There are several aspects to consider if you want to capture good quality video that will catch the attention of the internet users. In the last two blogs we wrote about the importance of light and what are the most common ways you can use lighting in a video (one point lighting and three point lighting).
High quality videos are a combination of good picture and good sound. Unlike the last two blogs where we wrote about the visual part of the video, this time we will talk about the sound. Why is it important to pay attention to audio and what are the ways you can get good audio in your next video?
Why is it necessary to talk about this topic?
Since all cameras and smartphones have microphones, one might be confused about the need to talk about how to get quality audio while recording video. But no matter how good the microphones on the cameras / smartphones are, there are still ways you can get much better audio for your videos than what your video recording devices offer.
If you want to get good audio on your videos, you will need to use an external microphone.
An external microphone is any microphone that you can plug into your camera / phone or external audio recorder. There are different types of them. But the important thing is that the external microphone will always give you significantly better sound than the microphone of the camera / phone.
Types of external microphones
There are several types of external microphones that you can use to record sound for your audio. Some of them can be plugged directly into a phone / camera, while others require a special type of camera or special audio recorders.
Lavalier Microphone: This type of microphone is the smallest of all, well known and is the cheapest option when it comes to external microphones. The lavalier microphone is a type of microphone that comes with a small clip, so it is very easy to install because it can be attached to clothes. It is often used in television interviews because it gives a great sound. A great option for such a microphone that does not cost much money is the Boya BY-M1 microphone which on Amazon (at the time of writing this blog) costs only $ 14 (no delivery): link. You can plug this microphone directly into a camera / smartphone / laptop.
Boom/Shotgun Microphone: this microphone got its name because of its oblong shape. This is a microphone that you would use in video if you want to record footage in which the microphone will not be visible at all. Its advantage is that it has a longer reach and therefore is often positioned 25+ centimeters above the person you are recording. To use a shotgun microphone you usually need an external audio recorder. But as with the lavalier, with this type of microphone there are options that can be plugged directly into a camera / smartphone. An example is Deity D3 Pro.
Studio Microphone: In addition to being used in a vocal recording studio, these types of microphones (also known as condenser microphones) are often used to record podcasts and vlogs. Compared to all other types of microphones, the strong side of studio microphones is that they are very sensitive to sound. This has its advantages, because this type of microphone will capture your voice in the best possible way. However, the sensitivity has its drawbacks, because the recording with such a microphone should be done in a room that can be sound controlled, i.e. a room in which there will be no sounds other than the voice you are recording. Very famous, and often used microphone in this category is Rode NT1-A. To use a studio microphone, you need to plug it into a separate audio recorder or connect it to a computer via a sound card.
Dynamic Microphone: Dynamic microphones are the mics used for vocals during public appearances and concerts. They can also be used for video audio, although this is rarely done. They are not as sensitive as the boom/shotgun microphones or the studio/condenser microphones, which means that when you use a dynamic microphone, you need to have it very close to the person who’s talking. Most famous microphone in this category is Shure SM-58. The challenge with this type of microphones is that you can not plug them directly into a camera / smartphone. To use a dynamic microphone, you need to plug it into a separate audio recorder or connect it to a computer via a sound card.
Conclusion
While improving the quality of audio in videos means that you need to spend some money, investing in a good microphone is just as important as investing in good lighting. The good thing is that you do not need to spend a lot of money to improve the audio of your video - if you are on a tight budget. You can buy a bug microphone for only 20-30$ and your videos will get a whole new sound.
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