Microphones and Audio

Although most people quickly whip out the cell phone when something instantaneous happens, some of you have access to better camera equipment. The question is: how is your audio equipment? Do you own one or more microphones that allow you to capture sound properly? Or do you rely solely on the mic your camera came with? (P.S. The second one is the wrong answer.)

Even on a clear, sunny day, the slightest breeze can ruin an otherwise great interview or soundbite. Same goes for when something happens in the environment around you. Unless you're in a sound studio, it's almost inevitable that your camera's microphone will pick up a door closing, a car driving on a street one block away, or a kid screaming. Murphy's Law.

However, if you look at your camera's manual carefully, and figure out how to plug in an inexpensive microphone designed to record interviews, your videos will turn out much better in the end. This topic and more is covered in my book, Make Money with Video: Sell Footage to News Stations and Get Paid.

A cheap clip-on can get better audio than the mic

 of your camera.

When submitting video to news stations, videos with proper sound can equal a better cash return. Don't let bad audio ruin your chances of having your footage shown on-air.

Professionalism on Youtube

I find some amateur Youtube videos to be very amateur.  Perhaps I have an overly critical view, but I feel that Youtube is meant for a large audience. Presenters should be somewhat professional, and talk... efficiently, if that's the right word.  What I mean is, if a person on-camera is talking, and using way too many casual colloquiums "Like, you know, like, OMG!", and blabbering off-topic, it makes me switch to another video.  Whether or not you agree that professionalism is key, we can all agree that you want the audience to watch your whole video.

Last night I was searching for Youtube reviews of a product.  Once the person on-camera started blithering, after a few seconds I got annoyed and clicked on other videos.  The ones I watched to the end were because the host was speaking efficiently.

Tips to improve your videos:

* know exactly what you'll be talking about
* if you need to, have cue cards off-camera to keep you on-track
* get a program for basic editing, to remove mistakes, interruptions, settling into your chair, etc.
* make sure the room is extremely quiet so the audience can hear your mic

If you would like your videos reviewed, feel free to send me a link!