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Audio-Visual Series: Video Creation and Editing (ProDev)

Fall 2023

Session Info

When

Thursday, Sept. 14

  • 2-3 p.m. in person (B13.834A)
  • 5-6 p.m. - hybrid! In-person (B13.834A) and virtual - register in myWorkshops for online attendance link.

Description

Participants will learn how to prepare to create audio-visual recordings, which tools to use for high quality video and captioning, how to handle audio including microphones, quality matching, and filtration, and some potential use cases for faculty and staff.

Participants will:

  • Discuss best practices and tools for audio-visual recordings
  • Recognize how to make high-quality recordings
  • Discover potential use cases for audio-visual recordings

Presented by:

Mike Alose, Elaine Patton, & Katie Truax

Defining Some Key Terms

Aspect Ratio
Screen size/shape, width:height. Typical widescreen devices use 16:9 aspect ratio.
Frame
A single still moment in the video. A video is composed of many frames played in sequence.
Gain
Microphone setting controlling the amplification of audio as it's recorded (input), measured in decibels. The output, listening to what's been recorded, is volume.
Keyframes
Specific points in the timeline your assets are aligned to which determine what your video looks like at any given time. "Keyframing" refers to making the placements and adjustments to get your assets to appear/disappear/change the way you want them to.
Timeline
Where you're assembling all the pieces of your video in sequence.
Storyboard
A planning tool of loose sketches and notes for what each frame of video should look like.

Physical Tools to Consider

Microphone

A good microphone is essential if you're recording your own audio. It can be part of a headset or standalone -- either is going to be better than the webcam mic built into your laptop.

Serious audio recorders get mics hanging on arms to minimize picking up noise from the desk.

Pop Filter

A pop filter is a microphone screen that minimizes the effect of fast-moving air rushing the mic. E.g. plosives -- "puh" sounds (e.g. pain, people) can overload the microphone, as can laughing.

Required? No. You can offset the mic from your mouth to help with this.

Silent Mouse

Totally optional, but kind of nice. There are computer mice designed to make less-audible sounds when you click things. If you're recording a lot of screencasts, this can be a nice tool.

Webcam

If you want to be visible in your video, a dedicated webcam is going to produce higher quality footage than one built-in to your laptop.

Note: you still want a dedicated mic for best audio results.

Lighting

If you're making a video that you want to be visible in, consider your ambient lighting. There are many dedicated options for creating diffuse light that doesn't cast directional shadows over your face.

Presentation

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