The Top Equipment for Starting a YouTube Channel

YouTube is a top-rated online platform that serves various audiences, ranging from young children to older adults. Most people with an internet connection or smartphone know what YouTube is and watch videos on the platform for entertainment or educational purposes.

It’s more than just an online video platform — for many online creators, it can be a viable source of income. Users can generate revenue from ads, promote their merchandise in videos, gain internet popularity, and participate in influencer marketing. These are only some of the ways YouTubers bring in revenue.

If you’re interested in getting started with a YouTube channel but feel a bit overwhelmed, do not fret. It’s a big undertaking to start a YouTube channel, and it’ll require patience and trial and error. Creating high-quality video content with production value will help generate views and attract subscribers to your channel, which should be a priority for you.

We’ll go over some considerations to make before starting a YouTube channel and give you some examples of equipment that will help you bring your channel to the next level.

Question to Ask Yourself Before Starting a Channel

Before you start purchasing equipment or filming yourself on camera, it may be helpful to ask yourself some basic questions. By asking these questions, you’ll know if you’re ready to take on managing your own YouTube channel. Ask yourself these questions before you start:

• Am I prepared to take on the learning curve?
• Am I willing to commit the time and resources to create this channel?
• Am I patient with myself?
• What is the overall goal of this channel?

These are only a handful of questions you must answer before starting a YouTube channel. You must consider all of the benefits and drawbacks of starting your channel and be willing to work to overcome any challenges in the future.

Once you answer these questions successfully, you’ll know if you’re ready to start a channel. It’ll take time, patience, and some cash to get started. Let’s go over some of the top equipment you’ll need for creating your YouTube channel.

Because there’s such a variety of equipment available on the market, researching can quickly become overwhelming. Finding the right equipment for all of your video production needs may be challenging, especially if you’re just starting out.

Some equipment may be too advanced for you, while others may not give you the clean, crisp video quality you’re looking for. Let’s start with an obvious piece of equipment you’ll need: a camera.

Camera

There are so many cameras available to choose from, so how can you know which will best suit your needs? Here are the types of cameras and brands you should know about and which work well for YouTube production:

• Mirrorless: Canon EOS R6, Sony Alpha a6400
• Action: GoPro Hero6, AKASO Brave 4
• DSLR: Canon EOS 90D, Nikon D780
• Camcorder: Panasonic Video Camcorder, Canon XA11 Professional Camcorder
• Webcam: Lenovo 300, NexiGo N60
• Smartphone camera: iPhone 12 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S20

Each type of camera has its own pros and cons — while it may be okay to use your smartphone for your first couple of videos, you may find it challenging to film high-quality videos as you improve your production skills. Having more than one camera will allow you to experiment with different shooting techniques and help you capture unique shots.

All of these cameras are great options, but they’re more on the expensive side. It’s critical to determine your budget beforehand, but generally speaking, more expensive cameras give you the best-quality shots. Make sure to weigh your options carefully before purchasing a camera for your channel.

Lighting

An often overlooked part of production for YouTubers is the lighting. Shooting in low-light situations may be challenging, so ensuring your area is well-lit will provide you the highest-quality results in the end.

• Ring Light: Neewer Ring Light Kit, UBeesize Ring Light Kit 
• Softbox Lighting Kit: MountDog Softbox Lighting Kit, Neewer 700W Softbox Kit
• LED Light: Neewer 2-Pack LED Lights, Obeamiu LED Video Lights

Lighting helps accentuate your face’s features, so be sure to use some kind of lighting. Soft lighting compared to harsh lighting is best for YouTube videos. It diffuses the light source and creates a natural, well-lit aesthetic. You can always experiment with lighting to see which works best for the content you’re producing.

Tripod

Tripods are an essential part of video production. Stabilizing your camera will provide cleaner shots and allow you to record from different angles. If you plan on sitting down in front of your camera for storytimes or tutorials, tripods will undoubtedly come in handy.

Below are some tripod recommendations, but be sure to research them on your own to see what best fits your production needs.

• Pocket: Smartree OSMO Pocket Tripod, Pellking Osmo Pocket Tripod
• Tabletop: RetiCAM Tabletop Tripod, Neewer Mini Travel Tabletop Tripod
• Travel: UBeesize 67” Camera Tripod, National Geographic Travel Tripod Kit
• Heavy Duty: COMAN Heavy Duty Tripod, Neweer 77” Tripod

Different tripods will accommodate your production needs — it may be helpful to purchase one small tripod and one large tripod. Whether you’re going out in the field to shoot or filming from inside your home, purchasing more than one tripod will be helpful as a content creator.

Sound

People who watch YouTube videos tend to abandon content that is challenging to hear. Providing high-quality sound for your videos will benefit you and your audience. Below are the different microphones you can use to capture the best sound and some recommendations for each:

• Lavalier/Lapel Mic: Rode Lavalier GO, Bietrun Lavalier Kit
• Shotgun Mic: Rode VideoMic Shotgun, PIXEL Shotgun Mic
• Boom Mic: BOLWEO USB Mic, TONOR Condenser Mic

Whichever microphone system you choose, be sure to use it frequently. Most times, camera microphones only do an adequate job of capturing sound. Using mics will elevate your videos and keep your audience engaged.

Laptop or PC

You must own or purchase a reliable, sturdy, and high-quality laptop or PC compatible with video editing software to produce your videos. You’ll need a place to store all of your recorded video content, voiceovers, and photos. Be sure your laptop or PC has ample storage space, so you don’t need to spend more on extra storage equipment.

Here are some types of laptops and PCs that may prove to be useful for your YouTube video production needs:

• Apple Macbook Pro, 13” Display and M1 Chip
• Razer Blade 15
• Google Pixelbook Pro
• Dell XPS 13
• Lenovo Yoga C740

These options vary in price but have ample storage and advanced graphics processing. It’s in your best interest to see if your current laptop or computer is capable of video editing. If not, consider purchasing a new setup to help you during post-production.

Video Editing Software

There are many options out there for video editing, and editing can be intimidating for beginners. It may be helpful to look up basic tutorials for the software we’ll be listing to help better educate you on video editing fundamentals. Here are some of the top editing software that YouTubers use to produce their videos:

• Final Cut Pro
• iMovie
• Adobe Premiere Elements
• Adobe Premiere Pro

Both iMovie and Adobe Premiere Elements are the best software for beginners just starting out on YouTube. They are user-friendly and will help you navigate through the editing process.

Be sure to check out online tutorials or purchase self-help books to perfect your editing skills. You know the saying, “practice makes perfect,” so be sure to experiment and play around with software when editing your videos. The more you practice, the better an editor you will be.

Miscellaneous Equipment

While all of the equipment featured above will help you begin your YouTube channel, some other miscellaneous items will help with editing or production. Let’s explore some of these items that can help you:

• Gimbal Stabilizer: A Gimbal stabilizer is helpful when you’re walking or running while capturing video. It stabilizes the shot and will keep your videos from looking shaky.
• Bluetooth USB Mouse: A separate mouse will be helpful during your editing sessions. Using the trackpad that comes with your laptop or PC can be tedious, so invest in a Bluetooth mouse for a more effortless editing experience.
• Memory Cards: To store your videos, you’ll need memory cards. Be sure to buy a couple, depending on the number of videos you plan on shooting.
• Flexible Tripod: Not every content creator will need an adjustable tripod, but it may come in handy when you’re trying to film unique content. Flexible tripods allow you to place your camera in hard-to-reach locations.

One of the best steps you can take when purchasing equipment is to set a budget. Budgets help keep your financial situation in check and prevent you from overspending.

Equipment for a YouTube channel can range from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars, and you must start out with a budget that fits your needs. If you plan to use your smartphone, it won’t make sense to purchase a heavy-duty tripod. Ensure your equipment is compatible with your current laptop or PC, so you aren’t wasting your money.

Keep in mind that in order to become a successful YouTuber, you may need to shell out some extra cash to purchase the highest-quality equipment. Many of your favorite content creators use professional equipment to produce their content, and you’ll need to do the same.

Purchasing Equipment for YouTube Videos

If you’re interested in starting your own YouTube channel, you know how critical it is to have the right equipment. High-quality video helps attract viewers to your channel, and the goal is to reach a high number of views. Using the latest and greatest equipment will help you elevate your channel. Be sure to weigh your options and budget before purchasing any equipment.