Interviews and Clip On Microphones

Back again.. and again reminded that sound technology is a huge learning curve.
Venturing out with a pocket camcorder and an artistic mind and temperament is what
seemed most natural.. I knew that Microsoft Movie Maker would be compatible with
Audacity,(so there could be adjustments made later) yet there are basics about sound, that I wish somehow had been solidly part of me - the basic understanding to have an on board micro phone - the one on the camera itself, and a clip on one for all the great people I interviewed.. So simple..
yet not in my "on board knowledge" - but ...Now it is!!!

Here's another about sound:
Ambient noise. Sound reflects off hard surfaces, such as walls and windows. Computers, air conditioning, and street traffic can create additional ambient noise.
-there were sounds made by the camera itself when zooming in and out..
+ I wanted to feature music that had been recorded by the musicians - and wanted to play it softly during the interview.. great idea, but here again I needed the clip on microphone and an assistant!!

So here is the tip I needed and will use in the future, remember
Microphone usage. If you use a microphone, the following tips may be helpful:

* Point the microphone facing out, away from the person’s clothing. Make sure clothing does not cover the front of the microphone and it isn't too close to the speaker’s mouth. High-velocity air from a person exhaling can cause loud pops in microphones that do not have pop filters built into them. Small lavaliere microphones are designed to be clipped to a tie and have little or no protection against pops and wind.
* Eliminate microphone noise. Microphone noise is an artificial sound that is introduced when an object touches the microphone. When placing a microphone, make sure that it will not be bumped. Remind speakers who will be holding a microphone not to tap pencils and rings against it or play with the cable. Leave the front of the microphone exposed. Holding the head of a microphone introduces noise and can cause feedback if the microphone is used in a public address system.