How to capture great audio for a wedding video?

Here are some tips for capturing great audio for a wedding video

Capturing great audio for a wedding video is critical because it enhances the overall viewing experience by making it more immersive and emotional. Good audio can convey the atmosphere and emotions of the wedding, such as the sound of the vows, laughter, and music, which can add depth and meaning to the video. Poor audio quality, however, can be distracting and make it difficult for viewers to hear and understand what is being said.  This will detract from the overall impact of the video.

Keep reading to find our guide for capturing great audio for this life changing event, where a reshoot is not an option.  

Practice:

Nothing can replace practice as the number one way to improve your videos.  Before the wedding, become intimately familiar with your equipment by filming a variety of subjects and in a variety of environments.

Be discreet:

Try to be as discreet as possible when placing microphones and setting up your audio equipment, as you don’t want to distract from the ceremony.

Use a directional microphone:

A directional microphone, such as a shotgun microphone, can help to capture sound from a specific direction, allowing you to capture the vows, or the toast, while rejecting ambient sounds such as a crying baby in the audience.

Consider a small parabolic mic:

If a shotgun does not provide enough range, or if it is capturing too many unwanted sounds, consider a small parabolic microphone like the Sound Shark. It is based on the same technology used on NFL sidelines and can make a significant difference in your audio.

Test your equipment:

Make sure to test your equipment before the wedding to ensure that everything is working properly. This will help to reduce the risk of technical issues during the event (there are no second chances when creating a wedding video!)

Place the microphone close to the action:

Try to position the microphone as close to the action as possible, without getting in the way of the officiant or blocking the view of the guests. This will help to capture the best sound quality.

Use multiple microphones:

Using multiple microphones can help to capture the full range of sounds at a wedding, including the vows, speeches, and music. We recommend using a lavalier microphone on the officiant and the couple, a shotgun microphone on the camera to pick up ambient sound, and a microphone on the DJ or band.

Check your levels:

Recording with too much gain (amplification) can easily ruin your recording. Nearly all cameras and recorders have some indication of what the audio levels are, and have a way of adjusting them.

Use headphones:

Using headphones to monitor the sounds being captured will help you make adjustments as needed. They will alert you, during the wedding if your sound is too soft, or too loud (being clipped).

Use a digital audio recorder:

Using a digital audio recorder in addition to the camera’s microphone can provide a backup of the audio and can also allow you to record higher-quality audio.

Use a preamp:

If shooting with a DSLR camera, using a preamp between the mic and the camera will improve the audio captured. Preamps typically have better audio circuitry and amplifiers than DSLR cameras. Turning the camera’s gain to its minimum value and using the amplifiers in the preamp will often make a noticeable difference.  Note that a DSLR may not be the best choice for recording sports as most have a limit on the length of each recording.  More and more of these DSLR cameras, however, are finding ways around these limits.

Use a windjammer:

If you are recording outdoors, make sure to use a windjammer (a furry cover for the microphone) to reduce wind noise.

Edit and mix the audio:

In post-production, be sure to carefully edit and mix the audio to ensure that it sounds as good as possible. This may include removing background noise, balancing the levels of different microphones, and adding music and other sound effects.

Conclusion:

There may not be any video more important to a couple than their wedding video.  It is critical that the video be the best it can be, and you cannot make a great video with bad audio.  To put even more pressure on the production, there are no retakes.  Putting in the effort to improve your audio will make your end product much more enjoyable to view for years to come.

Use our Contact Us form to request our eBook titled “A Film Your Client Will Never Forget”.  It provides a more complete guide to improving your wedding videos.

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