The Role of Sound in Video Production
Picture this: you’ve just finished shooting a fantastic video with breathtaking visuals, perfect lighting, and an A-list cast of characters. But when you play it back, it’s lacking something. Good sound can make or break a video, providing clear dialogue, music to support the emotions you’re trying to evoke, and sound effects to immerse your viewer. Sound is 70% of a successful video production.
Can You Hear Me Now?
Clear dialogue allows your audience to connect with the characters and the story, convey emotions, and keep viewers engaged. So, make sure your actors’ words come through crisp and clear. Use professional-quality microphones and consider using a separate audio recorder to capture the best sound possible. Always test microphones before you record and always test it in post-production to assure you’ve got good audio.
Avoid the Noise
Nothing is going to ruin your romantic outdoor shoot in the park faster than some guy with a leaf blower or lawnmower. Be sure to find a quiet location for your shoot to minimize background noise – you’ll save yourself hours of headache later in post-production. Fortunately, even if you can’t completely escape unwanted sounds, you may want to consider ADR (automated dialogue replacement). This is when an actor comes into a studio and re-records the dialogue.
Set the Mood
Music sets the mood, builds suspense, and enhances drama and emotion. While it can be tempting to use the latest pop hit for your video, using copyrighted music without permission can lead to serious legal trouble. Instead, look for royalty-free music libraries or websites that offer affordable licenses for their tunes. There are talented musicians out there creating original tracks that might be the perfect fit for your video. Reach out to artists on soundcloud.com. There are many talented musicians who are looking for a break.
KA-BOOM!
Whether it’s the swoosh of a sword, the explosion of a spaceship, or the quirky boing of a spring, sound effects elevate the overall production value of your video. They immerse your audience in the story, making them feel like they’re right there in the action.
Just like with music, there are websites that offer libraries of sound effects you can choose from. Or, you may want to try recording your own sound effects. It’s called foley and can take place in a studio. Get creative and have fun experimenting with different objects to create unique sounds.
Lights, camera, SOUND – action!
Check Out ICB
Ready to get started? ICB’s Associate Degree program in Video Production & Audio Engineering offers you the best of both worlds—preparing you to record, edit, and produce killer video, while also teaching you to master, mix, and lay down audio tracks. To learn more, contact us or give us a call at 855-896-3733