THE COST OF MAKING VIDEOS: PART 4

By Michael Goldstein
Have you ever been watching TV when a local car commercial comes on?  If so, you probably noticed for some reason the sound was a little off.  The voices sounded a bit muffled and distant? 
Today’s focus is going to be on why this happens and how to make sure your video doesn’t suffer the same fate.
Sound and Music:
When it comes to sound, it’s very important that you are working with a production company that uses the right tool for the job.  Just like you wouldn’t use a screwdriver to hammer in a nail, you wouldn’t want to use an omni directional microphone outside on a windy day.
The reason those car commercials sound so poorly is most likely because they had their spot produced for free by the TV station they paid to advertise with.  Like many things in life, you get what you pay for.
It might surprise you to know that getting audio production done right does not have to cost an arm and a leg. You just want to make sure your spot is audible and clean.  This is not hard to achieve with the right equipment and skill.  Any professional video production company will have the resources to do it right. 
When it comes to music, don’t expect to have AC/DC playing in the background… not for cheap anyway.  Just know that this is a common need, and common needs mean options.  Most video production companies subscribe to royalty free music websites, and can provide you with music for your video in just about any genre.  There are literally thousands of options are out there and very reasonably priced.
So what’s the best way to know if the video production company you’re looking to work with is up to par?  I suggest simply watching some of their portfolio videos.  If you don’t notice anything wrong with the way it sounds, I’d take it as a good sign that they know what they are doing.