Aug 2, 2017 3 min read Creator Resources

7 Pieces of Post-Production Gear You Should Own

Whether you specialize in color correction or prefer to be shooting in the field but are stuck inside editing, owning the right…

Whether you specialize in color correction or prefer to be shooting in the field but are stuck inside editing, owning the right post-production gear will make your job easier. While this gear can be expensive, any investment you make in it will allow you to put the finishing touches on your film faster and more efficiently. From coloring stations to desks made for video editing, this gear will get you through post-production.

1. Editing Keyboards

Believe it or not, there are computer keyboards made specifically for use with major video editing programs, such as Final Cut, Premiere, and Avid. These keyboards are usually specialized with shortcuts color-grouped by editing tool. There are dozens of these keyboards that will cost you less than $200. But if you need to keep costs low and still want to make editing easier, consider getting these keyboard covers designed for different editing programs.

2. Color Grading Panels

These surfaces can get pretty expensive and you’re probably not able to drop $30,000 on equipment like the DaVinci Resolve Advanced Panel. However, if you’re taking some serious color correction gigs, you should consider investing in the less expensive DaVinci panels — the Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve Mini Panel or Micro Panel. There are other brands besides Blackmagic with powerful color grading surfaces, such as the color panels compared in this film editor’s post.

3. Speakers and Headphones

Audio is an essential part of video editing and you should get a solid set of studio monitor speakers and a comfortable pair of headphones. Not only do you need to be able to hear your sound mix accurately, but having both speakers and headphones will help you understand what the video will sound like in different environments.

4. Video Editing Desks

If you want to buy customized or specialized video editing consoles, it can cost you upwards of $1,000. You can get these straight from furniture companies or check out the desks available on B&H. However, you can also just purchase a less-expensive tiered, curved, or L-shaped computer desk with multiple port USB hubs and wire organizers built-in.

Ready to hire a production company or freelancer? Get started here.

5. Monitor Mounts

Once you get a good desk, you can add accessories like monitor arm desk mounts, which are adjustable and can swivel around. These are great for viewing video at different angles, working with other editors and showing them the image, or comparing images side-by-side. You can find these in multiple sizes for different monitors and in single, dual, or triple options. In general, they will allow you to better customize your workstation to be more productive.

6. Bias Lighting

Staring at a screen for hours exhausts your eyes. Another good accessory for your workstation, bias lighting — the lighting you place behind your monitor — can help with this eye fatigue. If you want to know exactly how bias lighting works and how to select the best light for your monitor, How to Geek does a great job of explaining it. Bias lighting is pretty cheap — this USB-powered backlight is only $20 on Amazon.

7. Ergonomic Desk Chairs

If you’re sitting at a desk and editing for hours, a good chair (preferably ergonomic) is a must-have if you don’t want to destroy your back. There are a ton of options out there, but Gear Patrol does a pretty good round-up and comparison of the best office chairs based on your budget.