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myristica
• 4 min read

Home Studio

Home Studio
O'Geek Studios

Today I presented to the BioCT legislative breakfast, forced virtual after a massive snowstorm. I got some texts afterwards asking me about my home studio setup, which made my inner nerd happy given it was my recent Christmas present to myself. Credit to the great HBS Professor Frances Frei who posted about her own home studio which got me thinking about this.

I had a few guiding principals:

Here is the set up in case anyone else wants to update theirs as well. I need to say I do not endorse any of these products - these are simply what I use - and the links below are information only - they are not affiliate links and I do not/will not receive anything for listing them.

🎥 Camera & Video

I used to have a Nikon D7000 which was a DSLR I bought when my daughter was born (so, over 15 years ago) to make sure she was the most photographed human being on the planet. But that camera was for that purpose, and dated before the introduction of zoom/teams. Its biggest issue is it wouldn't dynamically re-focus when I moved, so I had to stay perfectly still (which is impossible for someone with clear undiagnosed ADHD). But I loved the "professional" look of a sharp focus/blurred background that you really can only get with a camera, not a webcam with virtual blurring. So enter the

Sony ZV-E10 (APS-C mirrorless camera)
This is the heart of the setup. The ZV-E10 delivers a noticeable step up from any webcam: better dynamic range, reliable autofocus, and a more natural image overall. It’s small, unobtrusive, and designed to live on a desk — which matters if this is a daily-use setup rather than a production studio.

To make it viable for long sessions, the camera is powered continuously using a dummy battery and AC adapter, eliminating any need to think about battery life.

Lens: Sigma 16mm f/1.4 (Sony E-mount)
This lens turned out to be the biggest single upgrade in perceived quality. It’s wide enough for a desk-based setup, sharp even wide open, and creates just enough background separation to feel cinematic without being distracting. I generally run it slightly stopped down for consistency.

The combination of this lens and the APS-C sensor is what creates the “DSLR look” people often comment on — not filters or software tricks.

Video Capture
The camera feeds into my mac via HDMI and a capture card, appearing to conferencing apps as a standard webcam. Everything is configured for 1080p, which is the practical ceiling for Zoom and Teams today.

I wont go into the detailed configuration here, but will add that to the bottom of this post.

💡 Lighting

After experimenting with multiple lights and configurations, I ended up simplifying dramatically.

Single Light: Neewer GR18C 18″ Round LED Panel
This is the only light I use.

It’s positioned slightly off-axis and elevated, providing a soft, flattering key light without harsh shadows. The round panel and built-in diffusion create a natural falloff that works well for long calls and doesn’t feel like a spotlight. I do have a window behind me so without this light I would be in silhouette, so it's required.

The key lesson here: one well-placed, soft light beats multiple lights fighting each other. Once the camera and lens are doing their job, you don’t need much.

🎙️ Audio

Microphone: Shure SM7B
A broadcast classic, and for good reason. The SM7B is forgiving, consistent, and excellent at rejecting room noise — which matters in real homes with real acoustics. It’s mounted on a low-profile boom arm and positioned just below mouth level, out of frame.

Audio Interface: Elgato Wave XLR
The Wave XLR provides clean gain for the SM7B without additional inline boosters. Importantly, I use it in a minimal, hardware-first configuration. While it supports advanced routing and effects, I’ve found that reliability improves dramatically when you resist the urge to over-process.

Monitoring is done via speakers or a single earbud when needed, primarily as a safety check during important calls. But I usually just ask if people can hear me and skip the monitoring because I find it distracting while speaking.

💻 Computer & Stability

MacBook Air (M3, Apple Silicon)
This ended up being a crucial choice. I originally tried to use an old Intel-based Mac I had but it struggled with USB audio persistence and virtual devices during long calls. The Apple Silicon architecture is dramatically more stable for this kind of workload.

Connectivity Philosophy
I use a simple USB-C hub rather than an expensive Thunderbolt dock. While high-end docks like the CalDigit TS5 are excellent, they’re overkill unless you’re driving multiple displays or heavy peripherals. For this setup, fewer layers have meant fewer failure points.

✍️ Presenting & Annotation

One of the most impactful additions has been using an iPad with Apple Pencil as a presentation and annotation device.

Rather than static slides, I can:

The iPad screen is shared directly into Zoom or Teams. It’s intuitive, engaging, and surprisingly effective — especially for explaining complex ideas without over-produced visuals.

🎯 What This Setup Optimizes For

This studio is not about chasing perfection. It’s about confidence under pressure.

Once configured, I rarely touch the settings.

That’s the real goal.

Key Settings (for Reference)

Camera (Sony ZV-E10)

Lighting (Neewer GR18C)

Audio

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