6 Tips for Better Recordings When Creating Your Infoproducts
If you’re creating audio or video information products, you’re probably using one (or more) of the following programs:
- Camtasia (screencasts)
- Sony Movie Studio / Sony Vegas (live-action video shots)
- Audacity (audio recordings)
No matter which program you’re using, here are a few tips for getting better results in your final product:
1. Record in Short Clips
It’s much easier to figure out how to split your information into manageable chunks, then record each piece individually. Once you’re done, you can splice them together so things appear seamless. But if you have to go back and re-record something, it’ll be much easier to do. The worst thing to have happen is to record a long clip and then realize you need to re-record something that’s in the MIDDLE of that clip. Save yourself the headache and record in smaller pieces. This applies to audio and video.
2. Don’t Stop Recording When You Make a Mistake
This also applies to audio and video. You’re going to flub a few lines…it’s almost guaranteed. But don’t worry about it and definitely don’t start back over from the beginning. Just pause for a few seconds, collect your thoughts, then repeat whatever it was that came out wrong (if only we could do this in real life, right?). The good thing about pausing for a few seconds is that not only does it give you time to figure out what you want to say, but it also makes it easier to edit that section when you get around to editing.
3. Be Sure to Use a USB Headset/Microphone
For audio or Camtasia type videos, be sure to use a USB headset. You’ll have the option of choosing a USB headset or one that plugs directly into your sound card. Choose the first option since you’ll get WAY better results. Connecting to the sound card causes too much noise and your audio will sound unprofessional on most computers. And get a headset, not a desktop microphone. There’s too much variation as you move closer or farther away from a desktop microphone. The headset mic pretty much stays the same distance from your mouth. Speaking of which…
4. Be Sure the Microphone is Far Enough Away From Your Mouth
Do a quick test run and see how it sounds. If you’re popping p’s, try moving the microphone away from your mouth…either higher above your mouth or below your chin. It’ll still pickup your voice but you won’t have to worry about those annoying spikes that are made when speaking certain words or letters.
5. With Camtasia, Don’t Move the Mouse So Much
Don’t move the mouse in Camtasia recordings unless you have to. The less motion there is on the screen, the easier it is to edit later on without things looking weird. But if you mess up something you said while you were scrolling the screen for absolutely no reason, it’s going to look weird when you edit that out since the screen will jump from one place to the next. Minimal motion is a good thing and makes life easier later on.
6. Edit Ruthlessly
This is where your project goes from sounding like a high school kid made it versus sounding like a pro. Little things can go a long way, like of course, editing out those little goofs, editing out large gaps of silence (maybe while you were thinking about what to say next while recording), and getting rid of those annoying sounds of you taking a breath (no on really wants to hear that), the umms and ahhs and other random sounds. For some things, you might want to keep the same amount of space but just get rid of the sounds, so just insert silence over the noises and you’ll be good to go.
And yes, some will probably say just release it. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
Ask yourself which version you’d prefer. You’ll make the right decision.
10 Responses to “6 Tips for Better Recordings When Creating Your Infoproducts”
Very interesting. I have been doing vids for clients and this is a good set of starting hints.
[...] Newby presents 6 Tips for Better Recordings When Creating Your Infoproducts posted at [...]
[...] Newby presents 6 Tips for Better Recordings When Creating Your Infoproducts posted at [...]
Great list of tips, thanks!
I was wondering, have you tried working with a professional microphone, but still prefer the USB version or is this in comparison with cheaper mcs connected to the sound card?
Peter,
My recommendation for a USB mic is purely based on a comparison to a lower quality “sound card” mic. They’re typically in the same ballpark price range (say less than $50) but as you probably know, USB gives better quality, hence the recommendation.
I’m sure a higher quality mic would give even better results, but haven’t used one myself yet as I haven’t seen the need. For most information products and other applications the typical online business owner is into, a USB mic gives a good tradeoff between cost and sound quality.
Kenton
[...] Kenton Newby presents 6 Tips for Better Recordings When Creating Your Infoproducts posted at [...]
[...] Newby presents 6 Tips for Better Recordings When Creating Your Infoproducts posted at [...]
[...] Newby presents 6 Tips for Better Recordings When Creating Your Infoproducts posted at [...]
[...] Newby presents 6 Tips for Better Recordings When Creating Your Infoproducts posted at [...]
[...] Newby presents 6 Tips for Better Recordings When Creating Your Infoproducts posted at [...]