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Sound Advice: Audio - Get it Right From the Start

So, you've bought a shiny new digital video recorder and you're blown away by the image quality. But what about the audio? Audio is possibly the most overlooked element in video production. That's too bad because audio quality can make or break any video project, regardless of budget.
You may be able to fix some things in post-production, but why go to all the trouble when you can get it right the first time? This article explores 10 tips for gathering the best possible audio on your next shoot. Some are common sense tips, but many are hard-earned lessons from the field.

1 - Plan Ahead

When shooting on location, a smart videographer scouts the site before the shoot, looking for ideal lighting and backgrounds to produce the best image possible. For your next shoot, scout with your ears too. Listen for traffic noises, machinery, animals and aircraft anything that might ruin the audio during the shoot. Depending on your topic, some background noise may be acceptable or even desirable. Just make sure you can hear your subjects over the ruckus around them.<…

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Hal Robertson | August 2001

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