Potentially Sponsered Videos?

Yesterday I received my first offer for a sponsored video that isn't something I wouldn't immediately dismiss. It's not a review, and not just a cash grab like mobile games. I haven't replied yet, but from what I'm finding for estimates on what they may offer, the amount they would likely offer could be around 50X what I get from YT ads per video on the low end.

Normally I'm not trying to make as much as I can from the videos like this, but the time leading up to LTX took a big bite out of my "Youtube Momentum". (The less you upload regularly the less youtube recommends you so its a downward spiral feedback). So I'm still recovering from that. I've also got a few large expenses I've been trying to save for. And I'm going to be transparent about those. (I'll put that at the end if you don't really want to read it though)

I'm extremely grateful for all your support and this isn't something I consider lightly. So I would like to hear from people here what you think about me doing this. I don't see it as selling out or a cash grab, but more like a level skip cheat code in a video game because I could instantly have enough money for one of my larger expenses that doesn't come from already budgeted funds. But if this seems like a bad idea to everyone I can easily decline the offer.



Here are some of the things I'm planning on:

- $800+ Trip to Dallas for Computer Reset:
   A viewer contacted me before LGR's video on Computer Reset and was able to get some things for me. This includes stuff like a complete IBM AT, EGA monitor, PCjr Monitor, and more. I'm not going assuming I'm getting into Computer Reset, but it's not an impossibility(They aren't open, but I may know someone).

- $700-800 Used Zoom F8 audio recorder:
   I don't really have a way to record audio right now. I record my mic with the XLR port on my camera which for a lot of videos is good enough. But for subjects like the Roland TD-7 recording stereo line sources is hard for me. I really need a dedicated audio recorder. I could get something cheaper like a $200 Zoom HN4 a 4 track recorder, but the cheaper units have two problems. They all have stereo mics built in, which means it really 2 inputs. So a $400 Zoom H6 is really 4 track. I want at least 4 track to record stereo line sources and extra mics. The other problem is syncing audio to the video. If you don't want to manually do it, you need to use one of your inputs on the audio recorder for ambient sound and one on the camera and then match those for each shot. Not elegant and it eats up another audio input. There is a solution for this though, time code. You can add time code with something like a $300 Tentacle Sync but it still uses an audio channel. So with the $400 H6 and $300 Sync it's a 3 track recorder with time code. The Zoom F8 is an actual 8 track recorder with time code built in for the same price used. I'm trying to get away from janky setups now so I feel going all out for the solution I want is the best option.

- Multiple ~$300 Electrical Equipment:
   I seem to have hit the end of what I can find locally for cheap repair equipment. I don't really have a "good" oscilloscope, power supply, signal analyzer/generator, desoldering iron, and some other stuff. These are are things that would give me new capabilities when doing repairs. I've been managing with cheaper things for now, but it takes more effort to use what I have and does definitely impede me some times.