I’m a Full-Time Creator, and Here’s the Gear That Made My Apartment Into a Video Studio on a Budget

I have been working in my basement apartment as a content and videographer creator for several years now. As a result, I had to find creative and unique ways to maximize space and find effective (but inexpensive) equipment to create my videos at the highest level possible.

Sometimes it may seem rather overwhelming, especially if you just start. But you just need to focus on three things: audio, video and lighting. Here’s how I built my home studio, which I use to make videos like the one you can watch right now in this story, and how you can do the same, even in a small living space.

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Start with an excellent audio

When I started making videos, I really underestimated the value of quality sound. I thought I would need a crazy and crazy microphone to get professional audio sound.

Fortunately, smartphones microphones have improved considerably over the years. In a quiet room with a limited background noise, your phone is more than capable of giving you a decent audio. If you want to make your videos more professional or you plan to record outside, plan to get an external microphone.

For recording on the thumb, I use the Hollyland LARK M2. Lavalier and the setbacks of the reverse are an absolute essential for any content creator, especially if you hope to go out in the world to record. There are tons of versions to choose, but my go-to has always been the Hollylandian product range. What makes them particularly special is the ease with which they integrate both in cameras and phones, and their anti -burning feature is available in the clutch in areas with a lot of background noise.

I used them on track races here at home, and several car conferences over the years, and I have never had a problem with an overwhelming background noise. They also come in a case of AirPods style load, which not only is part of your rear pocket, but also guarantees you that you never have to face a dead microphone while you are filming.

If you are looking to configure a more permanent place to record, I have always been lacking Audiotechnica AT2020. To use a condenser microphone like this, you will also need an audio interface with Phantom Power to connect it to your computer. I use the M-Audio M-Track To fulfill these two requirements and have mine for more than four years now. Although it does not have as much features as certain options at higher prices, the M-Audio M-Track is more than sufficient for what I need, and it is generally less than $ 50.

Quality video

The right audio is great, but that really doesn’t mean much if you don’t have a solid video to accompany it. Just like with Audio Tech, it is easy to overcome your configuration and add additional work that you really don’t need as a solo creator.

In most cases, the best tool to have at hand is your phone camera. If you have an iPhone or an Android of the last 5 to 7 years, it will have an HD camera that you can use to film a high quality video without breaking the bank.

Let’s use my iPhone 15 as an example. If you go up in the upper right corner of the parameters of your application, you will generally see this small “HD” and “30”, which determines your resolution and your image frequency for the video you record. I film in 4K 30FPS or 4K 60FPS so that I can maximize each bit of my phone’s capacities.

Normally, you will not need more than HD (1080p) and 30 images per second to film a good video. For more amazing visuals, you can go up to 4K and 60 images per second, which is comparable to what you will get a digital SLR or a stationary camera. The drawback is that the video files will be much more important and will take more internal storage of your phone.

Need an adequate storage space is the reason why one of your best friends in your content creation course is a reliable external hard drive for your videos and your audio. I highly recommend something like the Samsung T7 or the Sandisk Extreme ProWho give you both storage to create files and organize all the creative concepts on which you work.

If you are streaming or stationary recording, I recommend the Logitech C920X HD. I used this camera for everything, from Instagram rolls to zoom calls, and with its inclusive logitune software, you can compose your colored and framing settings before shooting. As a versatile quality camera, it really doesn’t get much better than that, especially for less than $ 70.

If you want to progress even more and have a little more budget to work, take a look at the Osbot Tiny 2 Lite 4k Webcam. This gives you more features, including 4K / 60FPS capacity and gesture control, while taking charge of the horizontal, portrait and even mirror relationships.

Add lighting for balance and style

One of the most underestimated elements of content creation is good lighting. A good lighting configuration can pay massive dividends to your visual quality and add a lot to your video configuration.

I am personally a big fan of Govee product line Due to their many options and settings. I light up all my lights from the Govee application from my iPad or my phone, allowing me to modify my lighting configuration on the fly, even in the middle of a recording session.

THE Govee floor lamp is one of the most flexible and dynamic options that you can add to your studio space. With more than 80 customizable presets and an adjustable brightness from 2200K to 6500K, this light offers you more than enough options to modify the whole atmosphere of your videos and your living space. It also serves as an effective key light for your main source of camera lighting.

This is also associated with one of my favorite lighting devices of all time, the GLIVEE GLIDE LIGHTS Wall. These are everywhere in my studio, and for a good reason: not only do they integrate perfectly with other Govee products, but they also make incredible backlights in a video configuration. You can compose them as much or as little as you wish, and the Govee application gives you more than 64 pre -settlements to find your perfect balance.

Another excellent addition that I highly recommend is a inexpensive solar lamp to balance your ambient lighting in areas with low light. As I am in a basement, there is not much natural light with which to work. So, to fight against this drawback, a lamp helps to reproduce the natural atmosphere of a sunny room and looks much better on the camera. My favorite is the Lastar sunlightBecause it gives you a dynamic brightness and various color temperature options.

Get the equipment, then start to be creative

No matter what you decide to use when creating your own home studio, don’t forget that your studio should reflect the content you want to create. Look at the content creators you like and see what they use to improve the quality of their videos.

As a motor sport and Nerd Automobile, all of my recording areas have elements of racing and automotive culture to highlight the specialty that I bring to the table. Whether it is Lego, models of cars or vintage panels, my goal was to create a space that would strengthen the subjects that bring me in a subtle but efficient manner. So have fun and use these bases to transform your life, record or create space in something you are really proud of.