The equipment I use to create my YouTube videos

This page gives a full breakdown of all the equipment I use to record my YouTube videos. This forms a part of my step by step guide on how to record your piano at home.

It will allow you to work out which is best for your needs from:

Simple setup (phone + microphone) → easiest, minimal gear
Intermediate setup (recorder + microphones) → higher quality, more control
Voice recording setup → for talking videos
Video & accessories → camera, lighting, extras

For ease of reference, I have linked to products on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means I may earn a small commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.

I only recommend gear I’ve used myself or would confidently recommend to a student.

Piano Audio Equipment

Simple Phone-based Set Up (often a great starting point)

Adding an external microphone to a smartphone can be a great starting point.

Shure MV88 Stereo Condenser Microphone

Up until June 2021, all piano demonstrations and recordings of my playing were captured using a Shure MV88 Condenser Microphone. I plugged this straight into an iPhone and use the Motiv App from Shure.

This Microphone was originally sold with a ‘lightning connector’ and thus only worked with iOS devices. It has since been upgraded to a USB-C connection. Thus, if you are considering this microphone, ensure that the product you get has the correct connector (lightening or USB-C depending on your phone model).

Shure MV88 stereo microphone for recording piano

Shure MV88 Digital Stereo Condenser Microphone

A compact, high-quality stereo microphone designed for mobile recording, offering multiple polar patterns and excellent sound clarity for musicians and content creators.

View on Amazon

Shure MV88+ Stereo Condenser Microphone and Video Kit

When I upgraded my iPad some years ago, the new model came with a USB-C connector. This meant that my Shure MV88 would not longer connect (as it uses a lightning connector). Given I used my microphone extensively to record my practice with my iPad, I decided to buy the MV88+.

There is a newer MV88 model now that has a USB-C connector. However, the MV88+ connects by a cable and has both USB-C and Lightning connectivity. This might be an important consideration for you.

Shure MV88+ Digital Stereo Condenser Microphone and video kit

A compact, high-quality stereo microphone designed for mobile recording, offering multiple polar patterns and excellent sound clarity for musicians and content creators.

View on Amazon

I still use both of these microphones regularly to capture my practice and assess my progress due to their unparalleled ease of use – simply plug into the phone or iPad!

For published videos, I always capture audio and video separately. However, when capturing my practice these microphones do offer the advantage that I can capture audio and video simultaneously and the loss in audio quality is perfectly acceptable in this situation.

Dedicated Audio Recorders (a good alternative to a phone based solution)

Another range of equipment that can be considered is that of dedicated audio recorders. These are small, yet incredibly powerful, devices designed to be able to capture high quality audio. A number of them come with built in microphones and thus offer the same flexibility and portability as a the Shure microphones above.

Zoom H1 Essential Handheld Recorder

A good example of this is the Zoom H1. In full disclosure I do not have this particular model, however, I do have Zoom products (which are mentioned in my Intermediate Set Up below) which makes me confident of their quality. There are numerous alternatives also available on Amazon.

Zoom H1 Essential Handheld Recorder for Musicians

A Handheld Recorder for Musicians, Podcasters & Filmmakers with Stereo Microphones, 32-Bit Float, USB Microphone Mode, Soft Touch Controls and Built in-Speaker

View on Amazon

I have included a link here so that you can discover if this might be a better option for you rather than something centred around your phone. There are lots of this type of device and so it is worth researching further.

My online course Audio Recording for Classical Musicians gives step by step lessons on how to get the most from this type of simple set up.

Simple Set Up Accessories

The only accessories that are needed are some type of tripod and a holder for the phone. This gives enough flexibility over positioning the camera an ensures the phone is held securely to avoid damage. These items often come bundled, however, do be careful as the very cheapest can be somewhat flimsy. Dedicated audio recorders can also be mounted on a standard tripod although some might require a microphone stand (which has a slightly different connector).

Intermediate Set Up

From June 2021, I upgraded my main Piano Recording equipment. I discussed this in my article on the Perfect Equipment for recording piano. As I concluded in that article, this type of upgrade isn’t for everyone but if you intend to record very often, then it is worth investigating.

Zoom F6 Field Recorder

The Zoom F6 is an ‘older brother’ to something like the Zoom H1 we looked at above. The principle is that it is a self-contained recorder (so can be used ‘in the field’) and it can take up to 6 microphones. When recording, it saves the audio to an SD Card such that it can be downloaded to a computer (or of course iOS device) later.

I principally bought it for its 32 bit float capability and at the time it was one of the few devices on the market with this feature. Fast forward to 2026 and now it is common across many devices (including, you might have noticed on the Zoom H1).

Zoom F6 Professional Field Recorder/Mixer for Filmmakers & Musicians

Zoom F6 Professional Field Recorder/Mixer for Filmmakers & Musicians with 6 XLR Inputs, Pro Quality Preamps, 32-Bit Float, Timecode, Battery Power, with Wireless Control

View on Amazon

I personally think that for me this was a great upgrade and provides a good intermediate solution.

However, the Zoom F6 does not come with built in microphones. This is another reason why it might not suit everybody as (a) microphones are an additional expense and (b) set up is more complex, time consuming and error prone.

Rode NT5 Condensor Microphones (Matched Pair)

The microphone I eventually opted for was the Rode NT5. However, to capture a stereo recording we need two (hence the Zoom H1 has two built in microphones). The simplest solution here is to purchase what is called a ‘matched pair’. This is to say that the two microphones were matched for response etc in the factory and get sold as a pair.

Rode NT5 – Matched Pair & Rode Stereo Bar

Matched pair of premium small-diaphragm condenser microphones with Stereo Bar for mounting two microphones in a stereo array.

View on Amazon

It is important to point out that using two microphones definitely gives more flexibility but is far more involved than using a Stereo Microphone (such as the Shure MV88) or a recorder with built in microphones.

Accessories

Of course, once we start looking at a separate recorder, with separate microphones, we start to need far more accessories. I’ve linked the obvious ones below for you:

XLR Cables (to connect the microphones to the recorder)

A Stereo Arm (allowing two microphones to be used in standard configurations on a single stand)

Microphone Stands (often with a Boom Arm to help position them appropriately)

Tripod (to securely mount the Recorder – although any solid surface will do)

Note: currently Rode are bundling a Stereo Arm with their NT5 matched pair offer.

Voice Audio Equipment

For voice recording, I have always remained with a very simple set up.

I use a Rhode SmartLav to record my voice (as you can keep the microphone much closer to you without it being intrusive on camera). The microphone plugs into any iPhone/Phone with a standard headphone socket available.

I use the Rode Record app to control the Lavalier microphone (also available on the App Store).

Note: the SmartLav+ uses a standard headphone jack connector and so can’t be used on new iPhones that don’t have one without an adaptor.

Video Equipment

All of my video has been captured using various iPhone models. My very early ones used my iPhone 6S and I’m currently using an iPhone 13 Pro. I have never been tempted to move to a dedicated camera as current iPhones can easily capture up to 4K video (and higher).

In terms of the software, I have never used the standard ‘camera app’ on the phone. Instead, I purchased an App called Filmic Pro which provides much better control over the camera than the camera app itself. This App is now on a subscription model and so might not suite everyone. There is another App produced by Black Magic that at the point of writing is still free.

That said, the standard Camera App can give perfectly good results if used carefully.

Video Accessories

The only accessories that are needed for the camera itself are some type of tripod and a holder for the phone. This gives enough flexibility over positioning the camera an ensures the phone is held securely to avoid damage.

However, depending on where you are filming, you might find it helpful to add good lighting. There are many solutions available (from extremely affordable to eye-wateringly expensive). I opted for a very simple solution similar to the one linked here.

For the more adventurous, you might consider embarking on the very fun idea of Green Screen. This effectively allows us to digitally move our piano to a totally different location. It’s surprisingly easy to do all things considered.

This video takes you through what’s involved if you think it might be interesting to try.

Remote Monitoring

I always record things alone, and so often use my iPad for remote monitoring. This is specifically to ensure camera placement is good and I can set focus and exposure properly whilst I am in the frame. It uses an app called Filmic Remote (available as part of a bundle with Filmic Pro). This allows me to control the Filmic Pro app on the phone from the Filmic Remote app on the iPad.

Audio and Video Editing Software

Audio post processing is done using Garageband. I also used to do my Video Editing using iMovie – both shipped free with any Mac. I currently use an iPad App called Lumafusion which is somewhat more powerful than iMovie.