Sound Advice: Audio on an Even Keel

Did you realize there is a non-stop video production master-class available to you at all times? It's a little thing called television. Once you understand the video production process, it's easy to watch a TV show and figure out how they accomplished the various elements in a program. This is great for shot composition, lighting and camera work, but it's also a very valuable education for audio production.

Let's use a news-magazine show as an example. Its stories are typically filled with interviews. If you've shot many interviews, you know the three minutes you see on TV were ruthlessly edited from an hour or more of footage, possibly recorded over several days. Somehow, the editors manage to keep the audio levels consistent throughout the piece, even though they may come from different tapes and even different locations. How do they do that?

Shoot It Right
It all starts with the original shoot. Attention to detail is the key. Using the same microphone throughout a shoot is a simple thing, but also easy to miss. Pay attention to the microphone position on your talent's mouth and clothing. These notes help you recreate the shot after a break or even on another day, if necessary. If using an external mixer, write down all the settings for gain, volume and tone. Make a note of the audio cabling and how the signal enters the camcorder. It sounds like a lot of extra trouble, but one item out of place can completely change the sound on yo…