Mic it: how to record audio

Sound is the first thing that people notice when they find something irritating about video.

Video cameras have a built-in microphone, but whenever possible, use an external microphone, and connect it to the camera's audio jack. Consider using a lavaliere or another form of external microphone.

• A lavaliere is a small microphone that can be clipped onto a piece of clothing about 6-8 inches below the speaker's chin. Lavaliere microphones are good if you want to keep microphones hidden.
• A handheld microphone can work well in an on-the-street interview situation.
• A shotgun microphone on a boom pole can be placed outside the video frame.

If you find there is too much echo or something sounds awry, you have a few options. Cloth is the key. Record your footage with subjects sitting on cloth chairs or move the subjects closer to drapes or wall-hangings. Hanging blankets out of sight of the camera, especially behind the camera, can help dampen stray noise.

Even when you are interviewing, leave audio spaces before and after questions. If you are not logging the recording, at least the quiet interval will give you an aural indication when editing the footage.

Avoid taping an entire session only to find out in the editing process that the audio was not recorded well. At the start of your shoot, make sure your camera is receiving audio and the levels are sufficiently high, regardless of your microphone and your recording environment.