Continued from earlier this week: the website that was the subject of this blog specialized only in editing. They wanted you to do the shooting and upload the video to them. They even had some videos to show you how to do it correctly.. eleven of them to start with! With such thorough instructions, you’d think they’d be sticklers for quality. Guess again.

Besides using a camcorder, they also give instructions on how to use a digital SLR camera to record a minute or so of video. Then you might as well use your camera phone too, because now you really will start looking like a YouTube cat video And now you get into the realm of why do you even need editing if you’re shooting with such low resolution cameras? Still, I for one would watch a bad picture with good sound. But I will never watch any kind of picture with bad sound.

What do they say about audio quality?: “using the built in microphone is fine, as long as you get close. Well, if you’re doing that, you might as well have a web cam, which makes you look really creepy. Listen, onboard mics have problems. They all do, unless you’re going to pay at least 10k for your camera, use an external mic. Always. This is one rule you cannot forget. Most people record in a room or an area which is way too big, that makes the sound boom-y An external mic is the difference between “anybody could” and Hollywood.

Doing it yourself is fine. It’s fun. But there are caveats if you’re looking to produce an engaging piece of content that is going to represent you .

–That’s a wrap.