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Sound Track: 10 Tips for Better Sound (page 3)

10) Listen up!
This last tip is the most general--and perhaps most valuable--of the bunch. Any time you're shooting, keep an ear open to what the camcorder is actually recording. Our brains can block out environmental sounds and noises after a few minutes. Your camcorder's audio system can't do this, and will document every unwanted noise from the drone of an air conditioner to the tapping of a nervous interviewee.

Try to shut off you brain's "noise filter" so you can hear like a camcorder hears. If you hear a noise or other unwanted sound, you can bet your camcorder will record it.

Sounds Good
Implementing even a few of these suggestions should make a noticeable difference in the quality of your audio. To really benefit from these tips, type them onto a piece of paper and tape them to the bottom of your camcorder. Anytime you are setting up a shot, you'll see the paper and remind yourself that audio is half of what you are recording.

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