Video Editing Computers, and More
Issue100708 October 2008
| New and Used Video Equipment, Video Editing Computers, and More |
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| Hi-Tech Trader | ||
Issue100708 October 2008 |
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Welcome to this issue of the Hi-Tech Trader. This week's article: " Sound Advice: Mix it Right " By Hal Robertson (2006) Videomaker Specials: Matrox Custom Video Editing Systems Bargain Bin Sony DSR-85 and SONY BVM 14F5U 14-inch monitor Customer SpotLight Royce Hildreth, Hildreth Media Group, Inc. If you have an interesting story, case study, tip or trick. Send it to us at: Editor. If we publish it in The Hi-Tech Trader, we will give full recognition to you and/or your company.  SEE how easy it is for you to be up and running on your new Tricaster, Tricaster PRO, Studio or the NEW Tricaster Broadcast contact us toll free 888-354-2508  Make sure you check out our every day low prices on used video gear. Go to: Hot List Inventory  Contact Us: Hi-Tech Enterprises, Inc. 4400 118th Avenue North Suite 203 Clearwater, FL 33762 Phone (727)-573-9600 Toll Free (888)-354-2508 Fax (727)-573-9606 Technical Support (727)-573-9600 ext. 227 Video Equipment Sales (727)-573-9600 ext. 224 Video Editing Computer Sales (727)-573-9600 ext. 222 Training (727)-573-9600 ext. 222 Live Remote Support and Traning Try Our New Online Live Tech Support It's like having one of our techs sitting beside you and working on your editing computer. For a lot less than if we travel in person. Get your answers quick and easy. All you need is an Internet connection and a telephone. Call today to get started. For more information or to set up an appointment call 1-888-354-2508 during normal business hours (10:AM to 5:PM Mon-Fri) or leave a message and we'll get back to you the next business day. Suggestion Box In an on going effort to produce a quality newsletter, always feel free to send your comments and suggestions to mike@videoequipment.com 
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Sound Advice: Mix it Right By Hal Robertson (2006) Videomaker On Line Learning Tutorials Mixing audio correctly is a true art form, as well as a necessary skill to have in your video production toolbox. After all, sound is half the experience of a video production. I have a confession: I love to watch infomercials. Now, before you laugh too hard, infomercials can be very educational and entertaining too. Not only can you laugh about the latest unnecessary kitchen gadget, but infomercials are also a virtual school of video and audio techniques -- both good and bad. At 2AM it's easy to find poorly produced samples with the announcer so far back in the mix, you can barely hear him. Or what about the productions where the voices blast you into the next room? Your productions don't have to suffer this fate. With a little time and effort, your video sound mixes can easily trounce the competition on the advertising channel Back to Basics Let's review the essentials of audio production in the video world. First is the audio delivery format. In the old days, we had to produce separate mono and stereo mixes, depending on the production's audience. Today, stereo soundtracks are the norm, but surround mixes are becoming popular -- especially for projects delivered on DVD. A stereo mix provides a nice balance between the extremes, so we'll focus on that. Stereo provides a wonderful sense of space and allow you to place audio building blocks across the width of the scene. Next, there are the actual elements. For advertising, product and training videos, a narrator or voice-over is essential to get your message across. Recorded under controlled circumstances, an authoritative voice-over helps guide the viewer to your proposed conclusion. In dramatic videos, much like movies or television, the voice-over is replaced by the dialog track. Simply put, dialog is your talent talking, and many video forms include both a dialog track and a voice-over. Natural sound is another critical component. Recorded either with the video or separately, natural sound gives your viewer a sense of the events onscreen. The third element is music -- specifically stereo music. Whether you record it yourself or use a buy-out library, stereo music is the glue that holds your production together. Finally, there are sound effects; whooshes, bangs, clunks and dings that command attention and punctuate special parts of your production.
The next step is to combine all the audio elements, blending them into a nice soundtrack. Mixing is more art than science and this simple fact confounds many video producers. We can outline the science here, but you'll have to supply the art. While some videos are edited to the soundtrack, others are assembled first and audio elements are added later. Regardless, the voice is always your first priority. Whether dialog or voice-over, vocals are the element that tells your audience what you want them to hear. Always prominent, the vocals are placed front-and-center in your mix. For a stereo mix this means making sure you've kept your vocals mixed equally between left and right. If the vocal volume fluctuates, this makes it difficult to hear. There are a couple of ways to tame a difficult vocal track. The first method is to correct major problems on the timeline of your NLE. Using keyframes, you can quickly raise and lower volume for different talent, entire sections of dialog or just a word here and there. If the track still has some problems, apply a compressor plug-in. Applied to the entire vocal track; a compressor reduces the difference between loud and soft. It takes some experimentation but, properly set, a compressor plug-in will tame the peaks and gently raise the volume of quieter passages. For an example of mixing natural sound, study the soundtrack of your favorite movie. It should stand out when it's necessary and fade into the back ground at other times. To do this, simply use the vocal track and on-screen action as a guide, set keyframes where you need to emphasize the natural sound and raise the volume in those locations. Natural sound is often audible when the action is visible, but should only be prominent in places without vocals. Stereo music is a powerful element in any production. After choosing an appropriate piece, most producers just set it and forget it. But volume changes within the production enhance the power of music. Ducking is the technique of lowering music volume during vocal passages and then raising it in voice-free sections. This quickly and easily gives your productions a more professional sound. At key moments in your video a swell in the musical elements will emphasize content and fuel your big finish. Sound effects are the spice of audio production, but don't go crazy with them. Volume is critical to place the FX perfectly in your mix. And don't forget to play your productions on several different audio systems, evaluating your mix decisions and correcting oversights before the project goes out the door. Consider grabbing a cruddy speaker from an old TV set to hear your mix from the perspective of the least common denominator.end About the author: Hal Robertson (2006) Videomaker On Line Learning Tutorials Contributing Editor Hal Robertson has produced audio for almost everything, including infomercials Bargain Bin
Need a way to save on your production cost! See other cost effective services that Hi-Tech offers. For more information visit our sister sites: Access Media Group - Equipment Rentals, Web Streaming, Video Production, and Duplications Access Digital Signage - Digital Signage Rent-A-Tricaster - Equipment Rentals, Web Streaming, Video Production Engineers and Techs Used Video Gear Customer Spotlight Your success is our success! The purpose of the Customer Spotlight portion of this newsletter is to provide a small promotional over view of you, your company, or services. We invite you to submit with our new Customer Spotlight Form. We will randomly select one submission per issue. See Yourself Here! It's quick easy and beneficial to you and it is FREE.  Hildreth Media Group, Inc.
Royce Hildreth http://www.hildrethmedia.com Doing Business as- Professional video, audio, and graphic solutions Type of video Productions- We provide everything from concept and design through helping you place your new media in the medium of your choice; television, radio, DVD, CD-ROM or internet. Awards- Hildreth Media Group is honored to have received two National Telly Awards and two National Videographers Awards. A Recent Project- - Live seminar in Tampa Florida Equipment used - - Rented Tricaster Broadcast, Cameras, Lighting, and Personnel Their experience with HiTech- Very Good "Thanks guys for everything while in Tampa. Lets do it again sometime soon." Would recommend- Yes Past Newsletter Issues More to come in our Next issue. We wish to take this opportunity to thank everybody for subscribing to The Hi-Tech Trader Newsletter. Our newsletter has over 12,000 subscribers and is growing daily. Advertising with the Hi-Tech Trader or link swap? Click here We will never give, sell or loan your information to anyone for any purpose WHATSOEVER! Believe me - we HATE spam! Feel confident that you can be removed from our Newsletter list anytime easily if you so desire. |
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