LEARN HOW TO RECORD, EDIT & PRODUCE GREAT AUDIO!

Learn how to record audio voice tracks, build your own studio, use effective audio production techniques and create audio information products and podcasts

If you create audio information products, produce audio in a corporate environment, run a small recording studio, create podcasts, or record audio for video; this site will help you learn and develop the art of making great sounding audio tracks.

Our focus is how to record, edit and produce a voice track, and the tools, techniques and skills you need to produce high quality audio products and productions efficiently. No matter what your experience level, you'll find articles, reviews, how-to's, books and tutorials to help you create excellent audio products. We'll share our recording studio secrets gathered from over 30 years experience as producers of audio training, promotion, and information products.

Audio For Video

Audio is often the poor stepchild of video. This is a big mistake. With a little bit of care, you can create spectacular audio for your video productions.

Do a little experiment some time. Spend some time watching a variety of video programs with the sound turned “off”. How much information do you get just from the video?

In most training and “how-to” videos the bulk of the information is contained in the audio tracks, and the video serves as support. This is carried to the extreme in “talking head videos”.

For an effective production, you need to take as much care with the audio as you do with the video.

Getting clear intelligible audio is not difficult in most cases — it just takes a little care and preplanning. Also, adding music and sound effects can go a long way in making your production more believable and effective.

Creating great audio will help your productions stand out and make them much more effective communicators.

Recording Checklist

 Audio For Video, Recording Techniques
Jan 092011
 

Preparing For A Recording

Here’s a checklist for you to use before you start a recording session. Don’t leave anything to chance. If you are recording someone other than yourself, make sure you are ready to go long before your speaker or narrator arrives. Feeling rushed greatly increases your chances of making mistakes that will be costly in terms of time and aggravation.

Recording Checklist

  • Make a test recording to ensure that all equipment is working.
  • If you are recording directly to computer, make sure all background programs, screensavers, power control, anti-virus & etc. are disabled. Disconnect from any networks and turn off any wireless network adaptors.
  • Make sure you have sufficient copies of script or outline.
  • Check for adequate lighting.
  • Have a glass of water for each person.
  • Provide a box of tissue.
  • Have a pop filter on microphone.
  • Make sure mike cables are away from power cords.
  • Turn off phones, doorbell, noisy appliances, etc.
  • Position the microphones correctly.
  • Set your volume levels.
  • Once everything is ready, listen carefully in the headphones for any extraneous noises.
  • Record 30 seconds of ambience or room sound.
  • Make the recording.
  • Play back & check the recording.
  • Make backup copies of files. Label all tapes, MiniDiscs and CDs.

Getting the Correct Volume On Your Audio Files

 Audio For Video, Editing & Production, Podcasting, Web Audio
Jan 092011
 

Getting the right volume level on your finished recordings is important because you want your customer to hear your recordings at about the same level as other commercially produced recordings, and you don’t want him or her to be constantly reaching for the volume knob when playing your product. While not difficult once you get [READ MORE...]

Using Music & Staying Legal

 Audio For Video, Editing & Production, Music & Effects, Podcasting, Web Audio
Jan 092011
 

Music can add a lot of perceived value to your production, but to avoid trouble, you must be aware of copyright issues. Here’s how to do it legally. Background and open/close music is a good way to enhance your production and make it sound more professional. If you are creating a product for sale, distribution [READ MORE...]

Improve Your Recordings Inexpensively

 Audio For Video, Equipment, Recording Techniques
Jan 092011
 

Using an on-camera microphone or a microphone built into an audio recorder will usually give disappointing results. Cheap microphones that come with computers are often of poor quality also. One of the easiest ways to improve the quality of your recordings is to use a lapel microphone rather than a mike built into a recorder [READ MORE...]

The Basics of Audio for Video

 Audio For Video
Jan 072011
 

Audio has always been the poor stepchild of video. In reality, the audio track conveys much more useful information than the video in most cases. Here’s the basics of creating good audio for video. It all starts with a good audio recording. If you are just capturing background sounds, the on camera mike usually is [READ MORE...]

AUDIO FOR VIDEO

 Audio For Video
Jan 012010
 

Audio is often the poor stepchild of video. This is a big mistake. With a little bit of care, you can create spectacular audio for your video productions. Do a little experiment some time. Spend some time watching a variety of video programs with the sound turned “off”. How much information do you get just [READ MORE...]

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