Brian Ruiz

Gear I use every day to build, create, and stay productive.

Here are some of the tools I actually own and enjoy using. Mostly tech. Some links are affiliate; I may earn a little commission at no extra cost to you.

Everyday carry

  • AirPods Max

    For focused desk work, commuting, and travel. AirPods Pro are the lighter everyday pair.

  • Apple MacBook Pro M1 Pro

    Awesome mini-LED display in 16 inch, perfect for multitasking on the go, though it is a bit hefty.

  • Samsung T7 Shield SSD

    Portable storage for editing projects and recording ProRes footage.

  • Urth Arkose backpack

    Sleek and water resistant. Holds the daily tech essentials.

Workstation

  • Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID

    I moved away from mechanical keyboards in favor of something wireless and simple. Touch ID is handy, too. I pair it with a Logitech MX Master 3S.

  • Apple Studio Display

    Main display for development, design, and editing. BenQ ScreenBar Halo sits on top for reducing eye strain.

  • Herman Miller Aeron

    A design icon. Bought secondhand, still one of the most important parts of the workspace.

  • Shure SM7dB

    A near-perfect mic that stays mounted on the desk for meetings and the voiceovers I do.

  • Vernal Core3 standing desk

    Solid walnut hardwood on a white frame. A clean, comfortable foundation for long coding sessions that still feels minimal.

Camera gear

  • Peak Design carbon fiber tripod

    Light enough to actually bring along, sturdy enough for real work, and it looks so nice.

  • Sennheiser MKE 400

    Shotgun mic for talking directly to camera. Adds very little weight to the setup, still crispy sound.

  • Sony 16–35mm f/2.8 GM II

    My ultra-wide. Cost a pretty penny, but perfect for capturing small settings or the full picture.

  • Sony 24–70mm f/2.8 GM II

    The workhorse lens on the FX3, what I reach for to capture tight cinematic shots.

  • Sony 40mm f/2.5 G

    Perfect for lightweight, minimal street photography.

  • Sony a7C II

    Compact full-frame body for street photography around New York City.

  • Sony FX3

    My dream camera. It can feel like overkill, but using it you understand why it's so loved. This camera forces you to learn more about videography, and that's why I love it myself.

Home

  • Apple TV 4K

    What actually drives the living-room TV. Sports, movies, and YouTube.

  • Cowboy Classic v4

    My e-bike. I love the design. From a distance it still looks like an ordinary classic bike, but it's perfect for zipping around the city.

  • LG C4 OLED

    The living-room TV. I have the 55 inch, which feels perfect, not too big, not too small. Pair it with a Sonos Beam for sound.

  • Philips Hue

    Started with a single bulb in a lamp, then added a couple around the space for nice ambience.

  • Sonos Era 100

    In the room for rich, full jamming sessions when I don't want headphones.

Apps

  • Bevel

    I use this for various health metrics to extend Apple Health, including fitness tracking, food logging, and sleep.

  • Cursor

    My primary IDE for software development and AI-assisted coding.

  • Figma

    Where I explore interfaces and turn ideas into visual direction, also video titles, thumbnails, and the occasional animation.

  • Final Cut Pro

    Where the YouTube videos come together.

  • Lightroom

    Where I finish stills from the a7C II. Gives me additional fine-grain control over my images.

  • Notion

    Planning, notes, and systems.