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Confession time – I’m a lazy YouTuber. But I’ve managed to build a consistent, professional-looking YouTube channel without getting bogged down in the details. It all comes down to a simple, low-maintenance setup that keeps me focused on creating content, not fiddling with gear.

From Zero to YouTube in 5 Years

My YouTube journey started way back in 2016. I had grand plans – fancy lights, a backdrop, a microphone that I can’t even find anymore. All with the goal of starting my own channel and creating videos to help fellow business owners. But the truth is, video creation is hard. It takes time to come up with topics and energy to actually produce each video. The last thing I needed was a difficult and time-consuming setup.

I put off making videos for quite a while because I felt like my office wasn’t “perfect” yet. But in 2021, I decided it was time to get serious. I committed to posting a new video every other week – even though the YouTube gurus say you need to post multiple times a week to see success.

As I shared in my previous video, I wanted a “lazy person’s” YouTube setup – one that was simple, yet professional, and most importantly, always ready to go. No more wasting time setting up and tearing down lights and backdrops every time I wanted to record.

My Foolproof YouTube Setup

So what does my effortless YouTube setup look like? Well, let me give you a tour.

First up, the lighting. I use two main lights – one on my left and one on my right, with my camera placed strategically in the middle. This creates nice, even lighting without any harsh shadows. I also have a desk lamp that adds a little extra illumination. And to keep things consistent, I keep the blinds drawn so the outdoor lighting doesn’t affect the video.

For the camera, I’m rocking a Canon EOSR. I love the flip-out screen, which lets me easily monitor myself during recording. And the auto-focus is a game-changer – it adjusts seamlessly as I move around. I typically record in 1080p and export in 4K to take advantage of the higher quality.

But here’s the real secret sauce – I record my video and audio separately. The camera captures the video, while I use a dedicated USB microphone to record the audio. This ensures professional-quality sound, and it makes the editing process a breeze since the two are perfectly in sync.

You can check out all the gear I use in my Amazon storefront – from the lights to the camera to the mic. And I have to give a shoutout to the software that powers my setup. I record directly into Ecamm Live, which lets me see the video feed in real-time and make adjustments on the fly. Then I use Descript for editing, which transcribes the audio as I record, making it a cinch to clean up any mistakes or stumbles.

Keeping it Consistent with Notion

To stay organized and on track, I use Notion to plan out my content. I have a content calendar where I can jot down video titles, notes, and even the YouTube description. This helps me ensure I hit all the key points when I sit down to record.

And speaking of recording, I actually have a secret weapon – Loom. I use it to capture my screen and sync the audio, so you get a seamless picture-in-picture effect. It’s a great way to incorporate screen sharing or software demos into my videos without any extra effort.

The Beginner-Friendly YouTube Setup

Is this the easiest YouTube setup for beginners? Maybe not. But it works incredibly well for me as a part-time YouTuber and business owner. The key is finding a workflow that’s sustainable for your lifestyle and skill level.

For me, that means a simple, always-ready setup that lets me focus on creating content, not fiddling with gear. And with the help of tools like Ecamm Live, Descript, and Notion, I can produce professional-quality videos without the steep learning curve.

If you’re just starting out on YouTube, I encourage you to experiment and find what works best for you. Don’t get bogged down in the details – focus on creating consistent, valuable content. And who knows, maybe one day you’ll be a “lazy” YouTuber like me!

By the way, if you’re curious about my monetization journey or want to see more of my office setup, be sure to check out the Local Creative website. I’m always sharing tips and insights to help fellow entrepreneurs and creators. Cheers!