Audio can make for break your video.
It doesn’t matter how amazing your footage is, how beautifully lit your set is, how much effort you put into making your titles and graphics; if the audio is bad your audience is going to keep on scrolling.
Pulling our smart phone out to capture something on video, anywhere, at anytime of the day is now second nature. But it means our social feeds are flooded with so much video it can be exhausting wading through all the available content!
There just isn’t enough time in the day to watch it all; we will only watch the videos that seem the most entertaining or most valuable to us as we scroll through our feeds.
We know that we need to engage our viewer within 3-10 seconds for them to continue watching a video… so if they are irritated by bad sound quality in that time it’ll be hasta la vista, baby.
80% of your message comes from the audio.
Droning background noises like the hum from an air conditioner unit, crackly wind noise or overbearing chatter in a busy environment can be irritating enough for viewers to turn off.
So when you’re recording any video where information is key, good quality audio should be your main priority.
Here are a few tips to help you achieve better audio quality when recording with your smart phone.
Proximity to the Microphone
Microphone proximity is key for clear audio. The further away you are from your phone’s microphone the more chance foreign sounds have to hijack your recording.
Identify where your smart phone microphone is located, generally at the bottom of the phone, and make sure there is nothing obstructing this; beware of bulky phone cases and even your fingers!
Position your phone as close as you can to the subject – close but not too close – we still want to maintain that flattering angle!
Take Note of Your Atmosphere
If you’re recording indoors, televisions, music playing, air conditioners and fridge noises are common noise culprits.
If it’s possible, switch off any obvious sources of noise, close any doors and windows, then find the quietest space to do your recording.
If you are recording outside try to find a location that is sheltered from the wind and away from crowds. Facing your microphone away from the direction of the loudest noise source can also help reduce some background sound.
Put Your Phone on Silent or on Aeroplane Mode
The last thing you want disrupting your recording is the sound of your phone going off! Putting your phone on aeroplane mode while you’re recording can also stop the distraction of notifications popping down onto your screen while you’re trying to focus on delivering your content!
Purchase a SmartLav
A SmartLav is a lavalier microphone that plugs directly into your smartphone. If you are doing a lot of video recording for your social media I would recommend purchasing one of these to give you a boost in your audio quality.
The SmartLav pins to the collar of your shirt and records your voice in close proximity while your phone is positioned further away. This is an especially handy tool to have if you are recording in noisy environments.
You may also need a headphone jack adapter to run a SmartLav if your smart phone no longer has an inbuilt headphone jack.
You can check out the RODE SmartLav here. (Amazon)
When it comes to video, audio is king! If you take just a couple of minutes to find or set up a quiet environment to record your videos, your audience will be thanking you in the long run.
Some of the links are affiliate links which means I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.