My 2023 Dark Aesthetic Home Office | Part 1: Desk Setup Tour
Summary
TLDRIn this video, Matt showcases his workspace setup, highlighting the importance of a focused and inspiring environment. He features a CARBY Walnut countertop desk from Ikea, supported by Alex drawers, and adorned with a Groove map desk pad. Matt's tech setup includes a 2023 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Max, a Huawei MateView monitor, and an LG DualUp monitor. He also discusses various accessories like the Groove stand, Marshall Acton 3 speaker, and Apple peripherals. The video offers a detailed tour of his desk, providing links to all products for viewers interested in his setup.
Takeaways
- 🎬 The video is a walkthrough of Matt's workspace setup, showcasing various products and their uses.
- 🪵 Matt's desk is a CARBY Walnut countertop from IKEA, measuring 246 centimeters, supported by two black ALEX drawers and secured with adhesive captions.
- 🖥️ He uses a large desk mat to protect the desk surface and an additional fat mouse pad for smooth and quiet mouse movement.
- 💻 Matt's primary computer is a 2023 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Max, 12-core CPU, 38-core GPU, 32GB RAM, and 1TB storage, used mainly for photo and video editing.
- 🖥️ The main monitor is a Huawei MateView with a 4K IPS display and a 3:2 aspect ratio, which Matt finds ideal for his photography and video editing work.
- 🖥️ A second monitor, the LG DualUp, is used but not preferred due to its tall design causing neck strain.
- 🎵 For audio, Matt has a Marshall Acton 3 speaker known for its vintage look and good sound quality.
- 🔌 A Thunderbolt 4 dock from Hyper connects the MacBook to various peripherals and an audio interface for the Shure SM7B microphone.
- 📱 Matt charges his iPhone with a Groovemade MagSafe stand and uses leather accessories from Nomad and Spigen for his iPad and iPhone.
- 🖋️ Groovemade's Solid Walnut Notask Shelf elevates peripherals, and Matt also appreciates their trays, pen, and task knife for organizational purposes.
- ⌨️ The workspace includes an Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and a Logitech MX Master 3s mouse for a quiet and efficient input experience.
Q & A
What is the main focus of the video?
-The main focus of the video is to provide a tour of Matt's workspace setup, discussing the various products and their features.
What type of desk does Matt have in his workspace?
-Matt has a Carby Walnut countertop desk from Ikea, which is 246 centimeters long.
Why did Matt choose the larger version of the desk?
-Matt chose the larger version of the desk for more freedom of movement and space to work.
What is the downside of the desk Matt uses?
-The downside of the desk is that it scratches easily, which is why Matt uses a large desk mat to protect it.
What is the purpose of the Alex drawer and how is it secured to the desk?
-The Alex drawer from Ikea is used to support the desk and is secured using adhesive transparent captions to prevent sliding.
What is special about the Groove made desk pad Matt uses?
-The Groove made desk pad has a surface made of a resistant material called linoleum and a bottom made of cork, and it is larger than the depth of the desk.
What is the configuration of the MacBook Pro Matt uses in his setup?
-Matt uses a 2023 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M2 Max chip, 12-core CPU, 38-core GPU, 32 gigabytes of RAM, and 1 terabyte of storage.
Why did Matt upgrade his MacBook Pro?
-Matt upgraded to ensure the MacBook Pro can handle more than his current needs for future-proofing, mainly for photo and video editing.
What are the key features of the Huawei MateView monitor Matt mentions?
-The Huawei MateView monitor features a 4K IPS display with a 3x2 aspect ratio, which Matt finds great for productivity and his work.
Why does Matt not use the LG Dual UP monitor often?
-Matt doesn't use the LG Dual UP monitor often because it causes neck pain due to its height and is not ideal for his work.
What is the main issue Matt has with the Hyper Thunderbolt 4 dock?
-The main issue Matt has with the Hyper Thunderbolt 4 dock is that the port connecting the Mac sits in front, causing the cable to stick out awkwardly.
How does Matt use his iPad Pro in conjunction with his workspace?
-Matt uses his iPad Pro as a separate monitor with Sidecar, allowing him to access apps and work wirelessly from anywhere in his workspace.
Outlines
🖥️ Desk Setup Overview
Matt introduces his workspace, emphasizing the importance of a focused and inspiring environment. He showcases his Ikea CARBY Walnut countertop desk, which he has had for a year and loves for its look and texture. The desk is large, measuring 246 centimeters, and is supported by two black ALEX drawers from Ikea. To prevent the desk from bending, a leg is placed in the middle, and adhesive transparent captions are used to prevent sliding. Matt also mentions the desk's susceptibility to scratches, which is why he uses a large desk mat. The desk mat is from Groove, with a linoleum surface and a cork bottom, and is slightly larger than the desk's depth. Matt uses an additional fat mouse pad on top for smoother and quieter mouse movement. The desk setup is powered by a 2023 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M2 Max chip, featuring a 12-core CPU, 38-core GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. Matt uses the MacBook primarily for photo and video editing and chose it for its future-proof performance. The desk also includes a Walden stand from Groove, a Huawei Mate View 28.2-inch 4K IPS monitor with a 3:2 aspect ratio, and a second monitor, the LG Dual UP, which Matt doesn't use as often due to its height causing neck pain.
🎵 Audio and Peripheral Setup
Matt's desk is equipped with a Marshall Acton 3 speaker for its compact size, vintage look, and excellent sound quality. To elevate his peripherals, he uses a Groove Made Solid While Not Task Shelf, which includes a tray for stationery items and a Nest from Orbitkey for cable and dongle storage. For connecting his MacBook to monitors and other peripherals, Matt uses a Thunderbolt 4 dock from Hyper, which also connects a Focusrite audio interface for his Shure SM7B microphone. He charges his iPhone with a Groove Made heavy Mac safe stand. Matt appreciates the quality and design of Groove Made's Apple product trays, leather notebook, small notepad, refillable pen, and task knife. He also mentions metal organizers from Agamonk. For monitor control, he uses an Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and a Logitech MX Master 3s mouse. Matt also utilizes an iPad Pro M2 12.9 inches with Sidecar functionality, allowing it to act as a separate monitor. He praises the Nomad leather folio for the iPad and the Ansel case from Spigen for his iPhone, both for their quality and protective features. The video concludes with Matt promising a second part to explore more aspects of his setup, such as wall color, chair, lighting, and the charging station behind his desk.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Workspace
💡Desk Setup
💡Ikea Carby Walnut Countertop
💡Monitor Arm
💡MacBook Pro
💡Huawei MateView
💡LG Dual UP850-W
💡Groove Made
💡Thunderbolt 4 Dock
💡iPad Pro with Sidecar
Highlights
Introduction to an ongoing series about desk setup.
Tour of the workspace featuring a Walnut countertop from Ikea.
Use of a large desk mat to protect the desk's surface.
Supporting the desk with two black Alex drawers from Ikea.
Use of adhesive transparent captions to prevent desk movement.
Mention of the iconic combination of desk and drawers from Ikea.
Use of Destroyer organizers and velcro for cable management.
Introduction of a map desk pad from Groove made for monitor placement.
Use of an additional fat mouse pad for smooth and quiet mouse usage.
Powering the setup with a 2023 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Max.
Comparison of the new MacBook Pro to a 2019 model for performance.
Use of the Walden stand from Groove made for the MacBook.
Setup of the main monitor, a Huawei mate view with 4K IPS display.
Discussion on the 3x2 aspect ratio for productivity and photo editing.
Second monitor setup with an LG dual app for additional workspace.
Use of a blank Q screen bar for late-night lighting control.
Inclusion of a Marshall Acton 3 speaker for desk audio.
Elevation of peripherals with a Groove made Solid while not task shelf.
Organization of cables and dongles with a Nest from orbit key.
Connection of MacBook to monitors with a Thunderbolt 4 dock from hyper.
Use of a focusrite audio interface for microphone signal conversion.
Charging iPhone with a heavy Mac safe stand from Groove made.
Introduction of Groove made accessories like trays and a leather notebook.
Use of a refillable pen and task knife for desk organization.
Control of the monitor with an Apple magic keyboard with Touch ID.
Use of a Logitech MX Master 3s for quiet and efficient mouse operation.
Utilization of an iPad Pro M2 for a separate monitor with Sidecar.
Protection of the iPad with a Nomad leather folio for a professional look.
Protection of the iPhone with a Spigen Ansel leather cover.
Promise of a second part of the video covering more aspects of the setup.
Transcripts
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
who works for normal day I know
firsthand how important it is to have a
workspace that keeps you focused and
inspired hi my name is Matt this is the
first video of an ongoing series about
my desk setup and in this one I walk you
through my workspace and give you a tour
of my space if you're interested in any
of the products in my setup there's a
link to everything in the video
description below let's talk about my
desk this is the widely known car by
Walnut countertop from Ikea I've had it
for a year now and I love how it looks
and its texture I opted for the larger
version of 246 centimeters due to its
length I place a leg in the middle to
prevent it from bending over time I
highly suggest getting this if you have
enough space in your room you will feel
more free to move and have more space to
work one downside is that it scratches
pretty easily which is why I use this
large desk mat but we will talk about it
later
to support the desk I placed two black
Alex drawer from Ikea the desk is
unscrewed to them I use some adhesive
transparent captions to prevent it from
sliding considering it weighs 40
kilograms it won't move at all and it's
easier if you need to move it around
prices are much higher now due to
inflation but I still buy them because
it's such an iconic combination and you
will be covered for 25 years by the Ikea
guarantee something that nobody talks
about are Destroyer organizers I used a
little piece of velcro to keep them in
place
to protect the top of the desk I place
this beautiful map desk pad from Groove
made its surface is made of a resistant
material called linoleum meanwhile the
bottom is made of cork this size is
actually larger than the depth of the
desk it would be awesome if Groove mate
can make a custom size for the car by
desk that way you can mount monitor arm
wherever you want instead of mounting it
on the external sides even though the
surface of the desk mat is hard the
material can be scratched but if you
don't move a lot of boxes like I do
you'll be safe I use an additional fat
mouse pad from groommate on top of it I
like using this because I can easily
move stuff around when I'm eating or
cleaning also the feeling of using the
mouse with this is much smoother and
quieter powering everything is the 2023
16-inch MacBook Pro I bought the M2 Max
with 12 core CPU 38 core GPU 32
gigabytes of RAM and 1 terabyte of space
this is the most recent and expensive
acquisition of the whole setup I
previously had the 16 inch base model
from 2019 which I bought second-handed
and the difference in performance is
massive considering they're only 4 years
apart I mostly use it for photo and
video editing but I wanted it to be
capable to handle more than I actually
need it for just to be future proof the
MacBook sits on top of this beautiful
Walden stand from Groove made which in
my opinion has the best design of all
the stands I've seen the main monitor of
my setup is the Huawei mate view 28.2
inches I bought it just over a year ago
and has been a dream to work with it has
a 4K IPS display which is surprisingly
sharp I found the 3x2 aspect ratio a
great success for productivity and work
all the photos I take are 3x2 so it
makes a lot of sense for me it's also
quite appealing for video editing for
many people having a wide timeline might
be a deal breaker but I often use many
layers stack on each other particularly
for sound and it could get very deep but
with the extra space on the bottom if we
consider a normal 16x9 ratio this is
much better I'm not upset about the
absence of the base amount and I don't
need to use the monitor in vertical mode
for that I have my second monitor the LG
dual app
this was kindly sent to me by LG but in
all honesty I don't use it very often
don't get me wrong this is a great
monitor with lots of adjustments however
it's not ideal for my work I often have
neck pain and the fact that it's so tall
it makes it hard for me to use it for
long periods of time you can obviously
move it around and lower it but it will
get in the way of the other stuff I have
on my desk and I can use it like this I
haven't removed it yet because many
people may find it useful and I really
like having it on the side
this remote controller is for the blank
Q screen bar on top of the Huawei mate
view I like to use it late night it
gives me quick access to brighten up the
space I prefer using the light on the
back since my keyboard reflects the
front light straight to my eyes and
instead of relieving eye fatigue it
makes it worse next to the monitor I
have the Marshall Acton 3 speaker I was
looking for a compact and good looking
speaker to place on my desk and this one
surpassed all of my expectations I love
the size of it and the Vintage look
combined with the Dexter and the elegant
sign on the front adds A Touch of Class
to the desk the sound quality is
incredibly good for my taste the best is
pretty powerful for its size and overall
I think this is a perfect solution for a
great desk speaker that doesn't take up
too much space to elevate all these
peripherals from the desk we found the
groove made Solid while not task shelf
which is easily my favorite desk
accessory in it we find this tray that I
use to quickly access stationary items
such as spans SD cards and hard drivers
and is Nest from orbit key that I use to
store cables and dongles on the other
hand connecting the MacBook with the
monitors I use this Thunderbolt for dock
from hyper this has been one of the best
addition to my setup it connects the Mac
to all the other peripherals via one
Thunderbolt 4 cable I also have this
focusrite audio interface connected to
it which converts the analog signals
from the Shure sm7b microphone to
digital via an XLR cable the only thing
that I don't like about it is that the
port that connect the Mac sits in front
making the cable awkwardly sticking out
to charge my iPhone I have this heavy
Mac safe stand from Groove made I don't
know why but mine is loose and it
shouldn't be for such an expensive item
other accessories I have from them are
these trays for Apple products and their
corresponding with stress the refillable
leather notebook and the small notepad
additionally I also have two extra
pieces which are worth mentioning I'm
talking about the refillable pen and the
task knife I'm not exaggerating when I
say the driving with this pen feels
extremely small the ink rides flawlessly
on the paper and it makes you want to do
more on the other hand the task knife is
just a win it's something that you
probably don't need but you desperately
want it because it's so cool by the way
these metal organizers are from agamonk
[Music]
to control my monitor I use the Apple
magic keyboard This is the latest
version with Touch ID and is so
convenient to unlock my Mac with just my
finger now if you're planning on buying
one be aware that the unlocking function
only works with M1 and above devices on
the right of the keyboard we find the
Logitech MX Master 3s you can find the
full unboxing video on my channel and
the comparison with the normal MX3 I
love how quiet it is I was so tired of
the clicky sound on the previous model
but I actually enjoy working with this
one another fundamental device I use
while working is the iPad Pro M2 12.9
inches the most incredible feature it
has for me is the possibility to use it
as a separate monitor with side car for
this you will need to be logged in with
the same Apple ID and have a stable
internet connection now you have a
wireless display that you can place
wherever you want I absolutely love this
feature it allows me to access apps like
Safari where I can use my notion account
while I'm working on a video and don't
lose track of my work or I'm able to
control the iPad with the same mouse and
keyboard if you're wondering what cover
I'm using for the iPad this is The Nomad
leather folio it's quite expensive but
the iPad feels absolutely amazing in it
and it looks so professional if you
carry it around I've been using it for
the past four months now and I love how
the leather is aging another great
leather cover I use all the time is this
for my iPhone it's called Ansel and it's
from Spigen this is the highest quality
cover I've ever owned and it protects
the iPhone extremely well it has strong
rubber all around and the bottoms on the
sides are amazing
this is it for today's video I will post
the second part to keep exploring my
setup very soon I will cover more about
my wall color my chair the lighting the
charging station behind my desk and so
on please leave a like And subscribe to
the channel if you enjoyed this episode
I read all the comments so if I miss
something that you would like to see in
the next one comment it down below and
I'll make sure to include it if you're
interested in any of the items in my
setup check the link in the video
description below you'll find every
single item in my studio in there and
also in Cuban codes as well I'll see you
in the next one
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