It is a recognised convention that web users are far more likely to accept poor quality pictures, if the sound is clean and coherent, but far less likely if the sound is poor, even if the pictures are good. To achieve this good sound quality, it is unlikely you’ll get away with even a good quality consumer camcorder. There is a chance it might have an external microphone socket, but most don’t, and most don’t allow you good control of audio levels. There are £600 plus ‘top-of-the-range’ camcorders out there, that may shoot great, high quality HD pictures, but suffer from simply atrocious audio capability – audio which is unforgiving on any professionally situated web video.
“Make or break”
And even if you do have a good camera with good mics, it is still important to make sure your sound is clean. An incorrectly attached tie or radio mic may rub against clothing and leave you with a horrible grating noise, which is near impossible to remove in the editing process. If you are using an onboard mic, or a mic on a boom pole, then it is vital the interviewee’s voice is picked up cleanly, despite background noise. If this means getting it nearer to them, then so be it (just make sure it is out of shot). Remember: clean and clear sound can make or break web video.
