A Shotgun for the Kids

One of the ways to improve the audio is to use a better microphone. Probably the least expensive, yet most effective, mic for the majority of home videographers is the "shotgun" microphone. The name comes from the fact that it's much more directional than the average camera mic. This allows the microphone to be aimed at the sound source, concentrating on what is usually the most important audio. Generally speaking a shotgun mic will help cut through the clutter of a room full of sound waves. Now, mind you, it's not magic, but it will help improve the strength and intelligibility of the audio you record by rejecting unwanted sound coming from the areas that are away from the main subject. Normal camera mics are usually sensitive to sounds coming from all directions. This will make the sound you want to pick up equal in strength to the sound you don't want. By making the microphone more directional, the loudest sounds will be those that come from the direction in which the camera is pointed.

Luckily, it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to get the benefit of a shotgun mic. In fact, you can get one for about what you'd pay for a pack of tapes. Several models are available for around $50. These will give you improved results, but are really only marginally better than typical camera mics. For better performance look for models in the $75-$150 range. The more expensive versions provide a stronger signal, with less noise. No matter which model you choose it still won't provide good results from a long distance. The closer you can get to the source the better the quality will be.

Try adding a shotgun to your arsenal, I think you'll be pleased with the results.