Video Production 101: Tips for Better Audio

So, we’ve been focusing on video production a lot on the blog recently. We began with zeroing in on the importance of lighting and some tips to enhance it when filming. Earlier this month we shifted to the importance of audio and explored the different components of audio to consider when filming. This week we’re going to stay on the topic of audio but shift a little more into how to practically improve this for all of the different kinds of video projects you might have going on within your business. 

So, we hope you find these tips helpful in your various video projects. 

1) Record with a Good Microphone

You can think of this tip as the ground rule for all audio recording. Your audio can only be as good as the device recording it. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a quality microphone, but it’s not a good idea to solely rely on the microphones built into our equipment or mobile devices while filming. External microphones are still a necessity most of the time and worth it, especially through the editing process. Which type of microphone you choose heavily depends on the content you’re filming most, but consider things like reliability and frequency of use when picking one out. 

2) Don’t Underestimate Microphone Placement

Obviously having a good quality microphone is important, but the placement of that microphone is equally as important. Generally, the ideal distance for a microphone is four to six inches away from your mouth.

Depending on the project and the type of microphone you’re using, don’t hesitate to use mic stands or tripods. This will help with eliminating any additional noises from accidentally bumping the microphone and keep the audio levels steady the entire time you’re recording.  

Also, just some general tips because audio projects can span everything from professional videos to creative projects to social media videos and podcasts and everything in between. If you are recording sound effects, make sure to get as close as you can to the source of that sound. If you’re recording music, then place the microphone where it can capture the full range of music, which might even require multiple microphones.  

3) Find A Quiet Environment

The second golden rule of audio recording is to find as quiet an environment as possible. Yes, you can edit audio in post-production, but there’s only so much that editing can accomplish. It’s best to have a quiet environment so everything can be heard clearly, which will also save you time in the editing process. 

4) Record Separate Tracks 

If you have more than one person speaking in a video, we recommend recording each person’s audio separately. This helps with consistency on the volume front and also functions as a backup. Let’s face it: sometimes technical problems occur, and it’s best to have more than one audio source in these instances.  

5) Monitor Levels

This one is pretty simple. Keep an eye on your audio levels as you’re recording. Spikes and dips in audio can create distortions or make it incredibly difficult to hear. 

6) Consider Pop Filters

If you are recording for a podcast styled setting, we recommend using pop filters with your microphones. Pop filters are those screens that go in front of the microphone to help reduce plosives, which are just bursts of air we expel when pronouncing consonant sounds like “p,” “t,” and “k.” They help prevent audio distortions.  

7) Always Test First

Just like with lighting, test footage is a step we always recommend. This allows you to confirm in real time that all technology is working and levels are stable before you get too far into the process. 

8) Edit Your Audio in Post-Production

This is always a given if you’re adding sound effects or background music, but editing audio in post-production is pretty vital no matter the size of the project. This is how you can edit out background noise and amplify the voices of any primary speakers. It also allows you to edit out mistakes or pauses. 

Much like lighting, audio quality can make or break a project. It’s one of those aspects of video production that people tend to take for granted and only notice whenever something sounds not quite right. So, we hope these tips help you out in your future video projects, and we’ll be back next month with some more video-related content.