Broadcast Media Notes

1. Broadcast Media Notes Chapter 2: Sections 2.4 – 2.5

2. Working with a Microphone 2 Main Concepts • Mic-to-mouth distance • Mic-to-mouth position

3. Mic Distance • A good mic-to-mouth distance is about 6 inches • Depending on vocal strength, you may move a bit closer or father away

4. Mic Distance • Working too close to the microphone may distort the audio signal • It may pickup more “pops” (p, t, and b sounds), silibance (excessive s sounds), and breathing sounds • Working too far away produces a soft or weak audio signal

5. Mic-to-mouth Positions • Good position usually means not talking directly into the microphone, but instead talking slightly off axis • Getting to far to the side, above, or below can get outside its pickup pattern and lowers the quality of the audio • A good technique is to align the mic to your nose, then slightly tilt it down Watch Video Clip 2.4

6. Distance & Position • If asked to “give a level,” it just means you need to speak into the mic so the proper levels can be set. • Read off a few sentences. • Never blow into or tap on the microphone (this can damage the mic) and avoid the often used “Testing, 1, 2, 3, 4”

7. Mic Fright • Varies from person to person • Can be a mild case of anxiety or it can be nervousness so severe the broadcaster can’t even communicate with his audience • Occurs at the moment you are cued you are on-air • Can occur in front of an audience or alone in a studio

8. Mic Fright Symptoms • Dry mouth • Slightly trembling hands • Sweaty brow • “Butterflies” in your stomach

9. Mic Fright • Despite some people believing a small amount of mic fright can “pump you up,” it generally has a negative effect on your performance

10. Effects of Mic Fright • Can raise the pitch of your voice • Can cause you to run out of breath • Performer can lose focus • Causes the performer to read too quickly or slowly • Causes the performer to speak too softly • Extreme cases cause the performer to “freeze” and not be able to perform at all

11. Causes of Mic Fright • Disliking one’s voice • Fearing failure • Being inexperienced • Being unprepared

12. Overcoming Mic Fright • Disliking one’s voice • Your voice sounds different to you being played back from a recorder from what you’re used to. They way you sound on a recorder is how everyone else hears you • You don’t sound “funny” to anyone but yourself

13. Overcoming Mic Fright • Fearing failure • Believing in what you are saying should help you be able to communicate with an audience • It helps if you think of delivering this message to one other person, not a large audience

14. Overcoming Mic Fright • Being inexperienced • There’s not much you can do here except to perform and perform • The old saying “practice makes perfect” is true here • Good broadcasters don’t limit their work to on-air performances – Many play-by-play sports announcers have sat in the top row of a stadium doing their own play-by-play broadcast into a portable recorder

15. Overcoming Mic Fright • Being unprepared • If possible, don’t try to “wing it,” although sometimes reporters have little time to prepare for an interview or broadcast • Pre-reading and practicing the script will lessen any chance of mic fright

16. Final Tips • Mentally prepare for a performance (pronunciation, appropriate mood, rate of speaking, key points) • Find a moment to relax – Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths. Relax your entire body by loosening up your muscles