ABSTRACT
Production sound is the principal source of dialogue and a basis for the sound design of most digital video projects, so making every effort to record good sound on set is one of the most important steps in creating the soundtrack. Good technique can make a program, while bad technique can, at the very least, cost a lot of extra time, effort, and money in postproduction. Any reality-based program is unlikely to be able to replace dialogue in postproduction, so microphone technique and recording is all-important for these programs. In some cases, vital performances or reality situations that cannot be repeated may be lost. This chapter and the chapters that follow on production sound will help you make the most of the equipment at your disposal to improve both the technical quality and the practical value of the sound you record on set.
