The Equipment You Need To Create Top-Tier Video Content for Your Business

1. A Space Made For Content Creation

Before getting into the nitty gritty of camera equipment and software, let’s talk about location. Where you record your videos matters! 

Ideally, the space you choose should be free of distractions— both visual and auditory. Choose a quiet space with a neutral background. However, avoid plain, white walls as background. A bit of color (especially company colors) can help your video pop. 

Additionally, you’ll want to make sure you have all the props you need in frame. For example, if you plan on writing on a whiteboard during your video, make sure the whiteboard fits and is clearly visible in your shot. 

Lastly, if you’ll be sitting in a chair during your recording, choose your chair wisely! Spinning chairs should be avoided. Rolling back and forth can be a huge distractor in a video and will give your video an unprofessional look. 

2. A Quality Video Camera

Never use your computer’s webcam for video communications with clients! There are much more professional options for communicating with clients through video than with a webcam.

However, it can be overwhelming to look at all the video cameras on the market and try and determine which one best fits the needs of your business for content creation. Here are a few questions to ask before buying a camera:

• Does the camera record in 4K? (this is going to provide you with the clearest image)

• Are you going to want videos with the option of a “blurry background” look? (if so, you’ll want to buy a DSLR camera rather than a camcorder) 

• What type of mic jack does the camera come with? (you’ll want to make sure this matches the audio equipment you plan on buying)

• What type of memory card does the camera use? (it’s going to be easiest if your camera accepts an SD card)

• Does the camera have a clean HDMI output? (this is essential for live videos) 

Our Recommendation on Video Cameras for Business Content Creation

If you are new to videography, we suggest buying a camcorder rather than a DSLR. A DSLR camera is the type of camera you probably think of traditionally using for photography. While they are also fantastic for videography, the learning curve on a DSLR is steep. For example, that “blurry background” effect we discussed? You’ll have to learn how to manually set a camera’s aperture before achieving this effect! 

A great place to start when buying a video camera for your business’ content creation is something like the Panasonic 4K Ultra HD Camcorder. It comes with a 3.5mm microphone jack (we’ll discuss later why this is preferred), records to SD cards in 4K, and offers a clean HDMI output (so your live videos don’t show camera icons, setting graphics, or data indicators on screen).

As a final note on cameras, don’t forget that you’ll need to buy a tripod to put your camera on when you record. 

3. Reliable Audio Equipment

Just like you don’t want to use your computer’s built-in webcam to communicate with clients via video, you also aren’t going to want to use your computer’s (or camera’s) built-in microphone. The quality just won’t be up to par. Instead, you’ll want to invest in a microphone that can sync right in with your camera. That way, when you press record— you have quality audio and visual all in one! Here’s what we suggest:

Our Recommendation on Microphones for Business Content Creation

While you can experiment with a variety of types of microphones for recording business content— wireless, bluetooth microphones are one of the most versatile. You can clip a small, wireless, bluetooth microphone straight to your shirt and have the freedom to move around and gesture all you want without disrupting audio quality.

The RØDE Wireless GO microphone is one example of a reliable, wireless, bluetooth mic that will come in handy in a variety of recording situations. This mic also comes with a 3.5mm input so it works well with the Panasonic 4K Ultra HD Camcorder. 

4. The Equipment Needed to Go Live

Recording and editing videos to share with clients and communicating with clients through live videos share quite a bit in common. You can use the same camera, audio equipment, and shoot with the same backdrop. However, you’ll need a few extra pieces of equipment for streaming quality live videos:

• A computer with a 8GB+ graphics card and an i9 or larger processor (this is to prevent your livestream from crashing or lagging)

• A strong internet connection with speeds of 4,500 Kbps (36mbps) or higher (you can check your internet speed here)

• Live streaming software, such as OBS Studio (this is what connects your camera to the website you are live streaming from)

• A capture card, such as the Elgato Cam Link 4K capture card (this converts your camera’s video signals and converts them into digital signals that can be read by other devices– like your computer) 

• An HDMI to HDMI cord to connect from your capture card to your camera (make sure it’s the correct one for your camera– they come in standard, mini, and micro) 

Setting up and using all the equipment for live streaming video content for your business can be complicated. Once you have all the equipment you need, we recommend scheduling a consultation with 406 Strategic Communications to learn how to use it correctly. 

5. Graphics and Visuals

If you plan on creating videos that are more than a minute or so long, chances are that you’ll want to break up your video with some graphics or visuals. A video that remains on a “talking head” for too long will lose your clients focus. 

406 Strategic Communications offers graphic creation services and video editing services to bring your videos to the next level visually. These services include adding stock or personalized images and video sequences and creating specialized animated visuals to overlay on your video. Schedule a free consultation to learn more about the graphic creation and video editing services we offer. 

How to Use Your Equipment To Create Compelling Videos For Your Clients