BV II: Sound & Microphones

You really cannot underestimate the power of audio; it is just as important to have good sound as there is to have good video and as I mentioned in my last post regarding cams, video is 3/4 audio.  Have you ever seen a video whose picture quality was pretty great, but for some reason or another you did not feel as if you would like to continue watching? More often than not, it may have been poor audio.

Although most cams, whether they be handhelds, phones, DSLRs, or camcorders, come with built in audio – no matter how much you may have paid for i investing in an external mic will ramp up the quality of your videos.  For this to be possible though, you should be sure that whatever you are using to record contains external jacks for microphones.  A slight inconvenience you may face while recording with anything but a camcorder is that most tend to record on mono tracks instead of stereo (more on this later). This can be an advantage though! If you are using audio editing software, it allows for cleaner cutting and mixing with background music, since you can change different levels of sound in case the background is too high.

If you are using cell phones, still cameras, point and shoots – then chances are you will not have external jacks for microphones but that should not stop you as there are plenty of ways to get around this.  If you do not care, that is no problem but if you are a little more serious regarding recording then I would suggest investing in a audio or voice recorders; these are compact, cost effective, capture sound fairly well and do contain jacks for external mics. I may be wrong but one of my favorite podcasts, Seoulpodcast probably uses a portable mic at times, though some interviews take place on skype.

Sound recorders aren’t expensive, and even one like the Sony ICD-BX800, which is only 30 dollars will boost up your video quality. I would even recommend this for some camcorders when a lapel mic’s wire may be too out of reach or distance is a factor, since you can easily fit it in a pocket and wander freely when wireless mics aren’t an option.

Having separate audio recording does have its advantages but it will require a little more work, very worth it though.  You do have to worry about audio syncing which may sound too technical but really only involves the sound matching the action. This is how movies are filmed and have been filmed and the reason why producers use “sound clap boards.” All you have to do is sync the “clap” sound to the picture on screen and you have your audio synced.

Of course it may be an inconvenience to be carrying around a board with you, so something as simple as clicker, clapping,or closing a book will be just fine, be innovative!

For those using DSLR cameras, camcorders or anything with an audiojack, although having separate sound recording such as the method mentioned above can be very useful, you do have much more options, including the option of  a sound recorder with different mics!

Built-in Mics:

No matter the cost of your video recording device, one will quickly learn of the shortcomings involved with built-in audio.  Perhaps one of the biggest problems is that you have little control over audio settings, where it may pick up sounds that you do not like or want and give them higher priority over your voice or target.  This may not be too much of a problem if you are indoors on your own but when you are out in public, where there’s hundreds of different sounds taking place, the camera does not have a mind of its own to decide which one to give priority to. Additionally, sound degrades the further away you are from the cam, so be sure to stay nearby and speak loud – from your diaphragm.

Some cams give you the option of turning off the automatic mic levels, which I extremely suggest, since otherwise where there are moments of no sound, the mic will amplify and you will be picking up that hissing,static “aircon” sound as well as record loud pops and crackles when sound is sudden. Does it sound complicated to adjust sound manually? It is not, on manual mode only make sure that the sounds you are recording do no go into the “red” zone, otherwise you will hear crackling in your videos.But be careful not to go too low either!

Additionally, if your cam does not have manual options for audio, you should be careful as in high volume the sounds might clip.

If you have a DSLR or anything but a camcorder, chances are you won’t have access to a levels meter.

Sound Direction

Now, lets get down to business and start discussing the different types of mics available for jacks. Microphones are categorized depending on how they pick up sound.

Cardoid types are unidirectional, are the most common, and tend to be used mostly in blogging or interview type videos. The are good at rejecting sounds around the speaker, omnidirectional  mics pick up sound from all directions, great if you would like ambient sounds of the city or an outdoorsy type, and bidirectional mics pick up sound from the sides, which doesn’t sound so amazing but works great in interviews. There is also the shotgun, which is highly directional – a type of point and shoot for sound, good for picking up some ambient but cancelling out the sides and behind, though it does have sensitivity to its immediate behind.

Microphone Types

Lavalier/Lapel Mics

Uses:

• Speeches
• Conversation
• Interviews

Lavalier mics are generally pretty inexpensive and can provide a huge boost to your sound quality. They provide unidirectional sound recording which is excellent if you are speaking and can be conveniently hidden under your shirt. There are two kinds which involve wireless and wired, with wired ones having pretty lengthy cables of up to 20 feet. I would highly recommend wired as the quality tends to be better but may restrict your movement, and wireless ones tend to be very expensive. Currently I am using an Audiotechnica lapel mic that cost me a mere 20 dollars, uses 1 minicell battery and has amazing sound capture. My only nuisance is that it does not have a battery meter to know when it runs out, but isn’t really a problem since 1 battery can last me 8 months and they only cost about a dollar. Also it records only in mono tracks, which is good for adding background music but if you prefer stereo, you can always convert it using an editing program. You do stand out alot more with a lapel mic, which might make you seem disconnected from the world around you, or give that feeling of recording “in a box.”

Shotgun/Boom mics:

Uses:

• Conversation
• Some ambient sounds
• Hands free use
• Switches, various targets

You will more often than not see a shotgun mic on prosumer rigs and almost every camcorder has a horseshoe to mounting one of these.  Most people prefer to take a shotgun mic over a lavalier, though it can cost a little more, but the uses are endless as you can quickly point and shoot between different subjects.  Over  a lapel mic, this will record the different sounds in the room with emphasis on what is being shot. However, be sure to keep it pointed at the speaker, as otherwise the sound could be a little washed down.  The nice thing about shotgun mics though is that you “blend” in much more nicely with the environment and don’t stick out as much as with a lapel mic. These are most often used on television and film sets. Some problems might be an echoey effect on indoor recording. Similar to hypercardiod but with a longer range. I would suggest it only if your cam has a mount for it.

Uses:

• Same as shotgun
• Someone has to hold it/stand
• Similar costs

As for the booms, they work essentially the say, to keep things simple, but you are going to need someone else to carry it and make sure they keep it out of the video screen; that or a stand. Wiring can be a drag as well, unless you want to invest in a more expensive wireless version. Suggested if your cam doesn’t have a mount.

Hypercardioid

Uses:

• Speech and vocals
• Indoors

Some of the best setups I’ve seen and heard online involve the use of a hypercardioid microphone, which are great at picking up the sound from a general direction and not whats behind that target, as well avoiding sounds from the sides.  Most PC mics also fall into this category of sorts. Great for proximity without the echoey effect from a shotgun.

Omnidirectional

Uses:

• Outdoor
• Musical

If you are a fan out the outdoors then an omnidirectional mic will be the best to pick up ambient sounds, it records a full 360 sphere around the mic. However, amplifying the sounds can lead to degrading. Great for when sound is coming from all directions and the microphone must be in a fixed position.  This may not always be what you want for blogging, unless you have a separate track where you can amplify your voice or care more about the ambient.

About Guards

Ever seen that black stuff on microphone that is soft and like cotton. Its purpose is to diffuse any sounds caused by winds or cracks/pops that might come up in your area while filming. Be sure to keep it on!

Now that we have gone over some simple things about microphones, it will be up to you to decide which one is right for your needs, or whether you even need one at all. I still highly recommend a mic for whatever it is you will be doing, as it will greatly improve the quality of videos. Also don’t let separate track recording scare you, as it can actually be alot better for you if you are willing to do a little extra editing.

Better Vlogging series:

Better Vlogging I: Choosing the right Camera

Better Vlogging III: Know your Camera

Better Vlogging IV: Composition Basics I

Better Vlogging V: Composition Basics II

Better Vlogging VI: Editing

Better Vlogging VII: Software Coming Soon!