Regardless of whether you’re looking to get started in creating content or looking to do an upgrade, there are hundreds of things you could be looking to acquire. So let us help you out with a few ideas that can significantly enhance your content creation. Almost every item on this guide has been tested personally, while some of these pieces are currently in use in my content production environment.
I’m sure you’ll find something on this list that suits your fancy. Not to mention that some of these items work well together, so you may spend more than you initially thought you would.
Alright, on to The Outerhaven’s Holiday Gift Guide For Content Creators!
Elgato Key Light
While Elgato has two different lights to add to your growing content creation equipment, I personally like the Elgato Key Light a bit more. For starters, it produces more light and can be adjusted higher than the Key Light Air. The downside, however, is that it requires a bit more space on your desk, but if you have that, then the Elgato Key Light is worth the purchase.
Price: $149.99
Elgato Facecam
I’ve tried out dozens of webcams for my streaming setup, and I have to be honest and say that no one of them has compared to the Elgato Facecam. The quality is crispy, and it allows you to switch out the USB C cable instead of being attached to the webcam. It also supports true 1080p @ 60 frames per second; none of that 720 nonsense. More importantly, even if your lighting isn’t the best, the web came does provide a decent image. If you were thinking about going the DLSR route, trust me, give this a try first. You’ll be convinced that this was the right call. I love mine, even though it was a bit pricey.
Price: 199.99
AverMedia Live Gamer 4K
If you’re looking for an internal capture card, this is the best one, in my honest opinion. This is a 4K recording beast and a must-have for anyone that wants to create 1440p and 4K content. We’ve been using it for our 4K recording PC, and it’s been excellent for producing 4K content. It performs like a champ, but it’s also reasonably cheap and, in my opinion, is the best consumer capture card out there before you start moving into the pro-consumer stuff. And if you aren’t looking to do high-resolution captures, it also does 720p and 1080p. Again, simply the best internal capture card under the $500 price point. You can’t go wrong with this beast. Just make sure your motherboard can support it first.
Price: $199.99
AverMedia Live Gamer Portable Plus 2
Whether you’re a content creator on the go or just like recording content at several locations, the AverMedia Live Gamer Portable Plus 2 can keep up with you. You’re able to record directly to the device with just a press of a button, or it can be connected to a PC/Mac for recording and streaming duties. While it can’t record 4K footage, it does have a 4K passthrough, so you can still connect it to your consoles or PCs that support 4K and still retain the image quality. This is the portable capture device to have right now.
Price: $119.99
Elgato Wave 3 Microphone
When Elgato announced it was working on its first microphone, the content creation world went wild, and for a good reason. The Wave 3 is a fantastic piece of tech and has replaced my slightly more expensive microphone. The quality is top-notch, you’re able to adjust the volume and gain directly on the mic, and it feels like Elgato has created the almost-perfect microphone. The only thing I’m not a fan of is the software that you need to install to take full advantage of the microphone; other than that, this is an excellent get.
Price: $119.99
LEGO Bonsai Tree 10281 Building Kit
This suggestion wasn’t my own, but it makes complete sense. When creating content or setting up an office space or your creative space, you’re creating a place of work and play. As such, you want it to be as zen as possible, and nothing says zen more than a bonsai tree. But taking care of a real bonsai tree takes effort and takes away from working on your craft, so this LEGO bonsai is a great alternative. What’s nice about this LEGO creation is that it looks just like the real thing and even includes the base, rocks, and some rose pedals. It’s incredible how far LEGO has come since I was a child — I already ordered this for my office space.
Price: $49.99
EMART Collapsible Chromakey Panel Green Screen
Maybe your background isn’t so clean. Perhaps you have a hole in the wall, or you have some super-secret stuff you don’t want seen. Whatever the case, this chromakey screen is just what the doctor ordered, as it’s portable, collapsible, and can be placed in just about every location. It’s a bit pricy for a green screen, but the positives outweigh the price, and I’m sure you’ll appreciate it. Now, I know some of you might be asking why this particular green screen, instead of the more popular one. I sure do. This panel is broader and taller (77 inches x 92 inches) than most, allowing you to extend your cameras and have more real estate. Granted, it did lift a few features from another popular item, but that’s what they do. Regardless, it works great, and I haven’t had any issues with mine.
Price: $210
Hydro Flask Water Bottle
Whether streaming, cutting video or producing a podcast, there’s nothing more important than staying hydrated. Something that I feel many of us takes for granted. Well, this is super important, and a quality water bottle is a must-have. I know these are pricy, but I feel they’re worth it. I’ve tried a few and ultimately settled on this for several reasons. All you need to know is that it keeps my drink cold, and they come in multiple sizes and colors; I’m using the 40Oz. Get your drink on, fellow creators.
Price: Starting at $32.99
Logitech G Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse
The Logitech G Pro Wireless is one of my favorite gaming mice that my son stole and put on this PC. It’s so light, and the accuracy is dead-on. It’s perhaps the best gaming mouse available for just about anyone; gamers, content creators, or those who just like a gaming mouse that feels comfortable in their hands.
Price: $99
Pivo Starter Pack Silver
This is for the content creator who needs the ability to record in 360 degrees. This starter kit includes the Pivo Pod Silver, which can use your phone as a camera and rotation just as quickly as you need it to be, thanks to the AI-powered auto-tracking. A carrying case and remote control. We can see this being used for those panoramic camera shots or videos that you see everywhere.
Price: $189
