The Importance of Music and Sound Effects in Horror Movies 👻
Whether you are thinking about starting a YouTube channel or are already working in the filmmaking industry, having good gear is always a must. Especially if you want to monetize your YouTube channel, investing in high-quality products that will help you to create outstanding content has to be on top of your list.
Let’s put things straight: being a YouTuber is not easy and it is definitely not cheap either. If you are going to take your channel seriously, then there are a few things you will need to start and unfortunately, they can be costly.
Thankfully, technology is on your side and nowadays, you can find a wide range of options at all kinds of prices. We’ve narrowed down the basic gear you need to start a channel. Write the list down and get that wishlist ready!
What gear do you need to start a YouTube channel?
Camera
The most important piece to start filming is a good camera. There are many choices around, but for YouTube, we recommend a DSLR one. Their price ranges between $100 and $1000, but if you are not a professional YouTuber yet you won’t need a high-end one; a mid-range camera should do the job perfectly.
Still, many YouTubers choose to film with smartphones, which have become better and better in terms of image quality in recent years. Just like with cameras, the prices of phones can vary quite a lot depending on the brand and model.
Lenses
If you are going to be filming with a camera, you should also think about buying a lens, and while DSLR cameras come with a standard lens, it’s likely you’ll need a better quality one. Fast lenses are great for those who don’t have a full professional light setup and might have to deal with home lighting. Fast aperture lenses cost around $150 USD.
Lighting
The good news is that if you’ve already invested in a good camera and lens, you won’t need to spend too much on lighting. You can even start with a lighting kit or a ring light lamp, which starts at $20 USD. If you are planning on filming outside, though, natural lighting will be your ally.
Microphone
A good microphone is an essential part of filming, as chances are you will include at least a few minutes of voice talk in your videos. They are especially useful when you are filming outside but even if you are filming inside in a quiet room, we recommend you using one as high-quality audio is very important on YouTube or any kind of content. Microphones aren’t very expensive and you can find really good ones for $100 USD.
Tripod
Many people tend to overlook them, but they are very useful when filming, as you want to avoid shaky images—unless you are going for that vibe. Some tripods are very cheap, so you won’t have to spend too much here, and for sure they will appreciate them while you record.
Editing software
While you don’t really need to pay for editing software, most free ones don’t have all the professional features to make your video even better. So investing in a proper editing program could be a good idea, especially if you want to make a career out of editing. Making your videos more enjoyable and dynamic will help you to have better engagement and views. If you want to know more about editing, be sure to read our article about how to edit a video if you are not a video editor.
Music
Once you are editing, you will realize that you will need some background music to complete your video. All videos need a good soundtrack! And if you are going to publish your video anywhere, you will need to have the right kind of music. Emphasis on right, because you will actually need music that you have the right to use.
Here is where royalty free music comes in and it will save you a lot of headaches when it comes to copyright. If you want to monetize your content, then you will absolutely need either copyright free or royalty free music, and, trust us, it will be way easier to go with the latter.
Finding copyright free music is almost an impossible task, but – surprise! – you came to the right place to find royalty free music. Our library includes music, sound effects and intros, which are available to use under free or paid licenses (depending on what you want to do with the content).
This is the ultimate step to professionalizing your content and taking your YouTube channel to the next level!
