If you want to turn a decent video into a really good, professional-looking video, you need to do two things. Get a good microphone and use a tripod.

I’ll save the tripod lecture for another time and focus this one on the microphone.  If you ever plan to do any kind of interviewing, a good microphone is a must. If you record someone talking and you’re using the microphone that’s built into the camera, the audio is going to sound as if the person is in a tin can.  It sounds awful.

If video is going to be a big piece of your communications plan, spend the money to get a good microphone.

The first microphone I would recommend is the Rode Wireless GO. This is a fairly new system and it’s brilliant.  The microphone is right there in the transmitter.  This means there isn’t a cord that doesn’t quite get plugged in. Or wires that fray over time. Basically, you can’t mess it up. If you don’t like the boxiness of the mic-and-transmitter-in-one, the kit comes with a lavalier.  My only complaint is the boxiness of the microphone, but I’m sure they’ll work it out.  This retails for around $275 which is a great price.  We have two of these for the video production class and so far, we’re really pleased with the quality of audio we’re getting.

If you have a little bigger budget, I’m a big fan of Sennheiser products.  The audio quality is always very crisp. Also, the microphones we use get used a lot by students. These microphones at left are very durable, easy to use, and have yet to let us down.

 

A really good investment I made several years ago was in the kit at the right.  It’s a Sennheiser boom microphone kit. I call it the big fuzzy, because the wind screen looks like a fuzzy stuffed animal.  I use this microphone more than any of the others.  The audio quality is top-notch, and I don’t have to worry about hiding a lav or its cord, I can take it out in the wind and it still sounds good, and there are lots of mounting options to easily get the audio you want. It also comes with a bag to put all the stuff in.

 

Of course, these are just my suggestions based on my experience.  Always do some shopping around and look for the system that works best for your operation and budget. The important thing is that you make the effort to get good audio.  Once again, the built in microphones on cameras and computers are not very good.  Spend a little money and get something to enhance your audio.

Also go buy a tripod.