The creation of a Youtube channel can be a vital step in the development of a personal or business brand. The platform is one of the most viewed websites in the world, logging thousands of hours of content every minute. It is therefore important that the videos you produce are as high quality as possible to ensure you can make an impact on viewers. This article will discuss the equipment that you might consider in order to produce high quality youtube content. This will include discussion of cameras, microphones and lighting.
Cameras
When considering the process of starting a Youtube channel, it is highly likely that you would think about how you could shoot the best quality content possible for the budget that you are working with. You may be used to watching professional youtube stars, marvelling at the 4k video they now produce. Many beginners to youtube consider using webcams or smartphones, which while adequate for ‘finding your feet’ on the platform will not produce results suitable enough once the channel you operate begins to grow.
It would be recommended that you consider the range of DSLR cameras that are plentiful and budget friendly in the marketplace. For instance, this website has already discussed the Nikon 23500, a perfectly capable DSLR that operates as a suitable budget option for beginners. The DSLR is a perfect camera for Youtube video production, favoured by many as a reliable, adaptable unit that will produce consistently high quality results.
As a basic rule, the most expensive cameras will not always produce the best or most desired results. When producing Youtube content, it is imperative that the camera you own produces at least 1080p standard video. This is not a great ask at the budget level, considering advancements in the industry of 4k and beyond.
Microphones
While a DSLR will produce high quality video content, you may find that the audio quality will be less than sufficient. It would be recommended that equipment is found that allows you to complement the quality of the video that you produce. This is done to make sure that viewers are captivated and remain engaged by the content that you publish. What is required is a microphone that is portable and capable of producing a quality greater than that which is found in smartphones or computers, which struggle to eliminate things like ambient noise.
A full article could be produced that focuses on the importance of the microphone alone, but in this limited space a recommendation for a suitable microphone will be discussed.
The Blue Yeti represents a perfect option for beginner youtubers that wish to elevate their production quality beyond that of an in built microphone. The Yeti is capable of use within Youtube videos or live broadcast streams, providing the user with a ‘plug and play’ portable microphone that can record directly to a computer. The microphone is highly portable, featuring an effective tripod stand that allows it to be maneuvered to suit the necessary demands of the conditions in which it is used. The microphone also notably comes with a special Cardioid mode that uses a cardioid condenser polar pattern, the most common pattern. The cardioid pattern is favoured amongst Youtube influencers as it allows for great levels of ambient noise reduction and feedback suppression.
The Blue Yeti can be found below:
Lighting
Any budding camera enthusiast would say that lighting is one of the most underappreciated elements in ensuring that video quality is high. Lighting equipment is vital when shooting video indoors or in areas with poor, dimly lit visibility. The addition of lighting equipment can even allow for the modification of mood within a video, allowing for creative flair that can engage viewers.
For ‘vloggers’, a common solution is to turn to the LED ring light, a highly portable option that is often associated with the ‘selfie’. The ring light is appropriate for use on desktops, with an adjustable tripod and camera holder often included. A popular ring light option is found at the link below:
Other budding Youtubers may wish to invest in a softbox photography lighting kit. Softbox lighting is preferred as it allows for the replication of more natural, soft lighting sources. Softbox lighting is more commonly found in professional photography shoots but this does not diminish the benefits it can have for youtube video producers who want to minimise shadows and maximise opportunities to soften the lighting of a scene to produce more accurate results.
A kit like the ESDDI linked below would be capable of producing high quality results in a highly portable package.
