Video Production 101: The Components & Importance of Audio
Starting in October, we began to shift our focus on the blog onto components within video production. Part of what we do here at The Digital Shore is make compelling digital media content for our clients, which means that we spend a lot of time creating graphics and videos. These days we’re mostly focusing on videos for social media, but videos can also be utilized on websites, in presentations, and even for creative purposes. Not all videos have to be informational or even a marketing tool. Anyway, with that said, we have been covering some important aspects to keep in mind when shooting or editing. We began with lighting, and today, we want to shift to audio.
So, before we begin with tips for having compelling audio in your videos, let’s define the different components of audio and talk about why it’s important during the filming AND editing process.
When we talk about audio, it can usually be broken down into four parts. Those four parts for us include natural sound, dialogue/narration, sound effects, and music.
1) Natural Sound
The first component is natural sound; we can also call it ambient audio. It’s the background noises whenever you’re recording like the sounds of cars driving by or people talking or laughing in the background. Most Hollywood films go to great lengths to avoid using it, but in some situations, natural sound can ground a video. It just can’t be too distracting.
2) Dialogue/Narration
No matter what kind of video you’re making, someone is probably talking in it. It’s important that whoever is speaking, whether on-camera or not, can be heard clearly. Within the business world, obviously narration is a common element within instructional or educational types of video.
3) Sound Effects
Whenever we think of sound effects, it’s easy to use Hollywood films as an example. In fact, you probably think of gunshots or explosions as sounds that are added after the fact. However, sound effects can also be a lot more subtle in nature. It can be a phone ringing, a knock at the door, or the sound of a page turning.
4) Music
Background music is one of the greatest tools in your audio arsenal, especially when it comes to informational videos. Of course, this is also a tool that is only used in post production. Music helps set the tone for your video and can often keep a video from feeling stiff or boring.
So, now that we’ve talked about the four components of audio, let’s briefly talk about why audio is important for any video you’re creating.
1) Helps Tell The Story
Audio can convey such a wide range of information that it is essential for moving any story forward. I know when we hear the word story, it’s tempting to just think of this in creative terms. Yes, in fiction and big budget Hollywood productions, audio is pivotal to reveal characters’ thoughts and feelings. However, even in social media videos or informational videos, a video has a flow and audio can say a lot. It speaks to the tone of the information being provided and can add a level of engagement.
2) Creates Emotion
Nothing creates emotion or atmosphere quite like your audio. Audio elements help us to interpret just as much about what’s happening on screen as the actual visuals do. If you’re providing information meant to encourage, the right audio choices enforce that. If you’re trying to deliver more somber information, audio helps you reach that tone and communicate that feeling to your audience.
3) Makes or Breaks a Video
Lastly, audio can make or break a video. Poor audio quality of any kind will leave people moving on quickly. If dialogue or narration isn’t clearly understood, people usually don’t stick around. The same can be said for if your background music is too loud or if it doesn’t match the tone of the rest of your video. The importance of audio quality cannot be ignored.
As we said with lighting, audio is a tool at your disposal. You want it to enhance what you’re showing on screen and convey your message while not being distracting. In our next blog post, we’ll talk about some specific tips you can use to enhance audio on your videos, so stay tuned.