Discussion Questions: Chapter 6

1. The types of microphones that are used to cover news events are handheld, lavaliere, and a shotgun mic. The strength of the handheld are they are rugged, reliable and affordable and can record anything. The weakness is reporters push them into peoples faces. The lavaliere strength is it can be taped to someones chest and can be hidden from the cameras. Their weakness is the output can become less vibrant and more tinny the farther they are used from the sound source. The strength of the shotgun mic is it allows usuable quality sound to be recorded from quite a distance in a perfectly quiet enviroment.

6. Some of the important considerations in concealing the miniature mic are if the speaker wears a low cut blouse or sweater, fasten the microphone right under the lapel or neck band with a safety pin or a small piece of gaffer's tape. Also if the person wears casual clothing, a jogging outfit or will be active, use safety pins and tape to hold the microphone and cable in place.

7. The most important considerations to follow to achieve good quality sound in the field are experiment with microphone placement, monitor recording levels, and monitor sound with earphones.

8. It is essential for the photojournalist to constantly monitor sound to determine whether field recordings are clean and free of dropouts and distortion.

9. Some of the techniques to reduce wind noise is putting some acoustic foam on a mic, putting the mic under the subjects clothes, repositioning the subjects with their back to the wind and inserting a high pass or low cut filter in a mic.

13. Good sound is compelling, involing, and engaging. Good sound builds on prior experience that viewers themselves bring to the screen. When we hear sounds on television that imitate or draw from our own life experiences, we are able to contribute to the story a more profound and intimate depth of understanding.