Sync In Modern Video Production Workflows Aligning Audio & Video In most modern video production workflows, audio & video are typically recorded separately allowing for higher quality audio and more flexibility in production and post. Anytime they are recorded separately they have to be aligned in post-production, but that starts with workflows in…
Schoeps CMC641 vs Oktava MK-012 Microphone Shootout This is a quick shootout to show the differences between the Schoeps CMC6 with the MK41 Capsule and the Oktava MK-012 with the Hypercardioid Capsule. The Schoeps CMC641 retails for about $1,765 and the Oktava costs roughly $215. While they are both quality mics, the Schoeps blows the…
Recording Sound for a Short Film or Indie Films Recording quality audio for a narrative production, whether a short film or feature length movie, has a lot of challenges. No matter what budget or production scale you are working at from indie short films to fully funded feature films, a lot of principles carry over…
Lavalier Technique: Rigging A Button Hole Rigging a lavalier with the capsule popping out from just behind a button is one of my favorite lav micing techniques. Because the capsule is actually exposed, it has virtually no clothing noise and a much more natural and open sound. This strength also leads to this technique’s…
Tips On Recording Production Sound For Comedy Specials Recording the production sound for a comedy special can pose a number of challenges not seen on typical video shoots. Not only do you need to capture the comedian’s dialog cleanly but the audience in the room as well. This becomes much more difficult when…
Don’t F*** Up Your Audio! I’ll say something that may not be a popular opinion in the video production world: Audio Quality Matters More Than Video Quality! Audio Quality is just as Important, if not more Important than Video Quality to the viewer. In fact there are several studies that go into great detail…
Always a pleasure to talk shop with other production sound mixers, this time chatting with Michael Helms (Michael the Sound Guy) on his podcast ‘The Location Sound Podcast’. I’ve been listening to this podcast for quite a while and really enjoy it. Great way to pass the time while traveling to and from location. It…
Choosing The RIght Microphone For Every Scenario One of the things that made the biggest differences in the quality of recordings I do is knowing how to choose an appropriate a microphone for every scenario I encounter. Being able to play to each types strengths, and use polar patterns to your advantage will go a…
What is 2-Pop and how is it used? 2-Pop is a term for a 1 kHz (1000 Hz) tone that lasts 1 frame inserted 2 seconds before the start of the program. Originally established as part of the SMPTE “Universal Leader”, it’s still widely used today. It’s used as a simple method to ensure sync…
Delivery to Audio Post-Production Delivery of the audio assets is the very first stage of Audio Post-Production. It starts with the Video Editor preparing the project for export. Getting your project ready to send off to the audio post can be a little confusing for some, but this guide will demystify and explain delivery for…