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Audio

The following tools and techniques will help you capture excellent audio. Having a firm grasp on sound design concepts, microphone types and proper audio practices can save you from unnecessary problems in post production.

Sub-categories

  1. Equipment
  2. Mic Placement
  3. Monitoring
  4. Recording
  5. Sound Design

Audio

  • Microphone Pickup Patterns

    screen shot of microphone with waveform, eq, and polar pattern

    Choosing and using the right mic for the job is an important step in any video project, and understanding a microphone’s directional characteristics is one determining factor. In this segment, we talk about a microphone’s directional response and sensitivity, how to interpret a polar response chart, and we listen to examples of various mics to hear how response works in practice. Knowing how to determine the directional characteristics of a mic, and understanding how this affects the sound your mic picks up, can help you make an informed choice for your next project.

  • Six Tips for Cutting Down Mic Wind Noise

    Greg Olson - March 04th, 2013

    So you've got the camera set up, your talent is miked up perfectly, and the shot looks stunning. Your audio guy (or perhaps you if you've got a small crew) slips on the headphones, and that's when he hears it. The windstorm that seems to be blowing a hurricane force wind directly into your mic. Since we're not likely to be able to just turn off the wind, and fixing it it post can have mixed results, here's six tips to cut down wind noise on your mic.

  • Production Tip: Setting Mic Levels

    waveform audio display

    Getting proper mic levels is essential to capturing good audio. These simple tips will help make sure your audio sounds as pristine as possible.

  • Audio Location Scouting

    Jordan Claverie - Tue, 02/26/2013 - 11:21am

    Scouting for audio
    Here’s the scenario: You recently replied to an audio gig posted on craigslist. It’s set to shoot next Tuesday and the producers just hired you. In your email information packet, they list three locations and the addresses. One is indoors, one is an urban downtown setting and the last is on a wooded walking trail just outside of town. A quick look at Google Maps verifies the locations and now you’re wondering what challenges each will bring, and how to deliver the very best quality audio. You need to do a location scout, only this time it’s for audio.

  • Shooting DSLR Audio with the BeachTEK DXA-SLR PRO Audio Adapter

    Jennifer O'Rourke - February 08th, 2013

    Image of BeachTEK DXA-SLR PRO Audio Adapter
    How many times have you heard video producers complain about their love-hate relationship with the new DSLR shooting and workflow? Yes, using a DSLR gives you the chance to swap lenses and capture great depth-of-field shots, but then you have to deal with the one big issue that traditional camcorders have addressed for decades: capturing good clean audio. BeachTEK has a solution.

  • Nessie Shows Up on Radar at CES 2013

    Jackson Wong - January 09th, 2013

    Nessie microphone on a circular base next to a laptop and Videomaker Best of CES 2013 Spotlight award

    A Videomaker Spotlight Award goes to Nessie from Blue Microphones!

    Blue Microphones Nessie is at CES 2013, but this one shouldn't be found in the water. Nessie can adapt according to who or what is projecting sound, as any elusive beast knows. In all seriousness, it's a microphone that has a built-in pop filter, built-in shockmount, adjusts EQ, applies dessers and can adjust levels in real-time. You get to direct Nessie into the nets of vocals, instruments or raw audio.

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