Overview

Use whatever works for you. I like privacy and open source options, so I try to use those whenever possible. No, unfortunately, free/foss isn't always an option. Sometimes it sucks, or the cobbled together solutions to run things I need under Linux is just too much work, when I need to be getting shit done. I don't get involved in "holy wars", so keep your opinion to yourself, or better yet, go write a page like this on your own site that no one reads.

Software

OS: Windows 11 Pro because I rely too much on software that just doesn't work on Linux, despite what a bunch of diehards want you to believe. It'll get there, but it hasn't yet. I also fuck with Linux Mint, Pop! OS and Ubuntu for various projects.

Video Editing: DaVinci Resolve Studio. It's as great as you've heard. I'm so much faster in it than Premiere. And yes, I've really used them ALL. I started on Vegas Video before Sony bought it. Then Avid, Final Cut Pro then X, Premiere Pro and between those I tried EVERY open source editor. Resolve is all I need anymore, and I'm not going back. It's the #1 reason I'm stuck on Windows, because I don't run RHEL compatible Linux and I want to be able to use any plugin that does something cool, especially Red Giant and Universe. If Maxon ever gives into the Linux market and releases compatible versions, I'd switch for good. Oh, for mobile editing, I know Resolve exists on iPad, but I can't bring myself to pay the $99 to unlock it, plus my device is too old for all the features, so I stick with the $30 LumaFusion, which is also available on android for around the same price.

Audio Editing: Reaper and the Fairlight page in Resolve. Audacity was a go to in the past, and it's fine for lots of things. But on most projects, I just default to Reaper on instinct.

3D Modeling: Blender. Trying to learn Houdini, but mostly for procedural stuff, so that's not really "modeling" in the traditional sense. I'm not the best sculptor, but I bounce between ZBrush and Blender, but actually prefer Nomad on my iPad Pro over either. Yes, zbrush is on iPad now, but since I have a pre-apple silicon device it's not the best.

Screenwriting (and other media scripting): Fade In Pro. I was a Celtx beta tester in the earlier years but never liked the browser version or pricing structure, despite pushing them to go that way for accessibility. I've done whole projects in Final Draft, but absolutely hate the licensing/pricing and how outdated the interface is. Fade In Pro is pretty great on all platforms, although I've had syncing issues with cloud storage and its full screen mode doesn't really work on Mac.

Graphics: Serif Affinity Photo 2, Designer 2 and Publisher 2 on desktop and iPad. Boy, do I wish they'd consider doing Linux versions

Browser (desktop/mobile): LibreWolf/Fennec

Browser Plugins: Ublock Origin, Privacy Badger, SponsorBlock, Unhook, Untrap, DeArrow, Wayback Machine, Wappalyzer, LanguageTool

Networking/VPN: Tailscale with Mullvad VPN add-on

Password Vault: Bitwarden

Email/Calendar: Tuta and self-hosted paired with Thunderbird

Notes: Obsidian

Text/Code: VS Code

Screen Streaming: Moonlight/Sunshine

Search: Kagi (paid but so much better than other options I've tried. No ads, can block domains in results, create filters for searches, disable all of their small AI "features", and decently priced plans for couples and families.)

Mobile OS: GrapheneOS

A few good mobile apps for Android: F-Droid, Aegis, FlashDim, Termux, OONI Probe, Organic Maps, Pixelfed, Seek, Signal, TeleGuard, Thunderbird, Windy, Stellarium, Flightradar24

Hardware

I'm not gonna get into the exact specs of my rig(s) here, for reasons, but I'll hit on a few key points. I primarily do video and audio editing. I need systems powerful enough to do with modern, huge files and some ease. To that end, I could use some upgrades, but what I have mostly does the job. If I were to get work in actual broadcast, not just YouTube/twitch/community radio, I'd very quickly hit a wall and need to dump some money into better gear.

I worked at Intel for a few years, cutting and testing silicon. I no longer run Intel hardware where possible. My laptop was bought a couple of years before I worked there, so its still got an Intel processor. Every part of it but the screen has been replaced, seriously, but I'm going to keep running it until I can't get parts anymore. Even with companies out there like Framework, I just don't like the options. Fuck AI chips, they are all marketing fraud.

My desktop runs a powerful AMD processor, but I stuck with NVIDIA graphics cards for software compatibility and outright benchmarking numbers. They just can't be beat for 3D modeling and rendering in the software I prefer. The moment those numbers shift the other way I'll switch to AMD or some better competitor, but for now I'm stuck.

I've had a number of macbook pros but just gave away my last. I've been burned, literally, by their hardware throwing flames and sparks at me. Just too much money for a metal case and logo that means less every release cycle. I like my older ipad pro a lot, but when it dies I think I'll poke around the linux hacker market to see what they're doing with the form factor.

In the world of cameras (of the digital variety, we can talk celluloid another day) I bought into the Panasonic Lumix GH# world. Right now I've got a 5 and a 7, but the latter is missing simple features I need for business and I'm hitting the limits of the 4/3rds mount system, even with decent cine glass. I think when/if I can afford a new camera, its time to move out of the handheld body world and into professional box bodies, likely Blackmagic. I'm also going to do more rental/testing before I spend the money, because accessories will kill your bank account in no time flat, but are absolutely not optional.

For audio, I was gifted a few cool pieces of kit that I'm finally getting set up, years later. A decent tascam mixer and some NI units. Despite the beginner bass and a couple instruments in the closet, I'm no musician.