Smartphone journalism: Audio

Summary

This video offers practical tips for enhancing smartphone recordings, applicable across various devices like Android, Windows, and iPhones. Key advice includes using airplane mode to avoid interruptions, positioning the microphone correctly, and maintaining a 4-6 inch distance for optimal audio quality. It also suggests using external microphones and windshields for better outdoor recordings. The video introduces the iPhone's 'Voice Memos' app for straightforward recording and editing, and mentions the BBC's proprietary PNG app for professional use. It concludes by encouraging exploration of third-party apps for advanced audio recording features.

Takeaways

• 📱 Use airplane mode to prevent interruptions during recording.
• 🎤 Keep fingers away from the phone's microphone for better audio quality.
• 🔊 Hold the phone 4-6 inches from your mouth to avoid audio distortion.
• 🌬️ Use a windshield to improve audio quality when recording outdoors.
• 🎧 Consider using an external microphone for enhanced audio recording.
• 📲 The iPhone's 'Voice Memos' app is suitable for simple recordings.
• ⏺️ Press the red button to start, pause, and stop recordings in 'Voice Memos'.
• 👂 Listen back to recordings by tapping the title and the play icon.
• 💾 Storage space is the only limit for recordings on your device.
• 🔄 Share recordings via email or cloud services like Dropbox.
• 🌐 BBC journalists use the PNG app for unrestricted recording and sharing.

Q & A

What is the first piece of advice given for improving smartphone recordings?

The first piece of advice is to switch to airplane mode before recording to prevent interruptions from incoming phone calls.

Why is it important to be aware of the location of the microphone on your smartphone?

Knowing the location of the microphone is important to ensure that your fingers or other objects do not obstruct it, which can affect the audio quality.

What is the recommended distance to hold the smartphone from your mouth while recording audio?

It is recommended to hold the smartphone about four to six inches away from your mouth to avoid audio distortion like popping sounds.

How can you improve the audio quality when recording outdoors with a smartphone?

Using a windshield over the microphone can significantly improve the audio quality by reducing wind noise and other outdoor interference.

What is the purpose of an external microphone when recording with a smartphone?

An external microphone can further enhance the audio quality, but it requires the right kind of adapter to be compatible with the smartphone.

Which built-in iPhone app is mentioned for simple single-track recordings?

The 'Voice Memos' app on the iPhone is mentioned for simple single-track recordings, which is used by many BBC journalists.

How does the 'Voice Memos' app handle recording and playback?

To record with 'Voice Memos', you press the red button to start, tap again to pause, and tap once more to continue. To finish, tap the red box and 'Done'. To listen back, tap the title and the blue play triangle.

What is the limitation of recording length in the 'Voice Memos' app?

There is no inherent limit to recording length in 'Voice Memos', but the amount of recording is limited by the storage space available on the device.

How can you read a script while recording with the 'Voice Memos' app?

You can read a script while recording by pressing the 'Home' button and accessing your script in a note-taking app. The red bar at the top indicates that recording is still in progress.

What are the sharing options for recordings made with a smartphone?

Recordings can be shared via email, which is limited to 14 minutes, or through cloud services like Dropbox for longer recordings. BBC journalists can also use the internal PNG app for unrestricted duration sharing.

What third-party apps do BBC journalists use for enhanced audio recording and sharing?

BBC journalists use third-party apps that offer more options such as different formats, audio levels, and the ability to create and mix full audio packages.

What potential does a smartphone have in the context of newsgathering as mentioned in the script?

A smartphone has the potential to be a mobile newsgathering device, allowing for recording and sharing of high-quality material with the right techniques and practice.