This is why I too have 2 Rodecasters. BTW, welcome to the party-time faculty family!
Thanks for the warm welcome!
What problem does it solve is a great question to ask yourself Cat! You just saved me some $$. - :)
This is really interesting - I thought G.A.S. was a term just used by electronic musicians (of which I'm one). The biggest battle I face (over and above the desk space you mentioned) is always power sockets and cables - add all the gear like streamdeck, camera, and mic that we both use for RUclips etc - and then throw in the extra drum machine, two synthesizers and various guitar pedals that I'm playing with. Under my desk the cabling is a disaster area! 😆.
Great video as always Cat. ✨🪐
You're so right about the cables. You need to solve the cable problem with more gear!
@@CatMulvihill 😆Challenge accepted!
Great video as always Cat! I use to have a lot of "GAS" 😂 but I have learned to just take a step back. I definitely buy a lot less stuff these days, but it's still a constant fight and struggle.
I suspect there is a predictable curve for GAS with content creators 😆 Glad you've adjusted even when the lure of new is still there.
For my online teaching and meetings, I use 3 Stream Decks (+, XL and MkI), the pedal and prompter, and although I did not buy my first Stream Deck to solve problems, it did improve the quality of my online presentation. Today I am still very happy using these tools and looking back, I think it actually triggered me to think and learn about improvements (using OBS, lower-thirds, green screen, multi-actions etc.,) for example with the help of your excellent YT channel.
In your previous videos, you mentioned the Loupedeck live and Master MX3 mouse, which do not seem to be part of your setup anymore (see 7:36). Do you regret buying these?
And does having a professional YT channel where you can discuss this gear make it less regretful?
Oh, I'm post GAS, but went over to the BAS (Bag Acquisition Syndrom), oh well.... and it's not even cheaper compared to lots of tech 🙂 Taking my medication --> checking my banking account so...
Hey Cat.. Great video and I am like you (used to be) in that I have fomo and dont like missing out, and a lot of purchases have been impulse buys. But I dont ever ask what is it trying to solve, because I don't really care. I want it and I buy it. I love spending money and I spend on cool new toys even if I dont "NEED" Them :). I have both RCP's and they are in a box. in the garage. I have no need for either of them but have them anyway.. I am about to order the new RCP video
I hope your decision for the RCV is based on whether it helps solve a problem 😉
@@CatMulvihill nah will probabably buy it anyway (and put it in a box at some point). . More money than sense :) My theroy is I may as well spend it, so the tax man does not get ;-)
This video has great timing since I've been considering the exact products on your desk for an audio setup here in my home office ;-). I'm very curious though - why do you have the Rode Streamer X? I saw your video review on it... But with the gear you have now on your desk, you could accomplish the audio interface + mixing + productivity shortcuts with just an Elgato Wave XLR and your Streamdeck+, and then configure the EQ settings with Elgato Wave Link software. And technically only the Streamdeck+ would need to be on top of the desk, since you could mute the mic and mix 4 tracks with it. It would save a TON of space on the desk. That's what I'm thinking of doing here. Am I missing something? What's the value prop for adding the Rode Streamer X for your specific use cases? And also do you find that you end up using all three Streamdecks or mostly just one or two most of the time?
Cat you have touched upon something that I've made central to not just purchases by my world view. I heard a person say "computer science in its simplest form is the use of computers to overcome obstacles" to me the identification of problems and ability to apply intelligence to improvements is the cornerstone of human accomplishment. It also helps that most of my career has been in sales and that job's success requires quickly finding out the unique pain point and explaining why our specified product or service fixes that pain point without too much impedance. So I look at EVERYTHING from the standpoint of "what is solving and for whom?". I find this with the AI craze right now. Generative AI ...great however my pain isn't centered an my creation of art or crafting text. I most certainly have G.A.S but I've found that I love integrated product that do multiple functions thus needing less STUFF to connect everything. My G.A.S has ascended to a new level (well that's my hope)
As a computer scientist, if I may add, there is a saying: Computer science is about computers in as much as astronomy is about telescopes! Take a look at the many videos on the Halting problem to see that another foundational aspect of computer science is about proving things that are impossible for a computer to ever do.
@@mshonle No idea why the few programming classes I took over the years never addressed the Halting Problem. I find stuff like this and Turing Test discussions fascinating. I like Spanning Tree's "Understanding the Halting Problem". It's rather daft to think that computers ultimately can be designed to be omniscient despite being created by less than omniscient humans.
Thanks for this reflection! For the integrated products with multiple functions, it sounds to me like that's addressing the issue of fewer connections 😉
So true. As Einstein once said: A thing isn’t perfect, when you can’t add more to it, but when you can’t take anything away without compromising its function. I always strive for making my desk setup as simple as possible (inkluding reducing all the „channels“ in Windows), but not simpler than necessary.
@@daktariwameno Was just chatting about computer docks and the proliferation of USB ports (Port Wars) which certainly seems antithetical to "simplify but not too simple" ethos.
One Audio Engineer said "I produce and mix everything in box now" when asked why he had so much analog gear racked up he admitted "it's mostly about nostalgia"
When G.A.S gets me it's usually for the same reason. Sentimental bindings.
Very Wise.
Good stuff Cat
Aahhh. The G.A.S. I have the exactly same thing with Rodecaster. Basically it just sits on my desk and does it job. Basically I could use any audiomixer with xlr inputs. It is an overkill.
But I love my ZV E10. I have it in my elgato teleprompter and it is easily reacheable.
My money drains have been:
- 5 mics that I do not use. I only use a SE7. It's clear and it's cheap.
- Four webcams which I bought before the ZV E10. I hoped to have a good quality, but a good dslr- camera is just something else
- Wirecast keyboard. Totally useless since I changed to ECamm.
- Three different light diffusors for cob light, and the cob light in it self. I now use led panes and a shower curtain. No heating up. No fan noise. And a shower curtain gives a lot better diffusion
- Different kind of acoustic elements. A soft carpet and some blankets do the trick better.
But I am quite sure, I need another camera for my setup...
Collecting mics is like collecting sneakers. Totally unnecessary but fun. I have 4 mics but only use one.
The teleprompter: is it the Elgato prompter?
i just learn this GAS from Sara Dietchy youtube channel, 😅 the struggle is real
Surely, 3 Stream Decks is perfectly normal? I only have 2 Stream Decks and 1 Steam Pedal. Everyone is the same...yeah?
Getting rid of your RodecasterPro...big mistake. 😂 I could have shared with you some ways to use it more productively 😂🎉🎉
If you don't mind sharing, I would love to hear some ways to make it more productive.
@@portersblackboard Thank you for asking. I use it on a few ways, apart from my own microphone. (A). I just an old iPhone which is connected to one channel, visa Bluetooth. The iPhone pays Spotify and I play copyright free music sorting the wait periods (start, break, and the end). (B) With the sound pads, I pre-recorded 1 minute of "think music", which I use when I run a poll question. (C) I bring in guests into my sessions and I plug their audio into the extra mic channels, then I can use the built-in pre-amps for each channel to up the quality of their audio. These units are just fantastic. Thank you for asking.
@@petermcginty3636 Hello Peter, thanks so much for the tips on extra use of the Rodecaster! I never thought about using copyright free music on Spotify. That is an excellent idea to save myself from those pesky copyright strikes. And I will certainly use your idea with the 1 minute think music. I will likely do 1, 2, 5 and 10. Till now I rarely used those buttons since I have a StreamDeck.
Why stop with the videos? Keep going
We learn with mistakes..
💯
Oh girl. Wait till you get into the mechanical keyboard hobby. There's no saving anyone once that happens
🤣 I've always tried to get quieter because of typing while recording, but I know there's a growing fanbase!
@@CatMulvihill linear switches are quiet yet extremely satisfying to type on
Curse you, @Cat Mulvihill!!
Curse you and your logic and reasonableness!!
How can I address my need to "keep up with the Jones" after watching this stupidly WISE video!!!
NO! I say NO!!
And just to be clear:
The problem I am trying to solve is the gaping need in my emotional life for the approval of complete strangers when I can show off my cool gear!!!
And avoid difficult decisions. Buy one of each!
😂 😂 😂