MMS 172 Midpoint Blog

Amongst all the production courses in the BAMS program, audio production is the one I feel weakest in. Sure, I’ve played in a band before and studied digital signals back in my Computer Engineering days (BAMS is my second degree). But when it comes to actually producing audio, I’m still very inexperienced.

Audio is a very technical subject. It involves a lot of physics. Other media, such as images and videos, also discusses physics. But with how portable cameras evolved through time, you can produce a decent picture or a video clip without fully understanding the science behind it.

With audio, it feels different. You need to grasp at least the basics.

How sound travels and interacts with materials so you can treat your recording space.

How analog signals are converted to digital so you understand your signal flow.

How frequencies work so you can process audio properly.

For someone new to the technical side, this can be a little overwhelming.

But starting from zero doesn’t have to be a disadvantage. I see it as an opportunity. Not just to learn how to produce audio, but also to understand why it’s important and how to use it well.

Personal Workstation Setup with the Fantech MCX01 USB Condenser Microphone

Prior to this course, I didn’t think much about my audio gear. I had my 4-year-old AirPods Pro, a Fantech Leviosa MCX01 USB condenser microphone for my computer, and a BOYA BY-V20 wireless lavalier mic for my phone.

I chose them for convenience. The AirPods are small and easy to carry, the wireless mic is portable, and the Fantech mic was cheap and easy to set up. Quality wasn’t my top priority. I assumed that just having an external audio gear would instantly make my recordings better.

To some extent, that’s true. Built-in laptop and phone mics aren’t great. But despite using external devices, I was still disappointed with my voiceovers. They often sounded bad, and I kept asking myself is it my voice? The script? The way I speak? Eventually, I’d just give up wondering and submit the video as it was.

Looking back with what I’ve learned so far, I now realize the main problem wasn’t my voice or the way I speak. It was my recording technique.

There were times that I’d been too close to the mic, causing plosive sounds. Some recordings had too much reverb because of the room. Other times, I overused noise gates or compressed the audio so much that, while the barking dog or noisy neighbors disappeared, so did important frequencies that made my voice sound natural.

This course has made me see how often I’ve treated audio as an afterthought.

For a usual vlog assignment, I would plan the script, outline the shots, choose locations, arrange the lights, shoot the footage, and edit the visuals. Only at the very end of the process would I record the voiceover and add sound effects.

Now I know that leaving audio out of the plan is one factor why my voiceovers sound bad. How bad audio also lowers the overall quality of the final product.

Engr. Mike Idioma is right. Audio should be on equal footing with the visuals. I’ve had videos with carefully planned shots that were let down by poorly recorded audio. I had spent so much time shooting and editing my videos, only to have them overlaid with crappy-sounding audio.

There’s still so much to learn, but the first step is recognizing audio’s importance.

As someone new to this field, I know I have a lot to improve, but I’m excited to keep going and find my frequency.

Right now, I’m experimenting and practicing by producing a song cover for my final project in this class. It’s a little risky to experiment since it will ultimately determine my final grade but I’m taking the process to heart. I’m treating this project not just as a creative work, but as a chance to explore the technical side and develop a deeper appreciation for audio.

Face-to-Face Class Held Last Aug 6 on Contemporary Audio Issues and Signal Flow

I’m also looking forward to our upcoming face-to-face class, where we’ll visit a post-production studio and see how audio is produced for films and other visual media. This is exciting for me because, as I’ve mentioned, most of my struggles with audio come when it’s applied to visual products. I’m excited to see how things are done properly in the industry.

I’ve also started to invest in better gear to improve my work. I recently bought a pair of Maono monitoring headphones, a BOYA large-diaphragm condenser microphone, and a Maono audio interface.

Now, I see audio as more than just a layer. It’s not simply something you add on top of visuals. It also shapes and defines the entire experience.

I may not have mastered it yet, but I’m learning how to listen, adjust, appreciate, and find my frequency.

Rhon Joshua Calupitan | 2022-30993