Bamboopictures
Senior Member
Just some rudimentary tips for improving audio capture with camcorders/DSLRs.
1 Monitor the audio with headphones/earphone when recording.
This is the only way to to make sure that the audio is free of static, hum, distortion, clothes rustling, wind noise etc
Adjust the volume of your headphone so that it commensurates with the visual feedback from the camera levels indicator.
For example, at 10% it should be almost inaudible, at 90% it should be almost uncomfortably loud.
Don't make the silly mistake of dialing down the recording level when you actually mean to dial down the headphone levels!
2. Monitor the levels visually to gauge the actual dB.
Increase the audio levels until you can see the maximum (peak) marking on the camera's audio level indicator. Then dial down the volume so that the maximum level fluctuates between the 50% and 90% mark.
3. Turn off AGC.
Automatic Gain Control tend to amplify ambient noise or hiss when there are pauses between words/sentences.
4. Test and set the audio levels before recording.
For interviews , get your subject to introduce himself or make some conversation with him to establish his normal speaking volume.
For drama, stage presentation, ask the actors to rehearse some lines.
5. Use the right mic and right placement.
Some suggestions:
For controlled sit down interviews - lavalier mic
For informal voxpop - handheld dynamic mic
For drama single cam - concealed lavalier/pin mic or boomed shotgun mic
For private tabled meetings - a few boundary mics
For press conference - shotgun/ handheld dynamic /Stereo recorder
6. For interviews/drama, record each talent on separate audio channel.
This allows the editor to mute the silent party, minimise ambient noise, and eliminate cross talk, interviewer comments, noise.
7. Record a few minutes of ambient location noise without conversation or music. This is useful for audio continuity editing.
8. Avoid breaching the "unity" level of your camera
The unity level is the audio setting where the camera neither attenuates nor boost the audio level with electronic gain.
Many DSLRs have noisy gain. So it is better to introduce a good preamp to boost the mic signal before plugging audio into your camera.
Hope this helps.
1 Monitor the audio with headphones/earphone when recording.
This is the only way to to make sure that the audio is free of static, hum, distortion, clothes rustling, wind noise etc
Adjust the volume of your headphone so that it commensurates with the visual feedback from the camera levels indicator.
For example, at 10% it should be almost inaudible, at 90% it should be almost uncomfortably loud.
Don't make the silly mistake of dialing down the recording level when you actually mean to dial down the headphone levels!
2. Monitor the levels visually to gauge the actual dB.
Increase the audio levels until you can see the maximum (peak) marking on the camera's audio level indicator. Then dial down the volume so that the maximum level fluctuates between the 50% and 90% mark.
3. Turn off AGC.
Automatic Gain Control tend to amplify ambient noise or hiss when there are pauses between words/sentences.
4. Test and set the audio levels before recording.
For interviews , get your subject to introduce himself or make some conversation with him to establish his normal speaking volume.
For drama, stage presentation, ask the actors to rehearse some lines.
5. Use the right mic and right placement.
Some suggestions:
For controlled sit down interviews - lavalier mic
For informal voxpop - handheld dynamic mic
For drama single cam - concealed lavalier/pin mic or boomed shotgun mic
For private tabled meetings - a few boundary mics
For press conference - shotgun/ handheld dynamic /Stereo recorder
6. For interviews/drama, record each talent on separate audio channel.
This allows the editor to mute the silent party, minimise ambient noise, and eliminate cross talk, interviewer comments, noise.
7. Record a few minutes of ambient location noise without conversation or music. This is useful for audio continuity editing.
8. Avoid breaching the "unity" level of your camera
The unity level is the audio setting where the camera neither attenuates nor boost the audio level with electronic gain.
Many DSLRs have noisy gain. So it is better to introduce a good preamp to boost the mic signal before plugging audio into your camera.
Hope this helps.
Last edited:
