Sound Input Matters
This guest post is by Renee Dutton-O'Hara, Executive Audio Producer at the Center for Teaching and Learning.
Hello! It's Renee Dutton-O'Hara with the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL's) Audio Team. The audio producers and audio editors want you to know that sound matters, especially when it comes to your online lecture recording.
Today I want to talk about sound input.
When you record a lecture onsite with CTL, we have professional microphones in each of our soundproof studios, therefore offering the best audio quality for your lecture recording.
When you record remotely with CTL, you will most likely be working in a tele office vs. a recording studio.
With that in mind let’s discuss and listen to some choices for audio input, with a goal of optimal audio quality for your lecture.
It is preferable not to use the internal microphone on your computer.
CTL offers loaner microphones for faculty and guests to use for remote lecture recordings. When you schedule a recording with CTL in our automated system, there is an option to request a loaner microphone. We will then schedule a pickup in our Baltimore office, or if you are out of state, we can send the microphone to you with a return label. After using one of our loaners, you may even decide to invest in a similar microphone, as it is an excellent tool for a home office.
Next, I would suggest a headset with microphone that plugs into your computer. For example, a Logitech headset.
A few more options are earbuds that you can plug into your computer and instantly the sound will be more direct and robust than the internal microphone. You may also use Airpods, but make sure they are charged before the recording session.
The audio producer will check the sound level and work with you on the audio input during your recording session and our audio editors will edit and master the raw audio after your recording.
I have included some sound examples in this blogpost for you to hear the difference in the audio quality based on the sound input you may be using. I have also included a pdf file on our recommendations for remote recordings.
We look forward to working with you!
Example Audio Files:
Renee, using an internal microphone