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Sound Track: Interview Audio

Though video is a visual medium, there are certain types of productions where what the viewer hears--not what the viewer sees--drives the video forward. Examples include the music video, the narrated documentary and the interview.

Of these, the video interview may be the simplest to produce. Simple is a relative term, however--turning out a crisp, articulate interview can be a challenging task even for the best videographers. Those who record a lot of interviews have developed a number of audio techniques and principles they rely on interview after interview. To help your interviews look and sound just like the pros, here are 10 proven techniques for taping and editing video interviews.

  • Find the best-sounding location For interviews, you want a location that sounds as good as it looks. This means finding a place free from unwanted noises (traffic, refrigerator, ringing phones, etc.). Listen closely to any location before setting up your gear. If you hear lots of noises and distracting sounds, you can be sure the mike will pick them up too. If necessary, find a different …

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    • Loren Alldrin | January 2000

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