Recording Sound

In this filmmaking class, Karl introduces you to the many different devices you can use to record sound for your videos.

Audio is easy to overlook when you’re filming, but getting it right is absolutely crucial. This class contains a host of useful tips and facts to help you record high-quality sound.

As Karl and Georgie try out radio mics, built-in mics, boom mics, independent recorders and more, you’ll learn about different inputs, how to minimize echo, and the difference between uni-, bi- and omnidirectional microphones.

You’ll also hear a lot about ‘horseball’ and ‘dead cats’, but don’t worry – no animals were harmed in the making of this video!

In this class:

  • Recording sound for filmmaking and videography
  • Audio recording techniques
  • Microphones and other recording devices
  • Problem-solving tips for recording sound

Questions? Please post them in the comments section below.

 

Comments

  1. Gary Stasiuk

    Asking to whomever is working with the sound recording.. capture and edit. I’m starting to look for a microphone. I’m looking for one that can deal with voices and ambience well.. but also capture music being played live. I’m not expecting to capture a whole band or a concert.. no. I completely understand the complexity of separate capturing and of course mixing, I’ve put video tracks together. My son plays jazz piano.. I want to capture the richness of his playing as well as useful in conversation & ambiance capture. Can you suggest a mic that can carry off both those situations.. from my perspective, one “mic” to rule them all. Suggestions? Oh, and the output would be web (higher quality cinema style) plus dumbed down for social media.

    1. Hi Gary, I’m afraid that doesn’t exist as far as I’m aware. The best microphone for convenience and the price that can be adjusted from a 90 degree angle to 120 degree beam with multiple other input options is the Zoom H6 handy. For a simple but high quality directional microphone the Senheiser shotgun mic gives very good sound. Our experience with sound is that the closer the microphone to the main subject then the less reverb or less interruption from unwanted surrounding sound. Getting the levels right set is also important although there is also the Zoom F3 which provides 32bit float sound to manage extreme levels that can be adjusted in post.

      1. Gary Stasiuk

        Makes sense.. I know it was an extreme ask. I would like to record him on an upright piano we have.. it is no a baby grand but it is excellent (acoustic) but he also has an electronic piano as well. Maybe that would be a better approach. I am leaning toward a shotgun mic at present.. I am thinking widest future usage. Sounds like the best approach.

  2. Gary Stasiuk

    Curious about how you record the dual radio mics.. are you recording onto a single track? Or is each recorded simultaneously, different tracks and mixed in post production? Are you using anything to plug the different mic reception inputs together, or does the single reception catch the various signals?

    1. Hi Gary, with dual mics they are each going down onto their own track. We were recently filming with 4 mics (4 people) and we switched to putting each mic receiver into a separate Zoom recorder which can handle 4 tracks simulataneously.

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