Good lighting does more than improve the look of your video podcast. It helps define the atmosphere, add dimension, and present your subjects clearly and naturally on camera. By using podcast lighting equipment, you can raise the overall quality of your episodes, making them more engaging and polished.
Typically, you may need these pieces of lighting equipment:
- Key lights to illuminate your subjects and highlight facial features
- Fill lights to soften shadows and balance the overall lighting
- Background or accent lights to add depth and separate subjects from the backdrop
- Light modifiers to soften harsh light, redirect illumination, and fill in shadows for a more flattering and balanced look
- Light stands or mounts to securely position and adjust your lights at the desired height and angle
Choose the best lights for podcast studio to properly illuminate the podcasters and the scene
When recording any kind of video, maintaining balanced, even lighting on your subject is essential. In podcast studios, the most commonly used lighting options include COB lights, LED panels, and ring lights.
After testing multiple setups, here are our recommended choices for key, fill, and background lighting in a podcast studio.
COLBOR W100
We’ve spent weeks testing the COLBOR W100 in our podcast studio, and it quickly became our go-to key light.
From about 1 meter away, it provides strong, even illumination that completely eliminates harsh shadows. The light is very consistent across different brightness levels, and skin tones look natural without appearing too warm or cold.
The 120° wide beam covers a large area, so even if the host moves slightly, the lighting stays flattering.
The app control makes it extremely convenient to adjust color temperature and brightness on the fly, which is a lifesaver when recording solo.
Even after long sessions, the light stayed cool and stable, proving it can handle professional use without overheating.
✨ Key Features
- 100W powerful LED output
- 2700–6500K adjustable color temperature
- CRI 97+ for true color
- Type-C & DC power options
- Wide 120° beam angle
- 10 preset lighting effects
✅ Pros
- Strong, even illumination
- Natural, accurate colors
- App remote brightness control
- Lightweight, portable design
- Efficient heat dissipation
❎ Cons
- No built-in Bowens mount
- Accessories sold separately
- No RGB effects
🏆 Best For: Main key light for podcast hosts, interview setups, and content studios.
COLBOR W60
During our studio testing, the COLBOR W60 impressed us as a perfect fill or side light. Its brightness is lower than the W100, but it softens shadows beautifully and fills in facial details without being overpowering.
When paired with a small diffuser or reflector, it creates a gentle, even light that works especially well for two-host setups or background accents.
It’s compact and easy to reposition, so you can quickly experiment with angles. We found it ideal for multi-light setups without taking up too much space.
✨ Key Features
- 60W mid-range LED output
- 2700–6500K adjustable color temperature
- CRI 97+ for accurate colors
- Type-C & DC power options
- Wide 120° beam angle
- 10 preset lighting effects
✅ Pros
- Compact and portable
- Affordable for quality light
- Soft, even fill light
- Smooth color temperature control
❎ Cons
- Less bright than W100
- Basic control interface
- No RGB effects
🏆 Best For: Fill light, side light, or background illumination in podcast studios.
Moman PC8
The Moman PC8 is surprisingly versatile for such a small light. In our tests, it works best as a close-range side, accent, or background light for desktop podcasts.
The color temperature range from 2500K to 9000K plus full RGB spectrum allows for creative lighting setups and subtle mood adjustments. It even comes with built-in effects that can add a dynamic, cinematic feel for livestreams or video podcasts without extra gear.
The OLED display and app control simplify adjustments mid-shoot, and the internal 3100mAh battery ensures mobility without a tethered power source.
While it doesn’t replace a main key light, it’s perfect for adding depth, color, or ambiance in tight studio spaces.
✨ Key Features
- 2500–9000K adjustable color temperature
- Full RGB spectrum 0–360°
- 13 built-in effect modes
- 3100mAh internal battery
- OLED display and app control
✅ Pros
- Extremely lightweight and portable
- Wide color and temperature range
- Built-in effects for creative lighting
- Flexible app-controlled adjustments
- Battery-powered, no external cords
❎ Cons
- Lower maximum brightness
- Full brightness lasts around 80 min
- Not ideal as the main light
🏆 Best For: Accent, side, or background lighting; desktop livestreams; smartphone setups.
Invest in suitable light modifiers to shape and control your podcast lighting
To achieve a professional-looking podcast lighting setup, choosing the right lights is only half the equation. Podcast lighting equipment, like light modifiers, helps shape, soften, and control your lighting, making your podcast set look more polished and visually comfortable on camera.
Softboxes & Diffusers: Softboxes and diffusers are used to soften and evenly spread light from a lamp or LED panel. By reducing harsh shadows and bright spots, they create a smooth, flattering light on the subject, which makes faces look natural and skin tones balanced. They are especially useful for key lights in podcast setups or interviews, where soft, even illumination is needed for close-up shots. The larger the diffuser surface, the softer the light it produces.
Grids / Honeycombs: Grids, also known as honeycombs, are attached to lights to narrow and control the direction of the beam. They prevent light from spilling onto walls, backgrounds, or other parts of the studio. Grids are commonly used on key or accent lights to create depth and separation between the subject and the background. By focusing light only where it is needed, grids enhance contrast and give a more professional, cinematic look.
Reflectors: Reflectors bounce existing light back onto the subject to fill in shadows or brighten darker areas. They do not require electricity and can redirect natural or artificial light to achieve soft, even illumination. Reflectors are especially helpful in small studio setups or single-light scenarios, allowing for better facial detail and balanced contrast without adding extra lights. They come in different surfaces, such as white, silver, or gold, each giving slightly different light quality.
Barn Doors: Barn doors are metal flaps attached to the sides of lights that allow you to shape and control the beam. By closing or opening each flap, you can block light from hitting unwanted areas like walls, cameras, or other objects in the studio. They are useful for accent lights, rim lights, or any situation where you want precise control over where light falls. Barn doors can be combined with softboxes or grids to create focused yet soft illumination.
Gels / Color Filters: Gels or color filters are thin sheets of colored material placed in front of lights to change their color or adjust the color temperature. They are used to correct mismatched lighting, create mood, or add subtle accents to backgrounds. For example, a warm gel can make skin tones look healthier, while a cool gel can balance daylight LEDs. Gels allow podcast creators to achieve consistent and visually appealing lighting, even when mixing different types of light sources.
Use podcast lighting equipment to securely support and stabilize your lights
Podcast light stands are the foundation of any lighting setup. They allow lights to be positioned at the correct height and angle, helping achieve consistent and flattering illumination on camera. A sturdy, purpose-built light stand also improves safety and gives you greater control over your lighting arrangement, especially in small or shared recording spaces.
Stability is a critical part of using light stands correctly. Poorly balanced stands can shift, tip over, or cause interruptions during recording. To reduce these risks, adding counterweights such as sandbags is a widely used practice in studios. Placing weight on the legs of a stand or along a boom arm lowers the center of gravity, helping keep the setup secure—particularly when lights are mounted overhead or extended outward. A stable lighting setup protects both your equipment and your recording environment while ensuring consistent results throughout your podcast session.
