by Marc DeRoberts
1. Don’t use a built-in microphone: Hand-held microphones record at much better quality than built in mics of your equipment.
2. Know how your microphone records: Microphones record in different patterns, such as omni-directional and cardioid. Knowledge of this pattern will assist you in determining the placement of your microphone in relation to your subject.
3. Monitor levels: In most cases, the device you are using shows the levels at which you are recording. Make sure that the audio does not peak above -12db to insure that your audio will not be blown out and crackly.
4. Wear headphones while recording: This is a vital step in securing the quality of your audio. For example, if you are using a lavalier microphone clipped onto your subject's lapel and it is rubbing against their jacket, you will hear a crackling sound and be able to prevent it from continuing through the interview. You would not be able to hear this if you only look at your recording level.
5. Get close, but not too close: Hold your microphone a few inches away from the speaker's mouth and slightly below the chin. If it is too close audio will sound distorted, and if it is directly in front of the person's mouth, you are going to hear some harsh noises when they use words with the letter p. The farther you are, you will hear more ambient sounds detracting from an interview.
6. Bonus: If you are doing an interview, choose a location that is relatively quiet to prevent distracting noises. Make sure to record ambient sounds separately so that you can mix them into your audio during the editing process.
7. Bonus Bonus: Practice, practice, practice.
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