Journal
The Blog
54 guides · most recent first
Studio
How to Add a Facecam to a Screen Recording on Mac
How to add a facecam to a screen recording: a camera over the screen in OBS, an iPhone or Pixel as the webcam, and a separate camera file for the edit.
Most read
Phone Rigs
The Best Way to Film Overhead on a Phone
Filming top-down on a phone needs the right rig. Overhead arms, C-clamps and tripods for steady, shadow-free shots of cooking, crafts and unboxings.
Jul 2026
Cameras & Webcams
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 vs iPhone for Vlogging
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 vs iPhone for vlogging: when a pocket camera's 1-inch sensor and mechanical gimbal beat the phone you own, and when they don't.
Jul 2026
Latest
Microphones
Mid Range Microphone for Voiceover: Stepping Up
A mid range microphone for voiceover guide for beginners stepping up: five dynamic mics, the hybrid vs XLR routes, and an interface, priced in GBP.
Nov 2026
Phone Rigs
Mid-Range Overhead Camera Mount: NEEWER ST008 vs Rivals
A mid-range overhead camera mount guide: the NEEWER ST008 I bought against the Ulanzi ZJ02, Neewer 76cm arm and elitehood, by load, reach and arms.
Nov 2026
Studio
Light Tent vs Backdrop Sweep: Do You Need Both?
Light tent vs backdrop sweep: what each does for product shots, which items fit, who each suits, and why I bought both for this series.
Nov 2026
Cameras & Webcams
What Camera Do You Need to Start YouTube?
What camera do you need to start YouTube? Every beginner route, from your phone to a webcam, action camera, compact or mirrorless, and kit you already own.
Nov 2026
Studio
What Kit Do You Need to Start a YouTube Channel?
What kit do you need to start a YouTube channel? What a beginner needs, the seven pieces I settled on from zero, and why I chose each one.
Nov 2026
Cameras & Webcams
GoPro HERO8 External Microphone: The Route I Chose
How to add a GoPro HERO8 external microphone: the Media Mod, adapter and cage routes I compared on a beginner budget, and why I chose a used Media Mod.
Nov 2026
Cameras & Webcams
What Is the GoPro Media Mod? A HERO8 Beginner's Guide
What the GoPro HERO8 Media Mod does, the mic adapter and cage alternatives, and what to check before buying one for YouTube audio.
Nov 2026
Studio
Budget Light Tent for Product Photography: The One I Chose
The budget light tents I compared for a beginner YouTube channel, their sourced pros and cons, and why I chose the Neewer 60 cm tent.
Nov 2026
Lighting
What Is a Light Tent? A Beginner's Guide to Light Boxes
What a light tent does, unlit tents vs LED light boxes, which size you need, and what to check (CRI, flicker, backdrops) for product video.
Nov 2026
Studio
Cheap Product Photography Backdrop: The One I Chose
The cheap product photography backdrops I compared for a beginner YouTube channel, their sourced pros and cons, and why I chose a 2 m PVC sheet.
Nov 2026
Studio
What Is a Seamless Backdrop? A Beginner's Guide to Sweeps
What a seamless backdrop sweep does, why the curve matters, paper vs PVC vs fabric, and what to check when choosing one for YouTube and product video.
Nov 2026
Phone Rigs
Budget Overhead Phone Mount: The One I Chose
The budget overhead phone mounts I compared for a beginner YouTube channel, their sourced pros and cons, and why I stepped up to the NEEWER ST008.
Nov 2026
Phone Rigs
What Is an Overhead Camera Arm? A Beginner's Guide
What an overhead camera arm does, the five types, the terms on every listing, and what matters when choosing one for top-down YouTube shots.
Nov 2026
Lighting
Budget Softbox Lighting Kit: The One I Chose
The budget softbox lighting kits I compared for a beginner YouTube channel, their sourced pros and cons, and why I chose the RALENO 2-pack.
Nov 2026
Lighting
What Is a Softbox? A Beginner's Guide to Soft Light
What a softbox is, why it makes light softer, the main shapes and mounts, and what matters when choosing one for YouTube and product video.
Nov 2026
Microphones
Budget Wireless Microphone for YouTube: The One I Chose
The budget wireless microphones for YouTube I compared, their sourced pros and cons, and why I chose the DJI Mic Mini 2S with the standard receiver.
Nov 2026
Microphones
What Is a Wireless Lavalier Microphone? A Beginner's Guide
What a wireless lavalier microphone is, how its transmitter and receiver work, the main types, and what matters when choosing one for YouTube.
Nov 2026
Studio
Free Video Editing Software for Mac: 7 Options Compared
Free video editing software for Mac compared: DaVinci Resolve, iMovie, Shotcut and four more, with export limits, watermarks and Mac requirements.
Nov 2026
Cameras & Webcams
GoPro HERO8 for YouTube: Using the Camera You Already Own
Is the GoPro HERO8 good for YouTube? What it does well, where it falls short, the settings to use and how to get a proper mic into it.
Nov 2026
Cameras & Webcams
Is the Nikon D3300 Good for YouTube in 2026?
Is the Nikon D3300 good for YouTube? It shoots 1080p60 and takes an external mic, but a fixed screen and 20-minute clips limit it. Where it fits.
Nov 2026
Studio
Overhead Camera Mount for Desk: How to Choose One
How to choose an overhead camera mount for a desk: arm load, clamp fit and reach, the five mount types, and why I bought the NEEWER ST008.
Nov 2026
Cameras & Webcams
Pixel 9a for YouTube: Using the Kit You Already Own
Is the Pixel 9a good enough for YouTube? Which camera to film on, the mic question, and where a Nikon D3300 and GoPro HERO8 fit on a first channel.
Nov 2026
Lighting
One Light Setup for YouTube: Where to Put a Single Light
A one light setup for YouTube: where to place a single soft light, how to fill shadows for free, and which single lights suit a desk or a room.
Nov 2026
Lighting
Budget Lighting for Product Videos: The Kit I Bought
Budget lighting for product videos: softbox kits, light tents and LED boxes compared on CRI, watts and flicker, and the £92 setup I bought.
Nov 2026
Studio
YouTube Desk Setup: Lights, Mounts and Layout
A YouTube desk setup laid out step by step: where the key light and mic go, softboxes or a panel light, overhead mounts, and what it costs in the UK.
Nov 2026
Phone Rigs
How to Film Yourself With a Phone: A Solo Setup Guide
How to film yourself with a phone: which camera to use, where to put it, the settings to lock, and how to start, light and mic a solo take.
Nov 2026
Cameras & Webcams
Vlogging Kit UK: What to Buy at Each Step
A vlogging kit UK guide for filming yourself on the move: the phone you own, a wireless mic and tripod grip, then a gimbal or pocket camera.
Nov 2026
Phone Rigs
How to Start a YouTube Channel With Just a Phone
How to start a YouTube channel with just a phone: the camera and settings to use, fixing sound and light, and editing and uploading for free.
Nov 2026
Studio
How to Screen Record on Mac With Audio: Voice and System
How to screen record on Mac with audio: your voice with Shift-Command-5, system sound on macOS 27, and free OBS Studio for older Macs.
Nov 2026
Studio
Professional YouTube Studio Setup: The Kit I'd Choose
A professional YouTube studio setup at UK prices: the cinema camera, broadcast mic, lights and room treatment I'd choose, and what the full build costs.
Nov 2026
Studio
YouTube Setup Under £1,000: Two UK Builds Costed
A YouTube setup under £1,000 in the UK: two costed builds, one on-camera with a mirrorless camera and one voice-led desk studio, from Amazon UK listings.
Nov 2026
Studio
How to Start a YouTube Channel in the UK (2026 Guide)
How to start a YouTube channel in the UK: set up and verify it, choose kit by budget, edit for free, and know the YPP, HMRC and ASA rules.
Nov 2026
Microphones
How to Record Voiceover at Home: A Beginner's Method
How to record voiceover at home: the room, mic position, gain, settings and light cleanup that make narration sound clean on a beginner budget.
Nov 2026
Studio
Faceless YouTube Channel Setup: The Voice-Led Kit
A faceless YouTube channel setup for UK beginners: the voiceover mic, free screen recorders and the YouTube rules that decide whether it earns.
Nov 2026
Studio
YouTube Starter Kit UK: What I'd Buy at Each Budget
A YouTube starter kit UK guide by budget tier, from under £100 to under £300: the wireless mic, desk mic, lights and desk mount I chose.
Nov 2026
Microphones
Budget Microphone for Voiceover: The One I Chose
The budget microphone for voiceover candidates I compared for a beginner YouTube channel, their sourced pros and cons, and why I chose the MAONO PD200X.
Nov 2026
Microphones
What Is a Dynamic Microphone? A Desk Voiceover Guide
What is a dynamic microphone, how it differs from a condenser, and what matters when choosing a desk mic for voiceover in an untreated home room.
Nov 2026
Streaming
Streaming Bitrate and Upload Speed: What You Actually Need
What bitrate to stream at, the upload speed it demands, and the headroom that keeps a stream stable - using Twitch and YouTube's own published figures.
Sept 2026
Cameras & Webcams
Frame Rate, Shutter Speed and the 180-Degree Rule
Why 24, 25, 30 and 60fps exist, how shutter speed shapes motion, and why UK creators need 1/50 indoors - the 180-degree rule for 50Hz countries.
Sept 2026
Microphones
Microphone Polar Patterns Explained: A Room-First Guide
Cardioid, omni, supercardioid and figure-8 explained by what they do in a real room - which walls they reject, and why pattern choice is a room decision.
Sept 2026
Microphones
Gain Staging: Why Your Audio Clips and How to Fix It
Gain sets how hard your mic hits the converter, not how loud playback is. Aim for peaks around -12 dBFS, leave headroom, and clipping never happens.
Aug 2026
Lighting
Colour Temperature and CRI: Why Mixed Light Ruins Video
Why your footage looks amateur: two light sources at different colour temperatures, and a CRI number on the box that hides the one value that matters.
Aug 2026
Studio
Soundproofing vs Acoustic Treatment: What Actually Differs
Soundproofing blocks sound crossing a wall and needs mass. Acoustic treatment tames reflections inside the room. Foam does the second, not the first.
Aug 2026
Studio
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Podcast?
What starting a podcast actually costs in the UK: the honest minimum, the recurring costs nobody mentions, and where the money is genuinely worth spending.
Aug 2026
Streaming
Stream Deck Workflows: Streamers, Podcasters, YouTubers
Practical Stream Deck workflows for streamers, podcasters and YouTubers: scene switching, one-tap mic muting, editing macros and safer social posts.
Aug 2026
Lighting
Portable Lighting Kit for Reels and Short-Form Video
How to light Reels and TikToks anywhere: panel vs ring light vs COB, the specs that matter, placement, flicker fixes and three portable kits.
Jul 2026
Streaming
Multi-Camera Podcast Setup With the ATEM Mini Pro
Wire 2-3 cameras into a Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro for podcasts: audio routing, recording vs live-streaming paths, and a complete UK kit list.
Jul 2026
Studio
Best Acoustic Panels for an Echoey Home Office
Fix an echoey home office the right way: why cheap foam often fails, when wood-slat panels win, and where to place them for clean audio.
Jul 2026
Microphones
A Complete First Podcast Kit Under £300
You can start a good-sounding podcast for under 300 pounds. A complete first kit - mic, arm, headphones and software - and where the money is best spent.
Jul 2026
Studio
Best Teleprompter for an iPhone
The best teleprompter for an iPhone in the UK: phone rigs from £119, the £279.99 Elgato Prompter, and which voice-paced apps are worth paying for.
Jul 2026
Microphones
Best Microphone for TikTok Cooking Videos
Kitchen noise ruins cooking videos. The best microphones for clear voiceover while your hands are busy - clip-on wireless mics, shotguns and phone options.
Jul 2026
Showing 15 of 54