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Flex Lessons

Recommended Equipment

For an Online Piano Studio

When it comes to teaching lessons and creating content for my membership, the choice of equipment has played a critical role in my success. My setup enables me to create a video feed using multiple cameras and send this feed to Zoom or record it locally with the press of a button.

This is the quintessential turn-key setup. There is no setup time. I can walk in the room and be recording something within seconds. Believe me when I say that I have done the research! If you wish to learn from any part of my setup and possibly recreate it yourself, this resource is for you!

Also, if you haven't seen my 2024 Studio Tour yet, you should definitely check it out!

Purchasing items from links on this page may reward me with a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

Elgato Stream Deck

The Elgato Stream Deck is the core of my content creation system. This device is essentially a little box with programable LED buttons. Each button can be customized with an action or a series of actions. Most of what makes my setup "turn key" can be attributed to the Stream Deck. These things do so much for what they cost!

Here are some of the things I use mine for:

  • Turn on all equipment (by connecting to Hue Lights and Smart Plugs)

  • Start all of my programs, launch Zoom, and open my notes (with one button press)

  • Change camera views

  • Start and stop recordings

  • Set timers for lessons (30, 45, and 60 min)

  • Change teleprompter settings

  • Open specific folders

  • Change OBS profiles (such as high bitrate and low bitrate profiles)

  • Close all of my programs

  • And MUCH more!

It's also worth mentioning that you can use more than one! I currently use a Stream Deck Plus and a Stream Deck MK.2. The Plus version has all my timers, lighting, and camera adjustments. The MK.2 version has all of my camera views and recording buttons.

Stream Deck Plus

If you can only have one, this is the one to get! This Stream Deck has 8 large buttons, 4 knobs, and a touch screen that allows you to drag left or right to different sets of actions.

Stream Deck MK.2

This is the second edition of the original standard Stream Deck. This model has 15 buttons and would be a great alternative to the plus if you want something a little smaller with more buttons.

Stream Deck Mini

This model only has 6 buttons but it's also quite small. It works perfectly on its own for a few tasks or as part of a larger setup. It's also pretty cheap!

Cameras & Related Accessories

If you want the best visual presentation possible, you will need a mirrorless camera and a Cam Link. This combination offers a monumental upgrade over all webcams in terms of lighting, clarity, and color.

Outside of using a mirrorless camera, the next best option is to use a webcam with a large sensor (such as the Elgato Facecam Pro).

Sony A6100

This is my main side profile camera that I currently use. This camera features a wide field of view, continuous running ability (won’t shut off automatically like many other cameras), beautiful imaging, and a clean HDMI out.

Sony EV-E10

Since the Sony A6100 is a few years old at this point, the Sony EV-E10 is the current comparable alternative. If I was just now choosing a camera, I would choose the EV-E10.

Elgato Cam Link

This is a required accessory for using mirrorless and DSLR cameras. This accessory basically converts an HDMI signal (from the clean HDMI out) into a signal that Zoom and OBS will recognize.

Elgato Prompter

This accessory functions as a second monitor that allows my camera to see directly through it. This is easily the most accessible and intuitive teleprompter on the market. I use it to display extemporaneous notes for filming video content.

Elgato Facecam Pro

This is the camera that I currently use for my overhead view because the included software allows for framing and field of view adjustments. While not as good as a mirrorless camera, this camera is in a totally different league compared to other webcams.

Audio Equipment

My audio equipment is arranged in such a way to maximize the presence of my voice while also allowing the best piano sound possible. The mixer plays a crucial role in this setup because it mixes my three mics down to a stereo feed which can then be sent through Zoom or picked up in OBS. Note that audio interfaces do not do this!

AT875R Shotgun Microphone

This is the microphone that I use to capture my voice. I chose this type of microphone because it can pick up my voice from a little farther away while at the same time rejecting off-axis noises.

Elgato Microphone Arm

This microphone arm mounts to my desk and hides my microphone cable. It can also be freely adjusted and stays in whatever position I leave it in. It turned out to be a major quality-of-life purchase!

AT2035 Condenser Microphone

I use two of these microphones as a stereo pair near the opening of my grand piano. For what they cost, they sound great and have almost no self-noise. They also come with a shock mount which helps minimize unwanted noise.

Sennheiser HD 599 Headphones

I have a pair of HD 598 headphones which seem to have been discontinued. This is the newer model. You can hear everything in the room as you would normally because they are open-back. The sound quality is absolutely excellent. I highly recommend these for all teachers and students.

Apple AirPods Max

While this accessory may be a bit over the top, it functions extremely well in my studio and I use them regularly during lessons and when reviewing content. Since I am using Apple devices, these headphones automatically connect when I put them on (usually when I need to hear something in more detail). There's also a volume knob! I no longer use my Sennheiser headphones because I enjoy these so much.

Yamaha MG10XU Mixer

This is one of the smallest and least complicated mixers on the market that will mix 3-4 mics down to stereo. This device connects to the computer via USB and requires power. Unfortunately, the compression and effects are useless, but this still does what it does well (and reliably!).

Zoom H6

The Zoom H6 is a portable unit that has great stereo mics built-in along with multiple XLR ports for additional mics. When I used this, I placed the unit in the opening of the piano and connected one additional mic for my voice. When you connect this device to a computer, you can mix all the inputs down to stereo, which makes this a great alternative to getting a mixer.

Elgato Multi Mount System

One major convenience of my setup is that all of my mounts and adapters are part of the Elgato Multi Mount system. This means that all of the arms, segments, and adapters are interchangeable. This has allowed my setup to easily change and evolve overtime with minimal additional expense. I highly recommend this mounting system!

Master Mount

This is the core component of the system. The bottom portion attaches to my desk and the top holds up my camera and teleprompter. Note that other variants of this model can have a weighted base or smaller riser.

Wall Mount

This mount is installed on a ceiling tile and holds up my Facecam Pro directly over my piano keys. I have the camera mounted very close to the ceiling which prevents anyone from accidentally bumping into it.

Extra Segments

You can add additional segments to your mount setup in any configuration to hold up just about anything. I suggest you use as few segments as possible for maximum stability.

Studio Lighting

Investing in proper studio lighting can often improve the quality of your scene as much as getting a new camera!

Since I am intending to light myself as well as the area around me (including my piano), I chose to use a powerful 60 watt LED light with a lantern soft box. This combination creates a large amount of soft light and helps me to avoid reflections in my glasses. Note that this type of light requires a heavy duty C stand with a turtle base.

Godox UL60 LED Video Light

This is a professional studio light that allows me to have continuous 5600k lighting. The special feature of this light is the fanless design which means that it makes no noise (unlike most other lights of this size).

Godox Lantern Softbox

One of the advantages of using a dedicated professional studio light is the ability to use attachments such as this lantern soft box. This creates a large light source that spreads light very evenly. This also softens the light which makes it comfortable to use while I am teaching.

Elgato Key Light

If you are not a glasses wearer, you can probably get away with 1-2 Elgato Key Light LED panels. They easily attach to your desk or table and also can be controlled by the Elgato Stream Deck.

Aputure B7C LED Light Bulb

You may want to use a lamp in your scene for background lighting. However, this can lead to problems with flickering depending on the type of camera and light bulb you use. This type of light bulb is designed to be used on video and does not flicker at all. It can imitate most types of light bulbs and can even be set to any color. I use this bulb to fill in some of the dark areas behind my piano.

Apple Devices

The most personal part of any teaching setup is type of computer equipment used. I have chosen to use all Apple devices. Even though this option is certainly more expensive, you will have MANY less headaches and replace your equipment much less often. The Apple ecosystem is simple to use and just works. I could not easily recreate my setup using a Windows based system. Note that my links direct you to product listings on Amazon.

I am currently using a Mac Studio M1 Max for my main computer along with an Apple Studio Display. I also use an iPad Pro which directly connects to the Mac Studio as an input (which is recognized by OBS). This is what allows me to "draw on the screen" for students. I also use a matching Apple Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad.

While these are my preferences, the only necessary part of this setup is the use of an M Series Apple computer and a recent model iPad. The M series chips operate silently even under heavy loads. Other computers (laptops especially) do not operate silently while running OBS and Zoom. This is a big deal! For most teachers, I suggest an Macbook or Mac mini with an M series chip (M1 or later). You'll also need a recent model iPad with the ForScore app if you need to display sheet music in your visual presentation.

If you want to recreate the most essential part of my setup, this is the simplest way to get started.