Monday, December 1, 2014

Free Sounds


Adding quality sound to your videos or podcasts can be pricey in the professional world. Take a look at this site: http://www.sounddogs.com/sound-effects.asp.   Unless you happen to be a sound engineer or know a musician with a handful of quality music tracks to lend you, you'll need to find yourself some royalty free sounds.  Here are some of my favorite sites for free sounds.  Please note that while you can download music tracks for free, you may still be required to credit the original artist if you plan to publish any works using the tracks.  Please read all disclaimers when downloading other people's work.


Sound effects and royalty free music.  Just pick a category, preview, then download what you want.  Registration required.  Musical selection not quite as big as the sound effects.


Sound effects only.  This site lets you key word search for your sounds, or browse tags, to categorically search for the right sound.  They also have a system that allows you to rate the sounds. 


A nice, clean looking site with a lot of free sounds.  Keyword search, and easy download.  No registration is required here to download sound files.




This site has royalty free tracks created by Kevin MacLeod.  Keyword search is available, but you   There are plenty of quality recordings to use.  Don’t forget to attribute the artist.  There is also a keyword search, but you will probably want to click the genre or mood that matches the type of music you are looking for. 


Sunday, November 23, 2014

Microphones








Microphones come in many varieties, shapes and sizes.  Some mics can do you well in one circumstance, but be wrong for another use.  Here is a basic run down on the different types of microphones available, and their best uses.





Condenser Microphones
These mics have electrical circuitry that amplifies the signal being produced, and as a result are very sensitive.  They also require a power source to be operable.



Dynamic Microphones
Dynamic microphones are less sensitive than condenser mics, and generally can take more punishment due to simple electromagnetic construction. Dynamic mics are typically used to record live instruments and vocals, but also work for studio vocals as well. To further complicate things, microphones can have different pick up patterns, and consequently be used for different applications.





Cardioid 
Cardioid microphones pick up sound in the front, about 120 degrees. They reject sound from the rear and sides.  The pickup pattern resembles a heart, hence the term cardioid.







Hypercardioid
These microphones also pickup sound in the direction they are facing, but have an elongated, 100 degree pick-up pattern. There side rejection is superior to cardioid microphones but also pick-up a little sound from the rear.








Bi-Directional
The pickup pattern on these mics resemble a figure eight, picking up sound from the front and back, and rejecting sound from the sides. These mics are popular selections for broadcast microphones and headsets.







Omnidirectional
These cover all directions and picks up all sound in a 360 degree radius. They are typically used for natural, ambient recordings as well as lavaliere microphones – since head movement will not effect the volume of the recording.  These are also often used for headset microphones. 




Low Cost Recommendations
1/8” – Connects to a camera or recorder
XLR – Connects to a mixer
USB – Connects to a computer



Shotgun - Condensers
A shotgun mic is one of the most common mics used in professional television and film production.  Their hypercardioid pickup pattern make them ideal to focus on dialog.  They are typically mounted on a boom pole and placed on top pointing down on the action.







Dynamic
When recording a podcast or radio show, you probably want to record in a somewhat soundproof room that will cancel out background noise and echo.  Dynamic microphones are preferable because they do not pick up a lot of ambient noises due to their weaker signal.    





Cardioid - Condensers
Condensers are very sensitive so make sure your studio is properly soundproofed to ensure a quality recording.



Sunday, November 2, 2014

Bounce Lighting


It is commonly known that when you are lighting a scene, you will typically have a main, direct “hard” light shining on the action.  In most cases you will also want a softer “fill” light on the opposite side that softens any harsh shadows, and controls lighting contrast created by your main light.   
Soft Box


This is usually achieved by putting a light behind a soft box, or an umbrella.  Some times even wax paper is used to diffuse a light. 





Reflector
A good way to save money and still accomplish your goal of deploying a fill light is to use bounce lighting.  This consists of using a flat object to reflect light, thus creating a soft light that helps fill the shadows.  Reflectors and foam boards are commonly used for bounce lighting.  But anything you can find that has a flat surface will do.  I’ve seen people use poster boards, printer paper, and even shower curtains.  Whatever works to get the job done, that’s what filmmaking is all about.





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