Interested in documentary sound? Tired of getting great images but lousy audio? This Newsletter should help.

We just announced a series of new classes in August. Two day DV Camera & Lighting Bootcamp August 13 & 14 10am-7pm $295..This Class will also cover all the material (hands-on) contained in this newsletter.

Our Advanced Final Cut Pro Hands-on Weekend August 6 & 7 with Kevin Monahan , author of Special Effects and Motion Graphics for Final Cut Pro (Peachprint Press). This class will cover Compositing, Alpha Channel effects advanced color correction, Masking and mattes, plus more . Class space is limited, Hands-on Workshop $495 Scroll to the bottom of the newsletter for a link to Kevin's Book on Amazon.com.

I am very excited to welcome Academy Award Nominated documentary filmmaker William Gazecki to our staff of instructors. The director of "Waco- Rules of Engagment" will begin teaching with us in the fall. Taggart Siegel and Screenwriter Chris Upham will also return with more Documentary Story Structure classes. Chris will also be lecturing and sharing advice with students in our upcoming DV Documentary 6 day intensive in July.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me here at DVworkshops, Aron Ranen (415) 810-5934

You can Forward this Newsletter by scrolling to the Bottom of the page and clicking on the "Forward Email" Button.

What is a Boom Pole? How can you avoid "Pole noise" and wind Noise? Pictured in this article is a sound person with a boom pole and "Blimp" or "Rycote Softie" at the end. The Blimp protects the mic against wind noise. If it is really windy, then you add a heavy duty "Softie" over the blimp. The pole has a "Pistol Grip" at the end of it, it rests inside the bimp, and can be taken off the pole, enabling you to grip the shotgun mic in a "Shotgun" fashion. Some Rycote mini "softies" do not need a Pistol Grip. The mic just slides in a hole at the end.

Inside the Blimp or Softie is usually a Sennheiser 416 or 816 Microphone. These are highly directional mics, designed to pick up sounds from a distance. The 816 is a longer mic, and it can pick up farther then the 416. Most field Documentary sound people use the Sunheisser 416, on a pole. These rent for as little as $35/day in some cities and new sell for approx $1,200.00. You will also need to purchase an additional Power Supply for this mic....(remember to ask for a Power Supply if you rent one of these). The power Supply provides the juice to make the mic work. There is no space inside the mic to insert batteries, you must use a Power supply, or Phantom Power. Phantom Power is the term used for a camera that can power a mic off it's camera battery. You will know if you camera has "Phantom Power", if you see a switch near the Audio inputs that reads "+48 on/off". Turn this on, and you do not need a Power Supply.

Best Shotgun for "One- Person" documentary Production

The 416 & 816 have amazing sound quality, once you hear it, you will be blown away. The only problem is , you can not put it on your camera if you are a "One - Person-Band". The mics are so sensitive, they will pick up the sound of your camera's motor. Every time you zoom, you will hear the camera zooming in. Do you want this? NO!!!!! That's why the Sennheiser ME80 is the best mic for "On-camera microphones". It can pick up clearly from at least 6 feet away, with good quality sound that you don't need to struggle to hear. Every Pro knows how good this ME80 is. The only way to get them is on EBAY as a used item...then you can have them re-built at Location Soiund in Los Angles ( they don't make the mic anymore, but they make the parts). The ME80 can pcik up farther and clearer then the mic Sennheiser replaced it with..the K6 Series of shotgun mics. Click on the link below to direct links to find ME80s, Location sound and Best Wireless Mic under $600

This is a ME 64 Microphone. It is useful when you are recording in a large room, with marble floors and high cielings. Sennheiser ME 64 is a capsule that screws on to the new K6 Power supply. or use the older ME 40 with the older ME 80 Power Supply These smaller capsules can help if your shotgun seems to pick up too much room noise.

If you are filming in a cafe, you must ask them to turn off the Radio or CD Player. I know this is a bummer, and I wish it was not true, but if you can hear it in the backround of your footage, you must purchase rights from both the performer and the songwriter. It also helps to have clean background for editing purposes later on.

Once you have finished shooting, always record at least 60 seconds of "Room Tone". This is just the naturall sounds of the environment with no one talking. This will be helpful in editing interviews, adding a pause, or just some sounds from the environment over visual cutways that had bad audio. All professional crews record 60 seconds of a silent room at the end of a shoot. Room Tone.

Echo is the number one problem with hardwood floors. A good way to "deaden" a room, is by placing blankets (sound blankets are made especially for this) on the floor to reduce the echo problem. Be sure to shut off any appliances that might be humming, shut off the Refrigerator, even if it is quiet...once you start filming, the last thing you need is the refrigerator "Kicking" in right on top of your subject's best answer. Clocks that are ticking should be shut off. The general rule of thumb is if you can hear it...so will the audience.