In this era of personal video and sound recording, it might sound ridiculous to say that many people don’t know how to properly use a microphone. But it’s true. Whether spoken word or a vocalist singing, learning some basic microphone techniques can significantly improve results.
With all the high-tech wizardry available today to manipulate sounds in the studio, microphone placement reigns as the most important way to get quality audio recordings. With the right placement of mics, most other electronic sound tools are not needed. Yet, not enough engineers, producers and artists understand the value of this art.
Wild variations in the levels of program audio has long been a problem for broadcast outlets. Due to controversy over varying audio levels, governments have forced broadcasters to specify specific loudness levels for all programming. In this article, we’ll look at how audio has moved beyond traditional types of level monitoring to a new method.
Reading spec sheets for microphones these days can make one’s eyes gloss over. So much is so similar. Yet, we know each mic sounds a bit different, which is where subtle creative differences come into play. One especially mystifying spec to many is whether or not a mic has a transformer. What does a mic transformer do and is it better with or without one?
As broadcasters accelerate IP migration, we must move from a position of theory to that of practical application. Hybrid solutions to integrate SDI, AES, MADI, and IP will be needed for many years to come, even with green field sites, as broadcasters seek a steady and methodical transition.
Noise has always been the enemy of audio recording. When digital recording became dominant, many of us thought noise was in the past. Sure, we got rid of tape hiss and others kinds of analog noise, but in the digital world we still have noise left. Here are some of the culprits.
Immersive audio has the great potential to transform our human listening experience, captivate our imagination, and inspire our inventiveness.
“Agility and flexibility” are the mantra of the new broadcast paradigm. Audio has always been the trailblazer for new technology, it was first to go IP and first to provide software solutions. But where is the next generation of audio taking us?