Software, Gear, and Other Things Jason Lengstorf Uses
I get a lot of questions about what gear, software, and other stuff I use. To make it easier to share, I've collected a list here.
Gear
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)
- computer
This is my coding computer. Additional specs for the nerds: - Processor: 2.4 GHz 8-Core Intel Core i9 - Memory: 32 GB 2400 MHz DDR4 - Graphics: Radeon Pro 560X 4 GB, Intel UHD Graphics 630 1536 MB
More MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019) details →Gamer Master 9000 PC
- computer
- streaming
I use this PC for streaming to Twitch and for gaming (well, when I say "gaming" I mean "Fortnite"). I bought a prebuilt because I don't know a ton about building custom computers, so I asked Chris Biscardi what I should do and he told me to get this one.
More Gamer Master 9000 PC details →Drop Alt Mechanical Keyboard
- keyboard
Cassidy Williams designed a custom Drop Alt keycap set for Netlify. It has Halo Clear tactile switches.
More Drop Alt Mechanical Keyboard details →Das Keyboard 4 Professional for Mac
- keyboard
Das Keyboard sponsors me, and I use this keyboard with my streaming/gaming PC. I love the physical volume knob!
More Das Keyboard 4 Professional for Mac details →Elgato Game Capture HD60 S
- streaming
This lets me use my MacBook screen as a camera input to the streaming PC. It's how I share my screen. You'll need a USB-C to HDMI cable to connect the MacBook Pro to the Elgato and an HDMI cable to hook the Elgato to the streaming PC.
More Elgato Game Capture HD60 S details →Sony a5100 dSLR Camera
- streaming
- video
Turning a dSLR into a webcam makes video look a lot more professional. However, this is a deep rabbit hole, so only go down this road if you're ready for a new hobby.
More Sony a5100 dSLR Camera details →Arkscan MCM5 Boom Arm
- streaming
- video
This boom clamps to the desk and has enough strength to not move around with a dSLR on it. Other boom arms droop or wiggle, but this one is solid.
More Arkscan MCM5 Boom Arm details →Blackmagic Web Presenter
- streaming
- video
This is an inline piece of gear to turn the camera into a web cam. Many dSLR cameras don't need this anymore, so check before buying one! You'll need a micro-HDMI to HDMI cable to connect the camera to the Web Presenter. It comes with the cable you'll need to connect it to your PC.
More Blackmagic Web Presenter details →Shure SM7B
- streaming
- audio
This is a fantastic mic, but it requires a lot of extra effort to get it sounding great. If you're not looking to go deep on audio, I'd recommend the Shure MV7 instead. You'll need two XLR cables: one to connect this to the Cloudlifter, and one to connect the Cloudlifter to the dbx 286s.
More Shure SM7B details →ProBoom Mic Arm
- streaming
- audio
This boom is pretty heavy-duty, but it has great reach and holds the mic steady. It doesn't come with a mount base, though, so make sure you grab a C-clamp mount as well.
More ProBoom Mic Arm details →Cloudlifter
- streaming
- audio
This sits between the SM7B and the rest of the audio setup to boost the signal. (I told you audio is a rabbit hole.)
More Cloudlifter details →dbx 286s Preamp
- streaming
- audio
Yep. We've reached "rack-mounted gear" in this audio adventure. The preamp gives us control over background noise, gain, compression, and other things that make audio sound junky.
More dbx 286s Preamp details →Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
- streaming
- audio
Running the audio into the computer requires this interface. You'll need a male-to-male TRS cable to run signal from the dbx 286s to the 2i2. The 2i2 comes with a cable to connect it to the computer.
More Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 details →Fotodiox FlapJack LED, 18" round
- streaming
- lighting
I use two of these: one just off to my left that's brighter (set at 37% brightness) and one at about 2 o'clock to my right for fill lighting (turned to 17% brightness). I crank these up as high as they can go toward daylight color. You'll need light stands for these.
More Fotodiox FlapJack LED, 18" round details →Fotodiox FlapJack LED, 5"x8"
- streaming
- lighting
I set this light behind me to my left at 100% brightness behind a light-diffusing umbrella as a "hair" light. This sets me off of the background. You'll also need an umbrella adapter and a light stand.
More Fotodiox FlapJack LED, 5"x8" details →Furman PL-PLUS DMC
- miscellaneous
- audio
You don't need a power conditioner, but it helps protect your gear from power surges and eliminates hum from your mic.
More Furman PL-PLUS DMC details →ULBRE USB Switcher
- miscellaneous
I like to use my camera and mic on work calls, too, so a hardware switcher lets me push a button to change which computer my mic and camera are hooked up to.
More ULBRE USB Switcher details →VersiFold Room Divider
- miscellaneous
- audio
My office is mostly hard surfaces, so this room divider helps cut down on audio reflection and reverb.
More VersiFold Room Divider details →Bose QC 35II Headphones
- miscellaneous
- audio
I love the noise cancellation on these headphones and I can wear them for a while before they bother my ears.
More Bose QC 35II Headphones details →LG UltraFine 4K display
- workspace
I don't have any strong preferences for different types of monitors. I don't remember why I bought this one, but I'd bet it was because I could add it to cart as I was checking out with a MacBook Pro.
More LG UltraFine 4K display details →Herman Miller Embody chair
- workspace
I've bought this same chair twice now because it's the only one I've found that doesn't cause me any discomfort. It's a solid investment if you spend as much time as a desk as I do.
More Herman Miller Embody chair details →Jarvis adjustable-height desk
- workspace
I try to stand at least a little bit each day while I'm working, and this desk has been great for that. I like the slightly curved desktop.
More Jarvis adjustable-height desk details →Topo Anti-Fatigue Mat
- workspace
Standing on this lets me fidget a bit and keeps my feet from getting tired.
More Topo Anti-Fatigue Mat details →Jarvis Monitor Arm
- workspace
I keep my PC monitor mounted on this one.
More Jarvis Monitor Arm details →Jarvis Dual Monitor Arm
- workspace
I have the laptop tray and a monitor mount on these. Love the cable management and keeping desk space clear.
More Jarvis Dual Monitor Arm details →Jarvis Desk Shelf
- workspace
This gives me a bit more space to avoid total chaos on top of my desk.
More Jarvis Desk Shelf details →Colbe Bamboo Shelving
- workspace
I have two of these shelving units (one 3-shelf, one 5-shelf) and I know it's kinda matchy-matchy with my desk but also I don't care because they're great.
More Colbe Bamboo Shelving details →Software
Starship
- coding
Customizing the shell prompt is one of those things I didn't realize I needed until I did it. You can see my setup on GitHub if you want.
More Starship details →Superhuman
- productivity
Superhuman does some gross tracking stuff, so make sure you turn that off. Outside of that, though, it's extremely fast and pleasant to use. I love the keyboard shortcuts and snooze features.
More Superhuman details →OBS
- streaming
OSS software that lets you stream with custom scenes. This is how I set up the overlays, transitions, and all the other production bits of Learn With Jason.
More OBS details →iTerm2
- coding
I started using this a long time ago for tabbed shells and a few other nice things, and I've never revisited my decision.
More iTerm2 details →Figma
- design
Whenever I need to design something, whether it's a real project like one of my websites or a horrible meme that will haunt your dreams, I commit design crimes in Figma.
More Figma details →Zoom
- streaming
In addition to using Zoom for basically all professional existence these days, I also use Zoom to bring guests into Learn With Jason.
More Zoom details →Microsoft Edge
- miscellaneous
I kept running into issues where Chrome would spin my fans up full blast and Firefox and Safari would do weird stuff and so I tried Microsoft Edge out of desperation one day and it's... great, actually?
More Microsoft Edge details →SauceCodePro NF
- coding
Starship uses icon fonts, so I set SauceCodePro NF as my non-ASCII font in iTerm2 to display the custom stuff in the prompt (like logos).
More SauceCodePro NF details →