Build Your Own Video & Audio Production Studio and Portable Streaming Video Kit for Your Campaign

February 22, 2010 by Doug Mitchell
Filed under: Campaign Technology, Red Alert Dossier

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Part I – Audio

Your campaign should be using video and a lot of it. Campaign video can build a reputation and a defense against baseless attacks from the competition. Video also helps you build your brand. Just check out the latest stats from Comscore on Youtube and you’ll find that 33.2 billion video views occurred in 2009. That’s 100% growth between January ‘09 and December ‘09. Still not convinced? I’m guessing you agree with what I’ve said so far…but you just don’t know where to start.

I understand. It is overwhelming when you haven’t done video as a habit before. Let’s chisel away at your road blocks one at a time. Today we’re going to look at the audio component.

Wireless Lapel or Lavalier Microphone:
Why use an external mic when my camera has one? Bottom line..the mics built into camera are awful. They do the trick if the subject is close enough but you can really raise your production bar by using an external mic. Obviously this means your camera must be able to accept an external input. Most Canon’s have a mic jack even at the low level. MOST non-HD cheap camcorders today have eliminated the mic jack and the famous FLIP HD does NOT have a jack. There is a place for Flip cams and we’ll talk about that when we release the video portion of this series. Flip UltraHD Camcorder, 120 Minutes (Black)

Why wireless? Here’s the super double bonus. If you buy this wireless Shure lapel mic, you can also use it when you do your streaming of events using Ustream.tv or Livestream.com on the campaign trail. You won’t have to rely on yucky mics built into computers or trying to patch into a sound system. You simply plug the wireless mic base station right into the MIC JACK on the laptop and you’re good to go. This works incredibly well. Just be sure to bring a bunch of 9V batteries because the power pack you wear requires this size and it can eat batteries if you use it a lot.

Using a wireless lapel mic with your camera and during streaming will prevent issues like we saw in the beginning of this Mike Cox 2010 review I did. These guys are smart and they know how to fix what’s going on there with the audio (watch for a couple minutes)…but you’ll get the idea.

This rugged and affordable Shure wireless mic system is really at the entry point of good equipment and I’ve found nothing else that matches its performance at any lower price. There are cheaper options from what I’ve seen…but reports from many freelancers I’ve spoken with don’t bode well for them.

Shure Wireless Lavalier System PG14/PG185 – Wireless audio delivery system (At point of this posting price is $299 which it has been seemingly for a couple years now)

Tags: Audio, Shure, streaming, wireless