My Setup
Building your video or podcasting setup doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. You can likely find many quality products for fairly cheap on Amazon. That’s what I did!
If you’re looking to increase the production quality of your videos, here are the products I found for my new podcasting and video setup.
Disclaimer: This page does include affiliate links. That means if you choose to purchase any products through the links listed on this page, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products that I personally use or have used. Thank you for your support 🙂
Audio and Video
When it comes to creating a high-quality video and audio, it really doesn’t take much. Truthfully, the newest iPhones and Galaxy devices can do an amazing job for any new creator.
When you’re finally ready to up the production quality a bit, you still don’t need to spend a whole lot of money to make it happen.
Samson Q2U USB XLR Dynamic Microphone Kit – $99.99
There are an endless amount of options when it comes to choosing the right microphone. Prices range greatly and the “best microphone” is highly argued.
Now, the exact microphone package that I purchased is no longer available on Amazon, this is fairly close to what I ordered (the mic is the same). The dynamic microphone is better suited for a non-studio environment like a home home office or bedroom setup.
For $60 for the mic by itself, I was blown away by the quality of the Samson Q2U, and has been the only mic I’ve used since launching my podcast.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50X – $149.00
Depending on the package you go with, this might not be a necessary purchase, but a set of headphones is a must for anyone podcasting.
The headphones will allow you to hear your guest’s (or your own) audio, while not allowing your microphone pick it up as well.
Sound Proofing
If you are working in a fairly large room, or in my case, a bedroom, it can be difficult to eliminate a lot of the echo. There are many different things you can do to dampen the echo like hanging drapes, filling the room with furniture, OR you can opt for acoustic panels.
3D Hexagon Acoustic Panels – $39.99
Traditionally, these come in a square or rectangular shape, but I love the design of these panels.
I have these set up directly across from my desk to help eliminate sound bouncing back into the microphone while recording my podcast episodes and videos.
Right now, these are not in the visual line of site for the typical viewer, but I’m thinking of new ways to place more panels throughout my room to further improve the sound control, and show off their cool design. They just look too cool!
Lighting
When it comes to producing a high-quality video or show, lighting is THE single most important aspect to your equipment. This is something that I greatly took for granted, until I got a real lighting setup. With the right lighting and proper placement, you can take your production quality from “kid recording in his room” to professional (even if you are still a kid recording in his room :p)
Dimmable LED Lights (2-pack) – $34.84
I originally bought this 2-pack, but truthfully only use one at this time. I have one of these lights setup on an arm system (linked below) in addition to a softbox light that I use as well. Although this little light is not enough to provide adequate coverage on it’s own, it does provide a nice accent when used in conjunction with the box light listed directly below this.
700W Softbox Lights (2-pack) – $91.99
One of the more expensive items on this list, but ridiculously cheap in terms of what is out on the market. These softbox lights don’t come with the bells and whistles offered at a much hight price, but just 1 of these lights can take your video quality up a serious couple of notches.
Again, I only use one of these lights at this time, but as I learn more about lighting and videography, I may find myself incorporating the second.
LED Light Strip (100-ft / 2 – 50-ft strips) – $25.49
If you have decorations, shelves, or anything in the background that you want to bring (a little bit) of attention to, LED light strips are a cheap and easy way to add depth to your video.
There are tons of different options out there, but this is what I currently have lining the shelves in the back of my office. There are several different colors and (strobe) settings or functions, but I find a nice solid color in the background really gives a certain pop to your entire setup.
Stands and Boom Arms
One of the biggest pains (and arguably the most time-consuming things) in creating content is having to setup and take down your equipment before and after. Having an organized setup that you don’t have to pop up and take down every time you’re set to record can be a huge time saver.
Desktop Stand with Ring Light and Mic Boom Arm – $139.98
This is probably one of my favorite parts to the entire setup, and you can’t even see it on camera!
This desktop stand comes with a ring light (that I don’t use), a microphone boom arm, and multiple mounts for your tablet, phone, laptop, or monitor. This setup allows you to mount of up 4 different devices or pieces of equipment and is incredibly durable.
Mounted on my setup right now, I have a dimmable LED light (listed above), my Sony a7 mirrorless camera, my microhpone boom arm, and the laptop stand.
Heil Sound PL-2T Overhead Boom – $109.00
The mic stand that comes with the Viozon Desktop setup is perfectly fine for virtually any setup. In all honesty, I had been shopping around for a new boom arm prior to purchasing and realizing that the Viozon came with one.
However, I will say that the quality of material and the overall sturdiness of the Heil PL-2T is amazing! It works and mounts perfectly with my desktop setup.
Definitely not a necessary purchase for your setup, but if you’re looking for something a little more high-quality in a boom arm, I would definitely recommend this one to anyone.