The Gear I Use to Record Podcasts and Videos
The equipment setup for recording podcasts, YouTube, and video, mobile and studio.
By James Schramko · Updated July 2026
Purpose
Document the equipment setup for recording YouTube episodes, podcasts, and video content.
Two configurations: mobile/simple and studio.
Mobile Setup
For travel, casual capture, and quick recordings.
Computer: MacBook Pro
Camera: DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Kit All-in-one solution. Good audio, good video, portable. Works for talking head and B-roll.
This setup handles One Minute Social Video Sales Machine style content. Point and record.
Use an iPhone if that's all you have. Set it to 4K 24FPS and use a small Gorilla mount.
Audio on the iPhone: Rode Wireless GO II clipped on. Sometimes no mic at all, just the iPhone out of my pocket.
Water shots - GO PRO 12 Black and Mouth Mount Pro grill mount (for water/action POV)
Studio Setup
For scheduled episode recording and higher production value.
Camera and Lens
Sony a6400 Camera Sigma 1.4 Lens 16mm Fotopro Tripod
The a6400 is reliable for talking head video. The 16mm wide angle works for desk setups without needing lots of room. The 1.4 aperture blurs the background and copes with mixed lighting.
Audio
Shure SM7B Microphone Rode Streamer X XLR Cables Elgato Wave Mic Arm with Swivel Suspension Boom
The SM7B is a broadcast dynamic mic. Rejects room noise. The Streamer X captures audio and video for one mic and one camera in a single box. No separate interface or switcher needed. The boom arm keeps the mic out of frame but close to your mouth.
Lighting
Aputure Amaran F21x 100W Flex LED Light Mat, Bi-Color 2500K-7500K Video Light Support DMX Sidus Link App Control for Video Photography
Aputure amaran COB 60x-S Bi-Color LED, 60W Point-Source Bowens Mount, 2700K-6500K, APP Control, Portable for Portrait, Studio, Interview, Filming
NEEWER 15.7"x15.7" Quick Setup Foldable Softbox Square with Diffusers/Honeycomb Grid/Bag, Bowens Mount Compatible with Godox Aputure 120d Continuous Video Lights Q4 Studio Flash Strobes, NS15S
2 x Ulanzi TT43 Extendable Light Stands (6.23ft)
Flex mat gives soft, even light. Bi-color lets you match room temperature. Softbox diffuses and controls spill. Two stands let you place a key light and a fill light.
Switching
The Rode Streamer X covers one camera and one mic on its own, video and audio in one unit.
The Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Switcher earns a place only when you add a second camera or need graphics overlays. A one camera setup does not need it.
Teleprompter
Elgato Prompter with Built-in Screen
Mounts over the camera lens. Read scripts written at Grade 5-6 level while keeping eye contact with the camera. Works with Mac/PC. Drag and drop scripts.
Desk
A gaming mouse mat under the keyboard and mouse. Clean desk surface, less noise.
Recording Platform
Riverside. Records high resolution video and audio. Separate tracks for each participant. The team can open recordings for editing without waiting for an upload.
Transcripts come automatically and feed straight into the content multiplication workflow.
No local recording, no manual file transfer. Record, finish, team edits.
Why This Setup
Audio first. Bad audio loses viewers faster than bad video. The SM7B and Streamer X combination handles this.
Reduced, July 2026. This studio previously ran a Rodecaster Pro deck for audio and an ATEM Mini Pro for video. One Rode Streamer X replaced both. One mic, one camera, one box. Remove the unnecessary applies to gear too.
Consistent lighting. The flex mat and softbox give repeatable results. No relying on window light that changes through the day.
Teleprompter for throughput. Reading from a prompter means fewer takes, tighter scripts, faster sessions. Two episodes a week needs that speed.
Cloud recording for team workflow. Riverside means no bottleneck waiting for files to upload. Team starts editing while you move on.
Scalable. Add an ATEM Mini only if you add cameras or screen switching later. The system grows without rebuilding.
Common Mistakes
Buying gear before workflow. Know your recording rhythm first. Gear serves the system.
Too much audio gear.
One good mic, one good interface. That's it.
Ignoring room acoustics. Gear won't fix echo. Soft furnishings, rugs, and panels matter more than expensive mics in bad rooms.
Skipping the teleprompter. Writing scripts you then have to memorize wastes time. The prompter pays for itself in time saved per session.
Recording locally then uploading. Cloud platforms like Riverside remove this friction. Team gets files immediately.