One of the biggest questions we get asked in our HITmakers artist development program is: “What gear do I need to start a YouTube channel?”
Many established YouTubers use an array of sophisticated video production equipment (some even hire professional video editors and camera operators) to produce their videos—but you don’t need to go that far. You do need some basic video production equipment to start your own YouTube channel: a camera, a microphone, a tripod, lighting, video editing software and audio editing software.
Here are some recommendations grouped by budget:
- The budget, under $100 option
- For a little more $
- The $300 plus option
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The under $100 option
If you are on a tight budget, go ahead and use your phone. You can edit the video in iMovie, or another free app, and upload it to YouTube right away. It’s quick and easy, although you may have to do a pile of takes to get a video with good sound, no mistakes or pitchy moments, no random background noises, well-framed video and no on-camera gaffs.
You’ll need something (or someone) to hold your phone while you record, and, because unlit video looks dingy and generally terrible, some bright lights. Go ahead and use a desk lamp or two (or three!) with the highest-wattage bulbs they can accommodate and shine them in your face.
We absolutely recommend an external mic however. The mic built into your phone really sounds bad, and you want it to sound good, right? Here are a few options:
Rode VideoMic ME – $76.99
Rode is a high-end audio equipment manufacturer. It is used by many professionals and YouTube personalities, so you’re in good hands with this offering. The VideoMic sticks into your Android smartphone snugly using the 3.5mm headphone jack. This is by far the most versatile microphone that you can find, and it’s designed for smartphone use. It also requires a standard 9V battery to operate. You might feel the addition of a battery is inconvenient, but the VideoMic ME offers better range thanks to this feature. It’s a trade-off for portability, but considering the fact that you’re going to get the best audio experience out there, this won’t be a problem for most people.
Comica CVM-VS08 – $89.18
This particular offering looks much like the Rode mic above. It uses a cardioid polar pattern, which means that the audio is concentrated along the mic’s axis, which helps eliminate background noise. It also comes with a windscreen and muff to block out air/wind if you happen to be recording outdoors.
For a little more $
Saramonic SmartMixer – $218
This is a versatile smartphone option thanks to the number of attachments that it supports. It connects to your devices using the headphone jack and comes with two mini-condenser mics and provisions to attach lights and other equipment. As your audio is being recorded, the onboard display offers information on level monitoring, which can be super handy in a professional setup.
To make it even handier, the manufacturer has even added a nice little smartphone holder on top to keep your phone in place during recordings. If your phone lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, you’ll need an adapter. This offering by Saramonic is available in red and black, U-Rock’s school colours! 🙂
The $300 plus YouTube option
If you have a bit more cash to spend, you can really boost the quality of your productions. Most importantly, you’ll be able to record your voice and instrument separately, mix them and add effects like EQ, reverb and compression. Then you can lip sync a video and add the pro-audio track and no one is the wiser. It’s not cheating. The best YouTubers record their songs this way. It just sounds and looks way better – like a real pro.
The all-in-one audio recording package
Presonus Audiobox iTwo Studio – $267.03
This is what we use at U-Rock for recording, and we can’t say enough great things about this complete audio recording package. At its heart is a two-channel audio interface (you can record in stereo!) It also comes with a professional condenser microphone (stand not included), headphones for monitoring, and fully-functional audio editing software. You’ll get great sound, a gentle learning curve and plenty of options for optimizing your audio. Add a camera and lights, and your YouTube package is complete. You can even use it to record on an iPad.
Cameras
Before you head to the camera store, know that you don’t have to purchase an expensive DSLR—you can use anything that can record high-quality (at least 1080p) video. In our opinion, if you have a smartphone you can use, buying lights and a microphone are higher priorities than a camera. Having said that, moving beyond basic smartphone video will give you more features. Here are a couple of budget cameras we recommend:
The Sony HDRCX405B Camcorder ($249)
A good pick if you want a budget-friendly HD camera with image stabilization. It can shoot high-quality 1080p videos at 60fps and is equipped with a Carl Zeiss zoom lens with 27x true optical zoom for lossless magnification and excellent overall video quality. Uploading videos will also be a cinch, as this camcorder allows you to record in MP4 format, so you can instantly upload to the web.
Sony HDRCX455B Camcorder ($449.99)
One step up the scale brings you to the HDRCX405B. In addition to the features listed above, this camera also includes headphone and microphone jacks, two things that are very good to have in a YouTube camera, and finer volume control.
Logitech C920 HD Pro webcam ($69.99)
Webcams are a bit of work to aim, since they’re attached to your computer, but they are definitely inexpensive. This is a good webcam for making YouTube videos that features full HD 1080p and 720p video recording capabilities. The C920 uses its own processor to encode videos instead of relying on (and slowing down) your computer power. If you also you need something that can pan and tilt, this Logitech webcam does the job.
Lighting
Lighting equipment is VERY important if you’re recording indoors. Without it you may find yourself washed out, or looking grainy, yellow and/or unevenly lit.
Neewer CN-216 ($49.99)
The 216 LEDs are quite bright when turned all the way up. This is really good, as you never know when you’ll need more light. Turning the lights down is simple and makes for a quick soft lighting setup. Colour temperature adjustment goes between 5400k and 3200k. It requires 6 AA batteries.
External Microphones
After buying a camera, the next most important tool to have for making YouTube videos is a good microphone.
You’re recording music videos, so sound is really important and there are many choices available for quality microphones. Should you decide against the complete Presonus package we talked about earlier, here are a few other options to consider:
USB condenser microphones connect directly to your computer, so you don’t need an audio interface. And there are very good USB mics available for a reasonable price, so they’re an obvious choice if you don’t think you’ll need a mic for live performances.
Audio-Technica AT2020USB Plus ($209).
This condenser microphone doesn’t need a pre-amp and allows self-monitoring through its built-in headphone jack, complete with volume control. It also offers mix control to allow you to blend your microphone audio with pre-recorded audio. As with many high-quality condenser microphones, the AT2020USB Plus has extended frequency response that makes it ideal for recording vocals for podcasting and home recording.
Professional dynamic microphones are used for live performances and can also be used in the studio, so they’re a sensible choice if you also plan to perform live. However, they use a three-prong connector called an XLR cable, which will not connect directly to your computer. As a result, if you buy a professional microphone, you will also need an audio interface. These little boxes allow you to plug in your pro mic and then connect to your computer via a USB cable. Dynamic mics start around $100.
Shure SM58 ($129)
The SM58 has long been the industry standard for live performance because of its sound, reliability and extreme durability. You can’t go wrong with an SM58. For girls, we like the BETA58 which has a more responsive higher frequency.
Professional condenser microphone. Condenser mics are used in studios to record vocals and acoustic instruments like guitar and ukulele and are known for capturing excellent audio. If money is no object, go for a pro condenser mic. These mics also use XLR connectors, so you’ll need an audio interface if you go this route.
Rode NT1Vocal Condenser Mic ($279.00)
There’s nothing budget or second class about the sound of this microphone. If you’re buying this as a vocal microphone and you want your vocals to sound present and be upfront in the mix, the Rode NT1-A is the microphone for you. And if you’re looking for a condenser microphone to record acoustic guitars, then this is DEFINITELY the perfect recording microphone. This is one of the most popular mics in the home recording market because of its low noise, high dynamic range, and its suitability with a range of sound sources.
Video Editing Software
When you’ve gotten all the hardware you need, you’ll also have to find a good video editing software for post-production. YouTube has its own video editor, but it would be great to have your own software so you can have more freedom to modify your video to your liking. Being creative is the key to success!
iMovie, or Windows Movie Maker ($free). The free option is definitely usable and it’s already on your computer, although more costly software will offer you lots more bells and whistles, this is a great (free) place to start.
Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve 15 ($free). Blackmagic Design recently radically made over its editing suite to create one of the best video-editing systems at any price – even against mainstream options like Premiere Pro CC and Apple’s Final Cut Pro X. It now comes with a powerful visual effects app used in Hollywood films, along with an excellent colour corrector and audio editor. Despite doing more than most editors will ever need, the full studio release costs just $300. And you can get a stripped-down version that is perfectly good for all but serious professional animation work for a grand total of zero dollars.
Adobe Premiere Elements ($99.99 USD) is a very popular choice for videographers in general. Coming from the top industry leader in video editing software programs, it ensures very usable tools and a wide range of editing options (like video trimming, freeze frames, bounce-back effects, animation and more) so you can turn your material into professional-quality videos that your viewers will absolutely love.
Digital audio editing software
There are so many options here for all budgets.
Audacity ($free). This makes it to the top of our list because of its excellent price: free. Audacity is just as good as many premium paid-for applications. You can use it to make your own recordings, remove noise, cut and combine clips, apply special effects and much more, and best of all, you’ll achieve truly professional results.
Reaper ($60).This DAW (digital audio workstation) is powerful for the price. You can customize the layout and functionality of the software to suit your workflow.
Presonus’ Studio One Artist ($132.98) this software is excellent and easy to use. This DAW has become increasingly popular over the last few years, with good reason. It is now one of the most commonly used DAWs. It’s included in the Presonus Audiobox complete package we already talked about earlier.
Logic Pro X (Mac only – $279.99). An extremely popular piece of software. Logic Pro is great for composing and producing music as well as mixing. The stock plugins that come with Logic Pro X are perhaps the best stock plugins of any DAW.
Propellerhead Reason ($399).This is the perfect piece of software for electronic music producers who love the look of analog equipment. The bundled virtual instruments are powerful and versatile, and Reason also comes with some great collaboration tools.
We hope you enjoyed our roundup of essential equipment for YouTubers. Don’t forget to ask us about our HITmakers program for aspiring artists where we teach all the finer points of being a successful Youtuber, performing live, building a fan base using social media and everything you need to know about self-launching your own music career and so much more.