Churning Up Channels: Top Gear List

The Best YouTube Equipment: What You Need to Start Your Channel

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

When you first started your vlog you likely looked for tips from well-established vloggers. Something that may have been surprising was the amount of equipment it takes to run a successful vlog. Besides your camera you need equipment for stabilizing it, for lighting your shots, and for recording better audio than your camera is capable of. If you still don’t know which camera to use, this article will tell you the best cameras for YouTube .

Do not be overwhelmed! There are loads of affordable options for YouTube equipment. There are even some tricks you can use to get by without some pieces of equipment until you are ready to make the investment.

Here are examples of some of the best YouTube equipment. Watch for the ‘Free Option!’ at the bottom of every section!

1. Stabilizers for YouTube

Selfie Stick: A lot of vloggers like to record from their phones, and selfie sticks make great stabilizers. You can put one end on the ground and use your selfie stick similarly to a monopod. Selfie sticks are also very affordable. The Cazbe Selfie Stick is only about $40. If you want to be a bit more sophisticated about your smartphone video then you might consider the KumbaCam 3 Axis Smart Phone Stabilizer, which is described as a ‘selfie stick on steroids’. It is a pricier option at $350.

Tripod: A tripod is what most people think of when they think of stabilizing their cameras. Tripods come in different weights and sizes, and there are even tripods specifically for smartphones. There is a wide range of pricing for tripods. Mid-range is about $50.

Free Option! Any Available Surface: Kitchen tables. Desks. Park benches. Trees. Your friend’s shoulder, if you ask nicely. Anything you can rest your camera on top of can be used to record a steady video.

2. Lighting for YouTube Videos

Softbox Lights: These are the kinds of lights that were probably used to take your school photos. They create soft, diffused, light and can be fairly affordable. The LimoStudio 700W Photography Softbox Lighting Kit is $167, and that is about the average.

LED Panel Light: LED panels produce high quality light. Prices vary. The Aputure Amaran AL-528S LED Video Light costs $358 (with stand). There are also LED panel lights which can be mounted onto your camera, like the Julius Studio NEW 160 LED 160 Dimmable Ultra High Power Panel Light which costs $111.

Free Option! The Sun: Natural light is always powerful enough to make your videos look great. Consider recording outside, or near a window in your house.

3. Audio Equipment for YouTube

Snoball: A Blue Snoball USB mic is an extremely affordable option at $60, although it does not have good range. You have to stay close to your computer if you use a Snoball.

Shotgun: You can get a shotgun mic to attach to your camera at a fairly decent price. The RØDE Video Shotgun Mic is only $140. You will not be able to stray far from your camera as it works best when you are close to it.

MP3 Recorder: A very high quality voice recorder is one way to record great audio and still be able to move freely. The Roland R-05 WAVE/MP3 Recorder is a great choice at $200.

LAV System: A lavalier, or lapel, mic system is a lot of vloggers’ favorite way to record dialogue because the mics are small and clip right on to your clothing. This is a more expensive option. The Sony LAV Wireless Mic System is $600.

Free Option! Audacity: Audacity is free audio recording/editing software that is popular with vloggers. If you do not have access to an external mic then you might be able to increase the quality of your sound recording using Audacity. You can download the latest version of Audacity for free from Audacityteam.org

4. Editing Your YouTube Videos

Filmora Video Editor: Filmora is a great program for beginners, but it is also powerful enough to satisfy more experienced vloggers. Filmora has both advanced tools like green screen or picture-in-picture, and a lot of fun features like filters, animated titles, and overlays.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

Adobe Premiere Pro: Premiere is professional grade software that boasts an ‘industry-leading video production toolset’. You can get Premiere Pro as part of the single-app Creative Cloud plan for $19.99 a month.

Free Option! Filmora: Filmora’s mobile app, Filmora, is available for free for a limited time for both Android and iPhone. It has a ton of features, and a really intuitive interface designed specifically for the mobile format.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

When you first started your vlog you likely looked for tips from well-established vloggers. Something that may have been surprising was the amount of equipment it takes to run a successful vlog. Besides your camera you need equipment for stabilizing it, for lighting your shots, and for recording better audio than your camera is capable of. If you still don’t know which camera to use, this article will tell you the best cameras for YouTube .

Do not be overwhelmed! There are loads of affordable options for YouTube equipment. There are even some tricks you can use to get by without some pieces of equipment until you are ready to make the investment.

Here are examples of some of the best YouTube equipment. Watch for the ‘Free Option!’ at the bottom of every section!

1. Stabilizers for YouTube

Selfie Stick: A lot of vloggers like to record from their phones, and selfie sticks make great stabilizers. You can put one end on the ground and use your selfie stick similarly to a monopod. Selfie sticks are also very affordable. The Cazbe Selfie Stick is only about $40. If you want to be a bit more sophisticated about your smartphone video then you might consider the KumbaCam 3 Axis Smart Phone Stabilizer, which is described as a ‘selfie stick on steroids’. It is a pricier option at $350.

Tripod: A tripod is what most people think of when they think of stabilizing their cameras. Tripods come in different weights and sizes, and there are even tripods specifically for smartphones. There is a wide range of pricing for tripods. Mid-range is about $50.

Free Option! Any Available Surface: Kitchen tables. Desks. Park benches. Trees. Your friend’s shoulder, if you ask nicely. Anything you can rest your camera on top of can be used to record a steady video.

2. Lighting for YouTube Videos

Softbox Lights: These are the kinds of lights that were probably used to take your school photos. They create soft, diffused, light and can be fairly affordable. The LimoStudio 700W Photography Softbox Lighting Kit is $167, and that is about the average.

LED Panel Light: LED panels produce high quality light. Prices vary. The Aputure Amaran AL-528S LED Video Light costs $358 (with stand). There are also LED panel lights which can be mounted onto your camera, like the Julius Studio NEW 160 LED 160 Dimmable Ultra High Power Panel Light which costs $111.

Free Option! The Sun: Natural light is always powerful enough to make your videos look great. Consider recording outside, or near a window in your house.

3. Audio Equipment for YouTube

Snoball: A Blue Snoball USB mic is an extremely affordable option at $60, although it does not have good range. You have to stay close to your computer if you use a Snoball.

Shotgun: You can get a shotgun mic to attach to your camera at a fairly decent price. The RØDE Video Shotgun Mic is only $140. You will not be able to stray far from your camera as it works best when you are close to it.

MP3 Recorder: A very high quality voice recorder is one way to record great audio and still be able to move freely. The Roland R-05 WAVE/MP3 Recorder is a great choice at $200.

LAV System: A lavalier, or lapel, mic system is a lot of vloggers’ favorite way to record dialogue because the mics are small and clip right on to your clothing. This is a more expensive option. The Sony LAV Wireless Mic System is $600.

Free Option! Audacity: Audacity is free audio recording/editing software that is popular with vloggers. If you do not have access to an external mic then you might be able to increase the quality of your sound recording using Audacity. You can download the latest version of Audacity for free from Audacityteam.org

4. Editing Your YouTube Videos

Filmora Video Editor: Filmora is a great program for beginners, but it is also powerful enough to satisfy more experienced vloggers. Filmora has both advanced tools like green screen or picture-in-picture, and a lot of fun features like filters, animated titles, and overlays.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

Adobe Premiere Pro: Premiere is professional grade software that boasts an ‘industry-leading video production toolset’. You can get Premiere Pro as part of the single-app Creative Cloud plan for $19.99 a month.

Free Option! Filmora: Filmora’s mobile app, Filmora, is available for free for a limited time for both Android and iPhone. It has a ton of features, and a really intuitive interface designed specifically for the mobile format.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

When you first started your vlog you likely looked for tips from well-established vloggers. Something that may have been surprising was the amount of equipment it takes to run a successful vlog. Besides your camera you need equipment for stabilizing it, for lighting your shots, and for recording better audio than your camera is capable of. If you still don’t know which camera to use, this article will tell you the best cameras for YouTube .

Do not be overwhelmed! There are loads of affordable options for YouTube equipment. There are even some tricks you can use to get by without some pieces of equipment until you are ready to make the investment.

Here are examples of some of the best YouTube equipment. Watch for the ‘Free Option!’ at the bottom of every section!

1. Stabilizers for YouTube

Selfie Stick: A lot of vloggers like to record from their phones, and selfie sticks make great stabilizers. You can put one end on the ground and use your selfie stick similarly to a monopod. Selfie sticks are also very affordable. The Cazbe Selfie Stick is only about $40. If you want to be a bit more sophisticated about your smartphone video then you might consider the KumbaCam 3 Axis Smart Phone Stabilizer, which is described as a ‘selfie stick on steroids’. It is a pricier option at $350.

Tripod: A tripod is what most people think of when they think of stabilizing their cameras. Tripods come in different weights and sizes, and there are even tripods specifically for smartphones. There is a wide range of pricing for tripods. Mid-range is about $50.

Free Option! Any Available Surface: Kitchen tables. Desks. Park benches. Trees. Your friend’s shoulder, if you ask nicely. Anything you can rest your camera on top of can be used to record a steady video.

2. Lighting for YouTube Videos

Softbox Lights: These are the kinds of lights that were probably used to take your school photos. They create soft, diffused, light and can be fairly affordable. The LimoStudio 700W Photography Softbox Lighting Kit is $167, and that is about the average.

LED Panel Light: LED panels produce high quality light. Prices vary. The Aputure Amaran AL-528S LED Video Light costs $358 (with stand). There are also LED panel lights which can be mounted onto your camera, like the Julius Studio NEW 160 LED 160 Dimmable Ultra High Power Panel Light which costs $111.

Free Option! The Sun: Natural light is always powerful enough to make your videos look great. Consider recording outside, or near a window in your house.

3. Audio Equipment for YouTube

Snoball: A Blue Snoball USB mic is an extremely affordable option at $60, although it does not have good range. You have to stay close to your computer if you use a Snoball.

Shotgun: You can get a shotgun mic to attach to your camera at a fairly decent price. The RØDE Video Shotgun Mic is only $140. You will not be able to stray far from your camera as it works best when you are close to it.

MP3 Recorder: A very high quality voice recorder is one way to record great audio and still be able to move freely. The Roland R-05 WAVE/MP3 Recorder is a great choice at $200.

LAV System: A lavalier, or lapel, mic system is a lot of vloggers’ favorite way to record dialogue because the mics are small and clip right on to your clothing. This is a more expensive option. The Sony LAV Wireless Mic System is $600.

Free Option! Audacity: Audacity is free audio recording/editing software that is popular with vloggers. If you do not have access to an external mic then you might be able to increase the quality of your sound recording using Audacity. You can download the latest version of Audacity for free from Audacityteam.org

4. Editing Your YouTube Videos

Filmora Video Editor: Filmora is a great program for beginners, but it is also powerful enough to satisfy more experienced vloggers. Filmora has both advanced tools like green screen or picture-in-picture, and a lot of fun features like filters, animated titles, and overlays.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

Adobe Premiere Pro: Premiere is professional grade software that boasts an ‘industry-leading video production toolset’. You can get Premiere Pro as part of the single-app Creative Cloud plan for $19.99 a month.

Free Option! Filmora: Filmora’s mobile app, Filmora, is available for free for a limited time for both Android and iPhone. It has a ton of features, and a really intuitive interface designed specifically for the mobile format.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

When you first started your vlog you likely looked for tips from well-established vloggers. Something that may have been surprising was the amount of equipment it takes to run a successful vlog. Besides your camera you need equipment for stabilizing it, for lighting your shots, and for recording better audio than your camera is capable of. If you still don’t know which camera to use, this article will tell you the best cameras for YouTube .

Do not be overwhelmed! There are loads of affordable options for YouTube equipment. There are even some tricks you can use to get by without some pieces of equipment until you are ready to make the investment.

Here are examples of some of the best YouTube equipment. Watch for the ‘Free Option!’ at the bottom of every section!

1. Stabilizers for YouTube

Selfie Stick: A lot of vloggers like to record from their phones, and selfie sticks make great stabilizers. You can put one end on the ground and use your selfie stick similarly to a monopod. Selfie sticks are also very affordable. The Cazbe Selfie Stick is only about $40. If you want to be a bit more sophisticated about your smartphone video then you might consider the KumbaCam 3 Axis Smart Phone Stabilizer, which is described as a ‘selfie stick on steroids’. It is a pricier option at $350.

Tripod: A tripod is what most people think of when they think of stabilizing their cameras. Tripods come in different weights and sizes, and there are even tripods specifically for smartphones. There is a wide range of pricing for tripods. Mid-range is about $50.

Free Option! Any Available Surface: Kitchen tables. Desks. Park benches. Trees. Your friend’s shoulder, if you ask nicely. Anything you can rest your camera on top of can be used to record a steady video.

2. Lighting for YouTube Videos

Softbox Lights: These are the kinds of lights that were probably used to take your school photos. They create soft, diffused, light and can be fairly affordable. The LimoStudio 700W Photography Softbox Lighting Kit is $167, and that is about the average.

LED Panel Light: LED panels produce high quality light. Prices vary. The Aputure Amaran AL-528S LED Video Light costs $358 (with stand). There are also LED panel lights which can be mounted onto your camera, like the Julius Studio NEW 160 LED 160 Dimmable Ultra High Power Panel Light which costs $111.

Free Option! The Sun: Natural light is always powerful enough to make your videos look great. Consider recording outside, or near a window in your house.

3. Audio Equipment for YouTube

Snoball: A Blue Snoball USB mic is an extremely affordable option at $60, although it does not have good range. You have to stay close to your computer if you use a Snoball.

Shotgun: You can get a shotgun mic to attach to your camera at a fairly decent price. The RØDE Video Shotgun Mic is only $140. You will not be able to stray far from your camera as it works best when you are close to it.

MP3 Recorder: A very high quality voice recorder is one way to record great audio and still be able to move freely. The Roland R-05 WAVE/MP3 Recorder is a great choice at $200.

LAV System: A lavalier, or lapel, mic system is a lot of vloggers’ favorite way to record dialogue because the mics are small and clip right on to your clothing. This is a more expensive option. The Sony LAV Wireless Mic System is $600.

Free Option! Audacity: Audacity is free audio recording/editing software that is popular with vloggers. If you do not have access to an external mic then you might be able to increase the quality of your sound recording using Audacity. You can download the latest version of Audacity for free from Audacityteam.org

4. Editing Your YouTube Videos

Filmora Video Editor: Filmora is a great program for beginners, but it is also powerful enough to satisfy more experienced vloggers. Filmora has both advanced tools like green screen or picture-in-picture, and a lot of fun features like filters, animated titles, and overlays.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

Adobe Premiere Pro: Premiere is professional grade software that boasts an ‘industry-leading video production toolset’. You can get Premiere Pro as part of the single-app Creative Cloud plan for $19.99 a month.

Free Option! Filmora: Filmora’s mobile app, Filmora, is available for free for a limited time for both Android and iPhone. It has a ton of features, and a really intuitive interface designed specifically for the mobile format.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Download Free YouTube Pics & Templates

YouTube Profile Picture Templates – Free Downloads

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Looking for a cool YouTube profile picture template for your channel? Here’s a list of free downloads!

These avatar templates are all PSD files, so you will need Adobe Photoshop to download and edit them. If you don’t have Photoshop, create your own profile picture in Canva using these templates as a guide (here’s a tutorial for Canva ).

1. NAJA - Template and Detailed Tutorial
2. SaltyKebab - 2 Free Templates
3. Little Danny B - 2 Free Templates
4. TxG Designs Profile Picture Template

Want to create your own logo? Check out these tools!

Polish Your YouTube Videos with Filmora

As one of the best video editing software for YouTubers, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface, which saves much time. Download the free trial version and get started now.

---

NAJA - Template and Detailed Tutorial

In this video NAJA not only provides you with a cool green profile picture, but they also take you on a detailed walkthrough of editing the image in Photoshop. This will be useful if you are trying to use any of the designs you find in this post. You can download NAJA’s avatar template by clicking here .

SaltyKebab - 2 Free Templates

SaltyKebab is a YouTuber graphics designer who, in addition to making gaming videos, posts templates for things like profile pictures and channel art on a regular basis. This is a sleek black and white option with a background that looks like broken glass. Click here to download .

Also from Salty Kebab, this free graphics package includes a profile picture, banner, and thumbnail template. The cool blue design with an archer’s silhouette will be perfect for gamers.Click here to download.

Little Danny B - 2 Free Templates

This fresh blue and green design from YouTuber Little Danny B is perfect for an upbeat, fun, channel. Click here to download .

Another offering from Little Danny B, this icon has a background with neon blue and purple paint splatters and bright yellow text. It’s a great option if you want to stand out. Click here to download .

TxG Designs Profile Picture Template

This is the template TxG Designs used for their own profile picture. It’s a dark purple, vaguely sci-fi, the background behind the white text with speed lines. Click here to download .

Do you need to create more graphics for YouTube, like video thumbnails? Check out these tools .

If you know anywhere else to get YouTube profile picture templates, let everyone know in the comments!

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Looking for a cool YouTube profile picture template for your channel? Here’s a list of free downloads!

These avatar templates are all PSD files, so you will need Adobe Photoshop to download and edit them. If you don’t have Photoshop, create your own profile picture in Canva using these templates as a guide (here’s a tutorial for Canva ).

1. NAJA - Template and Detailed Tutorial
2. SaltyKebab - 2 Free Templates
3. Little Danny B - 2 Free Templates
4. TxG Designs Profile Picture Template

Want to create your own logo? Check out these tools!

Polish Your YouTube Videos with Filmora

As one of the best video editing software for YouTubers, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface, which saves much time. Download the free trial version and get started now.

---

NAJA - Template and Detailed Tutorial

In this video NAJA not only provides you with a cool green profile picture, but they also take you on a detailed walkthrough of editing the image in Photoshop. This will be useful if you are trying to use any of the designs you find in this post. You can download NAJA’s avatar template by clicking here .

SaltyKebab - 2 Free Templates

SaltyKebab is a YouTuber graphics designer who, in addition to making gaming videos, posts templates for things like profile pictures and channel art on a regular basis. This is a sleek black and white option with a background that looks like broken glass. Click here to download .

Also from Salty Kebab, this free graphics package includes a profile picture, banner, and thumbnail template. The cool blue design with an archer’s silhouette will be perfect for gamers.Click here to download.

Little Danny B - 2 Free Templates

This fresh blue and green design from YouTuber Little Danny B is perfect for an upbeat, fun, channel. Click here to download .

Another offering from Little Danny B, this icon has a background with neon blue and purple paint splatters and bright yellow text. It’s a great option if you want to stand out. Click here to download .

TxG Designs Profile Picture Template

This is the template TxG Designs used for their own profile picture. It’s a dark purple, vaguely sci-fi, the background behind the white text with speed lines. Click here to download .

Do you need to create more graphics for YouTube, like video thumbnails? Check out these tools .

If you know anywhere else to get YouTube profile picture templates, let everyone know in the comments!

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Looking for a cool YouTube profile picture template for your channel? Here’s a list of free downloads!

These avatar templates are all PSD files, so you will need Adobe Photoshop to download and edit them. If you don’t have Photoshop, create your own profile picture in Canva using these templates as a guide (here’s a tutorial for Canva ).

1. NAJA - Template and Detailed Tutorial
2. SaltyKebab - 2 Free Templates
3. Little Danny B - 2 Free Templates
4. TxG Designs Profile Picture Template

Want to create your own logo? Check out these tools!

Polish Your YouTube Videos with Filmora

As one of the best video editing software for YouTubers, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface, which saves much time. Download the free trial version and get started now.

---

NAJA - Template and Detailed Tutorial

In this video NAJA not only provides you with a cool green profile picture, but they also take you on a detailed walkthrough of editing the image in Photoshop. This will be useful if you are trying to use any of the designs you find in this post. You can download NAJA’s avatar template by clicking here .

SaltyKebab - 2 Free Templates

SaltyKebab is a YouTuber graphics designer who, in addition to making gaming videos, posts templates for things like profile pictures and channel art on a regular basis. This is a sleek black and white option with a background that looks like broken glass. Click here to download .

Also from Salty Kebab, this free graphics package includes a profile picture, banner, and thumbnail template. The cool blue design with an archer’s silhouette will be perfect for gamers.Click here to download.

Little Danny B - 2 Free Templates

This fresh blue and green design from YouTuber Little Danny B is perfect for an upbeat, fun, channel. Click here to download .

Another offering from Little Danny B, this icon has a background with neon blue and purple paint splatters and bright yellow text. It’s a great option if you want to stand out. Click here to download .

TxG Designs Profile Picture Template

This is the template TxG Designs used for their own profile picture. It’s a dark purple, vaguely sci-fi, the background behind the white text with speed lines. Click here to download .

Do you need to create more graphics for YouTube, like video thumbnails? Check out these tools .

If you know anywhere else to get YouTube profile picture templates, let everyone know in the comments!

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Looking for a cool YouTube profile picture template for your channel? Here’s a list of free downloads!

These avatar templates are all PSD files, so you will need Adobe Photoshop to download and edit them. If you don’t have Photoshop, create your own profile picture in Canva using these templates as a guide (here’s a tutorial for Canva ).

1. NAJA - Template and Detailed Tutorial
2. SaltyKebab - 2 Free Templates
3. Little Danny B - 2 Free Templates
4. TxG Designs Profile Picture Template

Want to create your own logo? Check out these tools!

Polish Your YouTube Videos with Filmora

As one of the best video editing software for YouTubers, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface, which saves much time. Download the free trial version and get started now.

---

NAJA - Template and Detailed Tutorial

In this video NAJA not only provides you with a cool green profile picture, but they also take you on a detailed walkthrough of editing the image in Photoshop. This will be useful if you are trying to use any of the designs you find in this post. You can download NAJA’s avatar template by clicking here .

SaltyKebab - 2 Free Templates

SaltyKebab is a YouTuber graphics designer who, in addition to making gaming videos, posts templates for things like profile pictures and channel art on a regular basis. This is a sleek black and white option with a background that looks like broken glass. Click here to download .

Also from Salty Kebab, this free graphics package includes a profile picture, banner, and thumbnail template. The cool blue design with an archer’s silhouette will be perfect for gamers.Click here to download.

Little Danny B - 2 Free Templates

This fresh blue and green design from YouTuber Little Danny B is perfect for an upbeat, fun, channel. Click here to download .

Another offering from Little Danny B, this icon has a background with neon blue and purple paint splatters and bright yellow text. It’s a great option if you want to stand out. Click here to download .

TxG Designs Profile Picture Template

This is the template TxG Designs used for their own profile picture. It’s a dark purple, vaguely sci-fi, the background behind the white text with speed lines. Click here to download .

Do you need to create more graphics for YouTube, like video thumbnails? Check out these tools .

If you know anywhere else to get YouTube profile picture templates, let everyone know in the comments!

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

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