Getting the Best Sound From Your Lav

In order to get the best sound for your lavalier microphone, it's important to first understand the factors that can affect it. These factors include the type of lav mic and recorder, the placement of the mic, how wind is managed, and the movement of the talent. According to the video, you typically want to use a mic with an omnidirectional pickup pattern, because sound is picked up from all directions and it gives it a fuller tone. If you are using a cardioid pickup pattern, it's best to understand that it's very directional, which can be useful in some situations like noisy environments, although the audio can sometimes sound nasally. Another important suggestion is to place the mic near the upper middle portion of the chest, and to often hide it under the top layer of clothing. This prevents the mic from being a distraction, and it also helps block out unwanted wind noise, which is crucial for recording good audio. A third tip from the video is to invest in a dedicated audio recorder like a field recorder, because they do a much better job at recording a quality signal than just hooking the mic up to the camera.

Lavalier Walkthrough

Lavalier microphones have become the standard for filming people talking in controlled environments, whether that be during news reports or talk shows. They come with many benefits because they can be clipped close to the speaker, and since they're stationary, they are able to keep balanced audio levels. An important aspect of lavalier mics are where to place them, because you don't want them to be too obvious, but you also don't want to sacrifice good sound for placement. A general rule of thumb is to clip a lavalier between the top two buttons on a shirt, which is roughly about eight inches below the mouth. They come in both wired and wireless varieties, and although wireless allows for more movement, it gets a little more complicated because of variating frequencies. I have a question about how the microphones are powered and whether they're connected to something that runs on batteries, and if so, how often do you have to change the batteries?

The Boom Microphone

There are several things to keep in mind when operating a boom mic, including how to position it, what to prepare for, and what to avoid. Since boom microphones are very directional, it's important to point the tip of the mic toward the speaker's mouth to record good audio. This means being in position before anyone starts talking, which can be difficult because it requires the operator knows who says what and when. Another challenge is keeping the boom microphone a constant distance from the subject, because this prevents the audio levels from fluctuating and ruining the take. In addition, it's important to watch out for interfering with the shot, whether that be with the boom mic, its shadow, or the operator's body accidentally being in frame. Since it's harder to hide a microphone in wider shots, there will be times when the audio isn't as good, and sometimes a good way to account for that is recording wild takes, or sound without pictures. I'm very curious about the training behind becoming a boom operator and if it's a specialized craft, because to me it seems like a skill that anyone can pick up quickly.

How To Record Great Audio

While recording audio on set, there are several microphones that can be used, and they all come with their own benefits and disadvantages. The easiest to operate is a microphone on a camera, and it requires very little setup, and can be hooked up to sync the audio to the video while recording. It should be used as a last resort because it often picks up unwanted noises from the camera, and it needs a windscreen when shooting outside. A better alternative is using a microphone on a boom, because it can get the microphone close to the speaker, as well as block out any ambient noise. It requires a separate crew member to operate, but it can be beneficial because the mic can narrow in on whatever you direct it at and pick up good audio. A third option is a lavalier microphone, and it's small size makes it easy to get the mic in close proximity of the speaker, although it requires a little more setup. The difference between single and dual system recording is that single-system automatically syncs the audio to the video as you record by having a recording device plugged directly into camera, whereas the dual system requires audio and video to be synced in post, but it gives more freedom with the camera.

Pickup Patterns

The different pickup patterns are omnidirectional, cardioid, hypercardioid, and bidirectional. Microphones with omnidirectional pickup patterns can pick up sound equally from all directions, although it's best from the front because the frequency response isn't equal in every direction. This type of pickup pattern is generally used for orchestra recordings to pick up all the instruments around the room, and it can also be used in a home setting to record instruments with some room ambience. In terms of the cardioid pattern, it picks up best from the front of the microphone, and essentially resembles a heart-shaped pattern because it also picks up a little on the sides and the back. Cardioid microphones are everywhere in the film industry today because they're really good for recording vocals, which has made them a staple in most stages and studios. A more directional pickup pattern is known as hypercardioid, and it's known for being less sensitive to sounds coming from the side, which makes it a useful tool in live situations or for recording drums. The final pickup pattern is bidirectional, and microphones that use the pattern can pick up sound almost equally in the front and the back, but nearly nothing to each side. This pattern is commonly used in ribbon mics, and it's best to use it when you need a high degree of sound rejection, which is seen in many stereo techniques.

The Different Microphone Types

The three different types of microphones are dynamic, ribbon, and condenser mics. Dynamic mics are known for their durability and inexpensiveness, although they have a somewhat limited frequency response. Since the thin metallic wire in its diaphragm can't respond to sound waves quickly, dynamic mics have a weak high-frequency response. They're generally used in voice overs and broadcasts, as well as in sound reinforcement. With ribbon mics, they're similar, although a lot more expensive and fragile because the diaphragm is made up of aluminum foil. They have a good high frequency response and a smoother response in general, although their output signal is weaker than dynamic mics. Ribbon mics are commonly used for miking a variety of instruments like bass, piano, and cymbals. Finally, condenser mics are the bulkiest of the three and they're known for having two plates in the diaphragm, which attributes to an extended low and high frequency response. Unlike the other two, condenser mics require an internal or external power to operate, and they're affected by humidity and temperature. They're known primarily for miking vocals, and they're commonly placed with string sections.

How To Manipulate People With Music

Music can affect the audience's perception by making them feel something that otherwise wouldn't be there, it can make a scene stand out through juxtaposition, and the absence of it can give off the perception of something intense. In general, music sways our emotions about a scene, and different tracks played over the same visual can leave an audience feeling two completely different ways. For example, music with an element of suspense might create tension that otherwise wouldn't be perceived if the music was more upbeat or cheerful. In addition to creating new emotions, music can enhance certain aspects of a film like its humor. This occurs when it's juxtaposed next to a visual that doesn't seem to fit it, which allows the scene to stand out because it's different than expected. Although not always noted, the absence of music can have just as large an effect on the audience's perception of a film, because the silence creates an intensity that can't be matched by any score, and thus it's smarter to leave the music out completely.




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