To prevent poor sound quality on your wedding video, make sure that the built-in video microphone is not too far from the people you’re filming.
If you don’t have external microphones, get a near to your sound source as possible. For most group shots, the camera should be about 6 feet away and use the wide-angle lens, rather than zooming in to get the same shot size.
- Wear closed-back headphones so that you only hear what will be on the audio tracks.
- Camcorders usually have built in stereo microphone that can be unplugged or there are external microphone sockets and a way of switching between them and the built in microphones. An A/V socket is usually available for plugging into an external audio mixer. You might need to buy a lead for the stereo plug to two mono sockets to make full use of the two tracks that are available on most camcorders.
- Wandering around with a camcorder during the service is distracting. Before the event, leave the tripod at the side of the church framed on the couple and the officiant. Getting the vows is the most important shot in a wedding video, if you want other shots you’ll have to get hold of another camcorder. Keep recording on that camera as well so that you only have to synchronize both shots once in the edit. Just use the good sound from the main camera.
- Arrange for the officiant to wear a radio microphone. If you don’t have a radio microphone, plug in a cardioid condenser or electret microphone into one channel of your camcorder positioned on a short stand (about 2-3 feet high) on the floor, close to where the couple will make their vows, pointing up at the couple and priest’s heads and frame the shot to just avoid the microphone. Another cardioid microphone plugged into the other channel can be put on the pulpit if the priest delivers some of the service from there.
- When setting audio levels do it before the service to ‘”uto” or set levels manually and leave about 6dB of headroom to avoid distortion, i.e. your meter levels should just peak before the red section. Tape down cables with 2” wide tape so that no one trips up and causes damage to themselves and the attached camera. Don’t forget to set the camera to ‘Record’ before the bride arrives and make sure you have a tape of sufficient length for the whole service.
- Find out who will be making speeches at the reception and put your microphones on short stands on the table or taller stands on the floor.
- For the best quality, sound and pictures record in “Standard” mode, not “Long Play.” It is best to manually control volume levels or accept the potential downside of pumping audio if you use the auto functions. Condenser microphones will need a separate power supply on most camcorders unless they are the semi-professional and professional versions. In that case, you’ll have to select phantom power to be active on each channel.
For detailed advice on recording different scenarios, go to www.recording-microphone.com
by Leila Morris
Choosing a videographer for your wedding can be tricky. You have to check the videographer’s reputation and experience. Ask friends for references. For our wedding, we ended up with a lousy video because we failed to do these things. We just picked up his business card from the caterer. We were fooled that fact that he worked in a nice looking photography studio and offered a good price.
When I saw my wedding video for the first time, I didn’t know whether to yell or cry.
The video opens with a close up of an elderly guest having a coughing fit. I am not exaggerating! It goes downhill from there with plenty of blurriness and bad lighting. For the reception, the videographer perched the camera above the dance floor, so you just see a lot of heads bobbing around.
The Professional Videographers Association of San Diego says you should view the work of at least three videographers before making your final decision. Even if the videographer’s price seems too high, go ahead a look at samples of their work to get an idea of what can be done with wedding and event videos. They warn against relying on a demo tape/DVD, or brief Web sample. Watch the whole thing. A well-produced video draws you into the story.
The Utah Professional Videographers Association warns against having a friend or relative video your wedding. A professional provides planning and consultation. They will set up for the best footage and sound and they know what to look for since they have experience with many events. They will also edit raw footage into a cherished wedding story.
On the other hand, your cousin Bill will shoot what he thinks is nice using a shaky camera with bad audio. He will fail to record important moments while he’s flirting with the bridesmaids. He won’t know how to solve technical problems; he’ll get things out of focus; and important shots will be interrupted when he runs into someone he knows at the wedding.
