My Gear

Audio interface

  • Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface
    Perfect for turning your PC or Mac into a recording studio — this piece of hardware connects to your computer via USB and provides all the preamps and inputs you need to plug in and start recording.

    The 2i2 is also great deal if you’re just starting out and don’t need all the bells and whistles—I used that one for years. I currently use the 8i6 though because it comes with a dedicated power supply and 6 balanced line inputs which comes in super handy for connecting my old analogue mixer and electric guitars.

Microphones

cables

how to build a home recording studio

Check out my video How To Build A Home Recording Studio for info and tips on recording acoustic and electric guitar, vocals, podcasts and more!

acoustic dampening

  • Acoustimac 8-Piece Acoustic Panel Design Pack
    I use Acoustimac sound absorbing panels throughout my home studio to help dampen the echo — if you’re recording acoustic instruments like classical guitar, one of the first things you’ll want to do is to limit the amount of sound bouncing off of your walls as much as possible. If left unchecked, the natural echo of your home studio can create lots of unwanted noise in your recordings resulting in muddy lows, flat mids, and glassy highs that can pierce the eardrums of even the most casual listener.

  • Acoustimac 1-Piece Sound Absorbing Panel
    Don’t forget your ceiling! I have one of these bad boys hanging right above my head because let’s face it — your ceiling is just another wall.

strings

  • Augustine Strings Imperial Blue High Tension
    I use Augustine Imperial Blue High Tension on all my classical guitars because of their outstanding quality and longevity.

    Honestly, these strings should be at the top of every classical guitarist’s gear list because strings play such an important role in your overall sound and tone.

software

  • Reaper
    Reaper is a fully loaded Digital Audio Workstation for both PC and Mac — I use it for all my audio production. And the fact that you can download and evaluate the full version for free for free 60-days AND purchase it for less than $100 is a total steal.

  • Adobe Premiere Pro
    I use Adobe Premiere Pro for all my video editing and production. It’s super powerful and reliable and has monthly and annual subscription options.

  • TubeBuddy
    TubeBuddy is a browser extension with a lot of useful tools for YouTube content creators, like video SEO, promotion and bulk processing—a feature I’ve used many times for the last couple years.

youtube lighting setup: how to light your guitar videos

Watch this video to learn about the gear and techniques I use to light my guitar videos on YouTube.

Lighting

  • Neewer 660 RGB 2-Pack LED w/ App Control
    I use these lights to light all my videos! They’re super versatile in both white and RGB, durable, and easily controllable via mobile app.

  • Aputure LS 60d Focusing LED Video Light
    This is my go-to light for all my cinematic sequences, like my Hollow Knight and Persona 5 videos. This bad boy can output 50,000+ lux in full spot, or 8,300+ lux in flood mode — meaning it’s bright AF.

  • Govee RGBIC tri-color Floor Lamp
    Great for large background lighting and highly customizable! I started using this in 2023 to add a little more color and depth to my videos.

  • Govee RGBIC TV Light Bars
    Great for smaller background lighting applications, like behind TVs, speakers and desks. Similar to the Govee tri-color floor lamp above, I use these to light the background behind my studio monitors.

Cameras