2023 is a wrap, so here is our list of the best content creation tools you should be using in 2024.
Content creation tools are constantly improving, with microphones, cameras, and peripherals that offer more functionality with each passing year. This past year wasn’t any different. Some of the products below aren’t simple refreshes like we see every year; they’re truly game-changing pieces of gear that can shave hours off your content creation pipeline. Whether you built your streaming/content creation setup years ago or are thinking about starting now, there’s at least one product in our list below that will catch your eye.
Sony A7CR
Chances are that if you’ve read this blog, you’ve heard about Sony’s mirrorless cameras. If not, here’s a brief refresh: they are arguably the best full-frame mirrorless cameras you can buy for content creation. Coming at $3,000 the Sony A7CR (body only), is one of Sony’s “budget” options in the A7 range. That might be too rich for many up-and-coming creators, but the camera does offer a lot for the price, such as the ability to shoot 4K video up to 60 FPS. For solo creators, there’s one reason to get this, and that’s the auto-framing feature, which crops the image to center you in the frame as you move around — just take a look below.
Shure SM7DB
Whether you need a microphone for recording film audio, music, radio, or podcasts, there’s only one microphone that’s capable of doing it all: the Shure SM7B. One thing about the Shure SM7B that content creators have had an issue with for years is the microphone’s astoundingly low sensitivity, making it impossible for many audio interfaces to provide enough gain without the use of an inline preamp like the $150 Cloudlifter. Enter Shure’s answer to the longtime sensitivity problem, the Shure SM7DB. You might consider this the return of the king, improving upon the SM7B by including a +28 dB pre-amp that solves the issue once and for all. The pre-amp can be toggled to a less powerful +18 dB gain, or it can be turned off completely if you want to use the original sound from the SM7B.
Sennheiser IE 200
If having a headset-shaped dent on the top of your head is a real concern for you, it’s probably time to enter the world of in-ear monitors (IEMs). While they may look like your garden variety earbuds, IEMs are designed to go deeper into your ear canal, providing a higher degree of passive noise canceling. Another benefit of IEMs is that the cables are replaceable, as the “earbuds” connect to the cable via one or two-pin connectors on the cable. The Sennheiser IE 200 IEM is a newer, slightly more expensive version of Sennheiser’s IE 100 model that delivers a neutral sound profile perfect for monitoring streaming or podcasting audio. Though you can find better IEMs for around the same price, the IE 200’s flatter sound signature is less fatiguing over long streaming or podcasting sessions.
Rode Streamer X
Though creators with deeper pockets have long sought Rode for their high-quality microphones, the company is finally directly targeting content creators with products like the Streamer X. With a fun, almost toy-like design that features a compact form factor with vibrant LED backlighting and oversized buttons, the Rode Streamer X looks like an entry-level audio interface. But looks are deceiving; the Rode X combines an audio interface, a capture card, and a control surface into a device that takes up minimal space on your desk. This all-in-one streaming control device does cost $400, but when you factor in how much each individual component would cost you, that price seems more than fair for what you’re getting. Additionally, the Streamer X works with Rode’s Central and Unify software, which allows for even greater control of your audio.
Razer Stream Controller X
Razer has been beefing up its selection of stream-ready components in recent years with products like the Razer Audio Mixer and Razer Stream Controller. Similar to the latter, the Stream Controller X is a device for controlling your stream through customizable buttons that can do everything from changing scenes and applying effects to opening programs or increasing the volume. While not as robust as the original Razer Stream Controller, the X is $110 cheaper and packs plenty of functionality for the price.
Logitech Reach
Why a company like Logitech needs to crowdfund a product is beyond me, but regardless, I’m glad the Logitech Reach is being made. As soon as I saw this product, I realized how much I’ve needed a product like this in the past. I can think of about half a dozen uses for this, including how-to videos for video game console repairs, arts and crafts tutorials, streaming board game sessions, or recording step-by-step cooking videos. Though it is pricey at $399, it is cheaper and more convenient than purchasing and setting up a mirrorless DSLR with a boom arm.
SteelSeries Mic
That Steelseries (a popular gaming peripheral brand that makes gaming headsets) took this long to hop on the streaming microphone bandwagon is surprising. What’s not surprising is that the company created a great microphone out of the gate. The SteelSeries Alias ($180) is a USB condenser microphone, while the Alias Pro ($330) is an XLR condenser microphone. The Alias Pro is packaged with a small audio interface that features two customizable dials, which explains the heftier price tag.
Elgato Prompter
The Elgato Prompter is a product so obviously necessary to on-camera creators that I can’t believe no one thought of it before. But creating innovative streaming products is Elgato’s whole schtick. While teleprompters have been around forever for broadcast purposes, they’re bulky and way too expensive for the average creators. Elgato solved this by making the Prompter much more compact — the company even shaved letters of the name — and by pricing the product at a palatable $279. What makes the Prompter stand out is that it can mirror your computer monitor, allowing you to pull up a script or reference material directly without any additional devices. This is a stark difference from expensive, low-tech options that require your phone or tablet to operate. For that reason alone the Prompter is a game-changer for creators.
Cover image via Freepik.
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