I get questions sometimes about the equipment I use to do the various things I do, so I thought I’d compile it all in one big master post!
General hardware
- My computer is a 2022 M2 MacBook Air. I added more storage space and RAM than the base model offers, so it can keep up with the most taxing tasks I do (usually video or audio editing).
- When I’m at my desk, my MacBook is hooked up to my 24-inch ViewSonic monitor, which I got because it’s one of the only ones that can connect to a MacBook and charge it at the same time, through just one cable.
- When at my desk, I switch back and forth between an Apple Magic Keyboard (a gift from my spouse) and a pink and white typewriter-style KnewKey keyboard. The Apple one is quiet and minimalist, and thus good for everyday work, but sometimes I need the dopamine-boosting clicky-keys sound of the KnewKey to get me through difficult tasks.
- I use an Apple Magic Trackpad (also a gift from my spouse). Have never really been able to go back to using a mouse after getting used to a trackpad.
- I mostly use my iPad mini 5 for leisure activities (Netflix, Instapaper, etc.) but it’s also what I work on when my chronic pain is flaring up too badly for me to sit at a desk, or when I want to work in a location where bringing a laptop would be inconvenient.
- My phone is an iPhone 12 Pro. It has a great camera; I take most of my photos and videos on it.
- For Zoom calls and such, I have a Logitech C920S webcam affixed to my monitor.
- When I read, either for pleasure or for research, I’m usually doing it on my Kindle Paperwhite. I love that it’s waterproof, because I read in the bath a fair bit, and I also love its highlighting and note-taking features.
- I have a HomePod mini next to my bed which I use to control music and lighting with my voice, among other things. it’s especially convenient on days when chronic pain and fatigue are making it difficult for me to do things myself.
Podcasting & music equipment
- My main mic is a Shure MV7 on a Gator boom arm. I’ve got a YouShares shock mount and a basic pop filter on it as well.
- Previously I have used a Blue Snowball and then a Blue Yeti for podcasting. They sound decent and I would recommend them for people who are just starting out with podcasting and don’t want to spend a ton.
- For mobile recordings – including when I’m staying with my spouse and when I’m in too much pain to sit at my desk – I use a Zoom H2n.
- My headphones are bright blue Cowin E7s and were bought for me by a fan of mine who is a headphones fetishist. I love how comfortable and cute they are.
- When at my desk, I plug mics and some instruments into a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface. Mine is a bit beat-up-looking because I bought it secondhand on eBay for about $70, but it works great.
- I have several ukuleles. The cheap ones I learned to play on, and wrote a lot of songs on in high school, are a green one by Beaver Creek, a purple sparkly one by Mahalo and a baritone one by Mahalo. More recently, I’ve acquired some nicer ukes:
- an Epiphone Les Paul acoustic-electric, which I bought in a music store in New York City while on a family trip in 2014,
- a custom-made electric baritone by Australian company Honni Music, which for some reason only cost $300 including shipping from Australia and probably gives me more delight than any other instrument I own,
- a Fender acoustic-electric tenor ukulele designed by Dhani Harrison, which is likely the nicest/fanciest instrument I own,
- a Ranch acoustic concert ukulele that my spouse kindly bought me so I’d have one to play when I’m staying with them,
- a black Yamaha guitalele which was also a gift from my spouse, and
- a black carbon fiber Enya Nova mini soprano uke, which I keep near my bed for easy access when ideas strike.
- I also have an acoustic guitar but it’s at my parents’ house and I pretty much never play it these days because I don’t have the finger strength anymore.
- For practicing and performing, I sometimes plug my ukes into a Marshall MS-2R micro-amp. It is the tiniest amp I’ve ever seen, but produces enough sound for my purposes. Bought this one secondhand from a guy on Kijiji. I don’t have any particular need to get a larger/louder amp at the moment, but might someday.
- My apartment is unfortunately not big enough (or soundproof enough) for a proper piano, so I use a 61-key Casio CTK-3500 digital piano instead, with a Donner sustain pedal. I bought the piano secondhand from someone on Facebook Marketplace.
- For making drum beats, inputting simple chords into a mix, and occasional on-the-go songwriting, I use a Novation Launchkey Mini. With the right adapters, it can be plugged into my computer, my iPad and even my iPhone, so it’s super convenient for making music while traveling.
Analog hardware
- I use Moleskine notebooks for almost all the analog writing I do. I’ve been journaling in large ruled hardcover Moleskines since I was in high school (there are dozens of filled ones on my shelves!). For workaday note-taking, like during interviews or while testing toys, I use large ruled Moleskine volants because they can take a beating and fit easily into almost every bag I own.
- I keep a bullet journal on my desk which functions as my weekly planner, habit tracker and analog to-do list, among other things. It’s a bright yellow hardcover Leuchtturm1917 notebook with dotted pages. I keep it standing upright in a Raymay Kenko adjustable book stand.
- In my bullet journal, I use Color Luxe gel pens and Zebra Mildliners.
- For journaling and most of my everyday scribbling, I use Retro 51 Tornado pens, which I love so much that I got one tattooed on me.
- Also tattooed on me: a Blackwing pencil, specifically the limited-edition pink and blue Exquisite Corpse pencil. I have a bunch of different Blackwings and use them for messy, editing-heavy work that lends itself moreso to pencils than to pens, like writing songs or transcribing the chords of other people’s songs.
- I have a walnut iPad stand from Yohann which is very design-y and beautiful. I put my iPad in it when I’m working in bed (or watching porn in bed, tbh!).
Software
- This blog runs on WordPress.
- I do most of my other writing in Google Docs.
- I keep track of my income and business expenses in Google Sheets.
- The Notes app that comes built-in on Apple devices is my best friend, and I use it for the bulk of my digital note-taking and for keeping track of my life overall. It’s where I make my daily to-do list as well.
- I used Scrivener to write both of my books. It’s the best software for longform projects that I’m aware of.
- For podcasting, I record in Audacity and edit in Adobe Audition. No particular reason for these choices other than that I know them well/have been using them for a long time (they taught us Audition in journalism school and I used Audacity for my first podcast, when I was 12).
- Depending on who I’m talking to, I usually do online video or audio calls with either Zoom or FaceTime.
- When interviewing people on Zoom or similar, either for a podcast or for an article, I record audio with Piezo.
- When interviewing someone over the phone, I use TapeACall Pro. It’s a bit convoluted and unreliable, though, so I’d like to find a better solution someday.
- For making rough demo recordings while writing songs, I use Voice Record Pro. This is also how I capture any random melodic ideas that come to me while I’m out and about.
- During the songwriting process, I often use the Rhymezone, Dictionary.com and Ukulele Tuner apps.
- I use Descript for automated interview transcriptions when I can’t be bothered (or don’t have time) to transcribe them myself. It is a weirdly complicated and difficult-to-understand app but I know how to do the basic things I need to do in it, so it’s fine.
- I save and read articles in Instapaper. I save and read book highlights in Readwise.
- The Dildorks is hosted on Simplecast.
- I record and produce music in GarageBand and then edit videos in iMovie.
- I listen to tunes on Apple Music all day long.