Video & sound editing and mixing

[Black Irish]

My boss has been wanting us to make our social media marketing more dynamic at work, so I've gotten the green light to start doing video clips that we can post on our social media channels. So I downloaded Windows Movie Maker and have been playing around with it a bit. I'm also planning to pick up so sound equipment so I don't have to rely on the built in mic on a mobile device. My plan is to create video content using strictly mobile; fun, quick stuff that we can put on Facebook and on our company website. Eventually, I'd like to spin this off into my own sideline business.

Does anyone have experience dealing with this sort of thing, either on a personal or professional level? I welcome any advice or tips that the IE community can offer. Right now, I'm looking at picking up lav mics that'll work on mobile devices. I'm torn between getting something basic and cheap for around $25 just to get me started versus going for a higher end product like Rode for around $60. I'm leaning towards the cheaper option just to get my feet wet.

 

[Black Irish]

No one? Buller. Buller.

 

[dshans]

I've some experience but need more information.

What mobile device will you be using for recording?
What are the likely settings in which you will be recording?
Are you interested in "wild" sound pickup or something more controlled?
Will there be more than one person whose audio you need?

In general I would recommend going the economy route until you know if your venture is viable. If you feel that it is something to pursue as a dedicated hobby or possible business, kick it up a notch but don't race headlong into Sennheiser.

It would also be a smart way to go until you find out if you're any good at it!!!



Oh, and don't get in the mind set that anything at $60 is "higher end." Not even close!

 

[IrishLion]

If it's just quick stuff, you might be better off just sticking with the built-in phone mic. Leave it basic. Most instagram videos and Vines have good enough sound for that fun, quick stuff.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

If you're looking to get paid for that kind of work, most clients will want to see a reel.

Your best bet is to purchase the equipment you can afford, take on a few small projects and see if this is something you can excel in.

If so, build a sample reel, invest in better equipment and market your services.

 

[Black Irish]

I've some experience but need more information.

What mobile device will you be using for recording?
What are the likely settings in which you will be recording?
Are you interested in "wild" sound pickup or something more controlled?
Will there be more than one person whose audio you need?

In general I would recommend going the economy route until you know if your venture is viable. If you feel that it is something to pursue as a dedicated hobby or possible business, kick it up a notch but don't race headlong into Sennheiser.

It would also be a smart way to go until you find out if you're any good at it!!!



Oh, and don't get in the mind set that anything at $60 is "higher end." Not even close!

To answer your questions in order:

-Android mobile (tablet and phone)
-Controlled settings, to the extent I can manage. I can't eliminate all of the background, but I can keep it to a minimum
-I'm not looking for "wild" sound. For starters, just voice-over and talking head stuff. Direct into a mic audio.
-I may need a two person set up for a back-and-forth segment. I've looked at a few options for multiple mics with a splitter.

I guess I'm showing my rookie outlook. $60 for a lav mic does seem high end for my initial foray. But I'm also just getting used to paying $12 for a six pack.

 

[Black Irish]

If it's just quick stuff, you might be better off just sticking with the built-in phone mic. Leave it basic. Most instagram videos and Vines have good enough sound for that fun, quick stuff.

True, but there does have to be an element of polish to it. Planned spontaneity, if you will. My boss is used to paying thousands for professional TV and video spots, so he'll be pretty critical of sound quality, even from mobile. I have to start at a step above total basic.

 

[Black Irish]

If you're looking to get paid for that kind of work, most clients will want to see a reel.

Your best bet is to purchase the equipment you can afford, take on a few small projects and see if this is something you can excel in.

If so, build a sample reel, invest in better equipment and market your services.

Fortunately, what I'm doing at work will serve as my foray into this line. So I can gain experience and build a portfolio as part of my job, so it doesn't all have to be on my dime and my own time.

 

[chicago51]

I made an awesome highlight video using Movie Maker for my players on the team I coach last fall. I thought it was pretty epic. I'd upload it to youtube but the thing is a 40 some minute saga.

What format is your video files? Right format of the video clips you are using in Movie Maker affects the quality some times.

 

[TDHeysus]

VideoPad Video Editor is a cheap, simple to use video editor although it has some limitations, overall it works well. Again there are some audio track and custimization limitations depending on what version you purchase; I don't like the transitions, and how they force the user to add/use them (just a personal pet-peeve), plus not a lot of options with regards to the how the transitions look and feel.

I use this program as 'final compile' for all videos I make.

Video Editing Software. Download Free Video Movie Editor



Another good, cheap program to use might be Camtasia, has ALOT more options than VideoPad Video editor including unlimited video/audio tracks, transitions, and TONS more options for customization. I use this at work for creating 'how-to' videos using the screen capture feature. You can also do voice over track(s) after using the screen capture (or you can use screen capture and record speech at the same time.) It lets you import all types of video formats, and can be combined with screen-capture, external videos, lots of fun stuff to do with Camtasia. Also has a lot of different formats that video files can be exported to(along with saved presets that makes production more streamlined). Works pretty good in my job environment.

I use Camtasia to do the bulk of my video editing; I then usually produce 1 video file that gets 'finalized' in VideoPad Video Editor (along with a 'finalized' track exported from Soundbooth)

http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.html




Lastly, full bore video/audio/flash, you name it, just about anything audio/visual with Adobe Creative Suite (you may also purchase CS programs individually) Adobe Premier for video editing, and Adobe Soundbooth for audio editing. Very expensive however.

I have each piece of software I have mentioned here, and after initially gravitating towards Adobe Premier for video editing, I have since gone to using a combination of Camtasia and VideoPad Video Editor for editing video (I really like all of the callouts, screen-zooms, and transitions that camtasia has to offer) and as mentioned, I use VideoPad Video Editor to make the final video (combining, aligning video and audio tracks that have been produced thru Camtasia and Soundbooth). I use Adobe Premier for the initial recordings(only) of my drums videos because I'm typically recording 8 audio tracks (7 drum mics, and a monitor track) and 1 video track at the sametime.

Its somewhat pricey, but I find that Adobe Soundbooth to be an exceptionally good audio editor, I cant think of anything that I have not been able to do with Soundbooth as far as editing audio.

I would suggest looking into Camtasia for video; you may not need an audio editor, but if you do I would recommend Adobe Soundbooth (it is pricey, but its a great audio editor)

 

[Black Irish]

I made an awesome highlight video using Movie Maker for my players on the team I coach last fall. I thought it was pretty epic. I'd upload it to youtube but the thing is a 40 some minute saga.

What format is your video files? Right format of the video clips you are using in Movie Maker affects the quality some times.

The clips are from droid mobile devices (mpeg, I think). I film in the highest res possible and just import them to a desktop. I haven't had a lot of time to film footage, so I'm still getting a handle on visual quality.

 

[Black Irish]

Thanks for all the info so far. Much appreciated.

 

[Black Irish]

Now I'm debating whether to get a lav mic or a usb. I was planning to use the lav to record audio while I'm recording video on my android device. I know I'll have to do multiple takes to get it right, but I can live with that. But, now I'm starting to think that I should pick up a usb and dub in a voiceover track in the video editor.

I guess it comes down to this, right now I have more time than money that I can devote to this. So I can shoot multiple takes with a lav and try to get good audio & video in one shot. That way I only have to do minimal post work. But, I don't want to make things harder on myself than I need to. Since the two mics I'm looking at (lav vs usb) are similar in price, cost isn't that much of an issue there. So it's a matter of what will be easier for a novice like me to work with.

 

[Black Irish]

I think I'm just going to take the plunge and get both a desktop USB mic as well as a mobile-device lav mic set up. Since I'm going to be doing both voice-over work for the video I'm shooting as well as interview segments, I figure I'd better be prepared for both. You got to love the internet; a month back I barely knew jack about sound recording. Now, I know enough to say "holy crap, this stuff is complicated!" But I think I know enough to get rolling. Thanks for the replies and feel free to keep any further advice & pointers coming.