Sound matters more than visuals — what counts at events

The uncomfortable truth

People will watch a video with average visuals and clear sound to the end. They will not do the same for a video with stunning visuals and muffled, echoing audio. At an event, sound is also the element that is hardest to fix afterwards.

Where we get our sound

• Directly from the mixing desk in the hall. The best source for presentations and panel discussions when a technician is on site.
• Handheld microphone for interviews. Essential for interviews and for stages without a mixing desk.
• Ambient sound recorded with our own camera. Never the main source, but important for applause and atmosphere.

We usually record several sources in parallel. If one fails, the footage is still usable.

Common pitfalls

• A handheld microphone held too far from the mouth — the classic problem with audience questions.
• Wireless microphones operating in an overcrowded frequency band, for example at trade fairs.
• Music played through the venue's sound system that cannot later be published for rights reasons.
• Audience questions without a microphone: audible in the hall, but not in the video.

What you can do

• Let us know early whether a sound technician and mixing desk will be available on site.
• Ask the moderator to repeat questions from the audience.
• Clear music rights before using a playlist.

We go through these points with you at the pre-production meeting — it takes 10 minutes and regularly saves half the film.