Self-Tape Equipment That Doesn’t Break the Bank

One of the biggest questions I get is “what do I need for a good self-tape?” This is almost always followed up with, “But, I can’t spend a lot on it!”

I HEAR YOU. We shouldn’t have to spend a ton of money on this. But, in order to get noticed having nice lighting and clear audio really goes a long way. Here are my basics for your self-tape set-up:

BE HEARD

Movo VXR10 Universal Video Microphone I prefer this inexpensive mic as it cuts out white noise, background noise and really focuses in onmy voice (speaking or singing).

BE SEEN

iPad Pro or iPhone 12 or higher

I have a DSLR and I never use it and have to transfer the video because my iPad takes such great video. It is crisp and clear and for almost all self-tapes I send it nothing higher than 720p quality so it does way more than I need it to. (This is a little break the bank….so save up!)

Backdrop: Grey or Blue is pretty universal for any skin tone.

Having a nice, wrinkle-free, clean backdrop is so important. It helps you pop and allows for much less distraction to the stuff we have in our homes. Let the self-tape be about YOU and not your grandmother’s cat vase in the background.

Backdrop: Grey or Blue is pretty universal for any skin tone.

Having a nice, wrinkle-free, clean backdrop is so important. It helps you pop and allows for much less distraction to the stuff we have in our homes. Let the self-tape be about YOU and not your grandmother’s cat vase in the background.

Ulanzi iPad Tripod Mount

This might be my most favorite piece of equipment. It is STURDY and works so easily. It has a place to mount my Movo microphone and I never have any issues at all!

Neewer 18-inch SMD LED Ring Light Dimmable Lighting Kit

Definitely get the 18 and definitely don’t use the phone connector to film. I find the ring light leaves the dreaded white circles in the eyes and so much bounce on the face that I like it at a distance. It is super easy to travel and set up which makes it a good, less expensive choice.

You will want to have a natural light source or a secondary light to help with shadow. There are LOTS of good videos on Youtube about setting up your lighting kits. But, to start out, the ring light and a window should be just fine.

If you want to get a little fancier, I love my GVM LED lighting kit. You can customize color, white balance, saturation, and more. It has really upped my self-tape game so if you’re in for the win, go for it!

AND…

BE BOOKED!

GOOD LUCK to everyone on their self-tape journey! Please reach out if you need help or have questions!

xo,