Ultimately, it's the quality of the expertise itself that is always top priority when it comes to making content. If you're an aspiring creator you will know that people grow successful followings through sharing their expert knowledge.

That being said, if your visual and audio content is a cut above the rest, you're going to stand out even more. To do this you need to invest in some good-quality tech equipment to help you on your journey.

But it doesn't have to all be the most expensive or complicated - there are tons of options out there now for creators - and we'd like to help you on your path to finding the most user-friendly and hopefully most cost-effective tech equipment for your creator business.

Best camera for content creators

DLSR vs. mirrorless cameras

DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras operate with a fixed digital sensor. They feature:

• Autofocusing
• Internal memory cards for storage.
• An internal mirror that reflects the image when focusing on the subject.

When you click, the mirror swings out of the way, and the light goes through to the image sensor, where it is captured on an SD card.

DSLR cameras come with different sensor sizes, and two primary options:

• Full-frame: stardard, matching a 35mm film.
• APS-C: smaller sensors give you a lower focal length, called a “crop factor.”

You can cater for the smaller APS-C sensors by using various lens attachments. These offer versatility in specific fields, such as landscapes or portraits.

If you choose a DSLR camera, you will need a good understanding of focal length to make the most of your camera and its attachments.

Mirrorless cameras, on the other hand, allow the light to go directly through to the image sensor. The photographer views the image through an LCD screen or electronic viewfinder.

The advantage of this is enhanced focusing.

Because of the intermediate role of the mirror in DSLR cameras, the final photograph may not match what you saw when focusing. Thus, DSLR shots often need more editing work. However, once you become accustomed to this, you learn to take more care when shooting, and you will become an editing whiz.

Advantages of DSLR cameras:

• manages low-light shooting
• faster shooting
• autofocus
• high-quality images
• uses less battery power

Both cameras are good for continuous, or burst, shooting, but mirrorless cameras are tops when it comes to video recording. This is due to their superior focusing method.

Camcorders

Camcorders generally cost less than DSLRs and mirrorless equipment and are specifically designed to shoot videos and record the sound. Therefore, their sound features are generally superior to those of other video recorders.

Camcorders feature robust image stabilizers and adjustable LCD screens that can be rotated to give multiple viewing angles.

Storage: internal hard drives or memory cards.

What to consider:

• Camcorders are less efficient in low light due to their smaller sensors and fixed zoom lenses.
• Video cameras have larger lenses, which capture more light.
• Video cameras have less depth of field that allows you to rack focus, giving them a more cinematic effect.

Action Cameras

Action cameras are in a class of their own and, by necessity, rugged, small, and waterproof. They become a part of the action in extreme sporting adventures. Their built-in image stabilizers enable you to mount them on almost anything. They can also be used for stills, night shots, and long exposure.

The current top three action cameras are the GoPro Hero 12 Black, Insta360 Ace PRO, and the DJI Osmo Action 4, not necessarily in that order. There are alternate models in each of these makes, so look for something that suits your budget.

In the budget-friendly class, consider the Akaso Brave 7 LE. It boasts dual screens, an intuitive touch-screen interface, and good audio quality.

GoPro struggles a bit in low light but shoots stable, high-resolution video.

The Insta360 Ace PRO offers 8K video and high dynamic range, including bright and dark adaptability.

The DJI Osmo Action 4 gives better image quality and has a convenient magnetic mounting.

The GoPro Max gives you 360-degree footage and is great for cropping, or reframing, if that suits your purpose. It also offers superb audio quality but is lacking somewhat in 2D video quality and its adaptation to low lighting.

Best lighting for content creators

Bring your subject to life as you learn to master the nuances of shadow with these various options in lighting technology.

Lighting creates mood and enhances visuals. The key light is the primary light in your photograph and can be manipulated to create the desired effect. Fill lighting determines the contrast and shadows in your photograph or scene.

Softbox Lighting Kits

Softboxes are used in photography as a soft source of light that minimizes harsh shadows and enhances the subject.

Softboxes modify light in a wire-framed box and diffuse it outward. They have reflective sides that increase the intensity of light and direct it through the front diffusion screen.

The size of the softbox does not really affect the spread of the light but does affect the quality. Larger softboxes give off a softer light and produce undefined shadows, while the smaller units produce harsher light and sharply defined shadows.

Here are some suggestions:

• Rectangular shapes suit long or wide shoots.
• Square boxes are used in close-up portraits.
• Octagonals have a wrap-around effect which is good for fashion photography.
• Lantern softboxes are good for lighting multiple subjects.
• Parabolic softboxes give a rounder, fuller light.
• The deeper softboxes offer more subtle lighting.
• Umberella softboxes are not as deep and are light and compact.

Diffuser sheets can be added to spread the light more evenly, resulting in less contrast and softer shadows.  

The Jinbay softball diffuser is made from hard plastic reflective material and lights up and area of almost 360 degrees.

If you are not studio-bound, there are a number of collapsible options. The Light Dome SE comes highly recommended in this video by Cody Lander, Social Media Director, as he teaches you all about collapsible softboxes and how to use them.

Ring Lights

Social media content creators, macro photographers, and people who spend time on conference calls and webinars use ring lights to enhance the visual quality, minimizing shadows and focusing on what matters.

Ring lights are light, portable, and ideal for enhancing selfies or more serious photography using mobile phones and cameras.

What to look for:

• Portability
• Easily rechargeable
• should be able to stand and be mounted on a tripod
• Bicolored ring lights can be adjusted for warm or cool lighting.

Ring lights are designed mainly for capturing faces, while LED lights are more rectangular in shape and designed for videography and product showcases.

When it comes to finding the best make and model, according to NY Times’ Wirecutter, it’s a fast-moving target—here today, gone tomorrow.

LED lights and light panels

LED lights are adjustable and save you from having to fiddle with camera settings. They are also relatively cool, so reduce the risk of equipment overheating in confined spaces.

Brands to consider are Colbor, Aputure, and Godox. This video posted by jColbor compares prices and functionality.

LED panels are thin strips of LED lights mounted between an aluminum background for support and cooling and a white plastic front that acts as a lens to create a continuous, even stream of light.

Temperature intensity adjustments give a choice of cool or warm ambience settings. LED panels eliminate hotspots.

The panels come in different sizes and shapes, rigid or flexible.

More people are using LED panels as they are versatile and provide quality lighting.

What to look for:

• Color temperature. In a range of between 1,000 and 10,000, a setting of 5,000 gives you a natural, neutral light.
• Dimming capability. Some panels provide incremental changes instead of a seamless change. Look for a panel that has a good range of adjustments.
• Bicolor and RGB. Bicolor lights provide white light and temperature control, while RGB panels (red, green, and blue) give you a spectrum of color for enhanced creativity.
• Color rendering index. This is the color your subject will appear under the lighting. On a scale of 1 to 100, a CRI of 100 equates to natural sunlight. The higher the value, the better the light.

Best microphone for content creators

Whether you are shooting visuals with your phone or camera, the sound quality is not always the best. The addition of a microphone can make all the difference to your content. Here are some suggestions.

USB Microphones

USB microphones are independent units that can be strategically placed to pick up sounds from anywhere in a room, unlike headset microphones that have a limited range.

They don’t provide feedback, so you need headphones or speakers for replaying your audio.

Benefits of using a microphone:

• Good sound quality.
• Various controls offer functions such as gain, mute, and different sound directions.
• Adjustable buttons mean less dependency on software.
• Look out for patterns such as stereo, omnidirectional, bidirectional, and cardioid mode.
• Compatibility with streaming platforms.

USB microphones are portable, convenient, and well-priced. Consider Jlab Talk for best value or Blue Yeti for best features, according to Tom’s Guide.

XLR microphones

XLR microphones need an analog connector, whereas USB mics convert analog to digital within the mic itself. However, XLR microphones are commonly used in professional settings. You can use them for live streams and broadcasts at home. There are two types of XLR mics:

Condensor: extremely sensitive, detailed, high-frequency capture, requires external power.

Dynamic: durable but not as sensitive; can handle high sound pressure levels (SPLs); smooth audio; no external power is needed.

The best budget XLR microphone,  according to Futurism, is the Audio-Technica ATR2100x.

Shotgun Microphones

Shotgun microphones are highly directional, meaning that they can pick up sounds from one direction and filter out noise from others. It has to do with how close you place the mic to the source of the sound. They can be placed on stands or mounted on boom poles. The three types of shotgun mics are:

• Long shotgun, for long-range shots.

• Short shotgun for short-range shots.
• Super shotgun mics are more powerful and can cope with long- and short-range recordings.

Their specific focusing ability is great for recording at live events where you want to focus on one person and obliterate the surrounding noise.

Some shotgun mics come with connectors that are compatible with DSLR and mirror cameras, as well as ports for plugging in a headset to monitor your sound recording.

Lavalier Microphones

Lavalier, or lapel, microphones are small, discreet microphones that can be clipped to a presenter’s lapel or attached to an actor’s body and can be wired or wireless. They transmit audio feed via radio frequencies to a sound mixer that adjusts the sound accordingly.

Advantages: Lavalier mics are discreet, portable, and hands-free.

Disadvantages: The sound quality is generally not as good as other mics, and the battery-operated ones need recharging.

Best video editing software for content creators

When considering editing software for YouTube videos, social media content, and brand commercials, here’s what to base your investigations on:

• User friendliness
• High-quality one-click templates
• Powerful pro tools
• Understand the power capacity of your computer, as some editing software may slow things down.
• Is it mobile-friendly?

Click here to learn about free video editing software for content creators.

Audio Software

For free, open source audio software, Audacity runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux and is good for beginners and experienced editors. It can accommodate various third-party plugins too.

GarageBand is another user-friendly option for beginners and intermediate users. Free for MacOS and iOS devices.

Adobe Audition professional software offers precision editing, audio cleanup, and restoration features for video, podcasting, and sound effect design.

Apple Mac fans can try Logic Pro for a more professional experience.

Adobe Premiere Elements is intermediate software with a simple interface, stabilizers, and easy title creation. No multicam or 3D editing, though.

Visual editing software

Filmora works on both Mac and Windows. It’s user friendly and offers a free download.

Apple’s Final Cut Pro offers powerful video editing and is user-friendly.

Premiere Pro from Adobe provides multicam editing, great support, an extensive feature library, is customizable, and has professional effects. Give their free trial a go.

Live streaming platforms

If you’re just starting to dabble in live streaming, platforms such as Facebook Live, Instagram Live, or YouTube Live are adequate for uploading and broadcasting your content online. These real-time platforms help you to advertise your content, create brand awareness, and generate leads.

There are many platforms out there that offer more advanced technology and require a bit more expertise and know-how when it comes to deciding which platform will suit your business.

Terms like professionalism, secure streaming, low latency (fast), monetization, APIs for enhanced content management, editing tools, analytics, encoding, digital rights, and pricing all come into the mix. It’s a tough choice, but relax! There are some comprehensive sites, such as this one from Dacast, that will help you understand and make decisions about what you need for your setup.

In addition to all of this, technology is advancing, and there are new developments in the testing phase as we speak. The best is to keep looking at the latest tech offerings so that when you are ready to take your streaming to the next level, you will have a good idea of what’s out there.

Audience ownership platforms

These are platforms where you are in control of your audience. They can take the form of web communities, blog communities, SMS marketing lists, mobile apps, and newsletters. With your own platform:

• You choose the content.
• You own all the content that passes between you and your audience.

You avoid social media problems, like when they change their algorithms and suddenly something stops working. Or the proposed banning of TikTok, which will have devastating effects on businesses throughout the US.

Having your own platform makes connecting with your audience easier and more cost-effective. You can build your platform around your customer preferences, build communities, and host events.

Learn how to build your own mobile app in minutes with Kliq, a constantly evolving platform that allows you to own your audience, create content, and connect with your followers in real-time with live-streaming technology at your fingertips.

Wrapping up

With so much technology out there, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. We hope we’ve been able to at least narrow down the choices and point you in the right direction.

Whether it’s a hobby or something more serious like your livelihood, choosing the right tech is important. Make a point of understanding what it is you need and how to make the most of all the features. And above all, enjoy using it!

Q: What are the basic audio tools for a content creator?

A: You need to have a decent microphone that delivers clear sound with a noise reduction feature to eliminate surrounding sounds. Microphones don’t play back the audio, so a reasonable quality headset is also a requirement for playing back your audio.

Q: Is a GoPro only used for action shots?

A: No, GoPro is also a good choice for vloggers who want quick monologues on the go. They are small and light, and easily manouverable while doing interviews.

Q: Can I make money as a freelance video editor?

A: Freelance video editors need to build up the skills and have a sound knowledge of various editing software options. Video editing is highly technical and it takes time and dedication to get to the point where you can sell your skills.

Q: What cameras are good for social media content?

A: You can shoot videos and photographs with a decent quality android or iPhone, however, for quality visuals, the Canon EOS range is a good option. There are a coupld of models to choose from, depending on your budget.

Q: How do YouTubers get the best picture when filming themselves?

A: When filming themselves, content creators use tripods to stabilize the camera and get the right angle. Tripods can be adjusted to suit height and angle, and help with focusing when on a shoot.

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