Capture Video – Pro Video Tips Pt4

Pro Video Tips Pt4 – Sound

Much of our current business is now communicated via Zoom, Facebook Live, or other video apps. Many of us are trying to present a professional appearance while working from home. Over the next few blog posts, I’m going to be sharing some ways to make the videos you’re making on your computers and phones look as professional as possible using the stuff you already have around the house.

We take sound for granted. Sound is often neglected – an after thought. But sound is actually very important on business calls – even video business calls – because we really need to be able to hear the message you are trying to deliver in order for it to have been successfully delivered.

Here’s a little video I hope you can hear, about how to make sure people can hear you, on your conference calls, webinars and instructional videos.

To reiterate, here are a few sound tips about sound.

1. Try to eliminate background noise – from the dog, your housemates, or anything else moving and breathing and, more to the point, making noises in the house!
2. If possible, speak close to the microphone. Don’t “eat the mic,” but don’t be 8 feet away either.
3. If you have to stand 8 feet away, so we can see something you’re demonstrating, for example, then use a wireless microphone or wireless headset with microphone. If you happen to be in an auditorium, gym, or studio that has a speaker system, use the built-in a/v system and put the camera near the room speakers.
4. If you do end up ordering a professional or podcast microphone, make sure you get one that works with your set up – whether that’s a camera, a phone or a computer.
5. Finally, turn off the dings on your computer and phone. If you are using your computer audio to speak, and also getting sound notifications, we can hear that!

For this video, and for many corporate video productions, I used a wireless lavaliere microphone with a receiver that plugs into my camera’s XLR input. That’s overkill for a “live video recording” of a conference, webinar, or Zoom based performance. Fire trucks, barking dogs and singing birds happen to the best of us. The important thing is that you speak clearly and loudly (not too loud) and that we can hear you over any background noise you couldn’t eliminate. Message sent and received.

Keep your eyes, and ears, peeled for more pro video tips to come.

About Capture Video, Inc.: Capture Video, Inc. has produced training and promotional videos for such clients as the Dolan Lecture Series, EE Reed Construction, the National Academy of Sciences, and UX Camp, to name a few.

In addition to running Capture Video, Jessica also leads storytelling workshops for individuals and organizations for Better Said Than Done, Northern Virginia’s premiere storytelling organization.