Since time immemorial comedians have been cutting their broadcasting teeth in radio. The next generation of comics might be no different and so audio forms a vital component of Comedy Soup.
If you’re camera shy, don’t have an aesthetically pleasing stash of acting talent or the ability to finance a full video shoot, then audio is the way to go. From scripting through to finished work, it’s a more accessible way to produce comedy than both live action and animation.
Audio provides so much freedom. You can be whoever you want to be, wherever you want to be, whenever you want to be. No fuss, no wigs, no make-up and no lighting technicians to slow things up. And you’ve even a distinct advantage with the scripts - your forgetful cast doesn’t have to memorise them.
When making audio the basic sound components can be broken down as follows:
Ambient. Background noise. It shouldn’t be overpowering, but if you are basing your scene in a farmer’s field then for realism you’ll need the buzz of the countryside. Perhaps the best way to create this would be to go and record in a farmer’s field.
Foley. Not merely footsteps, but a large part of a dedicated Foley artist’s work could entail ‘dancing the boards’. So, you could have fun tramping up and down your own sand pit, kicking up leaves or splashing through puddles. With many ripples and squelches to produce, Foley preparation can mean a cupboard choc-full of props.
Special Effects. Create never-before-heard sounds. Or even better, visit our stock of raw material where you can download literally thousands.
Vocals. Audio provides no facial expressions as clues to a performer’s mindset, meaning vocal dexterity is all important. Think hard about the way an actor should speak and the accent he or she should carry. It may make them sound from a different county, country, or even a different planet and all adds to the essence of the character.
Music. Useful for intros or exits of pieces and can set the mood of a piece of audio. Just don't use anything commercial unless you are willing to clear all the rights.
Recording equipment
There’s a wide variety of equipment available for making audio recordings. Here’s Comedy Soup’s guide to a few options.
- With analogue cassette recorders nearer extinction, and with a poor signal to noise ratio (SNR), it's probably best to favour digital audio recording equipment.
- High quality Digital Audio Tape (DAT) recorders are used in professional broadcasting. The problem is price. They digitally can come in at over a grand - so a costly option.
- As an alternative, Minidisc recorders use the ATRAC compression system developed by Sony and Tthere's PC compatibility thanks to a USB interface. Find out more at minidisc.org.
- Solid-state recorders make digital recordings onto memory cards with an option to save in a compressed format, such as MP3, and hard-disk recorders make and contain compressed or uncompressed digital recordings on high-capacity disk drives.
- Laptop computers can be used to make digital recordings, but work best when equipped with a decent external mic. Where your mic input is too low a quality, you’ll need to purchase a separate audio interface, with the best again USB powered.
- Palm-top computers, or PDAs, have a portable advantage, but despite lack of size can still be well equipped with memory and network interfaces. Handy, but make sure they provide good quality audio, not just a pocket-sized Dictaphone.
Microphones
Your microphone needs to match your recorder, not only in terms of its connector, but also in terms of quality. There is little point using a high-quality recorder and poor-quality microphones.
Types of microphone include:
- Dynamic microphones
Sturdy and versatile but only suited to high volume levels as they have no internal amplifier. On the plus side, this means they don't require batteries or external power.
- Condenser microphones
Require a separate power supply which gives a stronger signal. The sensitivity makes them prone to distortion at high volume. The nifty electret condenser microphone does not need its own power thanks to a special type of capacitor which has a permanent voltage built in during manufacture.
Check your connector
As you want to guarantee your recorder hooks up to your mic, it’s probably best to test before you buy. XLR connectors are used on professional microphones for the best resistance to electrical interference and mini XLR connectors are used on lapel microphones. Then there are 1/4 inch and 1/8 inch mono and stereo jacks.
‘What sounds better’ tips
Use headphones to monitor the quality of your sound recordings. The closed back type that cover the ears are better for eliminating unwanted sounds
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When recording, test the sound recordings by altering you distance from the subject until you are happy with the result.
When shooting indoors, be aware of the effect of acoustics on the clarity of the sound. When recording move as close as possible to the source of the sound for improved results.
To avoid the problems of wind buffeting outdoors, either buffer the wind by standing with your back to the mic or screen the mic with a natural sound break such as a wall.
Editing
If you are sticking to your home PC to edit your work there are a number of software options you can use. Which one you go for depends on personal preference and what you want to achieve. Even the most advanced editing software can be set up in your bedroom: all you need is the software and enough memory in your computer to be able to work with your rushes.
Introductory audio editing applications include:
For more advanced editing:
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