Do you believe it is really true what they say, “The devil is in the details?” I don’t and I have some pretty strong feelings when it comes to paying attention to the details.
Since I have made just about any mistake you can make when it comes to recording, whether it be live or in the studio, I think I can speak a little more knowledgeably and forcefully on this subject. (After all, I have been doing this in one form or another for over thirty years.) I can hear some of you now, saying, “So What?!?” . . . (Well, you’re entitled to your opinion also.)
If anyone thinks that everything can be done “on-the-fly” when it comes to recording for a broadcast, podcast, or anything else for that matter, that person is sadly mistaken and is going to have some disappointing “setbacks” and some rather excruciating “learning experiences”. Now, what do I mean by that? I mean, they are going have some important recordings that will only be able to be used as ‘learning experiences” because the only thing they will be good for is saying, “I won’t make that mistake again”, or, “I wish I would have been better prepared for this interview, (or studio time, etc, etc)”.
There absolutely has to be some pre-planning and some thought given to what it is you want to accomplish. Even things that are ‘spur of the moment’, or casual in nature, still require a little fore-thought. There still needs to be at least some semblance of a plan. At the very least, when you have a direction you want to take in your monologue, teaching time, interview, conversation, or dissertation it is easy enough to take a few detours along the way and still end up where you were headed. (Sometimes, those detours take you to the place you really wanted to be in the first the place and because of your forethought, you got there). Please understand, I am not talking about a script (althought there are times that is a good idea, also). I am talking about even the simplest plan to follow.
After you’re finished and it is time for editing, there are a few things you need to check as far as what the final product will be. Is there good balance between transitions from speaking to music or breaks. Is the level between two or more speakers relatively the same. When you listen to your recording, are there places that cause you to be irritated or distracted, (such as noises, poor levels or glaring level mistakes). Believe me, if they catch your attention, your audience will catch them too, and they may be distracted enough to turn you off permanently.
I have always believed it is worth the extra effort to pay attention to even some of the smallest details, both pre and post production. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced veteran, paying close attention to small details can make an enormous difference in your final product. As I said in the title, paying attention to the details won’t hurt (and it definitely won’t cramp your creativity). Besides, you will be pleasantly surprised at how much better your product can be and amazed at how many people will be pleased to tell others about you and your effort.
See ya next time . . .
