Many people want to get into the video-making industry nowadays, but few know where to start. Whether you’re a business looking to incorporate video advertising in your marketing strategy or a wannabe content creator who always dreamed of becoming a YouTuber, you don’t need to break the bank to get started. But if you have a substantial budget and are a seasoned video-maker, you might be looking to make a professional video studio setup. Whichever the case, we’ll have something for you.
In this article, we’ll showcase everything you’ll need to create a video studio and begin making videos on a budget. As for all the veterans out there, don’t worry! We’ll mention some high-end equipment choices for you as well. Now let’s see what you’ll need to make yourself a video studio!
A Place to Record
Before you even begin considering the equipment you’ll use, you have to find a place to record. That might sound like an obvious thing to say, but picking the right location is vital. You have multiple options here, depending on your budget.
Free
The obvious choice for a makeshift video studio would be your bedroom or office. There are several issues with these choices, but if you’re penny-pinching, you’ll just have to make do with what you’ve got. The potential problems you might encounter are:
- Lack of space
- Poor acoustics
- Lack of soundproofing
But again, this option is perfect for anyone unsure of how seriously they want to get in the video-making business. The best part of this solution is that you could add a few improvements to your improvised recording space to tackle these issues later.
On a Budget
If you have a small budget but are willing to invest in your space, the best thing you could do is select the most acoustically suitable room you have, cover the windows, and hang some acoustic foam on your walls. These items will improve your room’s acoustics and will also help with soundproofing it. That will increase your audio quality significantly! The acoustic foam prices can vary greatly, but here’s one that starts from $13.99 to get you set up from Amazon:
6 Pack Egg Crate Foam Cushion Acoustic Foam
Best Budget Acoustic Foam for a Professional Video Studio
Professional
If you’re deciding to go all out on your recording space, your best option would be to rent a recording studio. That can be quite pricey (likely ranging in hundreds of dollars) as you’d have to pay rent, but that would allow you to set up the perfect recording environment.
When looking for an appropriate apartment or studio, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Make sure your recording room is not smaller than 12×18 feet.
- Find a place in a quiet neighborhood without loud background noise, such as a lot of traffic, noisy neighbors, etc.
- Make sure the studio’s layout is acoustically suitable for recording.
If you found success in your video-making career and are looking to upgrade your content’s quality or are already a professional, investing in a high-end recording studio would be the best choice for you.
Camera
The first thing you need to start recording is a camera! Let’s look at some of the best camera choices for your budget and professional video studio setups.
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Nowadays, we all have cameras with us at all times… on our phones! Yes, you’ve heard that right. If you’re particularly in a pinch with money but want to do some recording, you can always do it with your trusty smartphone. The mobile phone technology has come so far that most of these devices can now even shoot in 4k! Yeah, and guess what? They’re incredibly portable and handy. So if you’re all out of options, grab your phone and shoot videos!
Unfortunately, no Samsung or iPhone can compare to a real camera, as practical as the solution is. So if you’re at all serious about your video-making, you should invest some money in a proper camera as soon as possible.
On a Budget
When it comes to picking a budget camera, it’s quite a challenging task. Namely, the word “budget” means different things for everyone, so we’re going to suggest a camera that, in our opinion, can give you the best bang for your buck.
Considering that a camera is the most important piece of gear for video recording, it’s also the piece you should invest most in. With that in mind, we believe Canon EOS M50 would be an excellent budget camera choice.
Here are some of the features this camera offers:
- Dual-pixel autofocus
- HD recording
- Face and object tracking
- External mic input
- Flipside screen
- Touch screen
All of these features are perfect for aspiring video content creators, making this camera extremely versatile. Unfortunately, as with all budget options, this device isn’t perfect and has a few flaws:
- Autofocus is unreliable in 4k mode
- Lacks a headphone jack
- Small battery
If you ask us, these downsides are minor enough not to prove detrimental to anyone looking for a quality camera for their budget studio setup.
Professional
When it comes to cameras for professional video setups, there is a wide variety of options out there. These choices will cost a pretty penny, but if you’re looking to upgrade your content’s quality, it’s well worth the investment.
When looking to upgrade to a professional camera, you want to make sure it supports DSLR. It is harder to set up, but it’s going to significantly boost your videos’ quality. One of the best high-end products out there that’s not a professional filmmaker’s camera is Panasonic Lumix S1H.
This camera is fantastic! Here are just some of the features it offers:
- 6k full-frame recording and stunning video quality
- Shooting in 6k 10-bit quality at 24 FPS
- Anamorphic shooting
- Dual SD card slots
- Bluetooth & Wi-Fi connectivity
This device is well suited even for beginner filmmakers as it offers an excellent introduction to some of the most high-end equipment out there. However, the price of this camera is quite steep, so it’s undoubtedly only for those looking to take their video-making game to the next level.
Microphone
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If you’re looking for a free solution, you’ll likely be using your phone to record. If that’s the case, you will have a microphone integrated into your device, so you won’t need to spend anything extra. However, your audio quality will be lackluster, mostly because phone microphones are primarily designed for close-quarters use and aren’t equipped to deal with any background noise adequately.
On a Budget
When it comes to budget microphone options, there are pretty affordable options out there. Our choice for one of the most cost-effective microphones is Takstar SGC-598.
The reason we chose this product is not just for its affordability but practicality too. This microphone is well-compatible with our budget camera pick because you can connect the two and mount the mic on top of your camera. That way, you make your whole recording process much easier, especially if you’re vlogging or interviewing. As for this mic’s features, here are some of the most notable ones:
- Cardioid pickup pattern
- 10 dB sensitivity and 200Hz low-frequency attenuation
- Requires only one AA battery
Overall, this is likely your best choice for a budget microphone, especially if you settled for our budget camera recommendation.
Professional
The next logical step after getting a camera is to enhance your audio quality. To do that, you will need to get yourself a high-end microphone. Let’s take a look at your options!
When looking for microphones for a professional video setup, there are dozens of excellent choices out there. However, there are more ways to improve your sound quality than by getting a better microphone. That is why we’re going to touch upon all of these topics.
Our pick for one of the best microphones for stepping up your audio game would be Rode VideoMic Pro+.
This omnidirectional mic offers superb sound quality, can be powered by various batteries, and even ensures capturing of the digital signal at the source, which lowers the required editing and post-production time for your videos. This microphone is an excellent choice if you’re looking to upgrade your kit by purchasing a superior device.
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However, getting high-end sound quality doesn’t have to entail buying an expensive microphone. Instead, you can aim to minimize background noise and crackling sounds that might occur when you speak. But how do you do that? Well, getting a pop filter can help you with that. These gadgets will minimize all noise, and your viewers will thank you for it. Here is an excellent pick if you are looking to get one yourself:
Depending on where you plan to record, you might need to get a microphone windscreen. You will find this addition invaluable if you ever have to film videos outdoors. Here’s a fantastic choice if you ever need one:
Regardless of whether you decide to go for a professional microphone or just get yourself a pop filter or a mic windscreen, these will undoubtedly enhance your videos’ quality.
Backdrop
Your videos’ background is also an essential element to consider before you hit that record button. So let’s take a look at your options!
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The most natural background you can have is of the room you’re recording in. Alternatively, you could film yourself in front of a brick (or any other) wall. You could also hang up a white sheet or a large canvas behind you as a makeshift background. We probably shouldn’t have to mention that none of these ideas is a particularly good one. But if you’re looking to cut costs, that would be the best place to do it.
On a Budget
If your budget allows you to invest in your video background, the best option would be to get a green screen. By having such a background, you can use the chroma keying technique in post-production to create whatever kind of environment you like for yourself. This option is not only the most versatile, but it’s also more compact than investing in changing your entire set. You can get these for pretty cheap on Amazon.
Professional
The most high-end option for a professional video setup would be to furnish and decorate your studio entirely. You don’t have to go that far even if you have the means to because green screens can do the job perfectly well too. But depending on what kind of videos you’re making (if you’ll have guests in your studio for interviews, for instance) it might be a good idea to consider investing in some furniture.
Lighting
Everyone knows good lighting is imperative to making high-quality videos. If your audience can’t see what they’re watching clearly, they’ll just leave. So here’s how you can handle lighting.
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The most straightforward way to handle lighting is to record during the day and in natural light. However, you might come across a few issues, such as:
- Not having an appropriately positioned window in your recording room.
- Having to postpone recording sessions on gloomy or cloudy days.
- The sun might be too bright at times.
Be prepared to deal with these issues if you decide to go the au naturel way.
On a Budget
The second option that will take you back by no more than a few dozen dollars is getting some simple artificial lighting. The best choice by far would be to get a few clamp lights with some diffusion gel (to get rid of those harsh shadows). Here’s an example of what you can get:
These lamps should cost you no more than $10 each and are an excellent solution if you’re tight on funds.
Professional
If you want to go for a fully professional video setup, you have multiple choices. You could go for something super high-end like an LED lighting panel or a more common solution in the shape of a softbox. Depending on your choice, the prices will differ significantly (even in the pro price range).
If you decide a softbox is the right choice for you, we suggest this Mountdog Lighting Kit.
This kit comes with:
- Three 95 W light bulbs
- Boom arm reflector holder kit
- A rotatable head
- Adjustable light stand
But if you settle for an LED lighting panel, check out this fantastic LED Video Lighting Kit.
Here are just some of the features it offers:
- Bi-colors & LCD display
- Light variable from Warm 3000K to White 5800K
- Wireless remote control
- 48 channels and six groups
- Dual power supply
Video Editing Software for Your Professional Video Setup
Regardless of whether you’re filming to meet your video content marketing needs or are looking to start a podcast, you’ll need to have versatile video editing software. When it comes to these, you have a variety of both free and premium options, so let us suggest a few.
Free
- Windows Movie Maker (Windows)
- iMovie (Mac)
Premium
- Adobe Premiere Pro (Windows)
- Final Cut (Mac)
All of these video editors have their perks and downsides, but you’re sure to find a suitable one regardless of your business needs. But even if you don’t, there are many more options out there. Check out our list of best video editors for businesses for more excellent choices.
A Bonus Budgeting Tip for the Road
Before we sign off, let’s share a bonus budgeting tip. You can save a lot of money by getting second-hand equipment. Even if the idea might not sound appealing, it’s an excellent way to save a few bucks. Second-hand gear, unless straight-out broken (in which case, you won’t buy it), usually has a lot of life left in it. Let’s not mention that the difference in cost between a new product and a used one can go up to hundreds of dollars. Most often, this tradeoff is well worth it.
Now Go Get Your Recording Studio Set Up!
Now you’re armed with all the knowledge you need to get started! So what are you waiting for? As we showed you, you can begin making video content regardless of your budget. Whether you’re going to get a professional video setup at your office or home, gear shouldn’t be an issue.
And if you’re more into live streaming and need gear for it, check out our article on the best live streaming equipment; you are bound to find something to suit your budget!
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