Audio Advice (page 4)

As little as $50 buys a nice set of media speakers these days. But before you sign off on the audio in your project, consider how your audience will hear the finished product. Rather than the pure power of a home theater or even your subwoofer-enabled computer speakers, many listeners will hear your video through the world's most callous audio reproduction device - the 3-inch television speaker. Without the benefit of even moderate high or low frequencies, your listener will hear a very different audio picture than you did in the editing suite. Once you have a good mix, take a few minutes to make a VHS copy of the project, then view the tape on the worst TV you can find. Listen for missing or over-emphasized sound, and then make the appropriate adjustments to your project. Often, a few small changes will allow your video to maintain its audio impact, regardless of the playback device.

All software is not created equal. While most of the high-end editing packages handle audio with every bell and whistle known to exist, many of the mid to low-priced options handle audio very poorly, if at all. One of the first things to go is a plug-in architecture, followed quickly by the number of audio tracks and specific control of those remaining tracks. While you're saving your pennies for the latest, greatest, state-of-the-art video editing software, dig a little deeper in the software you already own. Join an online user group or surf the manufacturer's tech notes. You may find some features you didn't know existed or a workaround for one of its most challenging shortcomings.

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