5 Rock-Star Tips to Improve Audio for Videos and Podcasts - by Internet Marketing Virtual Assistant, Andrea Kalli. Offering media editing services to help you with creating your sellable products and other audio and video content. Visit www.virtualassist.net

1. Rock-Star Tips
to Improve
Audio for
Videos & Podcasts
By Andrea Kalli

4. You've decided to make
a commitment to
incorporate rich media
into your marketing
plan and your products.

5. Right now.

6. No more waiting.

7. You're taking the
bull by the horns.

8. Website and blog visitors
love these presentation
formats because they
can obtain information
quickly instead of
wading through lengthy
text-based posts
and articles.

9. Because they are more
engaging than text,
podcasts, audios, and videos
also help visitors retain
more of the information
you present.

10. In order to keep
them listening and
watching, though,
you have to make
sure that your
presentations
contain quality
audio sound.

11. Your audience members do not
expect the same professional
audio quality that they would
expect from high-budget
movie and television
productions;

12. however, if your voice
cannot be heard clearly or
your presentations are
laden with background
noise, viewers and listeners
will quickly look elsewhere
for the content they want.

13. The same is true
for your audio and
video products that
you sell.

14. Theres a higher level of
expectation from someone
who just handed over their
hard earned cash to buy
your media product.

15. If you take a
little extra time and
effort to ensure a
superior recording,
everybody wins.

16. The time to think
about your audio
recording quality is
before recording, not in
post-production editing.

17. Plan and
Prepare first,
THEN Record.

18. These five tips can
help you improve audio
to keep your audience
members paying
attention:

19. Tip #1

20. Avoid depending on your
video camera or webcam's
microphone for audio.

21. These devices are acceptable
for video chats; however, they
cannot produce the level of audio
quality that your audio members
expect from a professional
podcast or video.

22. Instead, use a quality
external microphone
when presenting
content.

23. There are several options when
it comes to choosing a
microphone. You can purchase a
simple desktop microphone for
about $20 at an
electronics store.

24. This type of microphone
is appropriate if you plan to sit
at your desk while recording your
video or podcast.

25. A lapel microphone might
be a better choice,
particularly if you want
to produce video
presentations.

26. These models clip to your
shirt or jacket and
are barely visible.

27. If you are on a budget, you
can pick up a corded lapel
microphone for about $30
as long as you do not plan to
move around during the
presentation.

28. If you will be moving around
or writing on a whiteboard,
though, you might opt for a
cordless version, which typically
costs $200 or more.

29. Tip #2

30. Hang acoustic foam from
walls that will not be visible
in the finished video.

31. This is particularly
important if you are
recording in a small room
such as a home office.

32. Acoustic foam can
reduce or eliminate noise from
nearby rooms, and can also
significantly reduce echoes that can
bleed into your video or
podcast audio.

33. There are several
available styles,
including pyramid,
wedge, and grid foam.

34. Also, acoustic foam is
available in 1-inch, 2-inch,
and 3-inch thicknesses.

35. As you might expect, thicker
foam offers more effective
sound control than
thinner foam.

36. Wedge and grid foam
styles are typically more
expensive than pyramid
styles.

37. You can purchase 1-inch
pyramid foam squares for
less than $1 per square foot.

38. Budget tip: While some
audio pros might balk at
the idea, you might want
to try other budget-
friendly options.

39. Ive read that some people use
egg crate bed pads, carpet
padding, or really thick
blankets to some success.

40. Many moons ago I remember
reading that a popular podcaster
would record his podcast audio
sitting in his closet and covered
with a blanket.

41. Tip #3

42. If you are recording in a home
office, turn off your home's
heating and cooling system just
before you begin recording your
video or podcast.

43. Noise from air vents can
show up in your audio and
can be very difficult to
remove with editing
software.

44. At the very least, cover vents in
your recording room with a heavy
blanket during recording sessions to
decrease the level of noise produced by
your furnace or air conditioner.

45. And dont forget about the
little fan you might have
blowing on you or itll sound
like a freight train when
you play it back for review.

46. Tip #4

47. Run an audio test before you
start recording your
presentation.

48. Record about 30 to 60 seconds of
audio while reading a portion of
your presentation script.

49. Play back the recording and
listen for any background
noise, echoes, or other
distractions that might
reduce the quality
of your audio.

50. This can save you time
later because you can identify
and fix audio problems early
instead of discovering them after
you have recorded your entire
podcast or video.

51. Keep in mind that, while
audio editing software can
reduce some types of noise,
such as echoes and ambient
noise, you shouldn't rely on
software exclusively.

52. Applying noise filters after
recording will not likely make
your audio crystal clear, &
at times, make it worse.

53. It can also reduce the volume
of your voice, which can make
it difficult for viewers and
listeners to hear you.

54. Tip #5

55. This one is for folks that
are using a headset with a
built-in mic. The mic sits
very close to your face.

56. Position the mic to just in
front of the tip of your nose.

57. This keeps it out of
your own blast one
(aka, the wind coming
out of your nose and
out of your mouth).

58. It might seem a little high to
you, but if youve ever listened to a
recording where you can hear the
person breathing like theyve just
run a marathon, youll know
exactly what Im talking about.

59. Its distracting to the
listener, but completely
avoidable by adjusting the
position of your mic.

60. Ive also seen people
accomplish this
successfully by placing the
mic closer to the
chin area.

61. ust do a wind check
before recording anything.
Put your hand where you plan
to put your mic, and
then blow.

62. If you feel the wind,
adjust. Then do a test
recording to make sure
your voice is being picked
up enough. If not,
adjust again.

63. Taking the time to improve
the quality of your audio will
result in professional videos
and podcasts that will keep
your audience members
coming back for more.

66. Find out more
about my media editing
services. Let us join you on
this new adventure!
You Record Well o
The Rest
Andrea Kalli
www.virtualassist.net