How important is good audio?

Getting good audio when you're out on a shoot is oftentimes tricky...but it can't be neglected if your goal is creating high-quality videos. Nothing screams low budget or amateur louder than bad production audio on a video piece. With the advent and popularity rise of DSLRs, many shooters rely on their on-camera mics for audio aquisition. This rarely gets the job done.

We've all seen this guy on a movie set before, but not many folks truly appreciate how important he is to the quality and feeling of the final product. Whether it's a feature film or a modest corporate video, the same rules still apply. Get amazing production audio out in the field.

Here are few suggestions for aquiring great audio when you're out on your shoot:

*Redundancy: Use a dedicated boom and lav mic on all subjects.

*DSLR work: Send audio to a dedicated audio recorder like a Zoom H4n, then sync it up in post.

*Monitor your audio as you shoot/record. You will be amazed (and depressed!) at how something so small can potentially wreck your audio if you're not paying attention. Refridgerators, air conditioners, distant plane, trains, automobiles, weed eaters, vaccuums, a gentle breeze, etc.

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At Matchstick Media, we strive to provide high-quality audio acquisition and stellar final mixes for our clients. Whether you're doing it yourself, or working with a production company, take the extra steps to insure good audio for your pieces. You'll be glad you did -