Before You Start Recording Your Next Shoot, Do This First
When it comes to video production, the details matter. While most people are focused on the video and images, it’s important not to overlook the sound either. A video with poor sound is simply unwatchable. If you’ve invested in a video production company or even your own audio system, you still need to avoid a few common mistakes that can leave your entire production day behind.
Pay Attention to the Sounds Around You
There are very few locations with no sound. Even if you are in a building, there’s still sound outside or around you. It’s important to focus in on the sounds you hear before you begin to produce the video. Listen to the wind, the people you can hear, and even the sounds from people’s phones. It’s important to know what sounds are present and, if necessary, plan around those sounds.
Don’t Forget the Unexpected Sounds
Sound hazards are another risk for any video production. These are sounds that can occur at any time that you may not be thinking about. They include everything from the sound of a car horn to a fire alarm. Most commonly, the problems related to sounds stem from things like smartphones or alarms. Some of these you can plan for by simply turning them off and ensuring they remain off. Other sounds are hard to control. In all cases, you should be aware of the sounds that could happen.
Don’t Ignore Those Ruffling Noises Either
If you’ve worked in sound or video production, you’ve been annoyed by this concern. These are noises that happen due to the materials being used on the set. For example, it may be the clothing that those onset are using. It could be the sound of shoes on the floor as you are filming. Again, in some cases, you can control these (and should do so). In others, you may have to plan mic locations around them. Be mindful while filming of these often unnoticed sounds.
Props and Movement Sounds
Finally, there are the sounds made that you may find very hard to manage. The scraping of a plate across a table, the sound of a person walking making too much noise, and the sounds of papers are all sounds commonly heard in the production later. It’s important to take steps to minimize these types of sounds whenever it is possible. For example, use carpeting to muffle the sound of footsteps. Avoid using props that are hard to hear over (that is a very important step in the planning stages). Taking every effort you can to control the noise of these types of movement and prop sounds on the set during filming is critically important.
There are situations when you cannot stop an unwanted sound from occurring. In these cases, you’ll need to plan for alternatives, such as moving your audio recording to a different location or changing the position of the set. Being mindful of sound, though, can help to lead to a successful shoot.
