Our Kit is for kings!

Welcome back to this weeks blog post!

This week's blog post is about the microphones we use at Another World Media. You could even say they are fit for a king. King Charles III has been noted as using the same microphone as we use for our videos.

Having a microphone and the right microphone makes all the difference in the things that you film. Kind of like making pancakes without the baking powder. You still have pancakes, but it just hasn't got the light and fluffy texture you need and want.

Why use a microphone?

Using a microphone catches the audio. The audio helps to tell the story through dialogue, as well as the ambient sound. With that in mind, having the right equipment is important, and among that equipment are microphones. There are two ways you can film audio. Through a single system and a double system. Single-system refers to when audio and video captures come from the same camera. This is mainly used for documentaries and independent productions. Double-system sound means sound is recorded separately on another device. After production ends, the audio is lined up with all of the footage that was previously shot.

Types of microphones:

• Dynamic- Used mainly by singers on stage and recording loud music as they can take a lot of signal without being damaged due to their low sensitivity and higher gain threshold

• Condenser- Most commonly used in studios on recordings, podcasts, streaming and now YouTube videos where you can get a bigger, more natural tone.

• Lavalier/lapel- Hidden wired version connects to a battery pack that attaches to the talent. A wireless lavalier connects to the receiver, which contains the battery.

• Shotgun mics- Attaches to a boom pole that picks up ambient room tones

So how does a microphone work?

Microphones are used wherever sound needs to be picked up and converted into an electrical format. The microphone picks up the sound and converts it into electrical energy that can then be processed by electronic amplifiers and audio processing systems.

My filming microphone recommendations:

Shotgun Mic- NTG2

I love the Rode NTG2 Shotgun Mic and have used it both indoor and outdoor and have always been impressed with the results. This is a great microphone for any experience level, from filmmakers just starting out to seasoned pros, the sound capture is clear and crisp and the mic is beyond user-friendly.

LAV Mic- Rode Go 2

Perfect for corporate filming and intimate scenes like interviews and talking scenes. Effortless set up and was able to effectively record different track channels from two different people talking, while also blocking out background noise and wind. The battery life is probably the best thing about this setup. I can use it between 4-5 hrs and still have battery life left.

So to summarize- Using a microphone will help guarantee that the sounds captured during filming are the sounds you want to be captured. It'll also help eliminate the problems of fuzzy voices and loud background noise, as the microphone will be more directional and boost the quality of what you film.

If you need sound captured, with equipment fit for a king, look no further than Another World Media- Based in East Midlands.

- J