Through The Eagle’s Eye Innovative Approaches to Teaching the Media Arts
Sound Elements & Microphones
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Sound Elements, Microphones and the Art of the Interview
Sound Elements When producing your video it will be important to consider how you will use sound to assist in telling your story. There are four primary forms of sound used in video production.
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Sound Elements, Microphones and the Art of the Interview Sound Elements Dialogue Ambient Sound
Voice-over Narration
Sound Effects
Music
Refers to people talking as in a scripted story (i.e actors saying lines); interviews, etc... These are the natural sounds encountered in different environments such as room tones (the sound of lights and electrical tools, street sounds, nature sounds, etc.) Someone’s voice is recorded over a series of images. The voice-over narration is most often scripted prior to camera production and recorded in post-production (during video editing). Refers to the noises, street sounds, misc. effects (i.e dog bark, baby crying, sirens, wind...) that are layered in postproduction to enrich the story being told. Pre-recorded sound elements also referred to as songs, beats, instrumental tracks, etc. may be used to enhance the emotional quality of your video. To use music within your video you must obtain copyright privileges first.
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Sound Elements, Microphones and the Art of the Interview Microphones & Accessories There is nothing worse than making the effort to videotape an interview, only to discover that you can barely hear the person you recorded because of background noise. This is where microphones become useful. Some basic microphones are listed here:
Unidirectional Microphone The unidirectional microphone picks up sound within a narrow channel. In order to do this, the microphone must be directly pointed towards the subject matter and should be used within a standard range of three to six feet. This type of microphone is inexpensive and serves as a good starter microphone. The unidirectional microphone is handheld and is most often used in live performance, talk shows, and live news reporting. The general cost for this microphone is $40-$50.
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Sound Elements, Microphones and the Art of the Interview Microphones & Accessories Omnidirectional Microphone The omnidirectional microphone picks up sound within a wide range (multiple directions). This allows for greater versatility within an interview, because the microphone will pick up multiple people talking without being moved. These microphones still work best within a standard range of three to six feet. Generally, these microphones cost between $40-$150. Lavaliere Microphone The lavaliere microphone is ideal for interviews that feature one speaker. The audio quality is excellent because the microphone is small and clips onto the subject matter within a very close range to the sound source (for example, it is attached to a collar or lapel with the microphone pointing towards the speaker’s mouth.) Though you can purchase a lavaliere microphone for about $50, we recommend investing in a higher quality lavaliere, which will approx-imately cost $250. Professional microphones can go into the thousands of dollars, especially if it’s wireless.
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Sound Elements, Microphones and the Art of the Interview Microphones & Accessories Shotgun Microphone The shotgun microphone is a professional-level tool for collecting high quality (low static) sound. The audio range is slightly larger than a standard microphone from six to ten feetﾑand the microphone can be attached to a boom pole for an even longer extension. These microphones run on one “AA” battery. The price of a shotgun microphone starts at about $250.
Boom Pole The boom pole acts as an extension for shotgun and other microphones so quality sound may be recorded without the microphone or the sound operator being photographed. Typically, this tool is used for narrative productions or scenes that require a set in which cameras and sound equipment are invisible. Boom poles pricing typically starts at about $100.
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Sound Elements, Microphones and the Art of the Interview Microphones & Accessories Shock Mount The shock mount is an appliance that attaches to the boom pole. It holds the microphone securely in place with elastic bands; this allows for flexible positioning of the microphone. The cost of a shock mount typically starts at $75. Microphone Cables
Most microphones require the use of a detachable XLR (three-pin audio) sound cable. Most consumer level cameras accept a mini-connector, but higher-end cameras may require a secondary XLR connection. Check your camera manual and microphone before purchasing your first microphone cable.
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Sound Elements, Microphones and the Art of the Interview Interviewing Techniques
LISTEN to what people have to say so you can pick up on particular points that the person makes. SPEAK CLEARLY, and vary the tone of your voice and the speed of your speech to suit the conversation. Keep the interview VISUALLY INTERESTING; before or after the interview, get some insert and cutaway shots of the environment, the person’s hands, any buttons or pins a person is wearing, etc. ZOOM in slowly and tastefully on important visuals, which may provide emphasis.
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Sound Elements, Microphones and the Art of the Interview Interviewing Terms The Interviewee The word “interviewee” refers to the person being interviewed. The interviewee often exhibits different qualities some people are easy to interview, while others are more difficult. Listed below are some helpful suggestions to help prepare you for different types of interviews. The Unresponsive Interviewee Don’t ask the person closed-ended questions (ones that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”) unless you have a follow-up question prepared for “yes” and “no” response. Ask open-ended questions that people can expand upon, i.e., “Tell me aboutﾑ” or “What do you think aboutﾑ”. Your goal is to get the interviewee to talk to you as much as possible. The Talker If the interviewee strays off the topic of conversation, courteously but firmly get the person on the right track don’t be afraid to redirect the conversation if the person begins talking about things unrelated to the interview. Remember: it’s your interview. The Friendly Interviewee This type of person may be friendly but has nothing to say that you want or need to hear. If s/he can’t provide you with any relevant insights, gently discontinue the interview. The Hostile Interviewee There are some people who are hostile to everyone. Do the best you can with this type of interviewee. Be courteous as it will help you get some information from him or her.
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Sound Elements, Microphones and the Art of the Interview Production Values Ensuring a high quality production is important because it adds credibility to the person being interviewed. Always pay attention to the following factors when preparing for an interview: Background The environment in which you place the interviewee will be as important as the story s/he has to tell. Choose your background carefully; it should be a means to accentuate the message of your story. Lighting Proper lighting is essential. If the site you choose to videotape is not well lit, your interviewee may be shadowed or over-lit (which will wash out his/her complexion). If there is not enough light for your interview, you may wish to bring a portable light with you. Professional lights are fairly expensive, but you can purchase inexpensive halogen lights that are portable and safe. If you point the light towards a white wall or ceiling, it will illuminate the room enough for your shoot. Sound Whenever possible, use an external microphone to record your interview. Too often there is outside noise (fans, air conditioners, children playing, etc.) that will interfere with the quality of sound. It is almost impossible to repair poor sound quality. Listen to the background noise; if it interferes with the sound quality, move your interview to eliminate the noise. It will help if you use headphonesďž‘they will indicate whether or not your external microphone is working properly.
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Sound Elements, Microphones and the Art of the Interview Interviewing Styles There are several ways to conduct an interview. Make sure you choose a style that compliments the story you are telling. Below are listed some standard interviewing styles and tips to conduct them. Formal This type of interview will often be photographed in a way in which the camera is set in a stationary position, the lighting is strong and even, and the background relates to the story being told. News Report This style puts the interviewer in front of the camera. This format is less formal and is typically used to record live events. Walking The walking interview places the camera in the work or life of the interviewee. The camera operator must work very hard to hold the camera steady and keep the setting well-composed. Focus can also be difficult to maintain. On the Fly This style of interview is impromptu and often requires a lot of improvisation on the part of the camera person and interviewer. Confessional This style has become very popular with the onset of reality TV. In this type of interview, the subject has the opportunity to speak freely about a topic.
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Sound Elements and Microphones In Summary: Whenever possible, use a microphone. Choose the appropriate interview style for the type of story you are producing. Use headphones, to ensure your microphone is working properly. Prepare your interview questions ahead of time. Be aware of production values. ALWAYS listen to the person you are interviewing. This power point presentation was created by: Mike Warrior
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