The Best New Wireless Mic for Small Crews
Production Kreativ Alchemy Production Kreativ Alchemy

The Best New Wireless Mic for Small Crews

No matter what you’re filming, having a wireless microphone makes it way more efficient. However, finding a wireless mic with professional sound quality, a reliable signal, and an affordable price point is not an easy feat. That is until Hollyland dropped the LARK 150 Wireless Microphone System.

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Did We Just Find The Best Free Daw?
Production Kreativ Alchemy Production Kreativ Alchemy

Did We Just Find The Best Free Daw?

We have been on the search to find the perfect Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) for beginning audio engineers, musicians, filmmakers, and enthusiasts. The search is finally over. The software is called Waveform Free by Tracktion. This software has blown us away on so many levels. Let’s dive in and discover what makes this DAW our favorite program for recording and editing audio. 

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7 Ways to Hide a Lav Microphone
Production Kreativ Alchemy Production Kreativ Alchemy

7 Ways to Hide a Lav Microphone

In this article, we’ll explore how to capture audio with a lav mic cleverly placed on the human body, just outside the camera’s view. You’ll learn how to use a special mic that is great for hiding because it is super small.

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Q&A: How To Hone Your Skills As An Interviewer
Theater, Teaching Resources, Streaming Guest Contributor Theater, Teaching Resources, Streaming Guest Contributor

Q&A: How To Hone Your Skills As An Interviewer

Why is it that late night talk-show hosts can make their conversations with guests sound so effortless? How are news commentators able to cut to the chase on controversial topics? If you found yourself in an elevator with a celebrity you admire, what’s the one question you could ask to leave an indelible impression?

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Top Free Browser-Based Audio Editors and DAWs
Teaching Resources, Production Kreativ Alchemy Teaching Resources, Production Kreativ Alchemy

Top Free Browser-Based Audio Editors and DAWs

If you are new to the world of audio editing and want to get your feet wet, here are four free browser-based digital audio workstations (DAWS) and four simple audio editors to try. If you are working on a video project that needs music or you want to further manipulate audio for an effect, these editors will make the process super easy. The benefit of using a browser-based editor is that you can edit a project on the go, at home, at school, and with a Mac, a Windows computer, or a Chromebook. There aren't too many limitations, and it is a great way to learn the basics so you can later choose a more professional DAW later.

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Small Parabolic vs. Wireless Lapel Mic
Production Guest Contributor Production Guest Contributor

Small Parabolic vs. Wireless Lapel Mic

When faced with the task of recording an interview, most people will turn to a lapel (lavaliere) microphone for capturing the audio. The small microphones are seen every day on television, and they are often used without our seeing them. They are the perfect solution, right? Well, not always. There are several drawbacks to lapel microphone that most people just learn to live with. Small parabolic microphones provide a new alternative to lapel microphones that may alleviate all of these issues.

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Tips for Quality Video and Cable Care
Teaching Resources Guest Contributor Teaching Resources Guest Contributor

Tips for Quality Video and Cable Care

Our tools extend beyond our cameras, lights, and microphones to the various tips and tricks that we acquire along the road of practice made perfect. These useful techniques become the difference between knowledge and experience, which yields wisdom. To this effect, here are some helpful hints that might assist you in becoming a little better with your tools.

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TV Reporters and Social Distancing
Streaming Guest Contributor Streaming Guest Contributor

TV Reporters and Social Distancing

Reporters are faced with a dilemma in the current environment of social distancing. How can they capture clear audio during an interview while maintaining a safe separation? Parabolic microphones, used primarily for sports, may provide a great alternative. Parabolic microphones provide a mechanical amplification for the sound coming from in front of the dish. This allows a person speaking at a normal level to be recorded from six to ten feet using a parabolic microphone only nine inches in diameter.

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Capturing Audio for Classroom Streaming 
Teaching Resources, Production Guest Contributor Teaching Resources, Production Guest Contributor

Capturing Audio for Classroom Streaming 

Presenting classes online is becoming more common every year. Streaming video of the instructor is quite easy, and using a wireless mic provides great audio from the instructor. In addition, it is rather straight forward to add a second camera to capture video of the students. The challenge, however, is to capture audio of student questions and interaction.

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Best Sound for Live Production, Shooting Indoor Sports
Guest Contributor Guest Contributor

Best Sound for Live Production, Shooting Indoor Sports

Because of the crowd noise that reverberates within the building, it can be extremely difficult to capture quality audio for indoor sports. The sample setups shown here are for basketball but are easily adapted to other indoor sports.

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Teaching Resources, Production Guest Contributor Teaching Resources, Production Guest Contributor

Company Profile: Conference Room Systems (CRS)

CRS (Conference Room Systems) is an ecommerce company offering a curated selection of audiovisual solutions for any organization. The parent company to CRS, Haverford Systems Inc., has been working within the audiovisual arena for more than 30 years as a Phila.-area installer and integrator. Following that legacy, CRS knew that they could also help DIY (do-it-yourself) customers across the U.S. With well-known manufacturers featured on its site, including Cambridge Sound Management, HuddleCamHD, PTZOptics and Magewell, CRS proudly offers the right balance of high-quality and affordability.

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Best Sound for Live Production, Broadcasting Football
Streaming Guest Contributor Streaming Guest Contributor

Best Sound for Live Production, Broadcasting Football

The parabolic microphones will capture the quarterback signals, player collisions, the football being kicked, etc. It is becoming quite common for a lineman to have a microphone imbedded in his pads to help capture the quarter back signals. You can often hear the microphone being turned off just after the ball is hiked.

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Sound for Live Production, Better On-Field Sound
Streaming Guest Contributor Streaming Guest Contributor

Sound for Live Production, Better On-Field Sound

There are three keys to capturing better on-field audio. Using more microphones. Locating microphones closer to the action. Using more directional microphones for better isolation. While these three keys may seem rather obvious the application may not be. Let’s begin by examining how the networks typically capture audio at a baseball park.

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The Missing Link for Great Sports Coverage
Streaming Tom White Streaming Tom White

The Missing Link for Great Sports Coverage

The Sportscaster has allowed me to not only get better audio via the simple application but allows me to coach my students while they are in the moment. Instead of having to do tape sessions a day or so after the excitement of the broadcast has worn off, I can help guide them live. It allows me to have a real producer when we do a show. The producer can help the talent through the broadcast by giving stats, forecasting upcoming storylines, etc.

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