Finding the Ultimate WFH Desk Setup for Online Training

I recently got a promotion at work, which means I'm going to be training people new to the company via Zoom, Teams, or other online video platforms. But when I looked at my current setup for taking calls, I found it a bit lacking and hastily put together. I thought I'd take you along with me on my journey to figure out what I think would be the ultimate desk setup that allows me to train people whilst working from home.

First things first, there are two things I can't change. The first is the laptop that has been provided by work. As much as I'd love to have an all-singing, all-dancing beast, it's really not needed. The second thing is the desk. My wife found it somewhere a few months back and would be highly annoyed if I got rid of it. Other than those, it's a complete overhaul. I know for a fact that I'm not going to be able to afford most of what I find right away, but this is an ultimate setup that I may be able to justify parts of in the future.

Monitors

First up, I'm going to need a pair of half-decent monitors. I'm currently using a 32-inch HD TV that wasn't being used in our bedroom as a second screen. It's a bit jarring going from a tiny laptop screen that is crystal clear to a massive display that looks noticeably pixelated.

I settled on a pair of 24-inch Iiyama curved monitors. They are a decent size, and I can fit two of them on my desk without breaking the bank. Any extra features are really just a bonus at this point, as I don't game that often on PC, and when I do, it's usually on the PlayStation. As much as I would love to have these mounted on a single VESA dual-arm mount, my desk is glass-topped, and I've been strictly forbidden from drilling any more holes in the wall!

Keyboard, Mouse, and Headset

Next up on my list are the wireless peripherals. They don't need to be top-of-the-line, but I'm fed up with getting tangled in cables every time I get up to grab a drink. For the keyboard and mouse, I chose the Logitech MK850 wireless combo. They are straightforward, but they boast a battery life of around three years, feature a nice large wrist rest, and include handy function keys.

For audio, I've gone with the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless headset. The price point is reasonable, and the reviews show that the sound and microphone quality are solid. Though this headset has built-in RGB lighting, it's a bit wasted on me and will probably be turned off—especially since I need a very good justification to install any proprietary configuration software on my corporate laptop.

Camera and Control

Now we come to one of my favourite parts of this setup, mainly because I'm a bit of a nerd, but also because it's time to pick a camera and decide how I'm going to control what my students see. As I mentioned earlier, I can't go around installing unapproved software on my work laptop, which unfortunately rules out webcams like the Elgato Facecam that require dedicated desktop apps. Here is the hardware-based workaround I came up with:

For the control segment, I've selected the Blackmagic ATEM Mini Extreme ISO. It is admittedly a bit over the top for corporate training, but it will come in incredibly handy for any external live event production work I pick up.

One of the main reasons I chose the ATEM Mini Extreme ISO is that it features a webcam output over USB-C. The work laptop will simply recognize it as a standard plug-and-play webcam, requiring absolutely zero software installation. Furthermore, if I am asked to record one of my training sessions to share on our internal e-learning platform, the ISO model records every video source separately and creates a DaVinci Resolve project file automatically. I can bring the entire session into Resolve with just a few clicks, make any necessary edits or audio tweaks, and export it cleanly.

Because the ATEM Mini switcher accepts HDMI video inputs, I paired it with a camera it was natively designed to talk to: the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. It isn't cheap, especially since I'll need to source a separate lens for the beast, but the ecosystem integration is fantastic. Having the ability to adjust camera settings, control the iris, use the tally light system, and trigger camera recordings remotely straight from the switcher control surface is just too good to pass up.

Lighting, Backdrops, and Mounting

Lastly, to complete the setup, I'm going to need clean lighting, a backdrop that doesn't look like a badly painted spare room wall, and robust mounting hardware to hold everything securely in place. For this, Elgato is the obvious choice.

While some of their USB controllers like the Stream Deck XL or Wave microphone don't fit this specific restricted-software framework, their hardware accessories absolutely do. I'm looking at the Elgato Ring Light, Green Screen, and the Master Mount system.

That green screen paired with the hardware chroma keyers built right into the ATEM switcher will yield a flawless background key without stressing the work laptop's processor. I might have to add an extra key light or two to ensure the exposure is completely flat. After all, it would be bad form for an ex-lampie to have poor lighting on a professional call!

Final Thoughts

Well, I think that's everything. What do you think? Is it way too over the top for simple corporate training?

It's definitely an aspirational dream setup for now, so I'll be sticking with my oversized bedroom TV and standard webcam for the time being. But it's always nice to plan out the ideal upgrade path. Would you swap out any of my choices or approach the software limitations differently? Let me know in the comments below!