In my past projects I have never quite been able to get the audio correct as I tend to think of it as more of a last minute thing in the pre-production stages. I came across a video blog called Types of Microphone, on youtube posted by a video production company, Lambda Films. It discusses the different types of microphones that could be used to pick up audio. Such as, bi-directional, cardioid, shotgun and Lavalier microphones. It is crucial to select the correct microphone in order to get the best quality audio, the technical side of sound is something that needs to be well thought through, looking at the pros and cons of the different types of microphones, depending on what is being shot.
Sound is equally important as the visual, it would be no use to have an amazing visuals and narrative, and then incoherent sound. This would render the whole project useless, and call for it all to be reshot again with better quality, wasting time and money. The technical side of sound is something that needs to be well thought through looking at the pros and cons of different types of microphones. Lambda Films, a video production company posted a video on youtube about Types of Microphones, in the video they discuss the different types of microphones that could be used to pick up audio.
I am going to discuss the four types of microphones mentioned in the video blog, starting with the shotgun microphone, which is the most directional, meaning it picks up the sound extremely well at what it is pointing at, but is significantly less sensitive to the side and the back of the microphone. This can be seen as both a positive and negative, because it means that they do not pick up surrounding audio, focusing only on what it is pointing at. This makes them good for use on boom poles, meaning they are most commonly used on television and film sets.
Much like shotgun microphones, cardioid types pick up sound only from the front nonetheless it is less sensitive compared to the shotguns microphones, alternatively which makes them good for live vocals. And in contrast to shotgun microphones, bi-directional ones pick up audio evenly from both the back and the front. Ultimately , they also discuss the Lavalier microphone, this one is the most portable out of the four stated in the video, as it clips onto the subject , so that it is great for interviews. They are discrete since they can be clipped onto clothing and concealed, nevertheless they still pick up speech very clearly. They can come either as wireless or wired, both having advantages of their own. Wireless meaning that it enables even more portability, cable free, while wired microphones mean you do not need to mess about and worry about audio channels or batteries. Other key occasions to use the Lavalier microphone could be theatre and for public speaking situations.
I have only given you a brief introduction into the different types of microphones, but even this shows how each of the four differ and that if they are not used correctly they will not benefit the project. If anything potentially ruining the visual image and creating unnecessary work in post-production.
Sound is equally important as the visual, it would be no use to have an amazing visuals and narrative, and then incoherent sound. This would render the whole project useless, and call for it all to be reshot again with better quality, wasting time and money. The technical side of sound is something that needs to be well thought through looking at the pros and cons of different types of microphones. Lambda Films, a video production company posted a video on youtube about Types of Microphones, in the video they discuss the different types of microphones that could be used to pick up audio.
I am going to discuss the four types of microphones mentioned in the video blog, starting with the shotgun microphone, which is the most directional, meaning it picks up the sound extremely well at what it is pointing at, but is significantly less sensitive to the side and the back of the microphone. This can be seen as both a positive and negative, because it means that they do not pick up surrounding audio, focusing only on what it is pointing at. This makes them good for use on boom poles, meaning they are most commonly used on television and film sets.
Much like shotgun microphones, cardioid types pick up sound only from the front nonetheless it is less sensitive compared to the shotguns microphones, alternatively which makes them good for live vocals. And in contrast to shotgun microphones, bi-directional ones pick up audio evenly from both the back and the front. Ultimately , they also discuss the Lavalier microphone, this one is the most portable out of the four stated in the video, as it clips onto the subject , so that it is great for interviews. They are discrete since they can be clipped onto clothing and concealed, nevertheless they still pick up speech very clearly. They can come either as wireless or wired, both having advantages of their own. Wireless meaning that it enables even more portability, cable free, while wired microphones mean you do not need to mess about and worry about audio channels or batteries. Other key occasions to use the Lavalier microphone could be theatre and for public speaking situations.
I have only given you a brief introduction into the different types of microphones, but even this shows how each of the four differ and that if they are not used correctly they will not benefit the project. If anything potentially ruining the visual image and creating unnecessary work in post-production.
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