Photo by Zack Dowdy on Unsplash

If you’re starting a YouTube channel, the first major expense you’ll encounter is your equipment. 

If you’re committed to the success of your channel, it’s ideal that you have the best equipment.

Best Editing Software for YouTube

A great video comes alive in editing. Because by using and adding effects and transitions, you can make your video far more entertaining. Having this ability also helps you to create brandable content. One of the YouTubers most notable for their style of editing is Emma Chamberlain. Her editing style is synonymous with her brand that many other content creators have been accused of copying it. 

Our Recommendations:

Budget/Beginner: VEGAS Movie Studio 14 Platinum $32.65

If you want a budget-friendly option, there is not a better choice than the VEGAS Movie Studio 14 Platinum. Although it’s a few generations old, many die-hard users appreciate the features of this version. That aside, VEGAS Movie Studio software is impressively intuitive, meaning there isn’t as much of a learning curve.

Professional: FinalCut Pro $299

Only Available on IOS, Final Cut Pro has all the effects commonly used by your favorite content creators. Most novice content creators can create epic and engaging content using this software. And because it’s optimized for Macbooks it’s also easier to get the knack of it. At a once-off fee of $299, it’s an investment into professional-quality videos.

All-Rounder: Adobe Premiere Pro $20.99 Per Month

For cinematic videos, Adobe Premiere should be your go-to solution. The Adobe Premiere Pro bundle also includes Adobe Premiere Rush, which makes editing social media content a breeze and makes editing all your favorite transitions that much easier. However, to appreciate Adobe Premiere’s range of features it helps if you have the full Adobe Creative Suite as you can add Hollywood-esque effects with After Effects.

Professional Microphones For YouTube Videos

Sound quality is crucial to the way viewers interact with your videos. The audio quality of your video will either encourage viewers to watch to completion or cause them to click out of your video. Therefore, as a new YouTuber, this is an area that you should invest in as it’s time-consuming to polish bad audio in post-production. 

Our Recommendations

On-Camera Microphone: Sennheiser Pro Audio MKE 200 $99.95

If you want a portable filming setup, it helps to have a microphone on your camera. Whether you’re creating a talking-head video or in-studio videos, an on-camera microphone is the most practical choice. With a compact design that is discreet but still captures crystal clear audio, The Sennheiser Pro Audio MKE is the best solution. If you are thinking of vlogging, this should be your go-to option. 

Lavalier Microphone: Shure MVL Omnidirectional $69.00

Creators are beginning to appreciate lavalier microphones because they’re unobtrusive with the same power and specs as full-size microphones. They often capture the crisp sound you want in your videos. The Shure MVL Omnidirectional lavalier microphone limits noise while capturing crisp sound, it also has a durable design, which makes it a good all-rounder.

USB Microphone: Blue Snowball iCE USB Mic $59.99

If you’re recording in a studio and don’t need a portable microphone, a USB microphone is a less expensive alternative to other options. The Snowball iCE USB mic is made by Blue (the same manufacturer as the popular YETI). However, this is more compact with impressive specs including 40- 18kHz frequency and plug and play design. 

Incredible Lighting For Your Videos

If you’re appearing on camera, you need lighting. Lighting enhances your appearance and makes you personable. It also means that you can film at any time since you won’t be reliant on sunlight to film. The lighting you choose will depend on the kind of videos you’re filming. But we’ve narrowed the list down to some of our favorites for any budget and occasion. You can view our full list and recommendations for YouTube lighting here.

Our Recommendations

On Camera Lighting: VILTROX L116T Key Light LED Video Light Kit $45

The purpose of having on-camera lighting is that your setup is far compact. In many cases, on-camera lighting can provide as much light as other professional options, and, in some cases, more light. This VILTROX L116T comes with color temperature and brightness adjustments and includes an LCD screen for precise info about your lighting setup.

Budget Lighting Setup: GIM 10″ Selfie Ring Light with Tripod Stand $29.99

Ring lights are popular because they’re an affordable way to create even light across your face. Therefore, they work best when you’re creating talking-head videos. The GIM 10″ Selfie Ring Light with Tripod is the ideal bundle as it has dimmable ring lights that include warm light (3000K), cool light (4500K), and daylight (6000K). 

Professional Lighting Setup: HPUSN Softbox Lighting Kit $69.99

If you’ve got the space and are willing to spend a bit more, the most effective lights for almost any kind of video would be softbox lights. They evenly distribute light, appearing natural on camera. The HPUSN Softbox Lighting Kit comes with two softboxes, stands, and light bulbs and are a pretty affordable solution.

The Best Cameras For YouTube

Finally, the camera you use has the most significant impact on your videos, but unless you’re a professional videographer or photographer you won’t have a DSLR and don’t need to fork out thousands to purchase one. Instead, these cameras should help any beginner. 

Our Recommendations:

Beginner: Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 Digital Camera $209

Point and shoot cameras aren’t as popular as DSLRs, however, the cameras are ideal for beginners as they don’t have a steep learning curve and are easy to operate. The Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 breaks the myth that point and shoots don’t have powerful specs, as it has a 20.2MP camera and 1080p video recording.

Vlogging: Canon EOS M200 $549

Mirrorless cameras are the perfect balance between point and shoot digital cameras and DSLR. This Canon EOS M200 will be a welcomed addition to your YouTube equipment, especially if you’re vlogging. It’s compact, has a vertical viewfinder, and captures 4K resolution.

All-Rounder: Panasonic Lumix G9 $1197

With a perfect 5 star rating on Amazon, the Panasonic Lumix is an incredible camera at any price, but at only $1198 it’s unbelievably good. The camera has a 60fps shutter speed and captures breathtaking 4K videos, enabling you to record cinematic YouTube videos. It also doubles as an impeccable camera, capturing images in 80MP RAW.

Versatile Tripods For Filming

Nothing is more unpleasant to watch than shaky camera footage. For in-studio work, you need a tripod for vlogging, you need a handheld tripod. Even if you’re filming on your phone, having a tripod gives you more control over your recording.  

Our Recommendations:

Car Tripod: DSLR Suction Cup Mount $29.99

If you’re thinking of filming the iconic car vlogs that have become quite popular on YouTube, you’ll need a car tripod. This tripod includes an adhesive backing that mounts to the car, and the suction cups mount to it, making it fairly sturdy. It can also hold up to 5lbs which makes it ideal for DSLR cameras. 

Handheld Tripod: ULANZI Camera Tripod $22.95

For beginners, having a compact setup is ideal, even if you don’t plan to vlog the less equipment you have taking up space, the better. This ULANZI tripod extends to octopus legs and rugged body making it durable and versatile.

Professional Set Up: AmazonBasics Lightweight Camera Mount Tripod Stand With Bag $18.27

This camera tripod is the perfect option for sit down videos as it extends to eye level (50 inches). The legs are sturdy, allowing the tripod to hold up to 4.4 lbs. At this price, it’s a decent tripod that gets the job done.

Conclusion

If you’re committed to your ambition of becoming a content creator, the initial investment shouldn’t be concerning. You can always find affordable options according to your budget or find ways to purchase an item each month.
For example, you can decide to forego purchasing a camera and start by recording on your phone, then the total cost for equipment will reduce significantly.
However, to give you a clearer picture of what it would cost, we’ve created a budget based on our recommendations:

Portable Setup Total Cost: $737.86

Adobe Premiere Pro ($20.99)
VILTROX L116T Key Light Kit ($45)
Canon EOS M200 ($549)
ULANZI Camera Tripod ($22.95)
Sennheiser Pro Audio MKE 200 ($99.95)

Budget Setup Total Cost: $349.90

VEGAS Movie Studio 14 Platinum ($32.65)
Blue Snowball iCE USB Mic ($59.99)
GIM 10″ Selfie Ring Light with Tripod Stand ($29.99)

Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 Digital Camera ($209)
AmazonBasics Lightweight Camera Mount Tripod Stand With Bag ($18.27)

Professional Setup Total Cost: $1644,25

FinalCut Pro ($299)
Blue Snowball iCE USB Mic ($59.99)
HPUSN Softbox Lighting Kit ($69.99)
Panasonic Lumix G9 ($1197)
AmazonBasics Lightweight Camera Mount Tripod Stand With Bag ($18.27)

You can also consider renting equipment for high-end production value from Wedio.

If you’ve already started a YouTube channel, what has been your experience with equipment, and what do you think is the most valuable part of your setup?