Reading & Writing
Quick Tips for Recording Audio
This week, in preparation for recording my first podcast episode, I revisited Chapter 8 of The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video. I own a few different types of microphones and did not know which would be best for this kind of production. In chapter 8, Schroeppel explains the benefits of using various kinds of microphones. I learned that “the surest way to get good, clean sound from one person talking is to use a lavalier mike.” Additionally, lavalier mics can be clipped on the chest and placed close to the sound source, therefore, they produce very strong sound signals. So I decided to use a lavalier mic to capture a soundbite of my mom talking about motherhood and Sickle Cell.
Unfortunately, the lavalier did not work well for my own audio, so I switched to a Blue Snowball microphone, which has a cardioid polar pattern. According to Schroeppel, “a cardioid pickup pattern looks like a heart, with the pointed end indicating the area of greatest sensitivity, directly in front of the microphone.” Unlike the lapel mic, using this microphone helped me experiment with its sensitivity and adjust accordingly. I also used a pop filter which assisted me in toning down my “Ps” and “Ts,” capturing clearer audio. This chapter was great to reference, as it helped inform my decision and select the appropriate equipment for this assignment.
Another article I read, entitled “7 Secrets for Getting Pro-Sounding Vocals on Home Recordings,” supported me in creating the right environment to record my podcast episode. Although the microphone and equipment are important while recording audio, the vibe and environment are just as important. Secrets 1, 2, 5, and 6 resonated with me the most:
(1) Get in the zone: It’s important to record audio in a relaxed environment. If you’re not comfortable, your recording will capture it. Therefore, you should make it a priority to “set the right ambiance” so that your recording picks up your relaxed temperament.
(2) Hack your bedroom: Recording in dry, neutral rooms are key. Large rooms with tons of space and reverb can impact audio negatively. Therefore, choosing a space like a bedroom with objects and surfaces that can absorb sound will likely result in clear, balanced audio with minimal echoes. Building a booth is even better.
(5) Do several takes: When recording audio we often think “one and done.” Conversely, practicing, giving yourself time to warm up, and recording multiple takes will give you multiple recordings to choose from. Furthermore, the final result will be a well-rounded recording that you’ll likely be pleased with.
(6) Be careful with your vocal editing: Don’t overuse or become too dependent on plugins or editing tools. Additionally, select one recorded take and try to make use of large portions of that take. This helps maintain the nature and essence of the entire piece. Only include small portions of additional takes where necessary.
A final article, “Sound Advice: Editing Audio for Video,” drove home the importance of maintaining a storyline with a beginning, middle, and end, even when working with audio. Once your story is complete, it is important to listen closely to the whole recording paying attention to any parts that may seem excessive or unnecessary. These things can be edited out. During this process, you can also smooth rough edges and clean up anything that does not blend well. If there are any other parts that seem a little off, adding in background music may help mask errors and blend everything together nicely.
Research to Inform
Movies Comprised of Well-Produced Audio
These next few videos may give you insight into the kind of movies and shows I enjoy. I love watching things that involve, action, suspense, and thrill, not only because this type of content is attention-grabbing and exciting, but also because video productions of this kind often include seamless, well-executed audio. Here are a few clips I’ve watched in which the audio played a significant role in both enhancing the footage and keeping me on the edge of my seat.
A Quiet Place
In this minimal-dialogue horror film, people must live in silence to avoid being hunted by strange creatures that find their prey through sound. The use and existence of silence in A Quiet Place communicate a higher likelihood of safety for the characters, while accidental sounds equate to potential danger. Because there is such little dialogue, the movie introduces various aspects of sound to support the story, including the ambient sounds of nature as the characters walk through the forest, the sounds of each characters’ footsteps on different surfaces, music that sets the tone and cues things to come, and sound effects to match on-screen occurrences. Additionally, the creatures have distinct, audible outcries, footsteps, and clicking noises.
The movie also follows a character that is hearing impaired, meaning that she cannot hear when others are making noise and often learns about danger later than the rest of her family. Her impairment, however, becomes a benefit to her family’s predicament, as she learns that using her cochlear implant to create feedback disorients the creatures. The absence of dialogue in this movie and the unique and intricate approach to sound create new avenues of expression and communication for the characters. In scenes where viewers would expect to hear crying, yelling, or screaming, we are met with muted or muffled sounds and silence. Through its audio, A Quiet Place teaches its viewers to value silence.
Dunkirk
Dunkirk is another low-dialog movie that signals its audience through the use of sound. The ambient audio in the opening scene is subtle, yet present, exhibiting a moment of calm before we hear chaotic gunfire that causes the characters to frantically run away, seeking an escape. We then hear clicks of the main character’s shotgun as he attempts to reload his shotgun, followed by the sound of more gunfire and his quick footsteps. Once he runs further away from the battlefield, the sound of his footsteps increases as the gunfire fades into the background. As he reaches the beach, we hear more ambient audio and some music. Although this scene includes minimal dialogue, the movie does a great job of incorporating sound effects, music, and ambient audio that overlap and occur at the same time yet exist independently and transition between the foreground and the background. The audio helps the viewer identify what to focus on at any given moment.
1917
The front line scene of 1917, another war movie, incorporates competing levels of music, ambient audio, dialogue, and sound effects. However, as the main character travels past and communicates with numerous soldiers and commanding officers, the audio, music, and sound effects help escalate the action of the scene. With headphones, you’ll hear an officer yelling on the right, followed by another commander giving orders on the left. The explosions and debris also alternate between the left and right, however, the dialogue and music occur within all channels. The use of the left and right stereo channels in this movie helps viewers further determine the general location of specific occurrences in reference to the main character’s location. It brings order as the character quickly pushes his way through a tumultuous and dangerous scene.
Top Boy (Warning: this video contains explicit language and graphic violence)
This video from Top Boy includes sounds of the street at night, motorcycle engines revving, gunshots, people screaming and running, tires screeching, car doors slamming, weapons in use, punches landing, police sirens approaching and fading, dialogue inside and outside of the car, reactions of bystanders, and so much more. The first scene starts off calmly but quickly escalates, jumping to the next scene, a crazy series of events marked by jumbled audio elements, imbalanced camera angles, and disorder. All of the mayhem is led by a soundtrack that gives off feelings of deep thrill and suspense. The audio is intended to be all over the place, which works for a scene that is just as lawless.
Euphoria
A large portion of season 2, episode 5 of Euphoria follows Rue on the run as she attempts to escape being checked into rehab and evade the police. Rue trespasses on various properties within the community, which are all unique settings. Each place she runs through contains distinct audio, hinting at what may be occurring in that specific space. Here are some of the things you’ll hear: dogs growling and barking, live sports on a TV, whirring machines in a repair shop, music at a family gathering, Lakmé’s Flower Duet, chickens clucking, a glass table breaking as Rue lands on it, pop music, and police radio chatter. Her running is linked to a fast-paced, animated soundtrack which comes to an end once she stops running. The chase is beautifully shot and its accompanying audio is well-thought-out, with consecutive moments of disarray that never clash.
Create
Using Sound to Elevate my Podcast
I recently recorded the pilot episode of my podcast, called Feel My Pain. The podcast topic is health-related, and this first episode is an introduction to Sickle Cell Disease. In pre-production, I quickly learned that a serious topic like this has the potential to easily become dry or boring. Therefore, this week, I sought ways to keep my listeners engaged.
Although I plan to incorporate more sound elements into future episodes, I was able to gather sound bites, sound effects, and ambient audio to introduce at the beginning of this first episode, giving my listeners a sneak peek into what they can expect to hear in future episodes. I struggled with where to place these audio clips but figured they could be compiled together, serving as a hook to grab my listeners’ attention. Moving forward, I hope to find more creative ways to include audio elements that will help embellish future episodes.
To give my first episode a listen, check out the SoundCloud link below:
Sola's Thoughts 