Key Moments
My Productivity Desk Setup Tour (2026)
Ali AbdaalKey Moments
Ali Abdaal's 2026 productivity desk setup tour, featuring tech, studio gear, and organizational tips.
Key Insights
The desk, chair, and monitor setup prioritizes functionality, ergonomics, and a connection to the environment.
Multiple monitors and tools like the Elgato Stream Deck and teleprompter are crucial for content creation and online workshops.
Riverside.fm is highlighted as an essential tool for high-quality remote recording and efficient content repurposing.
A mix of analog and digital tools, like physical to-do lists and note cards, aids in daily task management and planning.
The studio setup balances aesthetics for filming with practical storage solutions, utilizing rental-friendly mounting systems.
Behind-the-camera elements, such as lighting and camera angles, are meticulously considered to enhance video production quality.
THE CORE WORKSTATION: DESK AND CHAIR
Ali Abdaal begins his tour with his Okiwood solid oak standing desk, appreciating its width and custom dimensions for his Hong Kong living space, though he desires more depth. His chair is an Anthros model, chosen due to difficulties sourcing Herman Miller chairs in Hong Kong, and while functional with various adjustments, he personally prefers the Herman Miller Embody and Aeron chairs he used previously. The standing desk functionality will be demonstrated later, requiring rearrangement of other equipment.
TECHNOLOGY POWERING THE SETUP
At the heart of his setup is an M2 Pro Mac Mini connected to an Apple Studio Display mounted on an Ergotron monitor stand. Unconventionally, the monitor is positioned lower to minimize obstruction of a scenic view and allow for a more comfortable, downward gaze. A secondary, ultra-thin portable touchscreen monitor, the Espresso display, is also integrated, primarily used for live online workshops to manage chat, presentations, and additional information.
ESSENTIAL CONTENT CREATION TOOLS
For recording, Ali emphasizes the critical role of Riverside.fm, an all-in-one platform for capturing studio-quality content remotely. He highlights its local recording capabilities for uncompressed video and audio, ensuring high quality even with unstable internet. The platform's new 'co-creator' feature significantly speeds up content repurposing by auto-generating clips for social media, saving hours of editing time and maximizing the value of long-form interviews.
PERIPHERALS AND PRODUCTIVITY ACCESSORIES
The setup includes Kanto U2 speakers and a Logitech MX Master 3S mouse, though he notes potential strain and consideration of an alternative. His keyboard is the Nuphy Halo75, currently being tested. An Elgato Stream Deck is intended for live session control, despite current minor malfunctions. He also uses a decorative 'Work Louder' shortcut pad for aesthetic appeal in overhead shots. Analog tools like an Ugg Monk to-do list block and card holder are used for daily task management alongside the Things 3 app.
ADVANCED FILMING AND RECORDING GEAR
For video production, an Elgato teleprompter serves as a secondary monitor, allowing him to read scripts or see himself while looking directly into the camera, vastly improving comfort. His primary camera is a Sony A7S3, connected via HDMI to the Mac Mini, with audio captured by an Elgato Wave Neo microphone. For overhead shots, a Sony A7C camera is mounted on a Manfrotto autopole system, ideal for drawing diagrams and demonstrating concepts during workshops or videos, especially in his rental property.
LIGHTING, AUDIO, AND AMBIENCE
Key lighting is provided by a foldable Amaran F22X, chosen for its effectiveness and portability, though its visual presence on the desk is a minor aesthetic compromise. For audio flexibility, he utilizes both the Elgato Wave Neo and a Sennheiser MKH416 on a Rode PSA boom arm, which is convenient for switching to standing mode. The studio also features Amaran PT4C LED tubes for backlighting bookshelves, contributing to the overall visual appeal of the filmed space.
STUDIO LAYOUT AND BACKGROUND ELEMENTS
The studio's background is carefully curated, featuring Herman Miller 'Story' bookshelves filled with books, Moleskine notebooks for different planning purposes (YouTube, courses, journaling), and decorative items like a Ravenclaw poster from Displate. Storage is managed with IKEA drawer units and a Muji unit for cables and accessories. The goal is a clean, aesthetically pleasing background that enhances the content without overwhelming the viewer, especially considering the rental nature of the property.
ORGANIZATION AND ADDITIONAL GEAR
Various other items contribute to the setup, including spare cameras like the Fujifilm X100VI and Sony FX3 for different recording needs, a guitar for creative breaks, and a Blue Eyes White Dragon rug for aesthetic and sound dampening. A large fake plant and additional bookshelves from Herman Miller are placed to fill the background space effectively. The placement of these items is strategic, ensuring they look good on camera while managing limited floor space in his Hong Kong apartment.
FUNCTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS AND FUTURE PLANS
The setup incorporates practical solutions for a rental space, such as the tension-mounted Manfrotto autopoles and Displate magnetic posters, avoiding wall damage. Ali mentions his dual desk setup ideal: a clean personal desk and a separate, fully-equipped filming station. This separation is part of his broader vision for his family's app business, Sparkle Studios, hinting at future goals of optimizing both work and creative environments, possibly in a dedicated office space.
THE 'BIG ASS CALENDAR' AND YEARLY PLANNING
A prominent feature is the 'Big Ass Calendar,' a dry-erase 12-month planner designed to visualize yearly plans, holidays, team off-sites, and travel. This analog tool complements his digital planning methods and aims to provide a clear overview for strategic personal and family life organization, representing a proactive approach to long-term goal setting and time management.
Mentioned in This Episode
●Products
●Software & Apps
●Companies
●Organizations
●Books
●People Referenced
Productivity Desk Setup Dos and Don'ts
Practical takeaways from this episode
Do This
Avoid This
Common Questions
The YouTuber uses a solid oak standing desk from Okiwood. While he likes its size, he wishes it were deeper and notes that it was custom-dimensioned for his Hong Kong apartment.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
Desktop speakers used for a long time, described as 'good vibes'.
A microphone mentioned in the context of switching to standing desk mode, connected to a boom arm.
Three Harry Potter themed Moleskine notebooks used for planning YouTube videos, business courses, and general journaling.
A spare camera used for podcasts requiring multiple camera angles, stored due to lack of other space.
An alternative mouse the speaker used in the past and might switch to due to wrist strain from the MX Master 3S.
A tension-based pole system used to mount cameras and lights without drilling into walls, ideal for rental properties.
The stand used for the Apple Studio Display, allowing for an unusual, lower monitor height.
A previously used device for connecting HDMI cameras to a computer, but found to break frequently after a few months.
A large faux plant from IKEA used to help reduce echo in the studio.
A foldable key light that attaches to the autopole, praised for making a difference in filming quality.
A portable, touchscreen monitor used as a secondary display, often placed under the teleprompter setup to mask wires.
A game-changing device that acts as a secondary display for reading scripts or seeing a preview while filming, making eye contact with the camera possible.
A rug received as a birthday present, adding to the office's aesthetic and helping with acoustics.
A boom arm used for the Sennheiser microphone, allowing it to be moved aside when switching to standing desk mode.
A general business and life journal received as a gift.
Headphones used for listening to background music during Zoom calls or for concentration when there's noise. The speaker dislikes the naming convention.
The primary monitor in the setup, connected to the Mac Mini. Its height is set lower than usual to avoid obstructing a nice view.
The mouse currently used for the Mac, described as great and fantastic, though the speaker is experiencing potential repetitive strain injury.
A Figma-themed macro pad primarily used for aesthetics in overhead shots, not yet programmed for functionality.
A microphone the speaker loves for its cute aesthetic, prioritizing looks over the absolute best audio quality compared to professional mics like the Shure SM7B.
The camera used for the overhead camera rig.
A spare camera taken out for travel and daily use.
Used for live sessions and OBS, intended to switch between screens, though currently buggy. Primarily used because it looks good.
An XLR recorder gizmo that sits on top of the camera, allowing XLR microphones to be plugged in.
A minimalist bookshelf from a Herman Miller brand, used in the studio background in both white and baby blue.
A book about the invention of the computer, displayed on the bookshelf.
A highly recommended book by Oliver Burkeman, with many highlights.
A book about the making of Prince of Persia, mentioned as interesting.
A book by Peter Attia, noted as verbose and better listened to on Audible.
A favorite book series by Brandon Sanderson, displayed on the bookshelf.
A book by David White that the speaker is reading, noted as not being available on Kindle.
A brand the speaker has been a fan of for years, known for analog productivity tools like to-do list holders and notecard systems.
A company that creates metallic posters that are attached to walls with magnets, suitable for renters.
A brand of chair the speaker purchased due to difficulties getting Herman Miller chairs in Hong Kong. It's described as 'pretty nice'.
Mentioned for its drawer units and fake plants used in the studio setup.
A company that produces an LED face mask, sent to the speaker by its founder Daniela.
A company that provided the solid oak standing desk, described as being a year old and well-loved.
A brand known for its drawer units, used for storing cables and accessories.
A brand of chairs the speaker previously owned and prefers, but had difficulty shipping to Hong Kong. The speaker mentions owning models like the Embody and Sale.
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