A quick way to prevent anybody from ever watching your video is to have crappy audio underneath it.

• 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!

Holy crap! This post took me a long time to get ready for you– my valued students.  No need to fret, however.  After watching this, you’ll see…

• 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!

See why a tripod is the best weapon against bad home movies.

(Makes you want to see Scar Face again, doesn’t it?)

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.

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The hair on the back of my neck stood up as I heard my son scream for his life.

He was suspended 20 ft. above the ground, and he was scared stiff- he was frozen to the point that he would not be able to get himself to safety.

From Ryan’s perspective- he was a goner for sure.  For the 150 spectators, however, he was just the 12th little kid in a row to succumb to THE WALL of DEATH.

Of course, this whole mess was because his big sister had braces.

What the?  Scott, what does this have to do with making awesome home movies?

I’m glad you asked…

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Most camcorders- even the least expensive ones- seem to be shipping with on board digital effects these days.

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

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

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Problem: Your camcorder reset its time counter to 00:00:00

even though you know you had many minutes of video already recorded to tape.

WHY DID THIS HAPPEN TO YOU:

You most likely (or maybe it was your friend; why do I always blame you?) switched to playback mode on your camcorder to review some of your footage.  Then, when you were done, you cued the tape back up to approximately where you left off on the tape.

You (or your buddy) thought you were at the end of the last scene, but you actually cued the tape forward just a little too far. (Usually the screen turns solid blue when it runs past the end of picture)

Once cued past the tape’s data, the camera will assume that it to prepare a new tape for recording.  Then, it correctly starts back at time 00:00:00

Solution: Cue your tape to about a second BEFORE the last scene is over on your tape.

Super Solution: Really plan ahead here, and roll each shot about 3 seconds longer than you think you need to.  It’s a good habit to get into- so that you have plenty of extra data on the tape for the camcorder to be able to read when you are cuing the tape.