Buy This BEFORE You Buy a Camera

Don’t buy a camera if you’re just starting out in video! Wait, what!? You heard me. There is nothing cheap about video production, and when you’re just starting out, every dollar counts and believe it or not, your camera is not the best initial investment. Nowadays, most everyone carries a smartphone in their pocket cable of filming in 4k log format, and there are enough sensors and applications built-in that could power a space shuttle! These sensors mimic the look of expensive camera lenses (though not flawless), making the majority of home videos look like something debuting at an independent film festival. So how then do we as videographers make our content stand out? One word: Audio.

Anyone can point and shoot a smartphone and make a halfway decent clip. Heck, even a blind squirrel can find a nut now and then. But these phones have one major problem. The teeny tiny built-in microphone is located well… on the phone. These little mics do okay when capturing your voice as you talk on the phone, but the moment you step more than a foot away, they’ll start to pick up every sound in the room. Understanding and producing high quality audio is the difference between the amateurs and the pros, and the following are two reasons why I believe a high quality microphone should be your very first purchase as an up-and-coming filmmaker.

Reason #1 - It doesn’t break the bank

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; video gear is freakin’ expensive! BUT, as you’ll find in my Film Studio Gear guide, you can get started with a relatively cost-conscious microphone. While cameras and lenses will easily run up into the thousands of dollars, you can pick up a quality shotgun mic for under $300 US. Keep in mind, if the mic you choose is not powered by an internal battery, you will likely need to purchase an external audio interface to supply the 48v of phantom power required, and this can be another couple hundred bucks. You certainly don’t need to start with a shotgun mic and an audio interface. You could grab a nice clip-on lavalier microphone for half this price, but I will always encourage a larger investment in audio gear.

If spending $200-$500 upfront on some audio gear makes you nervous, remember you can charge well beyond that for a client video or even some editing services! The goal here is to spend the least amount, while getting paid as you grow. Film a couple of client videos using your new microphone and use the funds from those projects to reinvest and scale up your video gear as needed. Emphasis on the as needed part. Get really good using what you already have, then you’ll know exactly what you need to buy next, and when.

Reason #2 - Good video + bad audio = bad video

Unless you’re an audiophile, good audio tends to go unnoticed in most videos. So why am I so focused on microphones you might ask? Bad audio can make even the best videos unwatchable. And on the flipside good audio can subconsciously make the viewer overlook lower video quality. In ‘How to Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck,’ author Steve Stockman puts it this way:

Sound always plays second fiddle to video. Given the choice between shooting the picture right and getting good sound, directors always choose picture. But, we live in an era where flat-screen TVs come with great stereo speakers built in–if they’re not hooked up to an even bigger home theater sound system. Most laptops come with good built-in speakers… Smartphones and tablets come with high-quality headsets that put your audio mix inside the viewer’s head.

That’s why smart producers spend a lot of effort on sound. They know that great sound pulls viewers into your video. Bad sound pushes them away.

Good audio is critical to the success of a video, and it is a skillset that is often overlooked. There will be plenty of time to learn proper camera settings, but while everyone else is turning a deaf ear, you’ll be giving your viewers something worth listening to.

Final thoughts…

Take your time. There are schools with 4-year programs built entirely on audio engineering, and others still focused on filmmaking. There are programs for lighting and set design. Heck, it’s someone’s job to move all the gear around! If you’re reading this, you’re likely trying to figure it all out on your own (you’ve come to the right place!) so give yourself some grace. There’s no need to rush.

If you need help choosing the right microphone, check out my video How to Choose the Best Mic for Video or download my free Film Studio Gear Guide for detailed recommendations that fit any budget. Friend, if you ever get stuck, I’m just an email or YouTube comment away. Let me know where you need the most help and I’ll be glad to chime in! Otherwise, go get yourself a nice microphone, learn how to capture and edit crisp audio, and as always, create something amazing.