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How to get good sound on phone video

Viewers will watch a video with an ordinary picture if they can hear it clearly. They leave within seconds if the sound hisses, booms, echoes or roars with wind. Get the microphone close to the mouth, away from wind and noise, and listen with earphones before you record.

Why distance matters most

Sound fades quickly with distance. Each time you double the distance between the mouth and the microphone, the voice falls to about a quarter of its loudness, while the noise in the room stays the same.

• At arm's length, about 50 cm, a phone's built-in microphone is usually acceptable in a quiet room.
• At 2 metres, the voice is about a sixteenth as loud, and the room takes over.
• At the back of a hall, the phone records mostly the hall.

So move the microphone, not only the phone. Bring the phone close, or put a separate microphone near the mouth and film from wherever the picture needs.

Know where your phone's microphones are, and do not cover them with your fingers or a case.

Choosing a microphone

• Wired clip-on microphone, about R150 to R300: for talking to camera, cooking and interviews within reach of the cable. Check that it fits your phone's socket.
• Wireless clip-on set, about R600 to R2 500: for interviews, walking and talking, and a speaker on a stage. Charge both parts.
• Small shotgun microphone on the phone, about R250 to R900: picks up what the phone points at. It still needs to be close.
• A second phone used as a recorder: free if you have one.

Placing a clip-on microphone

• Clip it to the centre of the chest, about a hand's width below the chin.
• Point it up towards the mouth.
• Keep it clear of jewellery, scarves, beards and hair, which rustle.
• Run the cable under the shirt, with a small loop near the microphone so that a tug does not pull it.

Wind

Wind across a microphone makes a rumble that cannot be removed well.

• Use a foam cover or, better, a furry windshield outdoors.
• Turn the speaker's back to the wind, or move behind a wall or vehicle.
• Switch on the phone's wind reduction setting if it has one.

Echo

Rooms with hard, bare surfaces sound hollow.

• Film in a smaller, softer room. Bedrooms and lounges with curtains, carpets and sofas sound far better than kitchens, bathrooms and empty offices.
• Hang blankets or duvets out of shot.
• Get the microphone closer.

Background noise

• Switch off fans, TVs and radios. If you switch off a fridge, remember to switch it back on.
• Choose a quiet time of day, and close the windows and doors.
• When a plane or a hooting taxi interrupts, pause and repeat the sentence.
• Record 20 to 30 seconds of the silent room. An editor can use it to cover gaps.

The ten-second sound check

You cannot judge sound by looking at the screen.

1. Ask the speaker to talk at the level they will use.
2. Listen through earphones. Is the voice clear and close? Is there hiss, rustle, wind, echo or hum?
3. If the app shows a level meter, speech should move it well up but never into the red.
4. Fix the problem and check again.

If you cannot listen while recording, record a test clip and play it back first. With an external microphone, check that the app is really using it.

Using a second phone for sound

When the speaker is far away, such as a pastor at a pulpit or a couple saying their vows:

1. Put the second phone in flight mode, with enough storage and battery.
2. Start a voice recorder app and place the phone close to the speaker, with permission.
3. Start both phones, then clap once, loudly, in view of the camera.
4. In the edit, line up the spike of the clap on the two sound tracks.

This guide is based on Chapter 5 of Video Making with Your Phone.