Q. After years of successfully recording with stereo mikes and a Canon XL1, we recently purchased an Audio-Technica lavalier microphone and an Azden shotgun mike. When we record with these mikes, we use the standard input for the camera mike on our XL1. We go from an XLR, connected to the mike, to

How’d they do that? You’ve seen them so often that they seem perfectly natural. But they’re not. Animals just don’t talk. Except, of course, in the movies. And TV. And commercials. And music videos. OK, animals talk! I’ll even tell you how to do it yourself at the end

It’s time to record the narration for your next video production. You want to produce the best audio quality possible, keeping your narration free of plosives, but can’t bring yourself to part with $30 to purchase a hoop-style windscreen like the pros use. If you could build one for $2,

Folks who would benefit from a device for converting video from analog to digital are just the sort of people Dazzle had in mind for its Hollywood DV-Bridge. If you have a FireWire-equipped computer, but don’t own a DV camcorder, or if you have an older DV camcorder that does not include analo

aperture/exposure A setting that manipulates the amount of light falling onto the camera’s CCD(s). This control adjusts the size of the camcorder’s iris. CCD (charge coupled device) Light-sensitive integrated circuit in video cameras that converts images into electrical signals. Sometime

Remember the old American Express credit card commercials? At the end of each one a powerfully-voiced announcer would command, "Don’t leave home without it!" As a result, many people made sure they had their AmEx cards before walking out the door for an evening on the town. It’

Bears know better. When it gets cold, they hibernate. They just crawl in a cave and wait for warmer weather. But life doesn’t stop for you, or your camera gear. You still want to get out there and record everything from winter holidays to football. And though the freeze may be too tough for b

Your holiday vacation to scenic Elizabeth, N.J. left you with hours of spellbinding footage: the tempest of turnpikes and toll booths, and the razzle-dazzle of refineries. Your video is so vibrant you can almost smell the air. You’ve edited the visuals of your masterpiece, and now it’s t

It doesn’t take a lot of experience to realize how important good clean audio is. And how you acquire that audio is going to have a direct impact on your finished video. Since most cameras have an internal microphone, many novice video producers assume that they don’t need an external

Gather ’round everyone, it’s time to reveal the secret ingredient that all the pros agree must be added to each of your video recipes if you want to cook up an outstanding program. Ready? The secret ingredient is… great audio! That’s right. To be good at making videos, you mu

Not only will a camera bag help to protect your camcorder, but it’s also a convenient carryall for your essential video accessories. Spending a few minutes gathering the right tools can save you time, money and aggravation. The better the contents of the bag, the less aggravation you’ll

If you’ve ever recorded yourself on tape, you probably did a double take the first time you heard your voice played back. Who was that, you probably wondered. Your voice hasn’t changed; your perspective has. Normally when you speak, you hear your voice internally through your body as we

Audio is arguably one of the most crucial and often overlooked aspects of video production. Crisp, clear, balanced sound requires a high-quality microphone. So where do you begin? You could spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars on a single microphone. Should you? We set out to test three differ

A picture’s worth a thousand words. We all know this conventional wisdom; and since video at its best is primarily visual, it’s usually good advice. But not always. For instance, Retirement Plans for Physician Partners was the pulse-pounding topic of a corporate video I made for a big H

Though video is a visual medium, there are certain types of productions where what the viewer hears–not what the viewer sees–drives the video forward. Examples include the music video, the narrated documentary and the interview. Of these, the video interview may be the simplest to produ

This is a list of all of the important audio terms you should know for recording audio for video and post-production work. ambient sound – (ambiance) Natural background audio representative of a given recording environment. An on-camera dialog might be the primary sound; traffic noise and refr

Producing Great Sound for Digital Video Jay Rose (1999, Miller Freeman Books, San Francisco, CA 94105, 349pp., $40) With PBS and Turner Network Television production experience under his belt, author Jay Rose brings a wealth of experience to Producing Great Sound for Digital Video. Producing Gre

Basics of Video Production (Second Edition) Des Lyver & Graham Swainson (1999, Focal Press, 225 Wildwood Ave, Woburn, MA 01801-2041, 150pp., $20) Whether you are a newcomer to video or an experienced producer, you will benefit by reading the latest from Des Lyver and Graham Swainson. The two

Once upon a time, in a land before computers and editing software, video editors struggled to edit audio. Tracks were limited, and options were slim. Two channels of audio were a luxury. Only the most daring editor would attempt to mix narration, sound effects and music live onto one track. Most vid

Soundboard Fun If you do live multi-camera shoots, you are going to need a mixing board for your sound. The only way to properly coordinate multiple audio sources on-the-fly is by using a soundboard. Studiomaster is a British company that makes sound equipment, particularly mixers. The Club2000 will