Sound for Video Session: Decibels & Q&A
This week we'll talk about the decibel — what it is and why the numbers seem different in different situations. Then we'll answer your sound for video questions. Read Ofuk Önen' article "Decibels - Here Are 6 Simple Truths To Help Explain dB" here and Steve DeMott's article "dBs Explained: A Musician's Guide To Understanding Decibels" here.
If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. We have a course on sound for live-streaming with the ATEM Mini and just added Introduction to Izotope RX for Dialogue Audio.
Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVE Store, Waves, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
- Earthworks SV33 studio vocal microphone — B&H, Sweetwater
- Earthworks ETHOS microphone — B&H, Sweetwater
- Neumann U87 Ai microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon
- Universal Audio Volt 276 USB audio interface — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon
- Epiphan Pearl Nano live stream encoder — B&H, DVE Store, Amazon
- Sound Devices MixPre II Series Recorders - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon
- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Amazon
- Canon C70 Camera - B&H
- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8L IS lens - B&H, Amazon
- TA3-M to XLR-F Adapter cable to feed microphones to C70 or Blackmagic Pocket cameras - B&H
- ATEM Mini Extreme & Extreme ISO - B&H, DVE Store, Amazon
- Allen & Heath SQ5 Digital Mixer - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon
- Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channel, pre-amp, EQ, compressor - Sweetwater, B&H
Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.
Copyright 2022, Curtis Judd
Sound for Video Session: Clarity Vx Noise Reduction & Q&A
This week we'll take a listen to the new Waves Clarity Vx noise reduction plugin. Then we'll cover your sound for video related questions.
If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. We have a course on sound for live-streaming with the ATEM Mini and just added Introduction to Izotope RX for Dialogue Audio.
Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVE Store, Waves, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
- Waves Clarity Vx Pro noise reduction plugin — Waves
- Waves Clarity Vx noise reduction plugin — Waves
- Earthworks SV33 studio vocal microphone — B&H, Sweetwater
- Earthworks ETHOS microphone — B&H, Sweetwater
- Neumann U87 Ai microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon
- Universal Audio Volt 276 USB audio interface — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon
- Epiphan Pearl Nano live stream encoder — B&H, DVE Store, Amazon
- Sound Devices MixPre II Series Recorders - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon
- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Amazon
- Canon C70 Camera - B&H
- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8L IS lens - B&H, Amazon
- TA3-M to XLR-F Adapter cable to feed microphones to C70 or Blackmagic Pocket cameras - B&H
- ATEM Mini Extreme & Extreme ISO - B&H, DVE Store, Amazon
- Allen & Heath SQ5 Digital Mixer - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon
- Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channel, pre-amp, EQ, compressor - Sweetwater, B&H
Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.
Copyright 2022, Curtis Judd
Rycote Nano Shield and PCS Quick Release System for Microphones
In this episode, we have a closer look at the Rycote Nano Shield wind shield as well as Rycote’s PCS quick release system for microphones. Rycote pitches the Nano Shield as their most advanced wind shield to date, and in my testing with it so far, I agree. Their PCS quick release system includes several different models including their flagship model for boom poles as well as the less expensive Lite version for studio microphone arms or even camera equipment. Let’s take a closer look!
If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest courses cover Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini and an Intro to Izotope RX.
Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com
Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVEStore, Perfect Circuit, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
- Rycote Nano Shield microphone wind shield kits — B&H
- Rycote PCS microphone quick release — B&H
- DPA 4017b shotgun microphone — B&H, Sweetwater
- Sound Devices 888 audio recorder/mixer — B&H, Sweetwater
- Earthworks Ethos studio microphone — B&H, Sweetwater
- Universal Audio Volt 276 USB Audio Interface — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon
- Panasonic GH5 camera — B&H, Amazon
- Olympus 45mm f/1.8 lens — B&H, Amazon
- Canon C70 Camera — B&H
- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8 lens — B&H, Amazon
Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.
Copyright 2021, Curtis Judd
My YouTube Audio Workflow: Get Quality Sound for Your Videos
In this episode, we run through my workflow for recording sound for my YouTube videos from start to finish - production to post production.
More detailed videos on the various steps:
Boom camera-top shotgun mic from a microphone stand
Compress and loudness normalize
Free Sound Only plugin from Alex4D to create audio crossfades.
If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest course is Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini.
Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-fi.com
Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVEStore, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
- Producer’s Choice Sound Blankets
- Audio Technica AT875R shotgun microphone - B&H, Amazon
- Sound Devices MixPre series recorders - B&H, Sweetwater, DVEStore, Amazon
- ZOOM F series recorders - B&H, Sweetwater
- Tascam DR-60DmkII budget recorder - B&H, Amazon
- Sound Devices 888 - B&H, Sweetwater
- Impact C-stand - B&H, Amazon
- RODE Boom pole - Amazon
- Boom pole clip, to hold the boom pole in the c-stand - Amazon
- Aputure COB120d II for the key light - Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon
- Aputure Nova P300C for the b-roll - Aputure, B&H, DVE Store
- Amaran 100D for the background light - Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon
- Aputure Spotlight Mount for the pattern on the back wall - Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon
- Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K - B&H, DVE Store, Amazon
- Signa EF 24-70 f/2.8 DG OS ART lens - B&H, Amazon
Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.
Copyright 2021, Curtis Judd
"Before You Upgrade Your Camera" Series
My new friend Tyler Edwards has a series on YouTube titled "Before You Upgrade Your Camera." I'm honored he asked me to help with the latest in the series on audio:
Sound for Video Session: Recording Audio in a Tesla Model 3
In this session, I'm looking for a way to record decent dialogue audio in a moving car, specifically the Tesla Model 3. In this test, we put the following to the test:
CEntrance Mixerface R4R Audio recorder/USB audio interface
JK MicJ Headset Microphone
If you wanted to skip the Wireless kit and connect the microphone directly into the Mixerface R4R recorder, use the RODE VXLR+ adapter.
Tesla - If you plan to buy a new car, Tesla makes some really nice options. Using my link, you'll get a little extra, i.e., free supercharging for 6 months.
Copyright 2018, Curtis Judd
Home Audio - An Evolution Through Time (Infographic) from VP Online
Thanks to Karen over at VP Online for this fun infographic outlining the history of home audio technologies.
Audio Normalization: Make Your Video Consistently Loud
What is audio normalization? What does it actually do to your sound clip or file? In this episode we cover the two main ways to normalize your audio and why you should use loudness normalization rather than peak normalization to get consistently loud videos.
Links to gear some of my favorite gear:
Zoom F8n - The audio for this episode was recorded with the F8n
Panasonic GH5s Camera - my favorite small camera for video
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - this is the the lens I use more than any other on the GH5s
Sennheiser MKH 8050 Boom Microphone
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Music - MzA - Copyright 2017 by Cary Judd, used with permission
Accusonus ERA-D: Remove Noise and Reverb From Your Audio
One of the big challenges with recording on location is that you cannot always control noise or reverberation on the set. And while you can use things like sound blankets to help in some cases, sometimes you just don’t have enough blankets or time. On one job last year, I worked on a location near a major interstate highway which was chosen for its appearance, not its lack of noise. In cases like this, ERA-D from Accusonus can help you clean up the noise and reverb in your recordings like no other plugin I’ve used before.
Links to gear discussed and used to shoot this episode:
Accusonus ERA Plugin Bundles
DPA 4017b Shotgun Microphone
Countryman B6 Lavalier Microphone
Sound Devices 633 Audio Field Mixer/Recorder
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Music - MzA - Copyright 2017 by Cary Judd, used with permission
Sound for Video Session: Order of Operations - Processing Dialogue Audio
In this week's sound for video session, we cover my thoughts on which order I apply each effect or process when cleaning and sweetening dialogue audio.
This episode shot/recorded with:
Sennheiser EW112 G3 Wireless Microphone Kit (be sure to check which frequencies you are legally allowed to use in your country)
Voice Technologies VT Duplex Headset Microphone
Panasonic GH5 Camera
Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd
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