My Current Tech Stack #4 [Q2 2024]

This being the first issue of this series on the new website! A lot has changed since the last entry, let alone last year too. Tools are meant to be used, and if they wear down (like the tip of a screwdriver), then you replace them.

I've also been trying to unlearn my own bias or emotional grudge. I.e. how Riverside really quite screwed me over. However after using other tools, it is still sort of the best. Top three being Podcastle, Riverside, and I think Squadcast. However I've been having a lot of issues in all of them, expect Squadcast which I haven't used enough!

Anyways lets get to the post!

My Personal Knowledge Management

If you have been following up on the OmniBlog, which is my main written content place, and it was where the old newsletter was home on. I have moved away from Acreom, which is what I was using the last time I made one of these.

Acreom almost lost my data TWICE, and while they didn't "LIE" about their features. They didn't update their audience or news about what features they took out in later versions. Including the 2 way calendar, which was one of the main reasons I moved everything to it. Luckily when I did lose my data, I was able to go to an Obsidian backup, and save it. Also just a sidenote, Acreom reset all of my metadata for my blog posts files, which is a huge deal. That means all of the dates, links, description, titles, etc that I had painstakingly moved from Notion. All got reset to acreom's "Status, and Date". Honestly that could have easily been an add-on metadata, but no it had to just replace.

However over the last 6-9 months I have been ACTIVELY looking at tools. It wasn't until a couple months ago I was able to finally settle down a bit. It turns out to be none other good ol' Obsidian.

It really is just the BEST knowledge management tool, and with a variety of plugins you can make it work for task, project, and data management too.

This is another field that I am spending a ton of time on trying to find the right tool. I have opened up my thoughts more, and I am trying out tools again.

I will say my #1 tool right now is Nuelink, which does the most robust RSS automation on the market.

It also handles single posts to tiktok/shorts/reels decently well. I still find the interface to be a bit much at times. As in too much on screen at once. However it is reliable, and that is more than I can say for Publer or Buffer.

However Buffer has been making strides. They finally came out with a Calendar, and the performance has been a lot better as well.

The next one I am actively trying out is Recurpost, which has been trying to improve their bulk upload for Tiktok/shorts/reels. Given how no tool on the market seems to have that ability to do it in Bulk, then I was very surprised when they said they would work on it.

While the bulk upload feature is really great, the actual overall app leaves a bit to be desired. I also seem to have a decent amount of failed posts, as compared to other tools. Although the team is quite active and responsive, and they're always willing to figure out how to help.

I also messed around with Metricool for Collaborator posts too.

Recording Tools

I'm still using OBS as my main recording software.

It is by far the most capable and versatile. I wish they had made things a bit more streamlined though. There are too many competitors now to be THIS eccentric in the UI/UX department. Although you do get the freedom to customize it the way you like.

I have been digging into Streamlabs a bit more, as I find their multistream to seemingly be the most capable simulcasting solution. Restream has too many bottlenecks, like seeing chat across ALL platforms, and syndicating to vertical platforms as well.

As well as, there is a new kid on the block called Meld Studio.

Interview Recording:

For the love of all things content, I wish these interview recording software would get their sh** together.

I am actually quite livid at the experiences I have had with a lot of tools. Riverside is lagging behind on the FPS and quality department. Especially during the call, as I ALWAYS had to turn off upload during a call to keep it from cutting out.

Waveroom completely does not work. I have tried so many times, and for the first time in all of my years of doing interviews I lost a recording. Which happened to be on the Guest's side, but his side wasn't the issue it was mine. Not to mention on multiple occasions I couldn't get connected to my guest entirely. The lack of a quality interface also is a really annoying aspect.

After having issues after issues with both of those I eventually tried out Podcastle.

And Now I want to be saying it is all sunshine and rainbows now, but..... things like visual artifacts on the screen, periodic drops in the call (where the person who drops has to turn off their cam/mic, and turn back on again. For no reason), and even a digital voice glitch that lasted for multiple minutes in a recording.

Note: After having issues with Podcastle I tried going back to Riverside, and for some reason even though the recording didn't stop, the guest's side got split into many different files. Completely throwing off the sync, and when I exported via the magic editor the audio was all messed up.

💡

I don't use Mac at all, but I have a lot of friends that do. They all seem to LOVE Ecamm and so I wanted to give you that just in case.

Editing Tools

This is a new section, as I usually just say I use Davinci Resolve, and call it a day. However I constantly have issues with the performance, to the point where at the beginning of the year it would just crash as soon as I opened a project. Meaning I'd have to get it done without being able to save and come back to it.

Now I don't have that... after a full windows reinstall...TWICE... however I still have a ton of lag. Maybe my pc is getting old I guess.

However I moved onto trying CapCut again, and it works well for some smaller projects. I'm now curious more about Descript again, and playing around with other editors like Avid.

My LinkTree Alternatives

I still use Dot cards right now as one of my main things:

I started messing around with my old MyLinks.ai tree, and made it more for my gaming brand:

I still technically have the Pensight one, but after so many issues with Pensight being flagged as "spam", and causing my email host to flag ME as spam because of it. I got it taken care of, but it was something that was a red flag.

Making Clips for Tiktok/Shorts/Reels

I use two tools for this purpose, one for gaming, and one for everything else. Those are:

OpusClip

Truly the best clipping tool on the market right now. None of its clones come close to either the quantity of clips, or quality, or both.

I am bit a biased since I am a brand partner, but I have also tried out the rest of them too.

CrossClip

Tbh I would rather not use this, but there isn't really a viable alternative. Let me explain: JoinCombo is dead now, Clipbot is rather crappy and not updated forever, streamladder is poorly designed on their website and their pricing plans are weird, and Eklipse is honestly one of the worst designed websites I have ever seen. So poorly laid out, and the information architecture is confusing/overwhelming.

Thus the minimalist and somewhat consistent Crossclip wins out. Only by being useable, but not because I particularly like using it.

crossclip.streamlabs.com/create

Highlighted Tool of the Week: Transistor.fm

I don't normally choose a more generic tool category like Podcast Host for this highlighted tool section. However after my experience being so great with them. I had to share it. (It is an affiliate link, but no extra cost to you!)

I had painstakingly moved off of my old host, podcast co, as they lacked any innovation for years. Not even posting content, and changed their socials and everything. Meaning they were ready to give up.

I needed a new host for the new PolyTools show, and if I was going to pay for a tool. Then I wanted it to be the best on the market. Well after digging around at some of the newer fancy podcasting hosts. Transistor came back to mind, and I found it to be modern UI/UX. The team is super helpful and supportive. Not to mention the fact you can have unlimited podcasts only encourages me to make more podcasts. Great tool.

Tools I'm Looking at:

I'm sure that there are more than I am even remembering. Given how many tools I see in a week, let alone a day, but these are the ones that come to mind.

I'm trying to expand this post format, and not forget various tool use cases.

MeldStudio

Not much to say, but just to go check it out yourself. I'll do a review if it ends up being really interesting. It is a new live studio app.

Squadcast.fm

I used to not like it as much whenever I was a guest, as they didn't do video. Then even when they got video, it was lagging quite far behind competition. Now it seems they have caught up, and the joining with Descript makes it far more compelling.

Eklipse

I'm really not a fan of their interface. Too much going on, and not much organization to it. However it is one of the more powerful gaming clips tools.

🥡 Takeaways

I feel that if a company treats you right as a creator, then you should treat them back right as well. However if they are doing poorly for you, then you shouldn't keep trying to work with them. I learned that lesson well with Riverside.fm after they just ghosted me, despite me being one of their first partners.

Conversely, I have had a great experience working with and for OpusClip, which is a repurposing tool/editor. They have always communicated.

I'm seeing though across the board, whether it is Streamyard, TubeBuddy, or various other creator tools. They get too big for their people, and they screw over staff and customers. Loyalty to a tool is something that you need to be very picky about giving, is what I am saying.

I have been trying to learn a polymathic skill of, Unlearning, and in particular unlearning my own bias and experiences. As just because a tool sucked or was good before, doesn't mean it is how it is now.

I may end up going back to Riverside as a user, as I simply just want to be able to record without having as many issues. Even though I had tons of crazy issues, like a guest's recording taking 56+ hours to upload on high speed internet, a recording getting split in the backend, or even a recording getting stretched from one hour to 3 hours. It still was a better overall experience than say Waveroom.

Learn to change your opinion, and go with what is the best tool RIGHT NOW.

Let me know if you think I missed something!