The first recommendation is to use an external microphone, but even so, some care is needed to get a good result. See the most common mistakes that can happen while recording and learn how to fix them.

Recording Audio: Common Issues and How to Avoid Them

If you produce video content for your audience, as in the case of classes for online courses, it’s critical to ensure the quality of your audio.

No one will be interested in your material if they cannot clearly understand what you are saying.

Therefore, even if you are recording videos at home, avoid using the microphones built into your computer or smartphone, and invest as much as you can in external equipment to record audio.

– How to set up a studio to record videos at home

A good microphone will certainly improve the quality of your recording a lot, but, still, it doesn’t prevent common mistakes from happening and hinder the final result. So keep an eye out for the most common problems listed below and learn how to avoid them.

1. The sound is too bassy

This is due to the proximity effect, that is, as the microphone approaches a sound source, the low frequencies picked up by the device increase. What to do in this case? Simple: move the microphone away from your mouth.

As the distance between the microphone and the sound source increases, you should notice that the bass decreases and the sound becomes more balanced. But don’t go too far, find a point of balance, or you’ll have other problems. We suggest keeping about 6-12 inches away from the microphone.

It’s also important to remember to keep a constant distance. Moving closer and further away from the microphone can cause fluctuations in the volume of your recordings.

2. There is a lot of room sound

When it comes to reducing ambient sound, the simplest solution is to move closer to the microphone. This increases the volume of the voice while keeping room noise at the same level, balancing the two so you get more of the sound you want and less of the unwanted.

It’s also worth considering what kind of microphone you’re using. To minimize ambient sound, it’s best to use a cardioid microphone that records in only one direction. Omnidirectional and 8-shaped microphones record in multiple directions and thus pick up more noise from the surrounding space. 

Another solution is to try to “protect” the environment, dampening noise. You can invest in sound absorbers, or try making your own with some mattresses and blankets hanging around.

3. There is a lot of bassy rumbles in your audio

Unwanted vibrations are a common problem in home recordings. If you are using a microphone stand, make sure the lowest vertical part is not touching the floor.

Some microphones have a built-in filter option – this removes those annoying sub-frequencies without impairing the clarity of the voice.

If your microphone doesn’t have a built-in filter, it might be worth investing in a shock mount system. However, be aware that they will not be able to avoid higher vibrations.

The best way to stop noise is to ensure that the microphone does not encounter any vibrations, ie, controlling the environment around you.  

4. Your breath sounds too loud

It happens! A very common problem when recording audio, breathing, the one we don’t pay attention to, can ruin a perfectly good narration.

Unfortunately, there is no quick fix to ban breath sounds from your recordings. All we can advise is to work on your microphone control and try to be aware of it, training to get the best result.

– 7 tips for speaking well on video

5. Your recordings sound distorted

When you’re new to the business of recording audio, it can be tempting to turn all the settings to their maximum. However, high doesn’t necessarily mean good. If the audio meter or any other input device is turning red, it means your recording is clipped, which can create unwanted distortion. 

To avoid this, lower the gain of the microphone or audio interface. If this is too difficult, try stepping a little bit away from the microphone.

6. Plosives everywhere

Plosives are a problem that pretty much everyone faces. This unwanted noise happens because the ‘p’ and ‘b’ sounds send an air current towards the microphone, creating a great bass response, making it distorted.

Did you not understand? Place your palm parallel to your mouth and say “papaya”. You should feel two gusts of air hit your palm as you say the letter P. If you replaced your hand with a microphone and recorded the sound, two peaks would appear in an audio editor.

Fortunately, there is a quick and inexpensive solution for this. Pop filters are mesh screens that can be mounted on a desk or microphone stand in a matter of seconds and work exactly as the name implies. The filter screen is impacted by the air that escapes from the mouth, so the blast is barely audible when it hits the microphone.

It’s also worth noting that omnidirectional microphones are less susceptible to plosives.

– Basic video editing techniques

7. Harsh squealing 

These occur due to call sibilance, which is an unpleasant harshness that can occur during the pronunciation of consonant syllables (like S, T and Z). These syllables are concentrated in the upper middle frequency (between 5kHz and 8kHz) and are caused by disproportionate audio dynamics. 

To avoid wheezing, try to stand about 10 to 35 cm away from the microphone, and tilt the device down about 10 degrees. Also, if you have a very clear voice, it might be worth investing in a darker microphone, meaning one with less pronounced upper midrange frequencies.

8. Wind noise

When recording audio outdoors, you will likely hear some wind noise. This is similar to a plosive, a gust of wind hitting your microphone’s diaphragm and creating a bass booming response. 

The best way to avoid this is to invest in a ‘dead cat’, those fuzzy windshields with an acoustic foam interior that literally look like a cat’s body. This cover prevents the wind from reaching your microphone, keeping the audio intact.

Noise from the moving microphone cable is another problem you may face. Depending on the type of recording you are making, there are a few solutions. If you are conducting an interview with a lavalier microphone, thread the string under your shirt and use some duct tape to keep it in place.

9. BONUS TIP

Anyone recording audio in a home studio usually forgets to be careful with the wires, and ends up kicking them accidentally.

To avoid damage to your equipment and noise from slamming cables into your recording, take duct tape and run over excess cables across the floor. This way, both the quality of your recording and your equipment will be guaranteed.

Also, whether you record indoors or outdoors, a good shockmount is a must to reduce micro-vibration. If you’re walking and recording, it becomes critical for a shotgun microphone. The same goes if you’re in the studio and you end up gesticulating a lot and hitting the microphone.

Remember: the anti-shock montage you don’t do now is the recording you redo later.

–  Know how to record videos at home

Recording audio: general tips for a good result

As a general rule, standing about 6 inches away from the microphone will provide clean and balanced recordings, suitable for almost any situation.

The way you speak is also essential for a good result. You need your audience to clearly understand what you’re saying, so pacing and pronunciation are very important. 

To accomplish this, rehearse your script a few times before recording audio, this will help you resolve any potential issues. Oftentimes, a script can be read well, but when you speak it out loud, you see the need to make changes.

– 7 Tips to Create a Video Script

Speaking into a microphone is physically more difficult than you might think. No, you won’t wake up the next day with sore limbs, but you can start to develop a sore throat and dry mouth very quickly. To avoid this, try doing some vocal warm-ups before starting. It also always helps to have a glass of water on hand for emergency sips.

Although proper recording technique is often learned through trial and error, this guide should help you avoid the most common problems.

Video ready, it’s time to transfer your class to an eLearning platform and start selling your courses.

Elearning Platform (LMS), Coursify.me has all the necessary features for you to integrate and import content from channels such as Vimeo and YouTube.

– Whats is a Learning Management System

Instructors can embed their hosted videos on any of these platforms on their page on Coursify.me, making their lessons even better.

Visit our website and enjoy all the features our platform offers to create and sell quality online courses.

The post 8 Common problems when recording audio and how to fix them appeared first on Blog Coursify.me.

In today’s world, where more than 300 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute, this is certainly a good idea. 

Tips for using video lessons in online courses

With the advancement and popularization of technology, the barriers to creating videos are falling. 

Almost all modern computers come with built-in webcams and microphones, and software options for capturing and editing images and audio are multiplying.

But despite the relative ease of producing videos without leaving your home, creating effective videos still requires careful planning and elaboration, with attention to various details, such as scenery and lighting.

–  Learn how to record videos at home

It is also necessary to consider that not all videos are created in the same way, especially with regard to their pedagogical effectiveness, a necessity in the case of video lessons. 

To achieve this goal and deliver the best result to your students, see five great reasons and ways to use videos in your online course.

1. To create a sense of presence

When compared to classroom education, taking an online course can be a lonely experience.

To minimize this effect, video lessons help bring life to the course, showing the image of a teacher with which students can connect and relate.

If you’re not familiar with video production, start by creating smaller videos as supporting material.

– How to create videos for online courses

Train until you feel secure enough to record longer videos, with all the content that you would pass in a classroom, for example.

Here are some ideas of what you can do:

• Include a short presentation video, in which you talk a little about yourself, your training and professional experience.
• Provide individual feedback on video, commenting on the student’s performance on the course.
• Create a video for the start of each new module, covering the goals of the module and what students can expect.
• At the end of each module, publish a video commenting on what the student must have learned and how it relates to the next stage of the course.
• Submit a video response commenting on the general results of a test or activity, discussing common mistakes and providing guidance.

2. Provide a unique perspective

For hundreds of years, the written word has been the primary means of sharing information in more depth.

Even if they are just words on a paper, the personality and knowledge of each author is transmitted through reading.

In the same way, the video emerged as a new way for a person to convey his/her unique perspective, which can be seen by the appearance of the so-called Youtubers, who constitute real fortunes by making videos in which they pass on their personal opinions on different subjects.

The increasing demand for this type of content shows how a single perspective is easily communicated by video, making this resource a practical way to attract and win over the viewer.

In fact, every instructor brings something unique to each class they teach, having a much better chance of communicating it through video lessons.

Let the camera capture not just your words, but your ideas, personality and passion for what you do.

– Tips for speaking well on video

This gives students a greater perception that you are the instructor and that the course is not just a list of materials to be consumed and assessments to be completed. 

This unique approach to the course material presents you as an attentive specialist in your field. However, this does not mean that you cannot use other people’s video lessons to enrich your online course.

Sometimes, third-party videos can more clearly and deeply communicate concepts that you try to teach, such as TED lectures, clips from scientific programs, etc. 

Ideas on how to use the video to provide a unique perspective:

• Synthesize or contrast the arguments of various authors based on your own research.
• Tell a personal story that involves the lessons in question.
• Launch your point of view on a concept and invite the class to a debate, where each one should write his / her opinion.
• Include a link to a convincing TED Talk.

3. Demonstrate a process 

In the absence of the proximity that a classroom provides, recording videos is the best way to demonstrate steps in a process.

Video lessons serve to make complex processes more readable for many students, as they allow step-by-step monitoring of problem solving.

It is important to note that videos involving demonstrations raise significant accessibility concerns. 

Consider a student with a visual disability who encounters a software walkthrough.

If you are just moving your mouse and clicking buttons, that student will not necessarily be able to understand what is going on.

– Meet the best free screen recorders

So when doing demonstrations on the camera, remember to dictate all the steps of what you do. It may seem tiring, but your video will be more accessible.

Ideas on how to use video to demonstrate processes:

• Move the camera closer to what you are doing and perform the task slowly, showing and explaining how to do each process.
• Use the screen capture software to record a detailed tutorial.

– Record tutorial videos: tips to get the best result

4. Increase engagement

Every teacher tries to engage his students, so that they enjoy their classes and sign up for more.

Engagement means interaction: interaction between students, students and course content and students and teacher. 

It is logical that a video containing dialogue can help bring some ideas to life in a more engaging way than simply reading a text.

In addition, as mentioned above, students benefit from hearing what experts think. 

Are there colleagues, professionals, researchers or authors in your field who would be willing to discuss a topic in front of the camera?

Perhaps you can organize a debate. The more voices you can bring to your video lessons, the more value it will bring to your students.

Ideas on how to use video to present intellectual exchanges and facilitate interaction:

• Record a video call with colleagues who have (and defend) their perspectives on the issues covered in the course.
• Contact the author of any publication you asked students to read and ask if you can record an interview.
• Promote a webinar or other type of live presentation, in which more people can participate and discuss a specific issue.

– Webinar: advantages for your online course

5. Create connections with the real world

When it comes to teaching, one of the advantages of including visual aids is that it can make knowledge more “sticky” in students’ brains.

Even non-visual students can benefit when images (static or moving) accompany explanations or definitions to make them clearer.

In addition, research on motivation suggests that illustrations, graphics and other images related to the course content increase the sense of relevance of the material.

Students want to know that what they are studying has just that, relevance. So if you are thinking of taking video lessons, consider whether there are places you can visit with a camera to help bring what is being said and taught to life.

Ideas on how to use video to provide connections to the real world:

• For each principle taught in a class, film a demonstration of the practical application of that principle. 
• Film a scene that relates to what will be taught, as an introduction to the material.  
• Can’t you do a demonstration on your own? Share a third-party video where something related happens and start your explanation from what was seen. 

– Basic Video Editing Techniques

How to make your video lessons available online

You can use videos in a variety of ways in online courses and they can play a valuable role in helping your students achieve their learning goals.

Video classes also serve to fulfill important secondary goals, such as increasing motivation, creating a community and establishing a presence. 

Even if you are not an expert in video production, the wide availability of technology allows you to easily immerse yourself in the creation of this material.

If it is your presentation on camera that concerns you, keep in mind that viewers prefer more personal videos than those with a highly rehearsed presentation and advertising aspect.

Be authentic, train and do your best. If you like what you do, it will be easily captured by the camera and the viewer, increasing their interest in what is being presented.

Video recorded, ask some friends for feedback, make the necessary improvements and when everything is perfect, upload it to video platforms or direct to your online school on Coursify.me.

– How to Choose the Right Video Hosting Platform

Learning Management System (LMS), Coursify.me has all the necessary features for you to integrate and import content from video hosting platforms such as Vimeo and YouTube.

– Whats is a Learning Management System

Instructors can embed their hosted videos lessons in any of these channels on their page on Coursify.me.

To know more, visit our website, make a test and take advantage of all the features of our platform to create quality online courses.

The post Video lessons: how to use videos in your online course appeared first on Blog Coursify.me.