Types of Microphone in video production

In my past ventures I have hardly ever managed to get the audio adequate as I usually think about it as more of a last minute factor in the pre-production steps. I found a video blog called Types of Microphone, on youtube created by a video production company. It covers the different types of microphones that could be used to pick up audio. For instance, bi-directional, cardioid, shotgun and Lavalier microphones. It is necessary to choose the correct microphone so that you can get the finest quality audio, the technical side of audio is one thing which should be properly thought through, considering the pros and cons of the different types of microphones, depending on exactly what is being shot.

In pre and post-production stages of a venture typically what is believed to be the most significant aspect is the aesthetic imagery. Thinking about the brainstorming, scripting and storyboarding, getting caught up with this part of the pre-production and forgetting at times about the planning and testing that will be necessary for sound .Sound is equally as significant as the visual side of things. It would be no use to have fantastic visuals and narrative, then incoherent audio. This could render the whole venture useless, and call for it all to be reshot for a second time with higher quality sound, losing time and money.

I am going to explain the four types of microphones outlined in the video blog, beginning with the shotgun microphone, which happens to be the most directional, which means that it picks up the sound extremely well at what it is directed at, but is far less sensitive to the side and the back of the microphone. This may be seen as both a positive and negative, because it means that they do not pick up surrounding sound, concentrating just on whatever it is directed at. This makes them good for use on boom poles, that means they are most commonly used on television and movie sets. Much like shotgun microphones, cardioid models pick up sound solely from the front nonetheless it is considerably less sensitive than the shotguns microphones, alternatively making them good for live vocals. And in contrast to shotgun microphones, bi-directional models pick up audio equally from both the back and the front. And lastly, in addition they talk about the Lavalier microphone, this one is the most portable out of the four talked about in the video, as it clips onto the subject, making it well suited for interviews. They are really discrete because they can be clipped onto clothing and concealed, nevertheless they remain to pick up dialogue very clearly. They can come either as wireless or wired, both having benefits of their very own. Wireless which means that it gives even more portability, cable free, although wired microphones mean there is no need to mess about and worry about audio channels or batteries. Other key situations to use the Lavalier microphone would be theatre and for public speaking situations.

This blog post has provided a quick introduction into the different types of microphones, nevertheless this still illustrates the value of planning the audio and ensuring the appropriate microphone is used to complete the project. Lambda Films, is the video production Norwichcompany who created these great video blogs which aim at giving marketing tips.