The Creator's Toolkit: Every Software and Piece of Gear You Need to Get Started

You Don't Need Expensive Gear to Start

Let me bust a myth right now.

You don't need a $3,000 camera. You don't need a professional studio. You don't need fancy lights or a soundproof room.

The truth? Most successful course creators started with tools they already had.

But I get it. You want to know what you actually need. So here's the complete toolkit—organized by budget and priority.

The Minimum Viable Setup (Under $100)

If money is tight, here's what you genuinely need:

Recording: Your Smartphone

Modern smartphones shoot excellent video. If you have an iPhone 12 or newer, or a flagship Android from the last 3 years, you're good.

Tips for smartphone recording:

• Use the rear camera (better quality than front)
• Film horizontally for course content
• Prop it at eye level using books or a cheap tripod
• Film in a well-lit room

Audio: Wired Earbuds with Mic

Your phone's built-in mic picks up too much room noise. A simple pair of wired earbuds (like the ones that came with your phone) dramatically improves audio.

Upgrade option ($30–50): The Rode SmartLav+ is a clip-on lavalier mic that works with phones and sounds professional.

Lighting: Natural Light

Position yourself facing a window. Natural light is free and looks great.

Timing matters: Morning or late afternoon light is softer. Avoid harsh midday sun.

Screen Recording: Free Software

For tutorials and slide presentations:

• Loom (free tier): Screen + webcam recording
• OBS Studio (free): More powerful, slight learning curve
• Zoom (free tier): Record yourself presenting

Video Editing: Free Options

You don't need Final Cut or Premiere Pro.

• CapCut (free): Excellent mobile and desktop editor
• DaVinci Resolve (free): Professional-grade, steeper learning curve
• iMovie (free, Mac): Simple and sufficient for most courses

Total Investment: $0–$50

This setup works. Really. Ship your first course with these tools.

The Professional Starter Kit ($300–$500)

Ready to level up? Here's where your money has the most impact.

Camera Upgrade: Webcam or Mirrorless

Webcam option ($100–$150):

• Logitech C920 or C922: Reliable, good quality, plug-and-play
• Elgato Facecam: Excellent quality, designed for content creators

Mirrorless option ($400–$800):

• Sony ZV-1 or ZV-E10: Made for content creators
• Canon M50 Mark II: Popular among YouTubers
• Used cameras from 2–3 years ago are often great deals

Audio Upgrade: USB Microphone ($80–$150)

Audio quality matters more than video quality. Seriously.

Top choices:

• Blue Yeti ($100): The classic. Good quality, easy setup.
• Rode NT-USB Mini ($100): Compact, excellent sound.
• Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ ($130): Studio quality.
• Shure MV7 ($250): Podcast-quality, USB and XLR options.

Lighting Upgrade: Ring Light or Softbox ($30–$100)

Ring lights ($30–$50): Great for face-on lighting, popular for a reason. Softbox kits ($60–$100): More natural, professional-looking light.

Budget pick: Neewer 18" ring light kit (~$40) Better option: Elgato Key Light (~$180) if you want easy control

Tripod or Mount ($25–$60)

For cameras: Any tripod rated for your camera weight works. For phones: Joby GorillaPod or similar flexible mount. For webcams: Many clip onto monitors; no tripod needed.

Total Investment: $300–$500

This setup produces genuinely professional-looking content. Most viewers won't notice a difference between this and $5,000 setups.

The Content Creation Software Stack

Beyond recording, here's what you need to actually build your course.

Course Platform

Where students access your course:

All-in-one platforms:

• MineCourse: Built specifically for creators (that's us!)
• Teachable ($39–$119/month): Popular, easy to use
• Thinkific ($49–$99/month): Good for beginners
• Kajabi ($149–$399/month): Premium features, higher price

Simpler options:

• Gumroad: Great for digital products, courses included
• Podia: Clean interface, no transaction fees on paid plans
• Patreon: Good for ongoing content, less for structured courses

Presentation & Slides

For lessons that use slides:

• Google Slides (free): Collaborative, simple, good enough
• Canva (free/$13 month): Beautiful templates, easy design
• PowerPoint ($7/month with Microsoft 365): Industry standard
• Keynote (free, Mac): Gorgeous, if you're on Apple

Graphic Design

For thumbnails, worksheets, social graphics:

• Canva (free tier is powerful): Start here
• Figma (free tier): More control, slight learning curve
• Adobe Express (free tier): Good templates

Video Editing

As your courses get more complex:

• CapCut (free): My top recommendation for beginners
• DaVinci Resolve (free): Professional features, worth learning
• Final Cut Pro ($300 one-time, Mac): Fast, intuitive
• Adobe Premiere Pro ($23/month): Industry standard

Audio Editing

For podcast-style content or cleaning up audio:

• Audacity (free): The classic, does everything you need
• Descript ($15/month): Edit audio by editing text. Magic.
• Adobe Podcast (free): AI-enhanced audio cleanup

Screen Recording

For tutorials, walkthroughs, software demos:

• Loom (free tier): Quick, shareable, integrated webcam
• OBS Studio (free): Powerful, customizable, records locally
• Camtasia ($250 one-time): Easy editing, good for beginners
• ScreenFlow ($149, Mac): Popular among Mac creators

The "Nice to Have" Extras

Not essential, but worth considering later:

Teleprompter ($50–$200)

If you struggle with scripts, a teleprompter helps you maintain eye contact while reading.

Budget options: Smartphone apps + cheap glass holder Better options: Elgato Prompter, Parrot Teleprompter

Acoustic Treatment ($50–$200)

Reduce echo and improve audio:

• Foam panels on walls behind you
• A rug on the floor (really helps)
• Thick curtains or blankets as DIY treatment

Standing Desk or Adjustable Monitor ($100–$400)

If you're recording for hours, ergonomics matter.

Green Screen ($30–$100)

For custom backgrounds or overlays. Only needed for specific styles.

My Recommended "Stack" by Budget

Budget Build ($0–$100)

• Smartphone camera
• Wired earbuds or SmartLav+ mic
• Natural light from window
• Loom or OBS for recording
• CapCut for editing
• Google Slides for presentations
• Canva for graphics
• MineCourse or Gumroad for hosting

Mid-Range Build ($300–$500)

• Logitech C920 webcam or used mirrorless camera
• Rode NT-USB Mini or Audio-Technica AT2020USB+
• Neewer ring light
• Basic tripod
• DaVinci Resolve for editing
• Canva Pro for graphics
• MineCourse or Teachable for hosting

Premium Build ($1,000–$2,000)

• Sony ZV-E10 or Canon M50 Mark II
• Shure MV7 or Rode PodMic + interface
• Elgato Key Light
• Quality tripod with fluid head
• Teleprompter
• Acoustic treatment
• Final Cut Pro or Premiere Pro
• Kajabi or MineCourse Pro

The One Thing More Important Than Gear

I need to tell you something.

None of this matters if you don't ship.

I've seen creators with $50 setups outsell creators with $5,000 studios. Why? Because they focused on content, not equipment.

Students care about the transformation you provide. They care about clear instruction. They care about practical, actionable content.

They don't care what camera you used.

Your One Small Win Today

Here's your assignment:

1. Look at what you already own
2. Identify the ONE weakest link (usually audio)
3. Decide if you can start with what you have, or need one upgrade

If you can start with what you have—start. Today.

If you need one thing, buy it this week. Don't research for months.

The best toolkit is the one you actually use to create something.

Next Step: Got your gear ready? Learn how to organize your knowledge into a clear curriculum with From Brain Dump to Syllabus.