You’ve probably noticed that “tinny” sound most home movies have, and the way the background sounds overwhelm the main subject. That happens when you rely solely on the built-in microphone of your video camera. It isn’t picky about what it hears, and the louder the source, whatever that is, the more it will be the main thing you hear. Plus your hands handling the camera, or the wind outside can create a lot of noise. Try taping a speaker on stage while diners around you are clinking forks and knives on dinner plates and you’ll know what I mean.
You’ve seen many videos out there that have sound issues and you may have clicked off because of that. To make sure your audio won’t turn a viewer off and leave your video you need better audio.
For better sound you need to add external microphones. The two types of microphones you need to consider purchasing are lavalier and shotgun microphones. They each have their purposes.
Lavalier microphones are placed on the “talent” and give a sense of presence. They will make a 200% improvement in the sound of the person speaking over a built-in mic. They can be wired or wireless. These are the mics you see clipped to the shirts of people being interviewed on television. These mics don’t have to be expensive: you can buy a simple lavalier mic at Radio Shack for $26.49 online. Even at this price, it is much better than your built-in mic.
Shotgun microphones can be used on the camera, on a boom pole or a mic stand. Contrary to what many people think, a shotgun mic does not amplify or reach out to get the sound in front of it. It works by ignoring the sounds to the side and behind it, to varying degrees depending on the design. These work great when you need to isolate a speaker or actor but cannot use a lavalier mic. You can spend thousands of dollars on a top end pro model, but good quality can be had in the $200 – $500 range.
To set yourself above the pack in your online videos, you need to have great audio. As any videographer will tell you, sound is half the picture and it is not that hard to get good sound quality.
Tags: camera, radio, sound quality, television, video