I beg of you...

I haven't posted in a really long time, as you can see. It's more the laziness in me than anything else. I think about blogging and even write it in my head but when the opportunity arises to actually put anything done, meh.

So today I figured maybe I should put something down. You see, if you follow me on twitter at @CoolGuyGreg, you may have seen me bitching about poor audio in online video and streams. So I figured maybe I'll explain to folks how to get good audio and who knows, just maybe someone will listen and I can once again hear what may be some good content.

The technology, both online and off, has finally gotten to a point where anyone can record and post videos to a website or social network. I think this is grand. Although it makes my job as a multi-media producer a bit harder to sell professional video at times. I am pleased that folks have finally come around to the benefits of what a video can offer to their brand or cause or whatever.

But lets keep in mind folks that you are still speaking to an audience with short attention spans. An audience that at times will multitask while watching your video of you interviewing the next online star. If the audio is poor, it's very likely that you'll loose your audience before they ever hear how to start that next big pyramid scheme.

You see, audio is very subconscious. An untrained ear will not be able to tell the difference between good audio and poor audio, unless it's really bad or a side-by-side comparison. But with poor audio, at a subconscious level, your viewer's attention begin to drift and they begin to think of other things even to a point of changing the channel. How many videos have you watched online where you maybe had to back up and watch something over again? Or you don't quite recall what you just watched was about? Very likely the audio was poor. You can usually get away with bad video, but not bad audio.

Now, let's talk about how you can improve this. It first starts with camera selection. As sad as it may be, not all camcorders have an external audio input. For example, The Flip family of camcorders helped usher in this DIY video revolution but for some reason left off the external audio input, and even more mysteriously continues to leave it off. An on-camera mic may be fine if you're a foot or two away from the camera and in a somewhat quite surrounding, but when you try and conduct an interview with an on-camera mic from 6 feet away, well...IT SUCKS. So, if you haven't yet purchased a camera make sure you find one with this feature.

"But Greg, I've already bought a camera without an external audio input", no worries, I'll cover this later. Just let me finish with the folks who like to do things right the first time around. :)

So, now that you have a camera with an external audio input lets look at you audio choices. The biggest excuse I hear from folks is that you can't get a microphone without spending hundreds of dollars. Horseshit? Spend a few minutes doing some research on this great but little known website called Google and you'd be amazed at what you'd find.

For you penny pinchers out there, try the Sima SDW-150 wireless microphone. Is it any good? I have no idea, but it was the cheapest one I found at about $58. Frankly I wouldn't spend less than $100 myself, but that's me.

My recommendation and still affordable would be the Audio Technica Pro 88W and the Azden WLX Pro. Are these "great" mics? Not by any stretch, but I've used them both and they work great for the kind of online videos you'll be doing. The great thing about them both is that they come with camera shoe mounts/adapters to put on the camera. Also, if you invest in a 1/8" to 1/4" cable, you can plug the transmitter into a sound system.

For those of you who are big spenders or pseudo audiophiles, my personal choice and mic that I use, the Lectrosonics 100 Series. This is a great microphone but comes with a hefty price and is not necessarily made for smaller consumer cameras. If you're wanting one of these, lets chat.

So now, for those of you who already have the cameras without an external audio input, fear not. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Get yourself a portable digital audio recorder like the Zoom H2 Ultra. This is a great little recorder and actually does a great job recording audio. You can hold it in your hand or plug in a lavaliere and slip the puppy in your pocket. These devices record to some flavor of flash media and can easily be imported into almost any editing program. When editing the audio to the video, use the crappy audio from the camera to help you match them up.

I hope this stuff is helpful. Let me know if you have any questions. Hopefully someday I can watch a DIY online video interview and be able to watch the whole thing all because I can intelligibly hear it.

Comcast & TV Online

Comcast COO Steve Burke was in Bellevue, WA today talking with media about his take on the future of television. I personally was not there so my comments are based on other articles written by the local media.

Let me first build a little perspective on my point of view. I unfortunately spend a lot of time away from home. What little time I do have at home is spent with my wife and children. I, like any great American, love television. So about 90% of my TV watching is done online. If it's not online I'm not watching it.

Reading John Cook's article at TechFlash, Burke is quoted "(Streaming) video on the Internet is not a substitute for -- it is really complementary -- to what you get on cable." I'm not sure I agree with this. I think he may be underestimating the direction this is taking and it's exponential growth. Why are networks spending millions in putting their programming online? There is obviously a growing trend. Yeah, right now the majority may be watching a linear channel. But for how long? The ball is rolling and you can't just ignore it and assume business will be as usual. Maybe not, but that's how it seems.

Now I know that Comcast and the other cable ops are trying to work out a happy medium with the networks for online content. My fear is that while trying to preserve their customer base, they will negatively affect the progress of online programming. Already networks are limiting the amount of programming you can watch online. Just 6 months ago you could watch entire seasons of shows online, now most networks only have the last few episodes available.

As video compression gets better and internet gets faster, it is only inevitable that television goes online. We are quickly becoming a non-linear society. Accessing content when we want it and where we want it. Even television manufactures are seeing this trend and matching it with internet ready televisions. Networks have even become aware of the growing penetration of the internet on advertising dollars. Some have even embraced this change.

I don't envy Mr. Burke. He needs find a way to innovate his company without losing his customer base. But Mr. Burke, don't underestimate the direction of internet and it's growing symbiotic relationship with television. Instead continue to embrace it an squeeze. You're halfway there with Fancast. Now just show me programming from the other cable only networks and...ka' ching. If you keep the cost low, I'll buy it.

Anyway, I'm not a cable exec, nor an industry expert. What I am is a consumer who will not be too happy if I lose my internet television. It's my drug and you don't want to be around when the withdrawals kick in....could get ugly.