How to record interview for voice-over

[Mike Kujbida]

Dave, as long as your camcorder has a mic input jack, rent a decent lav mic for the day and use your camcorder as the record device.
You may want to consider videtaping the interview as you get the best of both worlds that way.
Make sure your camcorder’s audio is set to 16-bit and not 12-bit.
Also, use headphones so that you can tell if there are any unwanted sounds (heating/cooling system,background music) before you begin the interview. We have a tendency to filter these out but the microphone doesn’t.
When you get back to your edit suite, you have 2 options.
#1 is the firewire it in, delete the unwanted video (if you want only the audio) and save it as a WAV file.
#2 is to hook your camcorder’s audio out jacks to your soundcard’s line input jack(s) and record it directly into Vegas that way.

[Rick Mac]

[Mike Kujbida] “Dave, as long as your camcorder has a mic input jack, rent a decent lav mic for the day and use your camcorder as the record device.”

Good advice Mike.

I would only add that if renting a lav try to get a directional lav. Most are omnidirectional and hear everything.
A directional has a more focus pickup pattern. It will hear
less ambience from the room and the talent will sound more direct.

Also be very careful when micing your talent. You want some strain relief on your cable up at the capsule end, and look
out for clothes coming in contact with the mic.
Monitor your audio off of headphones so you know that all
is well.

Regards, Rick.

Rick Mac
Director of Audio Production
TCT Network – Directv 377