Webcasting 101

Always, always, always:

• Test your equipment before you use it.  It's better to find out a microphone isn't working before you shoot than after.
• Check your sound before you start. Do a brief test, then play it back and listen to it on your earphones. If you have a sound board, and you should, make sure the VU meter or LED shows the sound.
• Use earphones or a speaker to monitor sound while recording. Using a misplaced speaker can cause feedback (that screeching sound that’s so annoying).

Getting good sound in interviews:

• If you use the on-camera microphone, the ideal distance is about 3 feet from the speaker. Be careful about any noise the cameraman makes.  The camera operator is closer to the on-camera microphone than the subject.
• Use a clip-on lavalier mic (lapel mic) or a hand held microphone.  The closer the microphone is to the source of sound, the better.
• When using a lavalier mic, things around the mic may rub against it and cause extraneous noise.  For example, long hair and necklaces can rub against the microphone.

Natural Sound:

• Any sound that occurs naturally is called Natural Sound. The roar of a crowd of protestors, the sounds of birds in a forest, the general noise in a room. If you want natural sound, decide if you want to hear specific voices or just general room noise. The on-camera microphone will pick up a lot of general room noise.  Using a hand-held or lavalier mic eliminates some of the extraneous noise.  Bear in mind that every environment has what is called room noise.  This room noise flavors the audio.  Often you can tell when sound is recorded in a different place and added in because the room noise is so different.

Microphones - there are several types of microphones you can use to gather sound depending on your purpose. Use the one you can afford and try to match its type to your use.

• On Camera Mic - This is built-in the camera. This small microphone is always on the front and is omni-directional, meaning it will pick up sounds from all directions. This is good to use to capture general audio from an event, but nothing very specific. Since the microphone is closer to you than to your subject, be careful - if you're talking, your voice will dominate.
• Lavalier Mic - This is a small microphone, about one inch, that can be clipped onto a piece of clothing below the speaker's mouth. A thin cord attaches the microphone to a battery pack that the speaker can put in their pocket or clip onto their clothing and then to the audio mixer. This can also be a wireless model, but you’ll need lots of batteries.
• Handheld Mic - It looks like a ball of ice cream sitting on a sugar cone. As the name implies, you usually hold this in your hand (while interviewing someone, for instance). You can also put in on a table or floor stand.  Print your station logo on a piece of cardstock and attach to the mic for a little extra look of big time TV.
• Shotgun Mic - A long, narrow microphone designed to pick up specific sound from far away. Very expensive for us.

Sound Mixer - There are several different boards available in a variety of prices and quality.  Remember, audio technicians work for years to learn the intricacies of sound boards or mixers.  I’m going to show you the basics you need to get by.  Also bear in mind that most of the time I will talk in general terms.

Each “channel” has several controls that only affect that channel.  They are generally in a straight line and are a series of potentiometers, known in the business as pots, that serve different functions.  The bottom one is the volume control.  This is the main one you need to use.  The further to the right you turn the knob, the louder your sound will be.  Above this one are others that control the tone of your sound, or EQ (equalization).  You should leave these in the flat position.  You can feel a “stop” or bump for this position, usually it is straight up.  The VU meter or LED lights indicate the level of sound.  If your board has VU meters the needle should go into the red area only occasionally.  If you have LEDs you need to avoid the red lights.

The closer you keep the mic to the sound source, the better the results to a point. However, too close and the mic will pick up the speaker's breathing or clothes rustling. The proper distance can only be found by monitoring the sound levels with a headset or playing back a taped rehearsal.  The reason your audio board has either a VU meter or LED readout is to set audio levels.  If you have VU meters, the ideal is for the needle to be straight up and only occasionally crossing to the far right area that is highlighted by a red bar.  If your board has an LED system, aim for the green light with only an occasional red light showing.

Pre-Production:  Always carry out a pre-production sound check with your on-air talent to make sure you don't have hum or static from faulty connections and to set your audio levels.  The correct level can be marked with a piece of tape if need be.  Since we use cheap ones, your microphones will need to be at the maximum setting.  

Listen through your headphones or monitor for unwanted background noise or line static. Watch the needles or LEDs on your sound board to make sure you are getting a proper level of audio.

Pay attention for air conditioners, fans, refrigerators, ringing telephones, radios, etc. Don't be afraid to ask for whatever changes you need to get rid of bothersome audio.

Record a minute or so of your audio and video. Rewind the tape and listen to the audio. The extra time spent on electronic rehearsal is well worth the investment to guarantee better technical quality.

Common Sound Problems - It is essential to check the sound before shooting.  Have I said this enough? There are sound problems that can ruin your production. Stop shooting if one of them crops up. It is easier to fix the problem during production rather than editing or after you’re on the air.

• Hum - Sounds like a low-pitched tone mixed with your signal.
  • Solution: Mics or cables may be too close to electrical equipment (TV's, motors, neon lights, extension cords, etc.).  Move the mics and the cables and see if it stops.

• Wind Noise - One of the major problems while shooting outdoors is caused by      
  the wind overwhelming the microphones.
  • Solution: Use a wind guard on the mic (that big fuzzy thing you sometimes
    see on a mic) to cut the wind and absorb its shock.
    If that doesn't help, turn the speaker so their back is to the wind.

• Distortion - When the sound in your headset is garbled or fuzzy.
  • Solution: If it’s caused by the mic being too close to the source, move the mic until the distortion disappears. If the sound source is another piece of audio hardware such as a mixer, VCR, CD player, check your recording levels as well.

• Weak Signal - Sometimes it’s easy to overlook a weak audio signal through headphones because you also hear it through the air.
  • Solution: Always do a pre-shoot recording and play the tape back through your headphones to hear if it is loud enough. If the sound is too low or garbled, then check all the audio connections and the distance between the sound source and the mic. You may need a fresh battery.  The $22.95 lavalier uses a #675 hearing aid battery.

• Sound Editing - Adjusting the volume control on monitors has no effect on the sound you're recording. You must make the adjustments on the audio mixer.
  • Adjust the sound level by the VU meter or LED, not by your ear.

Do not hesitate to call, email or message me with anything that you need me to help you with! 
I'm always glad to help.  Email is probably the easiest way to get me: [email protected]