jem 222 working with video/audio online voice overs sept. 30, 2008
DESCRIPTION
Audio online cont. Audio link Police recording or 9-11 tape Song or MP3 Interesting interview, something that makes you want to click on it Note: Do not use boring science guy chatting away as an audio link. It has to be worth the click!TRANSCRIPT
JEM 222
Working with video/audio onlineVoice Overs
Sept. 30, 2008
How audio is used online
Audio slide show continuously in the background with
photos timed and changing throughout In synch with photos and they change
together - Interview Video
Voice over (VO) Background noises or "Natural sound"
(Nat sound) Reporter stand up
Audio online cont.
Audio link Police recording or 9-11 tape Song or MP3 Interesting interview, something that
makes you want to click on it Note: Do not use boring science guy
chatting away as an audio link. It has to be worth the click!
Audio equipment
Digital audio recorder Headphones - use 'em! Microphones - lavalier (interview),
stick mic (wind, outside) Rule of thumb: Any mic is better
than no mic!
VO Definition
VO = Voice Over Read by “anchor” Video can incorporate:
Full-screen graphic B-roll
Short! :20,:30, 1:30
VO/SOT Definition
Voice Over/Sound on Tape Usual order:
“Anchor” intro Sound bite “Anchor” ends on camera
When to use VOs
When the sound bytes (quote) don’t add to the story
No real "issue" (need for two sides) Limited interesting information from the
scene of the story Add context or explanation When the audio is unintelligible or the
person stutters and stammers We never want to purposefully make someone
sound stupid. Some people are bad quotes
VO/SOT Examples
UT honors Military Alumni (TNJN.com) Area competitors head to Lawrence for Horse S
how (Sunflower Channel 6, Lawrence, KS) How safe is the new Highly Enriched Uranium
Materials Facility?
Tips/things to watch out for
Natural sound (“Nat sound”) = good Background noise
echo from recording in small room hum of the air conditioner background chatter in a noisy
environment Standing too near a speaker –
especially when recording a band or music
Audio tips cont.
ALWAYS use a microphone and headphones
Direct the microphone at your subject and isolate them if it’s a noisy area
Capture the natural sound from the environment Dogs barking – Mardi Growl Parade Fans cheering – Super Bowl stories Police sirens and sounds – crime scene stories
Video Terminology
B-roll: Action video used to illustrate what’s being said in the audio track of a video story.
A-roll: Audio captured (can be interviewee talking, nat sound, etc.)
Nat sound: Any sound occurring naturally in the background. Helps setup the scene.
Stand-up: Reporter on camera
Voice
Energy Urgency Authority Sensitivity
Video equipment
Video camera Tripod Tapes and batteries Headphones Microphones - lavalier, stick mic USB cord, firewire cable Notepad and pen
Prep-Work
Batteries charged Camera, tripod, mic packed Headphones White sheet of paper (for white
balance) Notepad
Must-get Shots
Set up of scene - usually wide or two shot
Over the shoulder of reporter while interviewing
Two shot of reporter and interviewee
*Use these as cutaways
Must-get shots cont.
Get 10 seconds of steady b-roll Four types of b-roll shots
“Wide shot” is the establishing shot “Medium shot” shows a person from
the waist up “Close-up shot” is just the person’s
face, a sign on a building, a flower “Extremely close-up” can be someone
drawing or their hand playing an instrument
Shooting tips
Never zoom in and out or “pan” Be aware of background noises and other
contributors of bad sound Avoid back-lighting, which is when a
bright source of light is behind your subject and makes the subject look like a shadow.
Do not interrupt the interviewee - Ask your question and stay quiet Stick to 10 seconds of every b-roll shot and you’ll avoid getting b-roll that is too short to use Get close for better visuals/audio
Shooting tips cont.
Avoid “shaky-cam syndrome” and keep cam steady
Make sure your subject is not too complex to be told in video
Avoid shooting and walking – this contributes to “shaky-cam syndrome” and makes it likely you’ll be shooting the back of something
Frame your subject correctly Get interview separate from b-roll
B-roll
#1 thing to remember - there’s never enough. Strive for varies shots and lots of them.
Talking heads - boring Once you’ve established a shot of
person being interviewed, cover with video
Sound
Use natural sound (nat sound) when you can - esp. to lead into a clip or end
Make sure it’s not peaking - you can always increase volume
Use stick mic outside (better with wind)
Use lavalier for interviews
Tips after Shoot
Ingest video as soon as possible Log your video so you know what
time on tape shots are Think about the story you want to
tell with words and visuals
Scripts
Write in present tense Put pauses in (…) to help you remember
to stop and pause Write to video Touch and go Conversational Spell out numbers 1-11 Read aloud the copy and time yourself
ahead of time
Scripts, cont.
Clear, simple, short sentences Avoid clauses: (who, which, that) Action verbs Still attribute information where
needed
Editing Tips
Leave second of padding at beginning and about 10 at end
End on a static shot - not a moving one
First and last shots should be your best
Don’t confuse viewer - jump cuts
For Thursday’s in-class video assignment:
Split into pairs or groups Get a video camera from the school
library or JEM office Charge your camera Have batteries and mini DV tape Bring complete camera kit to class,
including all cords Bring headphones