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.