Camera Audio Simplified: Location Audio for Camera Operators

You’ve spent a lot of time learning how to use the features of your video camera to take amazing pictures, but chances are the audio always gives you trouble! Today, with production budgets shrinking, many are being asked to go-it-alone and sound is a frequent pain point that can drag production value down to an amateur level. To achieve great sound to go along with great video, you need to go beyond "automatic" mode and take control – know as much about microphones as you do about lenses with the help of Camera Audio Simplified. Author Dean Miles gives you the skills you need to capture quality location audio with your camera mic, wireless system, lavaliers, and handheld microphones. You’ll get step-by-step guidance to help elevate your sound from amateur to professional – and build your career and video production business.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 - Introduction 01 Sharing the knowledge 02 Why is the audio in video production so bad so often? 03 A little about the author 04 chapter 2 - The Location 07 Choosing and Prepping the location 08 Shot type vs. sound requirements 09 What do you need to listen for when choosing a location that has sound requirements? 16 When should you implement these listening techniques into your shooting process? 20 Prepping the location 21 Common trouble makers 22 chapter 3 – sound elements 25 Sound Elements 26 Sound Elements you need to capture while shooting 32 chapter 4 – video cameras 39 Common video camera functions 41 Always check your recordings 51 chapter 5 – Camera-mounted mic 53 Camera-mounted mic 54 Pick-up pattern diagrams 56 Bass roll-off 58 Cancellation ports 59 Shock mounts and wind suppression 60 Headphones 63 Calibrating the camera for a camera-mounted mic 64 What audio can you record with a camera mic? 68 Metering 72 How do you know when you can’t record dialogue with a camera-mounted mic? 74 chapter 6 – lavalier mics 77 Lavalier microphones 78 Wind 79 Clothing noise 81 Hardwired lavalier 82 Entering someone’s personal space 84 Lavalier wiring kit 88 Body micing 89 Exposed micing – News style 91 Hidden micing – Button shirts 96 Hidden micing – Porous fabric 100 Hidden micing – Skin, chest area 104 Micing on the head 108 Hidden micing – Hats, baseball caps 109 Hidden micing – Glasses 112 chapter 7 – Wireless systems 117 Wireless systems 118 Wireless basics 120 RF signal 121 Calibrating the wireless transmitter 124 Calibrating the wireless receiver 127 chapter 8 – Handheld mics 133 Dynamic microphones 134 Setting the input levels when hardwired 136 Setting the input levels when using a wireless system 137 chapter 9 – DSLR cameras 139 DSLR cameras 140 The built-in camera mic 143 Camera-mounted mic set up 145 Keeping in sync 146 More books and online courses – there’s just more! 152