Lesson 7
Sound
Prepared by: Mr.
Diaz
Objectives
• Identify different types of microphones;
• Record good audio; and
• Produce various kinds
• Sound or audio is an essential part of video content
creation. You need to have excellent sound quality
to be able to present your best video production.
After all, sound helps you communicate verbal
information to your audience. It allows you to
engage them by setting the mood and evoking
emotional responses.
• Good sound means recording clean and clear audio
so that your audience can easily understand what
your video is communicating. Without good sound,
your audience will not be able to fully appreciate
your video. As such, it's important that you plan
your shoots with sound in mind to ensure that you
capture good sound. Consider the location where
you will shoot. Pay attention to the sounds around
you. Remember, you can't fix bad sound no matter
how much you edit it.
• During the production stage, you use microphones
to capture audio. You can record actors saying their
lines and try to capture the audio while they happen
in the appropriate location. You also need to sync
your audio with your video during the post-
production process.
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Microphones
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Built-In
Microphones
Built-in microphones are
microphones that are built in the
camera you use. Built-in mics do not
have the same high quality as some
other microphones out there. This is
because the mic is attached to the
camera, making it a little bit far away
from your subject. As such, the mic
records everything between your mic
and your subject, capturing ambient
noises from the location you are
recording. Professionals usually opt
to buy external mics instead of using
built-in ones to ensure audio quality.
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Handhelds mic or
stick
microphones
•Handheld mics or stick microphones are portable mics
that are usually used by field reporters, hosts of live
events, and voice actors.
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Shotgun Mics
Shotgun mics are long and skinny
microphones They are usually
mounted onto a boom pole and
held by an audio crew member. The
audio crew holds the mic out of the
frame but keeps it close to the
actors speaking their lines. However,
it can also be mounted onto camera
like a DSLR. Shotgun mics are
directional, so they can record the
specific sound you want to record.
You simply have to point them in
the right direction.
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Lavalier
Microphones or
lapel mics
Lavalier microphones or lapel mics
are tiny microphones that are
usually attached to the actor's
clothing. They are lightweight and
come in both wireless and wired
versions. They are typically used
when doing interviews, performing
(singing and dancing performances),
and shooting videos where the
subject talks from a distance.
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Recording with your
Smartphones
While built-in microphones are not as
good as external mics, you can still
capture great audio using your
smartphone's built-in microphone. You
only need to do the following steps:
1. Clap your hands once you hit
“record”
• Clapping makes it easier to sync
audio during the post-production
stage. Typically, big productions use
a clapper board, but clapping your
hands will do. After you clap your
hands, wait one second before
letting your actors speak.
2. Get Close to your subject
• When you capture bad audio, it's often
because you have a distance problem.
You're too far away from your actors to
record what they're saying without
ambient noises. What you can do is set
up your phone out of the frame but near
enough your subjects when you record.
Additionally, you always need to point
your mic at your subject to minimize the
other sounds your mic will pick up.
3. Use a second phone as a
microphone
• Use a second phone as a
microphone. You can borrow
another smartphone to use a
microphone while recording. One
way of capturing great, clear audio
is by pinning a lapel mic onto your
subjects or actors. You don't even
need to buy a lapel mic; you can
make your own DIY one.
To make your own lapel mic, follow these steps:
A. Prepare a headset and two bobby pins.
To make your own lapel mic, follow these steps:
B. Put the mic of the headset between the two
bobby pins
C. Attach the bobby pins on the collar of your
actors' or your shirt. Make sure to run your
headset inside the shirt.
D. Plug the headset into a phone.
To make your own lapel mic, follow these steps:
4. Put your phone on Airplane mode.
• Airplane mode turns off all
your connections, which
means that you won't get
notifications, calls, and
other distractions from
your phone. It's a simple
thing to do, but it can
minimize unwanted noise
during recording.
5. Consider using an external mic and
audio software.
• There are many recording apps that you
can download for capturing audio. Some
examples are Easy Voice Recorder,
Smart Voice Recorder, and RecForge II.
Additionally, there are many external
microphones that you can use to record
better audio. For example, you can buy
a shotgun mic that can be attached to
your phone. Remember, the mic in your
phone is most probably omnidirectional.
This means that it records sound from
anywhere in the venue. A shotgun mic
will remedy this problem.
Foley Sound
5. Consider using an external mic and
audio software.
• Aside from recording your actors
speaking their lines, you should also
learn how to make and capture foley
sounds. A foley is a sound effect that is
created using everyday items. Foley
artists create these sound effects in a
studio or an enclosed space during
post-production. During the post-
production process, you will also
synchronize these sounds with the
shots you've captured. The term foley
is named after Jack Foley, who is
considered the first foley artist.
Types of Foley
Sounds
1. Footsteps
• The natural sound of
footsteps is difficult to
capture while shooting a
video. To recreate the correct
sound, foley artists typically
wear different shoes and
walk on various kinds of
surfaces.
2. Movements
• Movement refers to the
sounds people make when
they move aside from
footsteps. For example, two
people brushing past each
other is a sound of
movement.
3. Specifics
• Specifics or props refers to
sounds that mimic sounds
that happen in real life and in
fantasy. A door creaking or a
monster roaring is an
example of a props sound.
Creating Foley
1. Fire
• Scrunch up a sheet of
cellophane near your mic to
create a crackling fire or low-
level burning sound.
2. Breaking Bones
• Take a carrot or a bunch of
celery and snap it in half.
3. Horses
• Hit half coconuts on compact
soil or whatever surface the
horses are galloping on.
4. Thunder
• Wave a sheet of aluminum
near your mic.
5. Rain
• The sound of bacon being
fried makes good rain
sounds.
6. Grass
• Put shredded newspaper in a
plastic bag and gently hit the
bag.
7. Whoosh
• Swing a bamboo stick or a
cable in front of the mic.
