INCREASINGLY we are becoming a society obsessed with video, from our HD home theatres to YouTube to recording and even editing videos on our smartphones.
The new iPhone 4S is a better video camera than some of the old studio cameras we used to use for broadcast (not really, but close!) Even the radio station where I produce my show has video cameras installed and the management is always pushing for more video - in a radio station. Lost in all this race to HD can be the classic world of audio, radio and the newer world of podcasting.
There are still so many times audio really works - listening to a great podcast or audiobook as you do house chores, or drive to the cabin makes the task that much more enjoyable. With an audio product you craft a story, or show where the content is more important than flash and pizzazz. It is a kinder, gentler medium, one more like live theatre versus movies. Less intense, but in some ways more impactful.
The thing that blows me away is how easy it is now to produce and distribute podcasts and other audio content. Easy, and as a result, enjoyable; there is a terrific sense of satisfaction from producing your own audio. Producing a quality podcast is now in the range of even the most basic home computer setup, you actually don't even really need a computer; again, an iPhone will do the trick, but a computer is preferable. First thing one needs is a good mic. That is essential, and pretty much the only place one needs to spend any money. Your built-in mic on your computer is simply not up to the task.
One manufacturer, Blue Microphones (www.bluemic. com), is producing a wide range of mics from around $60 to more than $300, but they do a superb job. If you are looking for simplicity, they have a range of USB mics that just plug in and work. If you are looking for a more professional setup they also have XLR mics that require an audio interface (anywhere for $100 and up) to connect to your computer. That is the setup I have in my home studio and the quality is good enough we regularly use my home recordings on air.
Even if you just use audio on your computer to Skype with friends you will see a huge difference with a better mic.
Once you have a good mic, you need some recording and editing software. Mac users will often turn to Garage Band, which is a good choice, but if you are going to do a fair bit of recording, a package like Audacity (free!) available on both Mac and PC is my choice. It's a bit more difficult to use, but it is a true audio editor, and you will get comfortable with it in just a few hours. The result is you feel like a pro, and your audio sounds like it came from a studio instead of your den. Of course, most of our dens are not acoustically tuned audio studios, so the room noise will be a small problem, but one that is easily overlooked by all but the most ardent audio snobs.
Even if the audio you produce is only for personal consumption - a voice-over track for a family slideshow, for example - the satisfaction out of the process is immense.
In the race to HD video, it is well worth spending some time listening to the world around us.
www.dottotech.com
