Telecommunications 1 Audio Production

What’s your background? Telecommunications 1 Audio Production What are some terms? Have you noticed audio? Questions

Why is it important? Telecommunications 1 Audio Production

Why is Audio Production important? Supplements the video presentation Supplements the video presentation (adds detail to overall presentation) (adds detail to overall presentation) Highlights important dialogue, sound effects, ambiance while filtering out unnecessary noise Highlights important dialogue, sound effects, ambiance while filtering out unnecessary noise (Traffic, Crowds, Wind, etc.) (Traffic, Crowds, Wind, etc.) Telecommunications 1

Listen What do you hear?

Telecommunications 1 Ambience Organic noise occurring naturally in a setting Organic noise occurring naturally in a setting

Telecommunications 1 Ambience How do we filter ambience?

Microphone Telecommunications 1 Audio Production

Microphone (Mic) Microphone (Mic) Pickup Pattern Pickup Pattern Polar Pattern Polar Pattern -Apparatus used to pickup sound and transform it into electric audio signal. -The zone within which a microphone hears sound -Two dimensional representation of a mic’s pickup pattern Telecommunications 1 Audio Production

Pickup Pattern Picks Up Sound from All Sides Telecommunications 1 Audio Production Picks Up Sound from All Sides

Polar Pattern Audio Production

Omnidirectional Omnidirectional Unidirectional Unidirectional -Picks up sound equally well from ALL directions -Multi-directional -Picks up sound from the FRONT of the mic -One direction Cardioid Cardioid -Another name for a unidirectional mic -Gets its name from the HEART-SHAPED pickup pattern pickup pattern Telecommunications 1 Microphone Types

Omnidirectional Microphone Microphone Types Picks Up Sound from All Sides

Unidirectional Picks Up Sound From Only The Front

Cardioid Picks Up Sound from Only the Front Heart- Shaped Pickup Pattern

Hypercardioid, Supercardioid, and Ultracardioid Hypercardioid, Supercardioid, and Ultracardioid Shotgun Mic Shotgun Mic -Have a long pickup pattern -Can pick up sounds from far away and transmit them as if they’re up-close -Heart-shape pickup pattern is widened to that of a watermelon -Gets its name from the long physical shape of the microphone Microphone Types

Hypercardioid Picks Up Sound from Only the Front Watermelon- Shaped Pickup Pattern

Shotgun Microphone Audio Production Telecommunications 1

Dynamic Dynamic Condenser Condenser -Uses a small coil that moves within a magnetic field when activated by sound -Most rugged/durable -Can be used around loud noises and won’t distort -Uses a movable plate that oscillates against a fixed plate to produce an audio signal -More sensitive/better quality -Requires a power supply to operate oscillating plate Ribbon Ribbon -Extremely sensitive/loud noises cause permanent damage -Usually found in recording studios

Dynamic Microphone Audio Production

Condenser Microphone Audio Production

Condenser Microphone Audio Production

Ribbon Microphone Audio Production

Ribbon Microphone Audio Production

Hand Mics Hand Mics -Held in hand by Talent -Allows for greater sound control -ADVANTAGES: Need only one mic; Talent controls sound variance by moving mic closer or farther away -DISADVANTAGES: Inexperienced Talent pointing mic in the wrong directions; Talent NOT hands-free; have to pull a cable along with you (If it’s not wireless) (If it’s not wireless) Microphone Types

Hand Mic Microphone Types

Boom Mics Boom Mics -Hypercardioid mics attached to a long rod which is then suspended over Talent, out of shot -Boom operator moves the microphone as close or as far away from the Talent as they like without placing the boom in shot -ADVANTAGES: Talent doesn’t have to worry about mic placement at all; COMPLETELY hands-free -DISADVANTAGES: Must light shot so that boom shadow is not seen; Talent can potentially move out of range Microphone Types

Boom Microphone Microphone Types

Boom Operator Audio Production

Microphone Types Lavaliere Lavaliere -Small, rugged, omnidirectional mic used primarily for voice pickup -Usually clipped onto clothing (jacket lapel, shirt collar) 6-8 inches below the chin -ADVANTAGES: Talent is hands-free; distance from mic to Talent never changes; needs no special lighting considerations; excellent mobility -DISADVANTAGES: Picks up ambient noise; need one mic per subject; picks up rubbing noises if the talent moves; muffled sound if concealed under clothes

Lavaliere Microphone Microphone Types

Wireless Lav Microphone Microphone Types

Listen Telecommunications 1 Which do you prefer?

Listen Telecommunications 1 Which do you prefer?

Why is Audio Production important? Supplements the video presentation Supplements the video presentation (adds detail to overall presentation) (adds detail to overall presentation) Highlights important dialogue, sound effects, ambiance while filtering out unnecessary noise Highlights important dialogue, sound effects, ambiance while filtering out unnecessary noise (Traffic, Crowds, Wind, etc.) (Traffic, Crowds, Wind, etc.) Telecommunications 1

Why is Audio Production important? Telecommunications 1 PRO Makes Your Production More FES SION AL!

Telecommunications 1 Tomorrow: Day #2

Why is Audio Production important? Telecommunications 1 Makes Your Production More

Telecommunications 1 Tomorrow: Day #2

Why is Audio Production important? Telecommunications 2 PRO Makes Your Production More FES SION AL!

Audio Terminology Microphone Apparatus that converts sound to electric signal Pickup Pattern Polar Pattern Omnidirectional Unidirectional From all directions; multi-directional Where a microphone picks up sound 2-dimensional representation of pickup pattern From one direction Cardioid Heart-shaped pickup pattern of unidirectional mic

Dyamic Rugged, dependable mic; filters out loud noised Condenser Ribbon Hand Mic Lavaliere Held by talent; allows for better sound control Sensitive mic, better sound pickup; requires phantom power Extremely great sound pickup; extremely sensitive; harsh sound can destroy it Hands-free mic; requires one mic per subject Boom Mic Held by off-camera grip; hands-free; can be in-shot Audio Terminology

XLR Connection XLR Connection -3-pin connection; professional standard -Relatively immune to outside frequencies/interference Connection Types Remember: 3 pins = 3 letters

XLR Connection

3 Pins

Phone Plug Phone Plug -1/4 “ connection -Common with consumer microphones -Usually used for instruments (e.g. guitars) Connection Types Also called a “quarter inch” plug

Phone/1/4” Plug

XLR – ¼” Connection

RCA Connection RCA Connection -Extremely common -Usually used for monitor input/output -Stereo audio (Right and Left channels) Connection Types Red = Right White = Left

RCA Plugs

video

Mini Plug Connection Mini Plug Connection -Smallest connection -Consumer microphones and headphones -Usually requires a ¼” adapter or vice versa Connection Types Field camera input = Mini

Mini Plug

Field Camera Input

XLR 3-pin audio connection; high quality sound Phone Plug RCA Mini Small connection, most commonly used in headphones, low-end mic connections; low quality ¼" audio connection; good quality sound Most common audio connection; good for conventional audio equipment (stereo, DVD player, game console) Audio Terminology