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Story, visuals, special effects, and product placement aside: did you know that the audio quality is perhaps the most important factor of your video production? Poor audio levels will immediately turn off an audience while high-quality audio will make your video feel polished and professional. Unfortunately, capturing a strong, clean sound on set can be extremely difficult. Whether you choose to film indoors or outdoors, you and your crew will have to deal with potential interference coming from multiple sources-from air conditioning units to heavy traffic. Here are five ways to help prevent capturing unwanted audio information in your next Orlando video production.
- Know Your Microphones
Although today’s store-bought video cameras continue to improve in terms of sound quality advancements, separate audio equipment is still ideal if your goal is a polished, professional video. The right equipment will capture crisp audio input and make the post-production process much easier. Rather than create a do-it-yourself project, trust a camera crew to help you capture the high-quality audio and visuals you want. The crew will have and be well versed in the necessary equipment, such as the many different microphones that are intended for use in certain circumstances. Some microphones are better for close-up interviews, for example, while others will help you capture clean audio outside.
- Combat Outside Interferences
Shooting on location outdoors can provide beautiful backdrops, but it can also raise many issues. Visual aspects include shadows and sunlight, but audio considerations range from weather and wind to traffic and pedestrians. If possible, scout out your location in advance and around the same time that you plan to film. Close your eyes and listen to your surroundings to identify any noises that could be troublesome while filming. Your camera crew will help you combat any challenges with wind protection for outdoor microphones, wireless interview microphones, and more.
- Indoor Acoustical Considerations
If you opt to shoot indoors, you should know that there are still many environmental noises. The benefit, however, is that your indoor location or studio may be much easier of an environment to control. Visit your filming site and listen carefully, as there are many indoor noises that we subconsciously block out. Will you need to turn off the heater unit for a while, or redirect employees to another hallway or stairwell? If your location is close to the road, do you need to avoid filming during heavy rush hour traffic?
In addition to the types of questions already posed, you should consider the acoustical characteristics of your space. Is the room very “live,” resulting in a sound that bounces around? Alternatively, is the room heavily carpeted and overly dry? The latter may pull natural resonance from your actors’ voices. Once you understand the room’s acoustics, you can better equip your production to handle them.
- Finding the Right Balance
Your shoot is set up, your crew is in place, and the first actor’s lines were impeccably spoken. What happens, however, when your second actor speaks in a much softer voice? The two are acting in a scene together, side-by-side, so filming them separately is not an option. What can you or your crew does to even out the audio levels? Thankfully, there are many solutions. The first is microphone type and position, which your video production crew will know how to handle. You may need to hang a microphone from above or equip the actors with individual hidden microphones so that the levels can be balanced later.
In another instance, if you film separate scenes and realize the overall volume is much more in one, this can be solved in post-production. Microphone positioning can especially help in interviews, when the camera’s placement may muffle the interviewer’s voice if no outside audio equipment is used. Other aspects of audio levels to consider include background music and voiceover volume. Supplemental material, such as background music or sound effects, should be heard without overwhelming the important sound information, such as the actors or a voiceover.
- Use an Experienced Crew
Before you skip over this paragraph, understand that working with experienced personnel is important even if you choose not to hire a professional video production crew. If you are making a video on your own, you still need to find friends, relatives, or co-workers who are experienced in handling both the camera and the necessary audio equipment. Professional camera crews are ideal, of course, because they have dealt with everything, and any unforeseen circumstances they may not have encountered can be easily navigated thanks to their experience and expertise. In addition, professionals have a myriad of microphones to choose from, making them even more adaptable to your shoot’s specific needs.
Finally, an experienced video production team can work wonders in the editing room. Post-production will allow your crew to apply restoration while crafting smooth edits and seamless audio mixing. They will have access to and the experience for a number of specialized programs that will give you the clean, balanced results you want.
Our Orlando Video Production Company, NG Production Films, understands that audio quality can make or break the success of your video. Our experienced, dedicated production crew is fully equipped to handle any situation. After setting up shots and filming, we will further clean up and polish the audio input and levels during post-production. The end result will be seamless, professional, and something worth sharing with your clients. Call us today at 877-203-2895 for a free consultation or fill out our contact form for a prompt reply.
