Let’s get real for a second: great videos don’t magically happen once you hit Export. They happen long before you even launch your editing software.
Whether you’re a solo YouTuber, TikTok hustler, or brand content creator having the right pre-editing tools and gear can save you hours of headaches and turn “meh” footage into polished content worth watching.
This is your go-to checklist for tools you absolutely need before you drag your first clip onto a timeline.
Pre-Production planning tools
Why you need them: Great videos start with a plan. Storyboarding, shot lists, and organized ideas keep you efficient and creative on shoot day.
Recommended Tools:
- Milanote: visually plan storyboards and moodboards.
- Notion: for scripting and organizing ideas.
- Trello: simple boards for tracking shoots and deliverables.
Good audio gear
Why you need it: Bad audio ruins great visuals and fixing it in post is a nightmare.
Must-have options (for all budgets):
- Budget: Rode SmartLav+ (plug it into your phone)
- Mid-range: Rode VideoMic Pro (on-camera mic)
- Pro: Zoom H5 Recorder + Rode NTG4+ (boom mic quality)
Solid video capture equipment
Why you need it: Start with the best quality possible, it saves hours fixing exposure or grainy footage later.
Essentials for any budget:
- Phone shooters: Moment Lenses for pro-level smartphone shots.
- Budget cameras: Canon M50 Mark II.
- Pro cameras: Sony A7 IV or Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera.
Bonus: A portable LED light like Aputure Amaran goes a long way!
Content creation tools for social media
Why you need them: Quick edits, thumbnails, and catchy captions before the final video make your content more shareable.
Try these gems:
- Canva: for eye-catching thumbnails and social posts.
- CapCut: free mobile editor for quick reels or TikToks.
- Unsplash: royalty-free images to spice up your visuals.
- Pexels: free stock videos for b-roll.
- Brevidy: for creating automatic captions in Premiere Pro
A reliable backup system
By the time you lose footage once, you will never risk not having a reliable backup system.
Must-haves:
- External Hard Drive: LaCie Rugged Drive.
- Cloud Backup: Google Drive or Dropbox.
- Extra SD Cards: SanDisk Extreme Pro.
Stick to the 3-2-1 rule: Keep 3 copies, on 2 different media, with 1 off-site or in the cloud.
Video editing equipment list for all budgets
Absolute basics:
- A stable tripod: try Joby GorillaPod.
- A softbox or ring light — Neewer Ring Light Kit.
- A laptop that won’t crash mid-render — budget? MacBook Air M2. Pro? MacBook Pro M3.
Final thoughts
If you’re serious about content creation, start thinking like a filmmaker:
- Plan before you shoot.
- Record clean audio.
- Capture crisp visuals.
- Organize and back up.
- Then and only then open that editing software.
Trust me: your future self, your audience, and your sanity will thank you.