Always Listen Before Filming

Diving into the world of video? Great! It’s the most powerful way that we can connect in the midst of a pandemic. But before you turn that camera on – stop and listen. I mean, really listen, to all those sounds that you’ve been ignoring. Do you hear that buzzing light, that ticking clock, maybe the bark of your neighbor’s dog? If you can hear it, it will probably get picked up by your microphone, to the detriment of your video.

#ProTip: Eliminate noise pollution before filming.

Noise pollution is always distracting to the audience, makes it more difficult for you to get your message across, and quickly lowers the production quality of your video. Worse yet, it’s almost impossible to remove after the fact – even professional sound designers struggle to remove noise. Do everything you can do make your atmosphere quiet before you film – turn off the noisy light or air conditioner, move into a quieter room, or wait until the dog stops barking. Your video will be exponentially better because you simply stopped to listen.

Katie Rutter is the executive producer of Thing in a Pot Productions. She has received multiple awards for her videos and the overall quality of her work, including being honored as Video Producer of the Year in 2018 by the Catholic Press Association. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our video ProTips in your inbox every month!