Things to know before recording
Researching the different types of recorders really helped me in deciding which one I wanted to use for my how-to video. Finding different techniques to reduce frequency interruptions or background interference, meant I was pleased when playing back my audio and was ready to upload it and start editing in good time.
Where are you recording?
This is one of the most crucial aspects of recording and it will always affect how your end result sounds, this is because if the background noise interferes too much or the volume is not level, then it is very difficult to successfully alter this during post production. A mistake that can be made is deciding to record in a room with TOO much space. Recording in a tall, spacious or overall large room, may cause the audio to echo and create reverb where you don't want it. This is because the closer you hold the mic to the person speaking, the clearer the audio. Recording in a large room can also cause background noises to appear louder and more noticeable in your recording because of the reverb. If you were to record a group or choir, recording from further away would create a reverb which, in this case, is good!
What equipment are you using?
The equipment you use in production needs to be of a high enough quality so that you can meet your standards and keep the quality consistent throughout. Consistency is key as you do not want two very different levels of sound (or video) quality in the same project, this will be noticeable and hard to fix entirely, which will cause problems and lessen the quality of your finished product. Something you should do before recording officially is to research each sound recorder available an/or test them, to see which one has the best quality and is also fairly easy to use, so that you dont accidentally lose any media or break any working functions.
Does the chosen equipment work best with what you are trying to achieve?
Different microphones have different mic polar patterns, which measures how sensitive to sound they are. Polar patterns are where the mic is programmed to pick up the most sound, each microphone is built differently for this reason!
Omnidirectional means that a microphone is sensitive from all angles and has the most bleed, but this type is also wind resistant and picks up the most environment.
bidirectional microphones have a figure of 8 polar pattern, meaning it is equally sensitive from the front and the back and not sensitive at the sides, this is because the figure of 8 pattern goes inwards in the middle (at the side) which causes it to pick up hardly any sound.
Unidirectional microphones have a cardiod type and shotgun polar patterns (which expand most at the front) meaning it is sensitive from the front only.
The H4n recorder is a multi track recorder meaning it has polar patterns that are extremely sensitive all round as it can record up to 3 tracks at a time and needs to pick up on different sounds in detail at the same time.
Do you need an external input like a ..... microphone?? are you using equipment that others may need???
Where have you placed your microphone?
Another step to getting the best quality sound is making sure you have the microphone placed where it can pick things up clearly. People usually experience problems when trying to decide where to place the microphone. This is because factors like the clothes you are wearing (lanyards, buttons, necklaces) can cause interference and become more noticeable if the microphone is placed too close to the subject speaking. The best thing to do is, once again, try out different placements and listen back to see which one sounds the best.
Angling a microphone slightly off axis will cause any small sounds (that are usually noticeable on recordings) to hit the speaker diagonally and soften the sounds compared to using at a perpendicular angle.
Who is using the equipment?
Before you start it is good to decide who will be operating the equipment. It is best to make sure the designated person has experience and an understanding of how to use the specific recorder and knows what to do in order to create an effective and successful audio recording. They will have the most responsibility and will need to check each recording and make sure everyone is cooperating as sound is an important aspect of the project that cannot be undermined.
Pre recording checklist:
- How will the room affect the recording? (size, distractions, background noise).
- Is the chosen recorder a good enough quality? (easy to use, consistent volume, clear audio).
- Does the recorder fit your audio needs? (would others benefit more from the equipment your using?)
- Placement of the microphone (correct distance, angled for less background noise, no clothing interfering).
- Who is recording? (do they know how to use it? will they ensure the quality is good enough?).