Audio/Video Equipment You Need to Create Online Courses

Having great audio and video for your online courses is one of the most important aspects of course creation.  You can be the best teacher in the world, and have no students because your audio is too fuzzy or your lighting is too reminiscent of a interrogation room.

As a newbie course creator though, it's so difficult to figure out which products you actually NEED and which ones are just a waste of money for a newbie.

I have tried many microphones, cameras, and lighting setups over the years and can tell you that like all things, getting great equipment the first time will save you money over time.  That being said, you don't need top-of-the-line equipment to create beautiful courses!

I created this list of my favorite products for course creation and hope it will help you avoid buying some of the not-so-great products that I tried over the years!

Let's start with audio. 

I always use a lapel microphone.  This little guy from Boya is powerful but mighty, has a super long cord, and plugs into your computer, phone, or camera.  You can easily hide your lapel mic under your short using this easy technique or just clip it to something close to your face (the closer the better!).

If you are plugging this mic into an Apple phone or iPad, you will need a headphone jack to adapter to make it work:

You can use this plug if you want to both charge your camera and use this mic for your audio at the same time.

Next let's talk about cameras. 

Do you need a fancy DSLR camera with 5 million pixels and lightning speed something-or-other?  No, not really.  Most iPhones capture a quality of video that is better than a computer screen can even display, so you really don't need anything better than that.  Anything newer than an iPhone 6 will work, and remember that used and refurbished models work just as well, so don't be afraid to buy used and save some cash! 

Now we need a tripod to hold up that camera!

I love this simple tripod that doubles as a selfie stick for setting up a camera anywhere for a quick shot:

I also love having a more heavy duty tripod on hand because sometimes you need to hover a camera over a desk or put it in some other precarious position that a small tripod just can't handle or reach.  This tripod is pricy, but it's the last one you'll ever need to buy in your life:

Long cords!  I can't emphasize these enough.

After years of running out of battery every time I filmed, I finally invested in some super long cords that keep my camera charging as I film:

Last but not least is lighting.

Keep in mind that if you are a beginner and don't want to invest a lot in lighting, daylight is your best friend.  It makes everything look better on film, so avoid buying a cheap light and using that if you aren't ready to splurge on an expensive one.

That being said, this light is great when you're ready to get a professional studio light that let's you keep on filmin' even after the sun goes down and the babies are in bed:

This hood helps diffuse the super intense light that comes out of this bad boy, and doubles as a sound buffer to help cut down on echoing in your audio.

I hope this list helps you find some film equipment that makes your filming process easier!  If you need more tips and tricks on how to film your course and become a successful course creator, check out my Course Creator's Masterclass.