Exactly How I Make My YouTube Videos (Full Setup and Gear)

A lot of you have asked how I actually make my YouTube videos, so here's my full YouTube setup and gear: the camera, lighting and microphone I use, plus the software that pulls it all together.

I've kept it deliberately simple so you can copy it. Years ago I had to set up a whole studio before I could hit record. Now I reach over, press record on the camera, and go. My whole philosophy is removing as much friction as possible between sitting down and recording.

Key Takeaways

• You only need three things to make YouTube videos: a camera, some lighting and a way to capture good sound.
• Set your gear up once so it's always ready, and recording becomes as simple as pressing a button.
• If you're starting out, a phone, a lapel mic and daylight are enough, so start there and upgrade later.

My YouTube Workflow, Start to Finish

Before I get to the gear, here's how a video comes together:

1. Keyword research: I start with a tool like AnswerThePublic to find what people are searching for. Here's how I use AnswerThePublic.
2. Scripting: I use Claude to help shape the script. See how I use Claude.
3. Recording: I sit down at the setup below and press record.
4. Editing: I edit in Descript. Here's my Descript walkthrough.
5. Uploading: in YouTube Studio, I click Create, then Upload. I cover the settings in 31 key upload settings.

My YouTube Setup at a Glance

• Camera: Panasonic Lumix G7, filming in 4K.
• Microphone: Rode Podcaster on a boom arm.
• Lighting: a ring light on the left, a second light on the right, and a third lighting the back wall.
• Screens: an Apple Studio Display with my MacBook plugged into it.

The Camera: Panasonic Lumix G7

I've used the Lumix G7 for a few years and it's been a real workhorse. It has a flip screen so I can see how I look on camera, and I film in 4K.

How it's connected:

• Power: it runs from the mains, so it never switches itself off mid-recording.
• Video: a micro HDMI cable runs into an Elgato Cam Link, which converts HDMI to USB so the laptop sees the camera. An Apple adapter connects it, and it all links back to the Studio Display.
• Mounting: the camera isn't attached to the desk, so if I knock the desk the shot stays steady.

You can spend far more on a camera, or simply connect an iPhone to your computer and record from that. It's entirely up to you.

The Microphone: Rode Podcaster

The Rode Podcaster has done me proud. I use it with a pop filter and a boom arm, so if I hit the desk the sound doesn't reverberate into the mic.

It plugs into the back of my Studio Display through another Apple adapter (USB to USB-C), only because I've run out of ports on my MacBook. If you have enough ports, plug everything straight into your computer. You could spend a lot more on a microphone, but the point is a setup that's simple to switch on and use.

The Lighting

• Key light: a ring light off to my left. The bigger, the better. I don't put it behind the camera, as you tend to see rings reflected in your eyes.
• Second light: a light off to my right to balance it out.
• Back light: a light at the back of the room shining up the wall, so my whole backdrop is lit.

For more ideas, see my posts on a simple YouTube studio setup on a budget and YouTube studio background ideas.

Starting Out? Keep It Simple

You don't need to copy my setup exactly. The one thing to take away is to remove as much friction as possible.

• Camera: use your phone.
• Sound: use a lapel mic.
• Lighting: use daylight as your key light.

Two Ways to Decide What to Film

1. Ask the people you know or work with about their biggest challenge, and make content that helps them, or future versions of them.
2. Do keyword research to see what people are typing in to find solutions, check the search volume, and make content that shows up for those searches.

Conclusion

My YouTube setup comes down to a Panasonic Lumix G7, a Rode Podcaster and three lights, all permanently connected so I can sit down and press record.

Whatever gear you have, set it up once, keep it simple and remove the friction. Then pair it with keyword research so the videos you make are ones people are already looking for.