JEM 222 Working with video/audio online Voice 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) UT honors Military Alumni (TNJN.com)  Area competitors head to Lawrence for Horse Show (Sunflower Channel 6, Lawrence, KS) Area competitors head to Lawrence for Horse Show (Sunflower Channel 6, Lawrence, KS)  How safe is the new Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility? 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”pan  Be aware of background noises and other contributors of bad sound 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. 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 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 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 Get close for better visuals/audio

Shooting tips cont.  Avoid “shaky-cam syndrome” and keep cam steady Avoid “shaky-cam syndrome” and keep cam steady  Make sure your subject is not too complex to be told in video 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 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 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. #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