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If you’re planning to use the iPhone 15 Pro for content creation, then you likely are interesting in using the new external video recording functionality. The USB-C connection enables recording high quality video directly to an external drive, saving phone storage space. In addition, you can now connect several other devices at the same time by using a USB hub, which is very handy for content creators. But putting together a recording rig that keeps all this organized can be challenging, so below I’ve outline the setup that I put together. It works great for recording content like YouTube talking head videos, or even recording outdoors.
My goal in creating this setup was to take advantage of the iPhone 15 Pro/Max USB capabilities to the fullest extent, with external video recording, an external microphone, and power delivery. Of course, you can certainly go more minimal and still get great results, but this setup provides a lot of flexibility.
Smartphone Cage
The main structure of my setup is the SmallRig smartphone cage ($39). It’s super easy to mount and remove a smartphone by tightening one screw, and it provides all the necessary mounting points for the setup.
The cage provides mounting points on all sides including 1/4-20 and four cold shoe mounts. There’s also a version with two handles available for mobile recording.
Desktop Tripod
I keep the whole rig on this desktop tripod from Neewer ($57). The sturdy metal construction keeps it stable and the ball head is surprisingly good quality. It’s perfect for desktop use but it does have a decent range of height adjustment.
If you need a floor-size tripod for your space, I recommend checking out the SmallRig 71″ tripod ($69).
USB Hub
The heart of the setup is the USB-C hub. There are many on the market that will work, but I like this one from RSHTECH ($39) because it’s affordable and supports the iPhone 15 Pro’s maximum bandwidth of 10Gbps.
The hub provides all the necessary inputs including one USB-C, two USB-A, USB-C power delivery, and HDMI output. It also includes an SD card slot as well in case you plan to use that instead of an SSD.
Smartphone Mount + Magic Arm
To attach the USB hub to the cage, I use two additional parts. The mount is actually meant for a smartphone, and that’s the Ulanzi ST-03 ($21). It just happens to open wide enough to perfectly hold onto the hub with enough room to connect an HDMI cable to the end.
To attach it to the cage, I use a magic arm from SmallRig ($18). The 5.5 inch size is perfect for attaching to the 1/4-20 mounts on the cage and the positioning is very flexible.
Field Monitor
Using the rear-facing camera on the iPhone means you’ll need an external monitor so you can see your framing and recording app settings easily. You can use any existing external monitor that you have. But if you need one, it doesn’t have to be a high-priced monitor. A simple 5 or 7 inch field monitor will work fine, like the Feelworld 7 inch HD monitor ($99).
The resolution of 1280×800 is plenty for a clear image over HDMI and the size is perfect for mounting to the top of the cage. It can be powered by a battery pack or DC power adapter (not included).
SSD Mount + SSD
The next mount is for the external drive which allows you to avoid filling up your phone’s storage. There are a few options but I like this mount from SmallRig ($39). It’s just the right size to hold smaller SSDs – be sure to check the specs to make sure it opens wide enough for your drive.
I’ve been using the Crucial X9 Pro 2TB drive for recording with my iPhone 15 Pro Max and it has worked very well. The read and write speeds I’ve gotten are upwards of 900MB/s (maximum stated is 1,050 MB/s) and they are relatively affordable. The Samsung T7 is also a great choice with similar speeds, but it’s just a tad larger in size.
Power Bank Mount
The last mount attached to my cage is this power bank mount from SmallRig ($29). It’s a good size for medium-sized power banks, but it doesn’t open wide enough for larger banks. You can do without this mount if you plan to a charger brick and A/C power.
This 20,000mAh Anker power bank is an example of one that fits in the mount. It provides 20 watts of power delivery and I’ve used it for the last couple of years to power several different devices.
And this 24,000mAh Anker power bank provides up to 65 watts of power delivery, and is an example of one that doesn’t fit in the mount.
Camera App
This is not gear, not does it cost anything (amazingly). But the Blackmagic Camera App is a fantastic tool for maximizing your recording workflow with the iPhone 15 Pro. It allows you to record in any video codec (not just 4K60) externally, control the level of your audio in the app and select external mics, apply LUTS to see what you log footage will look like in post, and tons more, all for free!
