Best Gear to Make Professional Videos (2023): Mics, Lights, Tripods, Tips

For portable shoots (or even just convenience) you might eventually want to consider a cage for your camera, like the Smallrig VersaFrame, which WIRED reviewer Eric Ravenscraft has tested and likes. This lets you mount everything you need, like lights, microphones, batteries, and storage devices, right to the camera itself. It takes some work to get everything set up right, but it’s a lot easier than trying to wrangle 15 gadgets while running around a park. Depending on your camera, you may also be able to find cages that fit your model specifically.

The Microphone

Aside from your camera, the microphone is arguably the second most important tool in your arsenal. Good-quality audio makes a lackluster video watchable, and poor audio can ruin even the most beautifully shot clip. 

Top Pick

What’s great about Rode’s SmartLav+ is its plug-and-play nature. I’ve plugged this microphone into my mirrorless camera and into my iPhone, and it worked like a charm (for professional cameras, you’ll need to add this adapter). It’s a lavalier mic, the kind that clips to your shirt collar to capture the sound of your voice. The quality isn’t amazing, but it’s a big step up over the built-in microphone on your phone. Just know that connecting it to an Android phone is tricky—it doesn’t always work. And if your phone doesn’t have a headphone jack, you’ll need a dongle.

Upgrade Pick

If you’re willing to spend more, we’ve had a great experience using Røde’s wireless systems over the past few years. I used the original Wireless Mic Go for all my WIRED videos, but the company has since added the Wireless Go II, which lets you choose to add a second transmitter if you want to record two people separately. The slightly better range lets you move away further from the camera without worry.  

Plug the receiver into your camera’s mic input or your phone’s headphone jack (you will probably need a dongle), and clip the transmitter somewhere near your collarbone. Turn both on, and they should automatically pair. That’s it! The microphone quality is excellent, but having a tiny box on your shirt can look a little awkward. I hooked up Røde’s Lavalier Go ($79) to the transmitter, which I put in my pocket for a more natural look. Røde recently released a simpler, more budget-friendly model called the Wireless ME ($149), but we have not tested it yet. 

A Simple Shotgun Mic

If you don’t want a microphone resting on your body, then get a shotgun mic. Just hook it up to your camera or your smartphone (3.5 mm or USB-C) and flip it on. I filmed an hour-long improv show in a small classroom theater, and the audio quality was pretty excellent—especially considering I was sitting more than 15 feet from the performers. I barely had to configure any settings, though I did utilize the headphone port to monitor sound levels while recording. 

It runs on battery, but even an hour of filming didn’t seem to make a dent (Joby claims a 30-hour run time), and you can easily recharge it via the USB-C port. What I love most is how compact it is. It barely adds much weight to my camera and is easy to stow in a backpack. 

For Voiceovers

Inevitably, you’ll need to rerecord some dialog or add voiceover to your project. While the King Bee II (8/10, WIRED Recommends) isn’t super portable, the rich sound it captures makes it a perfect desktop or audio booth companion. WIRED reviewer Eric Ravenscraft frequently uses this one to add narration to a video or for the occasional voice acting. Check out our Best USB Microphones guide for more options.

Other Great Mics:

• Rode VideoMicro for $42: Trying to spend as little as possible? This shotgun mic will satisfy. It’ll beat any phone’s built-in mic, and it’s super lightweight and compact.
• AnkerWork M650 Wireless Lavalier Microphone for $250: I really love Anker’s wireless mic system. It comes in a wonderful case that lets you magnetically recharge the two transmitters as well as the receiver. Even better, you have the option to plug the system into a variety of devices. There’s a Lightning adapter and USB-C adapter in the case itself, or you can use the Aux cable to plug it into your camera. The audio quality is great too. 

Consider a Recorder

If you’re using more advanced audio gear—and there are a lot of good reasons you should—then you’ll need an interface to connect any XLR microphones you have. But if you shoot away from home (or just need a flexible setup), one convenient option is to get an interface that’s also a portable recorder. WIRED reviewer Eric Ravenscraft likes and uses the Zoom H6, which can connect up to four XLR inputs, as well as two more inputs through attached mic modules. 

The included X/Y module is great for recording on-the-spot interviews. It can also record audio directly to the device itself, while it sends audio back out to your camera. This is the kind of life-saving backup option you won’t regret having around. Plus, it frees you to separate your mic and camera and sync them up later,…