Audio recorders are among the most essential video equipment.
Audiences may accept lower image quality, but poor audio can utterly derail a show.
Recorded audio can greatly benefit post-production mixing and editing processes, making a dramatic impactful statement about your video project.
Microphones
Investment in high-quality microphones for video production is just as essential as investing in the right camera. A stunning visual may grab viewers’ attention, but subpar audio could quickly lose them. Luckily, there are many types of microphones to suit every videographer; here are a few popular choices:
Lavalier microphones are essential tools for both vloggers and filmmakers alike. Small, lightweight, and easily concealed on subjects’ bodies, these versatile mics work with all kinds of cameras – and depending on your budget can offer broadcast-quality sound or advanced features like frequency agility and wireless transmission.
The 4017B Shotgun Microphone is an essential piece of equipment for any location sound recordist. Featuring an effective hyper-directional pickup pattern and long interference tube design that effectively rejects side and rear sounds while focusing audio capture directly on its source, its adjustable controls such as high-pass filter, gain control, safety channel enable seamless recording environments; battery or phantom power compatibility makes this microphone an invaluable asset in any video production kit.
Portable field recorders are an essential piece of gear for capturing quality sound on the go. These powerful tools enable multitrack recording with minimal effort, guaranteeing no detail is left out of their multitrack recordings. Plus, most come with built-in stereo microphones – making them a smart choice if recording in the field for extended periods.
Handheld digital recorders equipped with one mono microphone input are an ideal portable option, offering both quality and portability features in one convenient unit – you can quickly transfer files and edit content with just a push of a button!
Even though a high-quality microphone can make all the difference, investing in cutting-edge video editing software like Visla can make all the difference when creating quality content. Visla can streamline post-production for you so your content remains polished and professional throughout. Combining amazing audio capture with cutting-edge video editing helps elevate your content and stand out in today’s crowded digital landscape.
Audio Recorders
An audio recorder is one of the cornerstones of video production, enabling you to capture high-quality recordings of dialogue and ambient sounds that can later be synced up with visuals using editing software. Options range from handheld devices that fit easily in your pocket or can be mounted onto a boom pole or tripod; some recorders even come equipped with built-in mics while others offer additional mic ports for greater versatility.
When it comes to audio recorders for video production, consider your budget and scene types when making your selection. If shooting indoors primarily, look for one with a built-in microphone to reduce background noise; otherwise an external mic may be required so your audio remains clear despite wind or other environmental influences.
Most videographers find a single-system recorder to be adequate, however you might also consider investing in a dual-system recorder. With these models you can use external mics while recording stereo audio directly into the device – providing maximum clarity in your audio recordings.
Double-system recorders tend to feature greater bit depths than their single counterparts. Bit depth measures the number of values represented by an audio signal; as its value increases, so too does its detail of recording.
When purchasing a portable audio recorder, it is also important to consider its number of tracks and whether or not it offers a programmable preset feature. Having such a preset allows you to set pre-programmed settings easily accessible during specific scenarios like interviewing someone for online video production – using this feature ensures that recorded sound precisely matches spoken word which is essential when producing any type of video production.
Mixers
A mixer is at the heart of any video production setup. It receives inputs (typically XLR or RCA but sometimes HDMI and composite signals as well), mixes them together into one output signal for your camera or recording device to receive, and offers controls to manage levels and quality as needed.
Mixers come in both analog and digital varieties. The key difference lies in how signals are processed: analog ones represent physical sound vibrations while digital ones have their analog signals digitized into digital ones for processing. Finally, digital has limited capacity while analog has unrestricted potential.
Professional mixers typically use analog signaling; however, consumers and entry-level models often utilize digital signaling. Analog mixers tend to be cheaper; however, you will often pay more for features found only in digital models.
As an example, you should search for a mixer with stereo output and enough aux sends to meet your production requirements. A headphone jack with volume control and VU meter are essential features when monitoring output from a mixer; they provide more precise signal level indication than peak-level LED indicators.
Some mixers feature equalization controls that allow users to easily adjust the tonal quality of a track without altering its amplitude. For example, two and three band equalizers could help enhance vocal clarity and add depth. A noise gate could help isolate and eliminate low frequency rumble caused by wind or indoor air systems.
The BG-MFVS61-G2 is an affordable video mixer designed to replace external video mixers, featuring HDMI and SDI input/output support as well as picture-in-picture (PIP) and T-bar transitions. Furthermore, this unit comes equipped with external audio 3.5 mm/RCA outputs as well as an internal capture card capable of directly recording to your computer.
Field mixers are portable devices used for on-location audio recording for video. They accept mike and line inputs using 3-pin XLR plugs or unbalanced lines terminated in 1/4-inch phone jacks, as well as unbalanced lines terminated by 1/4-inch phone plugs. Field mixers run off of internal or external 12-volt DC power supplies and come equipped with carrying cases; Comprehensive Video Supply’s MM-4200 features four balanced XLR inputs capable of being fed phantom power, stereo outputs and low cut filters that reduce hum from wind or air systems.
Headphones
Your headphones can make an immense difference to the quality of your sound editing and video production. By investing in a pair that you’ll feel comfortable wearing for extended periods, investing in high-quality headphones will allow you to concentrate on small details in audio that may otherwise pass unnoticed when listening through speakers or built-in computer speakers.
Utilizing headphones when editing will also enable you to more accurately hear the audio levels in your videos, helping ensure that music and voiceovers are balanced appropriately on all playback systems. This ensures a great final product!
Beyerdynamic’s DT 770 PRO headphones offer an ideal combination of features – such as large and soft earcups for comfort with an extremely long 3-meter cord length – at an extremely reasonable cost.
The best headphones for video editing will typically have a flat response, meaning no artificial boost or suppression to frequencies within their frequency spectrum, as is often found with consumer headphones designed for casual use, especially those designed to be worn while running or exercising.
Consider whether you prefer on-ear or over-ear headphones when making this decision. On-ear cups rest flat against the top of your ear, which are fine for short editing stints but could become tiresome over extended use. Meanwhile, over-ear cups provide more isolation from external noise, making them better suited to longer editing sessions.
Maintaining clean and well maintained headphones is vital in order to ensuring they continue performing at their best over time, and it will extend their lifespan. Use gentle cleaning solutions on earpads and drivers on a regular basis; be sure to replace earpads and drivers at regular intervals, usually every 100 hours of use.