What do you use to create videos??

[Joel Owens]

I am fixing to start recording videos. Bought a studio setup last year as there was not a video and lighting place around. The possibilities on the internet are endless. I ended up selling the studio equipment because it was more for recording music and had a thousand adjustments with software.

I just want the best lapel mic out of the picture for sound quality and then the best lighting for plug and play person talking type recording. Money is not really an issue although I won't spend stupid money on it. Hard to find a local video person who will come out and tell you do this and this and get this and this and bam here is exactly what you wanted and now just record everyday.

Wanted some quality and background like this.

Do not know if I want the darker background:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av7WwSOx9Ts

Or the lighter that start off in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=VcMOBrdbHgk

[Rick H.]

I paid a couple hundred bucks to Video Genesis for their online training videos. Exactly what I wanted. Yes, they'll pitch you later for other product offers but the training is a bargain. 

Check out B+H Photo online. They are NYC based and have been exceptional. 

For lighting, I suggest you go for the LED stuff and avoid the umbrella set up. 

I don't know what your budget for lav mic's however you can pay from from $10 to $500+ for nice Sennheiser stuff.

However, I changed tack several weeks ago. 

This last Friday I recorded my first two podcast audio interviews. It's not the cost of investing the equipment that caused me to hire a professional audio engineer but the time to fiddle with everything. I want to be the talent because I choke as a tech guy.

So, I hired a guy to record and edit as well as add the FX and music tracks. 

Yes, I live in So Cal where music, film and entertainment people abound, however I did not want to have to think about how the product gets made, only show up and be the Johnny Carson, not the boom operator.