Let's talk about something that often gets overlooked in the world of content creation by newbies and even some veterans on YouTube: audio. Yeah, I know, it's not as flashy as the latest camera or editing software, but trust me, it's way more important than you think.

Why Audio Matters More Than Video

Think about it. If you're watching a video and the audio is muffled, distorted, or just plain bad, it's going to ruin the whole experience. Your eyes might be glued to the screen, but your ears will be tuning out, and eventually, so will your attention. On the other hand, if the audio is clear and crisp, you can forgive a lot of video quality issues.

Think about your real-life experiences.

If you watch music videos, are you there for the visuals or the music? Music. The visuals just help to elevate the experience.
If you watch Vlogs or Podcasts, are you there for the visuals or the content and conversation?
If you watch TV Shows or Movies, how good would it be if the audio keeps cutting out or was poor quality? I guarantee you would have a poor experience compared to if the audio was loud, crisp, and balanced.

I’m not saying that video isn’t important, because it is.

But if you’re building your setup and have a budget to stick with, the first think you should be purchasing is a good microphone.

Video: The Visual Treat

Now, like I said. Video is important. It's the visual treat that complements the audio and helps tell your story. But when it comes to the foundation of your content, audio is the bedrock. Think of it like building a house: you need a strong foundation before you can add the walls, roof, and fancy decorations.

Think of video as the visual storyteller in your content. It's the one that captures your audience's attention, draws them in, and helps them connect with your message on a deeper level.

The goal of the video aspect of your content is direction. It should guide the eyes of your viewers to what you’re talking about. There are many ways to do this, you can wave the camera around as you move, you can set it down and put the focal point in the shot, you can do B-Roll footage of a product, you can add transitions to photos or videos of places you’re discussing while you aren’t on camera. There’s a million and one ways to do it right. You just need to find out what makes the most sense to you and what your audience enjoys watching the most.

In the end, what you do is up to you. All I’m aiming for is to clarify why this is the correct way to go about getting your equipment upgraded in this order.

Happy Streaming/Creating!