Essentials for Mobile Audio & Video Production Presented by Jude Mathurine Head of Rhodes University’s New Media Lab @ Media140, Sydney Future of Journalism in Social Media age

Platforms for live audio blogging Audioboo (Iphone only/4-5mins/promote content using social networks) Blogtalkradio (Use phone to create a live podcast or live multi-person show) Foneshow (US based service allows users to access and control podcasts via phone)

Audioboo (Iphone only/4-5mins/promote content using social networks)

Blogtalkradio (Use phone to create a live podcast or live multi-person show)

Foneshow (US based service allows users to access and control podcasts via phone)

Tips for mobile audio recording On professional audio recordings you would monitor sound quality through input levels and headphones No such luck on mobile. Pre-record a few seconds and playback to test audio levels Countdown and pre-roll Tip for live audio and video recording: Tell your subject to repeat question as part of their answer

On professional audio recordings you would monitor sound quality through input levels and headphones

No such luck on mobile. Pre-record a few seconds and playback to test audio levels

Countdown and pre-roll

Tip for live audio and video recording:

Tell your subject to repeat question as part of their answer

Tips for Online audio recording When recording place the mobile with the built-in microphone facing the subject Remember that the microphone is at the BOTTOM of the phone Hold slightly to side of speaker’s mouth to avoid them speaking directly into mic and causing popping sound

When recording place the mobile with the built-in microphone facing the subject

Remember that the microphone is at the BOTTOM of the phone

Hold slightly to side of speaker’s mouth to avoid them speaking directly into mic and causing popping sound

Tips for audio recording Consider the size and type of recording space (big empty room, conference venue etc) and consider audio bounce Beware of live recording in spaces with dead background audio or too much background noise. Mobile mics telescope to loudest noise. Compact cars provide great audio insulation for a makeshift sound booth

Consider the size and type of recording space (big empty room, conference venue etc) and consider audio bounce

Beware of live recording in spaces with dead background audio or too much background noise. Mobile mics telescope to loudest noise.

Compact cars provide great audio insulation for a makeshift sound booth

Free audio editing software Audacity (Open Source multi-track audio editor for Windows, Linux and MacOS) Aviary’s Myna (beta cloudware multi-track audio editor)

Audacity (Open Source multi-track audio editor for Windows, Linux and MacOS)

Aviary’s Myna (beta cloudware multi-track audio editor)

Capture audio interviews Skype Audio capture software Skype recorder (USD15) Audio Hijack Pro for Mac (USD15) OR rig up your audio editing software (like Audacity) to record your conversation How to capture Skype audio using audio editor (PDF guide here )

Skype Audio capture software

Skype recorder (USD15)

Audio Hijack Pro for Mac (USD15)

OR rig up your audio editing software (like Audacity) to record your conversation

How to capture Skype audio using audio editor (PDF guide here )

Royalty free sound and CC stuff Free sound, creative commons sound for background music, stings http://www.ccmixter.org http://www.freeloops.com http://www.freesound.org/ http://www.archive.org/details/opensource_audio

Free sound, creative commons sound for background music, stings

http://www.ccmixter.org

http://www.freeloops.com

http://www.freesound.org/

http://www.archive.org/details/opensource_audio

Video Streaming tools These services stream content from your mobile video camera or webcam onto one or more Internet channels like your blog, Twitter, Facebook, Myspace Qik Flixwagon 12 Seconds Kyte Ustream Bambuser Twitvid (login with your Twitter details)

These services stream content from your mobile video camera or webcam onto one or more Internet channels like your blog, Twitter, Facebook, Myspace

Qik

Flixwagon

12 Seconds

Kyte

Ustream

Bambuser

Twitvid (login with your Twitter details)

Tips for mobile video Where will your user will watch the video – HDTV? Iphone? MP4 player? Other mobile? Consider the users’ viewing platform when choosing the frame and duration of your production (user attention spans and viewing habits vary by platform) Viewing devices and online video websites have changed from 4:3 (square) to 16:9 (widescreen)

Where will your user will watch the video – HDTV? Iphone? MP4 player? Other mobile?

Consider the users’ viewing platform when choosing the frame and duration of your production (user attention spans and viewing habits vary by platform)

Viewing devices and online video websites have changed from 4:3 (square) to 16:9 (widescreen)

Orientation So fill your screen with interesting visuals and shoot WIDE

So fill your screen with interesting visuals and shoot WIDE

Framing Tight shots (Medium Close up/Close up/Extreme Close up) are better. It's hard to see detail on a mobile 320X240 screen unless an object is shot in relative close-up.

Tight shots (Medium Close up/Close up/Extreme Close up) are better. It's hard to see detail on a mobile 320X240 screen unless an object is shot in relative close-up.

Join the action Even if you have an HD or 5MP mobile video phone, optical zoom is generally poor GET CLOSE TO YOUR SUBJECT Avoid excessive zooming. Zooming increases problems with resolution and amplifies shakes. Try to shoot against backgrounds with depth and that contain visual interest

Even if you have an HD or 5MP mobile video phone, optical zoom is generally poor

GET CLOSE TO YOUR SUBJECT

Avoid excessive zooming. Zooming increases problems with resolution and amplifies shakes.

Try to shoot against backgrounds with depth and that contain visual interest

Light Light your subjects well, and keep them separated from the background The colors between background and subject should not be too similar or they will seem to merge Never shoot into a light source. Lights should always be behind you. Beware of shadows

Light your subjects well, and keep them separated from the background

The colors between background and subject should not be too similar or they will seem to merge

Never shoot into a light source. Lights should always be behind you.

Beware of shadows

Light Don’t shoot dark skinned people against black backgrounds (or bright white backgrounds) or fair skinned people against dark backgrounds Manual contrast and white balance capacity is limited on most mobiles

Don’t shoot dark skinned people against black backgrounds (or bright white backgrounds) or fair skinned people against dark backgrounds

Manual contrast and white balance capacity is limited on most mobiles

Mobile Sound Built-in mobile mics are lousy for quality audio recording. Don’t make it worse. Shoot away from background noise and buzz Get close to your interviewee or audio source Beware that your clothes, jewellery and movement on the mobile make noise that can be picked up by built-in mic Investigate external options for mobile mic kits (e.g Nokia 95 )

Built-in mobile mics are lousy for quality audio recording. Don’t make it worse.

Shoot away from background noise and buzz

Get close to your interviewee or audio source

Beware that your clothes, jewellery and movement on the mobile make noise that can be picked up by built-in mic

Investigate external options for mobile mic kits (e.g Nokia 95 )

Support and grip Shoot at your subject’s eye level, not your own Grip technique - use both hands Grip technique – hold the phone in your right (or dominant) hand; support your elbow or wrist with the other hand

Shoot at your subject’s eye level, not your own

Grip technique - use both hands

Grip technique – hold the phone in your right (or dominant) hand; support your elbow or wrist with the other hand

Avoid excessive movement on live shots (steady panning acceptable) If you are vodcasting, invest in tripod gear or position the mobile on a shelf Gear

Avoid excessive movement on live shots (steady panning acceptable)

If you are vodcasting, invest in tripod gear or position the mobile on a shelf

Video editing tools MS Moviemaker (free Windows based video capture and editing application) Jaycut (timeline based multi-track cloudware video editing application)

MS Moviemaker (free Windows based video capture and editing application)

Jaycut (timeline based multi-track cloudware video editing application)

Tips Do you have any more tips for live (or near live) mobile video and audio shooting and recording? Pass them along to @ newmediajude Jude Mathurine Head: Rhodes University New Media Lab [email_address]

Do you have any more tips for live (or near live) mobile video and audio shooting and recording?

Pass them along to @ newmediajude

Jude Mathurine Head: Rhodes University New Media Lab [email_address]