Video Production, 2024 Edition
Disclosure: Please be aware that some of the links on this site are affiliate links and, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. My recommendation of products or services is always based on my personal belief in the high quality and value of those products or services. See my ethics page for more details. As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.
I've made videos casually for years, but starting last year, I decided to get a bit more serious about it. This is a brief description of what I use as of January 31st, 2024. (Note: although I like the stuff I'm using, it's way overkill. Don't fall for Gear Acquisition Syndrome!)
Software and services:
- ElevenLabs (paid link) is probably the best text to speech option out there. The killer feature for me is Instant Voice Cloning. I uploaded some sound samples of my voice, and I can use that voice. I have used it for occasional voice over use in some of my videos. I also regularly use it to rough out edits from a script.
- VidIQ (paid link) for various YouTube tools. If you have a YouTube channel, and you aren't using VidIQ, you really should consider it. I use it every day for general YouTube stats, suggestions for titles and tags, and much, much more.
- Notion for almost all of my writing, plus for tracking ideas for future videos. I've bounced around between different tools, but I really like the way information can be linked in Notion, especially from a grid of ideas for videos to the actual document for the video. Plus I can pull up everything from my computer and phone.
- Davinci Resolve Studio (license included with Blackmagic camera). To be honest, the free version of Davinci Resolve is awesome. But if you're using something else like CapCut, that's probably sufficient for most YouTube videos.
Hardware:
- Zhiyun MOLUS G60 light (paid link). I use this as my key light mostly.
- Paper lantern for diffusion (paid link). I have one of these on my Zhiyun light to act as a nice soft diffuser.
- Amaran 100x bi-color light (paid link). I use this light on a light stand to light the entire space where I shoot my videos. It's great!
- Godox 95cm softbox (paid link). I use this softbox on my Amaran. Sometimes I point it towards me, but usually I point the light towards a wall or the ceiling for a nice broad bounced light.
- Table from Ikea (link coming soon)
- Rode microphone (paid link). I usually use my Rode microphone in-frame or just out of frame.
- DJI Mic (paid link). I also use this wireless microphone a lot. Sometimes you'll see it clipped to my clothes when I'm live streaming, especially if I need to move around. I also plug my Rode microphone into the DJI mic transmitter if I can't run a long enough cable to the camera. I have the first generation model, but I've heard good things about the second generation model (paid link).
- Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4k (paid link). This camera is massive overkill, but I love it. The bang for buck is quite good. It shoots 4k raw video to both internal and external storage. I use it as my main "studio" camera, and sometimes out in the field.
- 16mm Sigma lens (micro 4/3 mount; paid link). I use this lens on my Blackmagic camera. The crop factor for Micro 4/3 is 2x, so it's not as wide as you might think based on the number.
