In a previous tip, I described how to add a narrative to your video -- a voice-over that either replaces or is blended with the sound track recorded with the video itself. It's a nice touch to add to your movies that helps you remember and others understand what they are seeing.  I suggested you use a free audio program called "Audacity," which is a really great piece of software. The question that remains: How do you get the sound into the program? 

First, a heads-up: Flip has come out with a new model of camcorder, called the Flip SlideHD.  I did an 8-minute video review of it in which I mounted it with a Flip MinoHD and a Flip UltraHD on the same tripod, so you can see video from each side-by-side with the others.  The review also zeros in on things like comparative specs, features, and prices.  Check it out.

What I'm after, when I do narration, is a pretty constant volume level, with minimal background noise.  The best way I have found to achieve that is by using a headset -- a combination of headphones and mic that you see in use by sports commentators all the time.  

With a headset, the mic is at the end of an arm, and the arm's position can be adjusted, relative to your mouth.  Once you find the right position, you can avoid plosive pops and breathing sounds, and you can move your head freely, while keeping a constant proximity to the mic.

As for mic position, what works best for most people is to position the end of the mic arm even with, or just above, your nostrils, a couple of inches from your mouth.

I bring up Audacity, and select the same device for both recording and playback in "Preferences."  I can record a line, listen to it closely through the headphones, and re-record it easily if I don't like it. If you want a sense of what audio recorded in this fashion sounds like, listen to any of my "Flip Secrets" videos on FlipInFocus.com.

I have tried a number of headsets, and the ones that seem to have the best fidelity (for a budget video enthusiast) are the ones that use a USB connection to your computer.   The Amazon links shown on the left are for some pretty decent USB headsets at reasonable prices.  Many of the models that sound the best in this price range, including these two, include a noise cancellation mic that mostly gets rid of ambient noise from your recording. I recently purchased the one in the top picture, which is wireless.  It also works well for Skype and conference calls, and the range is good enough that you might be able to reach the coffee pot in the kitchen without a dropout in the conversation.

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