The Crucial Elements of Great Video Production Sound

Video production in Chicago, and the world over, has seen a drastic increase in the need for excellent quality sound. No doubt due to the increasingly professional software, such as surround sound, becoming standard additions to our daily lives. Whether this is in our own home speaker systems, our vehicles, in movie theatres, or through our music player speakers, it’s become all the more imperative for media houses to ensure excellent sound follows alongside excellent video production.

There’s nothing worse than watching your favorite series only to see a plot twist become near on unintelligible because of poor video sound production and mixing. Overlooking this aspect of filming can change the entire way in which your masterpiece is received which not to mention knowing how to implement good strategies from the start will save you money in the long run (reshooting for better sound quality later will certainly cost you) and a lot of hassle.

Tips For Video Production Sound Quality

• Communication is Key
  Especially in the pre-production process. Involve any and all crucial members of your video production sound team, especially people like the sound designer. While directors and producers may be focused on bringing a story to life, bear in mind that a well-versed sound designer does just that, too, except through your audience’s ears. Their input is also immeasurable due to their sound-orientated approach to storytelling.

• Location Location Location
  Take a look at your script and your scenes and where they are located. If an integral part of your conversation line is going to be shot next to a busy road or an open field often hit with gale-force winds, it’s probably not a good idea to shoot there. Be sure to consult your audio team and beforehand, pitch your ideas, and get some feedback from everyone. Another important factor that will come into play here is the protection of your mic and equipment. Is there going to be a torrential downpour of rain? Are you cast shooting in adverse weather conditions? If so, be sure to bring along the proper protection needed for your microphone and other equipment.

• Never Leave the Lavalier
  A bit outdated by some standards, perhaps, but the importance of having a nifty lavalier microphone as a backup cannot be understated. Remember the importance of audible dialogue in driving home the essence of your production. Having a lavalier on hand will be a lifesaver in rooms with an echo which make the use of a boom mic difficult, or simply if the boom mic decides to bomb out.

• Name & Shame
  Whether you are the picture editor or the production sound recordist, properly naming and organizing your tracks is immeasurably important. Like most instances, time is of the essence, and getting this one detail right will save you and everyone in involved in your production, a lot of time.

• Export for Everyone
  As your video production sound moves its way down the production line, be sure that the person who is getting it doesn’t waste time because the audio file they have received it on isn’t compatible with their software, and be sure that they aren’t missing key assets needed for their step in the sound production process that you were meant to pass on.. Don’t forget to print the timecode, either!

• Two-Pop is Too Important
  Even if you think it’s outdated for your personal uses, don’t underestimate its importance and how it affects those also involved in the process. The two-pop, that little burst of frame playing for a grand total of two seconds, provides a full-proof way of seeing if your audio and video are in sync or not.