Shot Projects Part 4 - Working with Audio
 

SHOT PROJECTS Part 4

Great video without Great Audio is what many students new to video production end up with because they don't use the proper equipment during a shoot. Taking the time to get a great shot without taking the extra time to get great audio is a mistake. Poor audio ruins a good shoot. The purpose of this shot project is to give you practice in obtaining great audio.

Specs

  1. Each project will have 5 seconds of black at the start of the movie.
  2. A title should appear within the first five seconds and last 3 seconds. It should contain the name of the movie -what type of shot is being demonstrated and your name (remember first name only).
  3. The actual clip demonstrating the shot must be a minimum of 10 seconds and no longer than 15 seconds.
  4. Five seconds of black must be at the end of the movie.
  5. Each project must have intro music that fades in and out at the start and fades in and out at the end of the movie but should NOT play during the voice sequence of the shot. The selected music cannot violate any school policies.
  6. The music you add may also play at the same time as the voice track but the volume must be adjusted so it does not interfere with the voice track. To add key frames to your sound track place the play head at the desired location and press Option + k to insert a keyframe. You will need four keyframes to adjust a section of a sound track.
  7. Adjust the voice track so the voice level is the same in all tracks,

 

Project 16 Mic Comparison
• You will create four different shots - each shot should include the mic IN the shot (if possible) so we can see where the mic is located as you make the shot.
Use a tripod to hold the camera and have the speaker sitting.
• Shot 1 - use the boom mic and shoot 10 seconds of an interview - the person must speak for the full 10 seconds, have them read something. Position the boom mic where it would normally be during an interview (actually a little closer to the person so you can see the mic but don't place it over their face.)
• Shot 2 - same interview but this time with a lavaliere mic.
• Shot 3 - same interview but this time use the camera mounted boom mic.
• Shot 4 - same interview but this time with the built in mic - be sure no other mic is connected to the camera.
Create a title for each shot so we know what mic you used and be sure the mic is IN the shot.

Project 17 Boom Mic Positions
• Create a minimum of three different shots - each shot should include the mic IN the shot so we can see where the mic is located as you make the shot.
• The shots should be of the same action and the action should be one involving sound but change the location of the mic during the shots - be sure the mic location is visible in the shot. The purpose of this exercise is to experiment with how the sound changes based on the mic location and how you can get different affects just by the location of the mic.
Title each shot for where the boom is located and again be sure the boom is clearly visible in the shot. So if the boom is overhead the shot would be labeled "Overhead Boom".

Project 18 Syncing Audio
• You will create two different shots - each shot should include the mic IN the shot so we can see where the mic is located as you make the shot.
• Shot 1- The Interview - Setup the camera with the camera mounted mic. The person in the shot will use the H1 recorder as a mic for an interview, the interviewer should hold the H1 near them as they ask questions and then move the mic to the person answering the questions. Shoot about 20 seconds of questions and answers - be sure you go back and forth at least three times between the interviewer and the person answering the questions. Be sure to have someone clap their hands once you start shooting so you can sync the audio.
• Shot 2 - The Walk-up - Set up this shot with someone about 100 yards away from the camera with the H1 recorder. Once the recording starts the person in the shot should hold the H1 to record their voice and then begin to walk towards the camera while speaking. Continue to walk towards the camera and continue to talk as you walk up to the camera. Once you are in front of the camera have someone clap and then stop recording.

Project 18 Syncing Audio - Post Production
• Syncing the Audio in FCP - you will need to import your audio from the H1 recorder so in FCP go to Import > File. Attach the H1 recorder to your computer using the USB cable and press the red button so select card reader on the H1 recorder. Now import the audio file into your events folder. As an alternative you can also use the miniSD card adapter to plug the card into your computer instead of using the USB connection.
• Create a new project and add your video. Play the video and take note of where the hand clap occurs, there should be a clear spike in the audio level.
• Insert the audio clip into your project. Use the position option to move the imported audio so the hand clap spike of your imported clip lines up with the spike on your video clip. Now lower the volume of the video audio to 0 so you only hear the H1 recorded audio.
• Half way through the dialogue cut the H1 audio and revert to the camera audio so the viewer can hear the difference between the H1 audio and the camera audio. Put a label at that point so it is clear that you are now listening to the camera audio. Put a label at the beginning of the H1 audio section as well indicating the audio source.
Shot 2 - Add your video to the storyline and then copy it. For the first clip only use the camera audio and in the second clip only use the H1 audio. Make sure the H1 audio is in sync with the lip movement of the person in the video.

Project 19 Voice Over (the Allstate trick)
Record a video short clip of a conversation between two people, use a medium shot and be sure the faces of both people are clearly visible. Be sure to record room tone for this project. Without room tone your voiceover will sound fake and recorded which it is but you don't want ti to sound that way. Record the audio with the H1 recorder. This works best if one actor is a girl and the other a guy.
Upload the clip and audio into FCP and play the video. Now using the H1 record your voice (while watching the video) saying the lines of the other character.
Use your new recorded audio to swap out specific words or phrases by other person with your new track. Edit several sections of audio (at least three)
Don't forget to record room tone - record about 30 seconds of "silence" with the H1 recorder in the same location where you shoot the video.

Project 20 Post Production Sound Corrections
Take one of the clips from projects 16-19 and perform post production sound correction. For each of the following you will show the original clip, then repeat the same clip with the sound adjusted. Label each clip so it is clear what adjustment was made. Include the following techniques:

1. Adjust the loudness of the clip.
2. Remove background noise.
3. Remove any hum noise.
4. Use the voice analyzer to have FCP optimize the sound track for voice.
5. Use the graphic equalizer to adjust the audio - describe what affect you were trying to create.
6. Use what ever combination of adjustments to make the final audio the best sound for this clip.


 

 

How to improve your video - good sound makes a big difference