Have you ever made a seemingly great video, only to later be disappointed by all the noise in the background? There’s always noise around us that we don’t usually think about because it surrounds us constantly.

(Image by Laurie-B ^[1])

That noise might come from an airplane flying above you, a loud air conditioner, passing cars, or even your computer. It’s easy not to notice this noise when you do your day-to-day activities, but it sure does stand out loud and clear when you watch your videos later on!

(Image by Elliot G ^[2])

You can’t always do much about this noise when you’re outdoors or at a restaurant, but here are some basic tips on how to manage the noise around you when shooting video:

1. Turn off loud air conditioners, heaters, or fans: Since air rushing through vents can be surprisingly loud on video, try to temporarily turn these things off when recording.
2. Shut down your computer: This obviously won’t be possible if you’re using a webcam, but computers do tend to make a lot of noise at times! It would be best to shut them down if possible.
3. Use a microphone: If you’re trying to hear a specific person talk on camera, it’s best to have a microphone placed close to them. This will ensure that the sound you actually *want* to hear isn’t overwhelmed by background muffle.
4. Shield the camera’s mic from wind: Don’t forget that your camcorder or video camera can pick up even the most gentle breeze as a loud roar that takes over your video. Try to position your hand to block wind from blowing directly against it.
5. Turn cell phones on “Silent”: You know how annoying it is to be in a movie theater with cell phones going off. It’s even more annoying to have cell phones going off *in* your movie!

Some of these tips might seem silly or obvious, but I encourage you to try them out. They’re almost guaranteed to make a difference in the sound quality of your video, and hey, that’s one step closer to shooting better video!

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