How far can you tweak your documentary’s audio footage?

Unfortunately there is nothing much you can do if you flub during the recording stage. Power packed audio editing softwares that promise you clean audio, better edited footage and everything in between. But there is only so much that can be done to salvage badly recorded audio.

Forget the stuff about investing in a good mic, buying this and that… Here are some no-nonsense tips that can stand you in good stead during a windy day, literally!

Making the best use of atmospheric noise!

The best documentaries keep it as real as possible. A crystal clean audio without atmospheric noise can sound synthetic and superficial. It can be difficult, to, strike a, connect with viewers. Record atmospheric noise or room noise and use them as fillers or to layer your audio recording.

When cutting between a silent shot and a shot with room hum, adding a layer of atmospheric noise can make both shots sound the same. It will prevent the sense of discord that people experience while listening to audio that sounds wavers and varies with each shot.

A truck just passed you by? And is the dog down the street barking like there is no tomorrow? There is one simple trick. Grab a shot of the truck and the dog. It will add interesting v=audio visual detail to the documentary.

Wear on those headphones…

Wearing headphones while recording can help you concentrate on the smallest audio detail. There are times when a perfectly natural conversation sounds jarring thanks to changes in the voice pitch. Normalizing and compressing audio footage can result in more even sounding audio.

If you are using a boom pole make sure you attach a fuzzy filter to it to reduce wind noise. And yes wear those headphones to know you are getting it right!

Pushing sound under the carpet!

Carpet runners and curtains have long been used to reduce sound. They can be of immense help when filming in indoor locations as they tend to absorb noise. The tiniest of sounds such as the clickety clack of heels or the ticking of a clock will be amplified during recording. It may not always be possible to control noise, using heavy drapes and carpets can keep those pesky distractions at bay. Don’t have the budget? Use rubber mats as they absorb sound and cost a fraction of what carpets cost.