Equipment To Start YouTube Channel

Best Tools and Equipment to Start A YouTube Channel

If you want your brand to be taken seriously on YouTube, you need to make sure your content is not only engaging but that it looks professional right from the get-go. Equipment to Start YouTube Channel.

No matter how informative or helpful your content is, viewers aren’t going to stick around if it has bad audio or video quality. That’s why I’m going to be discussing the best YouTube equipment for beginners in this article.

Why Your Brand Should Be on YouTube

YouTube is the 2nd most visited website online right now, with over 1.9 billion users logged in monthly! You might think that the platform is just for gamers, beauty influencers, or shock jocks, but that’s not the case. There are a number of companies investing in video content–and for good reason.

Approximately 87 percent of people say they want to see more video content from brands in 2021, so if you’re building a personal brand or starting a digital or social media marketing agency, 2021 is the year to start your own YouTube channel.

If you want your brand to be taken seriously you have to have the right equipment to create professional looking video content. This includes a good vlogging camera, microphone, and editing software.

Here are my recommendations for the best setup for YouTube videos:

Camera – Equipment to Start YouTube Channel

If you’ve ever spent time on YouTube and thought about starting your own channel, you’ve probably found yourself asking, ‘What video equipment do YouTubers use?’

Well, the answer to that might vary by how invested they are in their channel and how long they’ve been making videos.

Starting out, many beginner YouTubers use a webcam and smartphone. That is fine, and you might choose to follow that path, but once the channel begins to grow you will have to invest in a better camera, like a mid-range DSLR.

When comparing products, don’t think that you have to purchase the most expensive one in order to get great results, but you do have to make sure it records at least 1080p video.

DSLRs are favored among YouTubers because of their high-quality results.

They have great adaptability in low light situations and provide polished video recording quality. Here are some of my recommendations for the best camera for your YouTube channel starter kit:

Best Tools and Equipment to Start A YouTube Channel

Canon EOS 70D

I personally use a Canon EOS 70D for my Cereal Entrepreneur content. This camera has a 20.2MP APS-C (22.5 x 15 mm) Dual Pixel CMPS AF sensor and an ISO range of up to 25,600.

It also has 19 cross-type autofocus points to ensure fast and accurate autofocus for clear video.

In addition to the incredible image quality, this camera will give your videos tonal range and clarity with minimal noise interruption.

The camera also includes built-in WiFi technology and an accompanying camera connection app to make sharing and remote shooting even easier.

Canon G7X Mark ii

The Canon G7X Mark ii is a great camera for traveling and getting high-quality images and video. It is SUPER compact and even has a screen that flips up for more of a “selfie mode” style of shot, making it great for vlogging.

One downside is that the mic on the camera isn’t the best, so make sure to get a Lavalier mic setup OR a mobile recorder and external mic (check out the Microphones section for more info on products).

Some other key features include:

20.1-megapixel 1-inch sensor
Full HD 60p video recording
Wi-Fi enabled
Digic 7 processor
Raw shooting
f/1.8-f/2.8 lens
4.2x optical zoom (24-100mm equivalent)

Webcam: Logitech HD Pro C920

If you’re just starting out and want a cheap setup for YouTube videos, then a webcam might be a good place to start.

If you want to produce videos that do not require as much production value, then a webcam is recommended.

With the Logitech HD Pro C920, you can shoot videos at your desk, film company meetings, or even do livestream Q&As.

These low-production projects are perfect for this camera. I would actually recommend a webcam over other cameras for live streaming, since they can be directly connected to your computer.

This camera offers full HD video recording up to 1920 x 1080 pixels, with H.264 video compression and automatic low-light correction and precise autofocus.

It also has dual stereo mics built right in that automatically reduce outside noise.

All you’ll need to use this is a laptop or desktop with a USB port, Windows 7 or later, or Mac OS 10.6 or later, so this rates as one of the cheapest YouTube setup equipment options.

The device itself is also pretty flexible, with a tripod-ready universal clip that fits all laptops and LCD monitors.

If you also need something that can pan and tilt, this Logitech webcam does the job.

Microphone – Equipment to Start YouTube Channel

Once you’ve got a good camera, it’s crucial to get equipment that produces audio quality to complement the quality of your video. Viewers will not stay engaged with your content if the quality of sound is bad.

I don’t recommend using built-in laptop or camera microphones, as they usually have bad audio quality due to the fact that they are not able to record or eliminate ambient sounds effectively.

That means the next important tool you need to get the best YouTube setup is a good microphone.

There are several types you can choose from when it comes to audio for basic equipment for video shooting: USB, Condenser, Shotgun, and lapel. Finding the perfect microphone depends on your needs.

Fifine USB Microphone K668

The Fifine USB Microphone K668 is a desk mic that’s perfect for any desktop shooting you will be doing. It plugs right into your computer and records directly.

It’s also compatible with Windows and Mac. It doesn’t require any additional software to be installed and is easily portable and simply requires a USB port.

The mic uses advanced omnidirectional pick-up technology to cancel distracting noise and isolate the main sound source and vocals, meaning it will record studio-quality audio every time.

Shotgun Microphone – Equipment to Start YouTube Channel

Shotgun microphones are a popular, high-quality option for video recording with a small, professional camera. They’re made with shock mounts that help reduce the noise that comes from mechanical vibrations around the mic.

Another important feature of a Shotgun mic is its ability to focus on capturing clear sounds and vocals directly in front of it, so it doesn’t pick up a lot of ambient sounds on the sides and behind the mic, even when recording outdoors.

Rode VMGO VideoMic Go

The Rode VMGO VideoMic Go is a lightweight microphone that attaches right onto your camera and is the perfect product for shooting videos on the go or in a studio. It would be a great companion to a vlogging camera.

Even better, this mic doesn’t require any batteries and simply plugs into your camera’s external microphone input.

Rode VideoMicro

This tiny mic is SUPER compact and great for traveling. Despite its size, the Rode VideoMicro gets the same high-quality sound as the Rode VMGO and even comes with a windshield. It’s another great option for a vlogging camera.

Tripod

It’s important to invest in a sturdy, reliable tripod. For your YouTube setup equipment. Ensure the safety of your camera. They are generally more affordable, and good ones start at $100 or less. I use the Zecti Tripod and have had no issues.

Lighting

Lighting equipment is necessary if you’re primarily recording indoors and in dimly lit areas. Even if you’re shooting where there’s ample ambient light, lighting equipment can modify the mood and even out the brightness of your setup.

I find that lighting is often overlooked. When it comes to YouTube equipment for beginners. But it can make a huge difference in your video quality.

CRAPHY Soft Box Lights

Softboxes can emulate the natural, soft lighting that you’d usually get from a window. The CRAPHY Soft Box lighting gear is ideal if you want to add lighting without producing harsh shadows for a scene or your subject.

These soft box lights are made of high-reflecting, heat-resistant material. They will help you soften light to reduce overexposure and hot spots.

Not all shots are created equal. Learning the simple tricks to lighting a location properly will help the quality of your videos exponentially.

Tools to Make Your YouTube Channel Better

Once you’ve got the best setup for YouTube videos, and the channel is built and your subscriber numbers start to increase, it is important to optimize your videos for SEO, including creating SEO optimized titles, so your videos will rank higher on Google. A great start for this step is doing keyword research.

The tools we prefer at Cereal Entrepreneur are Ubersuggest [FREE] and Keywords Everywhere, which offers FREE and Premium pricing.

Make a channel look and feel professional. Keep creating content to attract more subscribers and increase watch time, you will have to outsource.