Getting yourself out there is what it is all about. In online business you need to put yourself in front of your audience – in writing, pictures, and videos.
For the visual media it sometimes takes a little more preparation. You might not want to display your unmade bed, your cycle helmet hairdo – and you need to consider lights and sounds.
For video recording especially, you might also want to be very efficient to reduce editing time, which I at least finds extremely time consuming.
First Takes
Your smartphone is fully capable of creating beautiful video recordings even with a fair audio quality as well. This is where most online entrepreneurs start – and actually many stay with their phone as a video recorder.
As long as you are taking close-up shots, your phone is able to pick up the sounds from your voice pretty good. But if you walk around you will soon want to get a microphone which you place on your self to have an even sound recording.
Microphones
There are microphones for every setting you can think of. Select your microphones depending upon what your videos are about, and of course where they are being recorded.
To record professional audio, an external shotgun microphone that can be mounted via the hot shoe mount on top of your DSLR is of the essence. These microphones require an input jack on your camera to be plugged in and provide the best audio signal.
Shotgun microphones record directional sound so if the microphone is pointing at you as you speak, it will record better quality audio. To get the best results, make sure the camera and mic are no more than 0.5 – 1.5 m (2–4 feet) away from you.
I have this one: Shotgun Microphone
Clip-On Mics
Lavalier or Clip-on Microphones or lapel clip-on mics. Being widely used and having many names, these mics record audio from all directions, often phrased “omnidirectional”. As they are meant to clip onto you or your subject’s body, these small microphones are often attached to the lapel or collar.
A clip-on mic can be discreetly and strategically placed close to someone’s mouth, thereby enabling you to capture voice clearly with much less background noise. Of course, you will want to hide the microphone in your clothes to make your footage seem natural.
I can recommend: Wireless Lavalier
Tripod
Next up is tripods. It isn’t a discussion about whether you need it or not. You do! Of course, you can place your camera on books or cardboard boxes, but it is not a long-term winning strategy, even if you are just recording inside. When searching the market for a tripod be sure to check the weight it holds versus the weight of your camera + lights + microphone. It goes without saying, that you do not want it to topple over once you attach your equipment to it. Look for ‘max load capacity’ or ‘max payload’
The no. 1 most popular vlogging tripod is the Gorillapod. While it doesn’t have a lot of height, it’s incredibly portable and adjustable. And, the legs of the Gorilla (aw!) can easily wrap around objects which gives you extra flexibility and makes it usable just about anywhere.
I would look for Joby GorillaPod Tripod
If you do need a more professional tripod, make sure you get one that has a fluid head if you’re capturing video. A fluid head is essential for video because it allows you to smoothly pan and tilt to get smoother footage.
I had a Manfrotto tripod for years – like +20 years, and I can fully recommend the brand, and their entry-level fluid head tripods. Have a good read through the specs to confirm it is a match for you and look at the reviews before purchasing.
My favorite Manfrotto Tripod
More on microphones
There are a lot of great products and alternatives out there, and below I mention a few, which are being recommended ‘out there’.
Alternatively, check out the PoP Voice Lavalier. This is also a wired mic with a good length cable. It’s basic, does the job, and works with Apple, iPhone, Android, and Windows. Remember an adapter for your device, if not included!
PoP Voice Professional Lapel mic
PowerDeWise Lavalier Lapel Microphone
Of course, clip-on mics are also used in professional environments, filming actors for instance. However, it is often the case, that you need more flexibility when people are moving around a lot. In that case, a wireless microphone is of the essence.
Wireless Clip-on Mics
When looking at a wireless version of the clip-on mic, be prepared for a jump in price. But for versatility, you might want to invest in wireless sets.
The Pixel 50-Channel Professional UHF Wireless Lavalier Microphone System has a great quality for the price. They claim an operating range of over 330-feet (100m) in open areas. There is a WM-9 and a WM-10; they are identical (AFAICS) but boasts 2 and 3 microphones.
Another alternative is the Movo WMIC50 2.4GHz Wireless Lavalier Microphone System which is designed for portable wireless operation (film work, podcasting, performances). Audio input/output: 3.5mm. The transmitter and receiver are each powered by two AAA batteries (not included) which provide 3.5-4 hours of run-time. So keep that in mind!
Lighting
Finally, we have lighting – another important part to consider when you want to create great videos.
When outside in daylight, you will often have enough natural light but are you shooting indoors, you need extra lights to control shading and too much light that might stem from a window. Now, natural light will be softer and look really good, but is inconsistent, and you aren’t in control of it. If it becomes cloudy all of a sudden, your light may go from bright to dark in the middle of your recording – you don’t want that. You want lights!
I would recommend that you get at least one LED light. They don’t heat up, and are energy efficient. Often it will make sense to get a kit that comes with two LED lights and stands, as you’ll have twice the amount of light and much more control. Make sure you get lights that have adjustable dimming options, giving you control over the brightness of the light.
LED light panels produce soft light and most of them also comes with additional diffusion options by means of either fabric to put in front of the light or a blurred plastic panel.
Go for this: 2 LED Light and Stand Kit – or for close-up recording get a Neewer Ring Light with stand
And cut!
I have listed the equipment every video creator should consider having in the toolbox. These will help you create great video footage.
Thank you for stopping by – now go create and have a blast!