• Do you want crappy audio, kids?

Of course you don’t.  I’ll tell you right now how to dramatically improve your audio- without having to spend a dime!

Pay attention.

We’ll Begin With Audio Acquisition Tips- Record Better Audio To Begin With.

1. Put a homemade windscreen on your camera’s microphone.  This will prevent those annoying wind “pops” from ever being recorded.
   • cut a patch from an old cotton sock that’s the size of your camera’s microphone.
   • Do likewise with an old pair of pantyhose.
   • Layer the sock and then the pantyhose on top of your microphone and adhere to camera with gaffers tape. (You can use duct tape as well-but it may leaf adhesive on your camera body.)
2. Pay attention to the sound levels of your camera while recording.
   • If your camera has audio meters- turn them on.  Adjust the mic level input accordingly.
   • Many cameras don’t have this feature.  That’s ok.  Get a pair of headphones, and plug them into the camera.
     • Put the headphones on and start shooting the way you normally do- except this time you’ll hear what is getting recorded adequately- and what’s not.
       • Adjust your shooting style accordingly.
         • If you self narrate a lot- then you’ll know if you have to speak softer or louder.
         • If your shooting subject can’t be heard, ask them to speak up.
3. Avoid noisy shooting locations
   • Seems obvious, but sometimes you don’t realize just how noisy a place is because your brain will try to filter noise out automagically for you.
   • If you have to shoot your BFF at the food court next to the wishing fountain- make sure they either shout to camera- or they have a hand-held microphone.

Well Done.  Next, We Have Tricks For Better Audio in Edits.

4. Do An Audio Pass- for cryin’ out loud.

• • Once your done editing the picture- Your still not done-done.
    • Go back and use the audio gain tools to level out all the audio.
      • Adjust everything so each audio clip is the same perceived audio level when playing it back.  (Turn off the music tracks until all the spoken words are level.  Then, go back and adjust the music so it sounds good with the spoken word.)

5.  Double The Audio Track

• • If you’re using editing software, like Final Cut Express or Sony Vegas, then it will allow you to double up the audio segments.
    • Very useful for when you have cranked up the audio gain already to the maximum, but it’s not enough.

Do these 5 things for your next video, and people may actually watch it.

Now, get out there, and make an awesome home movie!

• The 4 types of recording media
• The Pros and Cons of each
• How to make an informed camcorder purchase

Now go out there, and make your old teacher proud!

but you must see this before you lay down your cool cash for those hot camcorder deals out there.

• Did you know  there are 3 different categories of camcorders?
• Can you tell me  the biggest thing to consider when looking for your next camcorder?
• Any idea why I’m grilling you like this?

This is Part 1 of 3 episodes that will help answer all these questions- and more!

I’ll give you the skinny on these new slim cams.

In this very special episode of CHM, learn what your camera would tell you if it could talk.

• Like people, your camera gear has secret desires and special needs.

To make awesome home movies, you need to take your camera out of the closet.

• How many times have you seen something really cool, and you wished that you had your camcorder?

Say you went out for a beer at the Las Vegas Lounge in Philadelphia.  You order a Miller Chill with lime, and then you see Danny Bonaduce walk in wearing an Evil Knievel costume.  Then, he challenges you to a thumb war.

I mean, just say that happens… and you don’t have any camera.

That would really be a bummer, man!

I’m not suggesting that you should walk around everywhere with your camera bag.

That would be impracticable.

As it turns out, however- I do have a suggestion.

Keep your camera bag stocked  with:

• • Your camcorder (Now I’m just being flippant with you)
  • 2 charged batteries
  • 2 tapes or memory cards to record onto
  • a decent tripod – even if it’s just a table-top model

Then, take it with you whenever it’s practical.

Danny Bonaduce could use the YouTube exposure.

]]> http://www.creativehomemovie.com/2009/09/29/camcorder_ready/feed/ 0 http://www.creativehomemovie.com/2009/09/20/good-lighting-for-home-movies/ http://www.creativehomemovie.com/2009/09/20/good-lighting-for-home-movies/#comments Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:46:04 +0000 Scott Markowitz http://www.creativehomemovie.com/?p=236 What’s one way to INSTANTLY improve the way your videos look?

Make sure there’s enough light on your subjects.

Many camera manufacturers claim that their camcorders perform well in low light.

Don’t let your camera’s tech specs fool you into ignoring your environments lighting.

If you’re shooting inside, and it’s dark, then you should try to light your scene.

I bought an inexpensive work light at the Home Depot to handle this task.

Halogen Workshop Light.

Don’t let your camera’s tech specs fool you into ignoring your environments lighting.

• If you’re shooting inside, and it’s dark, then you should try to light your scene.

This sort of Halogen Light can be found in home centers and department stores.  They’re pretty cheap, and they throw A LOT of light.

Indirect Light is Right.

To use a light like this:

• Bounce it off of a wall or ceiling.
• 2 of these lights bouncing off the ceiling in opposite corners of the room are even better!

Check out the difference lighting can make.

This video shot with room's overhead light.

OK, class.  Notice the graininess when using only the light from an overhead fixture…  I’ll wait.

Now, LET THERE BE LIGHT!

This is the same scene with one Work Light Bouncing off of the ceiling.

You can see that there’s much less of a grainy effect.

The subject is brighter, and the colors are allowed to really come out.

Very good, class.  Now go out there and shoot!

We all know that watching a video shot using poor camera work is hard to watch.

You know it.  I know it.  Your father-in-law… needs to read this.

As you recall, telling a story is the most important thing to do when making a video.

The next most critical thing is to use good, solid, time-tested camera techniques.

If the mere mention of watching your videos make people scatter like cock roaches in light, you may suffer from what I call HMD.

6 Easy ways to practice good camera technique

1. Hold your camera steady while shooting - Keep your elbows close to your body.
2. Don’t pan and tilt all the darn time!! - There’s nothing wrong with slowly panning across your scene… once.  After you get your wide sweeping (slow) pan, then concentrate on tighter, and again, steady shots.
3. Hold your Shot – Hold your shots for at least 5 seconds.  I usually shoot between 8 and 15 second long clips.
4. Frame your Shots – Try to make the things your shooting look nice in the image frame.
5. Get Close Ups – Your viewers want to see the details of the who and what your showing them.
6. Get Sound – If it’s a video of your kids, your audience WANTS to hear them SAY cute things.  If it’s a video of your friends, then you want to HEAR them say something clever or funny.

• • To get any decent audio of your subjects’ speech, your camera will have to be within 4 feet of the person speaking.  (Unless you have a shotgun mic or a lavaliere mic.)

Stay tuned, class, for more detailed discussions of all of the above!

Wrangle your home movie acquisition media before it gets out of control.

I have some great advice for using those in your own home movies.

Don’t use Digital Effects.  They’re not cool.

You may say:

Now, you’ve gone too far, Scott.  It’s cool to shoot stuff with the “Sepia” filter.

No.  No it’s not cool, faithful blog reader.

Here’s what you need to know about shooting with digital effects:

They only look cool while you’re shooting.

In reality, you want your footage to look as good as possible all the time.

Stop and consider that when you shoot with the “Sepia” filter turned on,

you have told your camcorder to throw away color information.

You can never undo a digital effect.  It’s permanent.

That’s color you’re never getting back, people!

Also, the cool sepia effect on the left will not look good when you edit it together with footage from another time that had no effects.

Other effects to avoid using:

• Mosaic – Do you really want Jr. to look like he’s in the witness protection program?
• Black & White – Go ahead, just throw your color away.
• Art – (It creates harsh contrasts in your image)  They call it art, because nobody understands it.
• Fade Transition – Dips to black and up from black every time you start and stop recording.  This is a great way to miss some action that you wanted full frame.  Please, just add fades with your editing software.
• Wipe Transition – See above.

So, avoid the noid, and keep shooting straight.  (You can always mess it all up in edit if you really want to.)