This is the second post in a 5-part series on how to create good online video. Read the entire series — image, sound, editing, distribution and promotion.
Good audio makes good video. Without it, the end result is unwatchable, ignored by your audience and potential advertisers. With DSLR cameras, good audio is tricky because unlike traditional cameras, DSLRs have unusable sound functionality.
Audio recommendations largely depend on the type of show you’re producing. If it’s just a conversation, you can use a boom microphone. If you want to increase the audio quality, then you need to have lavalier microphones. This post will cover both types of recording situations.
Audio recording with boom microphones
Recording audio with boom microphones is great for on-location shoots for up to 2 people. For anything more, you need to have multiple boom mics.
- Mics: Boom microphones are a dime a dozen. The one that I recommend is the Rote NTG-2. It’s a high-quality microphone at an affordable price. Price – $270
- Mic stand: Unless you have an audio engineer on site, it’s best to have a boom stand for the mic. Just like mics, they vary in price and capability. I highly recommend the Manfrotto 420B microphone stand with a sandbag. Why the sandbag? So that your stand doesn’t tip over. Price with sandbag – $155
- Audio recorder: Once you have your microphone and stand, you need to record the sound. Unfortunately, recording it through the the camera is not an option. The Zoom H4n from Samson is considered an industry standard for a good reason. It’s a great device and extremely capable. Price – $300
Total price for boom setup – $725
Audio recording with lav microphones
Lavalier microphones are great for controlled environments. They’re best for conversations and talk shows.
- Mics: Good microphones are hard to find. Every audio professional has their own opinion as to what works and what doesn’t work. The one that I use and recommend is the Countryman B3. Price – $199 (recommended amount: 2)
- Audio recorder: Similar to boom microphones, you have to run your lav mics into an audio recorder. In this situation, the suggestion remains the same – Zoom H4n from Samson. Price – $300
Total price for lav setup – $700
For audio recording, the environment matters a lot. Even the best microphones will produce poor quality results if you have a lot of background noise. Be aware of your environment and don’t forget to turn off your cell phones.
