My Work From Home Setup

By Raúl Rosas 👊🏽

Everything has been accumulated over the years + one thing or another would get upgraded but ultimately came together nicely (for me and my productivity/ how I work).

TL;DR

At the end of the day you don't need to have a monstrosity of a setup. I tend to go overboard from time to time. Focus on the lighting and if you have an extra DSLR camera then consider the usb adapter capture card. If you have a Canon camera then you may even be able to connect it without spending any money on a capture card using the EOS webcam utility see Canon site here to download. The EOS webcam utility works just as great!

How it started

I ended up getting rid of the two smaller 24" 2k monitors. The other two 4k 27" monitors are both connected to two different docks and directly into the Ryzen desktop workstation. The docks are set up so I can use both monitors if I'm using either my desktop workstation, windows laptop, Macbook Pro, or everything at the same time.

I put the camera on a teleprompter, switched the rode video mic with a USB mic, and set up additional lighting. I still have the warm light setup which I turn on when the sun goes down and not on a video call.

How it's going

The Setup

Zoom Setup

Quick Setup List (see below for the whole shabang)

• Canon 80D Camera
• Lens: Sigma 18-35mm F1.8
• Power: USB AC adapter - Replaces the battery to keep the camera from dying.
• Lights
• Hair light
• Fill light
• Overhead umbrella lights
• Light I use to reflect off the white wall in front of me.
• Internally installed in computer capture card to be able to use my DSLR camera as my webcam. Alternatively, you can use a usb adapter capture card (same thing but as a USB) or check canon or your manufacturer for a webcam utility. See Canon's here.
• Teleprompter
• USB mic attached to my desk with an 11" arm, pop filter, a shock mount, and an extension rod to get to the perfect height.
• You can also use a 3.5mm microphone and connect it to a Noise-Canceling Mic Adapter and connect the adapter to your computer. This plus the usb adapter capture card (plug any DSLR camera that has an HDMI output) makes for a great mobile setup. Just don't forget about lighting. Lighting is key!

I have then set up each of the lights with either a smart plug or a wifi lightbulb in a group to turn on or off with a single button with my stream deck or Google Home.

I use my Canon 80D DSLR camera as my main webcam for video/zoom calls. I keep it on with an adapter that plugs straight into an outlet. The camera is connected to my Ryzen desktop with an internal video capture card. Alternatively, you can use a video USB capture card to avoid having to open your desktop to install the internal capture card version. The reason I went with the internal one is that you can use the video from it on two different video calls at the same time.

My camera is then mounted inside the teleprompter. I then use my iPad and project the zoom video on it so it reflects on the teleprompter so I look like I'm speaking directly into the camera when on video calls. I use Duet Display to extend my computer screen into my iPad.

Lighting Setup

The second important part of the camera setup is lighting. I use accent lighting with a plant I have positioned behind me. I have a hair light behind me to shine down and separate me from the background. I have an umbrella light setup hanging from the main room light and a second one (seen to the middle right of my desk). The lights I use are bright white but are softened with the umbrellas by reflecting the light off the wall. This reduces the harshness of the light on my face and keeps a consistent color/not bright on my face. I also turn on and dim the square light positioned in front and a little to the side as a fill light.

I have all the lights (except the lamp desk pointing up) connected to Google Home as its own room "1A Zoom Room" to be able to toggle on and off with a single button. I'm still trying to figure out a way to do this on the El Gato Stream Deck without having to pay for a subscription to IFTTT.

Desk Setup

I ended up cutting my old banker's desk and turned it into a shelf on top of an Ikea kitchen countertop mounted on a standing desk legs/frame. I sometimes use the walking treadmill to burn some kals.

Computer Setup

2x DELL 27" IPS U2718Q MONITOR

AMD AMD RYZEN 9 3950X WO COOL

G.SKILL 128GB 4X32 D4 3200 TZ RGB

Samsung 970 EVO SSD 1TB - M.2 NVMe

ASUS ROG XHAIR VIII HERO WI-FI

NZXT KRAKEN X73 LIQUID COOLER

Enclosed quietly and keeping cool in a LIANLI PC-0011DX BLK TG ATX CASE mounted under my desk.

The whole Zoom setup list