Creating Better Web Videos: Audio

Technically speaking most of the home made-web videos you see on sites like YouTube have been skillfully constructed. That is to say that the editing makes sense. A lot of video makers out there (young and old) are very accomplished editors. They understand the ingredients needed to mechanically assemble a proper visual presentation.

Editing is a simple mechanical operation that occasionally gets complicated. In other words, other than special effects and animation, editing is mostly simple cuts and dissolves. It gets complicated when you add more source clips into the project. A source clip can be video-clips with or without audio, music, text (CG) and image clips. Every source clip you put in has an affect on your project's other clips, and visa versa. Each source clip in the project can be manipulated or enhanced, further affecting the other clips. There's a lot to think about, even with a simple project like a web video.

So let's start with the easiest clips of all, audio clips. Briefly for those who don't know the term, put simply, visual 'continuity' is when each video clip matches to the one next to it or makes sense. For example, shot #1 is a woman holding a full glass. Shot #2 shows her lifting the drink up and its half full. Or a scene with a lamp on, but the light is coming from the opposite side. These are example of breaking continuity.

Continuity also applies to audio recording. Have you ever noticed on some web videos that the audio is louder if the person speaking is closer to the camera? And when the camera is farther away you can't hear a word they say? This is because the microphone (mic) is built in. What's worse, you cannot connect a mic to most consumer video cameras. These are features available on more expensive semi-pro cameras. Most of us have no choice but to use the camera's mic. So how can you achieve consistent audio volume while recording?

One option is to record the dialog afterwards, but you'll probably never be able to match it with the video. The technique could be used as an effect though. You could raise the volume later on in editing, but will probably hear more hissing noise. Audible hissing occurs when the actor is farther away from the mic. The hiss is the air (ambience) in between. The farther away the actor is, the more hiss is recorded. So keep this in mind while you are shooting scenes. It will help later on. When you edit the clips together and try to match their volumes.

A way to control audio volume is by moving the camera closer and tightening up your shots. Zoom the camera out as far as it can go, and forget it is there. I know it's hard not to play with the zoom, but try to control the urge. This forces you to move the camera (and mic) closer. If you need wide shots, try using knee (medium-long) or waist (medium) shots instead.

Now here's the important part. Have the actors make a conscious effort to speak louder when they are at a distance from the camera. They don't have to shout or sound unnatural. They just need to naturally project their voice. They should also make a mental note of that volume. So that when they are closer to the camera they will speak normal or softer. This takes a little practice before you roll. Also be aware of which direction their voice is pointing. If the actor's head is pointing away from the camera the mic will not pick up their voice very well. You might consider shooting from an angle or using cutaway shots.

This is about all you can do with a consumer video camera in terms of recording audio. The goal is to have the volume of your video clips loud as possible, and more importantly with consistent volume. Why? Because these clips will have to compete with the audio of other clips when you insert them in editing. Keep in mind that music and sound effect clip volumes are almost always louder than camera audio.

Even if you don't add music you still need consistent audio levels from your camera when digitizing. If not, you will have to try and fix it in editing. Or you could do like some people and just edit the clips together with no regard to audio consistency. But ask yourself this. How can your web video stand out among the hundreds of thousand web videos out there on the Internet? It's up to you but any extra effort you put into your web video, audio or otherwise, helps to separate it from the rest. Have fun!