Jay Rose writes a regular column of audio tips and techniques for Digital Video magazine, along with frequent feature-length tutorials.
DV posts them after a couple of months. They're protected by copyright, of course, but you can follow these links to read them online. (Of course we prefer that you buy the mag at your local newsstand or computer store and get the latest issue.) Click here for an index of other tutorials and articles by Jay Rose.
- 1996 columns and features
- 1997 columns and features
- 1998 columns and features
- 1999 columns and features
- 2000 columns and features
- 2001 columns and features
- 2002 columns and features
- 2003 columns and features
- 2004 columns and features
- 2005 columns and features
- 2006 columns and features
- 2007 columns and features
- Tips for finding these articles online
- A couple of books' worth of information...
Microphones & Acoustics
With a little acoustic theory and some rules-of-thumb, you can get the best sound out of any recording situation. November, 1995 On-line version.
Editors' Tricks
Better tracking with less hacking... just one of the things you can fix with these voice trax trix. December, 1995 On-line version.
Ground Loops
You've got to have the right connections. Here's how to look for that pristine sound of silence. January, 1996 On-line version.
Casting & Paying Voices
Your video needs to talk. Here's the best way to find a narrator... and get them paid. Febrary, 1996 On-line version.
Sound Effects Sources & Libraries
Buzz, crackle, zap. Here's how to get the most bang! for the buck. March, 1996 On-line version.Sample Rates & Bit Depths
Choosing an audio format? More isn't necessarily better. April, 1996 On-line version.Lossy Compression & Conversion
How to get the most sound for the least bits... and the least effort. May, 1996 On-line version.
Voice Processing
Can't afford a big-time narrator? Use these big-time tricks to make any voice -- even your CEO's -- better. June, 1996 On-line version.
Original Music & MIDI
Any production can benefit when you know the score. July, 1996 On-line version.
Outboard Equipment
Want the best digital sound at a reasonable price? Your best bet might be some Analog Helper. August, 1996 On-line version.
The Joys of SFX
Here's how the pros use sound effects to add impact to a video. September, 1996 On-line version.
Speaker's Notes
Need a tv or intercom on-camera? Here's how to make it real... even after it's heard through the listener's tv. October, 1996 On-line version.
Say What?
The voice-over session can give you just what you're looking for. Here's how to keep costs and tempers down. November, 1996 On-line version.
Mix Masters
What can you do once your audio's mixed up? Techniques forfixing the mix. December, 1996 On-line version.
The Great Equalizer
You know what an equalizer does, but do you know how much it can really do for you? January, 1997 On-line version.
Things that go bump in the studio
Creating your own sound effects or Foleys can use everything including the kitchen sink... February, 1997 On-line version.
Off the Walls!
Can you trust your control room for mixdowns? Here are some acoustic tips that might also improve your studio or v/o booth. March, 1997 On-line version.
By the Numbers
DF? NDF? VITC? SMPTE? We crack television's often-secret code. April, 1997 On-line version.
You Can't Always Fix it in the Mix
... so here are things you can do to keep your soundtrack from getting broken in the first place. May, 1997 On-line version.
Off the Record
Stock sound effects can save lots of time. Here's how the professionals make them sound real. June, 1997 On-line version.
In Your Face
Tv sound should be up-front and personal. Here's how to make it that way. July, 1997 On-line version.
Mac Audio FAQ
It was the first computer to talk. Here's how to make it sing. August, 1997 On-line version.
Taking Stock
Library music hath charms to sooth the savage video. September, 1997 On-line version.
The Kindest Cut
You can edit music. Really you can. October, 1997 On-line version.
Instant Studios
Recording perfect tracks in a less-than-perfect world. November, 1997 On-line version.
Talk the Talk
Audio-speak for video editors. December, 1997 On-line version.
New Ears Resolutions
Make this your best-sounding year ever. January, 1998 On-line version.
Outstanding in the Field
Bring that sound back alive. February, 1998 On-line version.
If You Ask Me...
Audio-using readers want to know. March, 1998 On-line version.
Mouthing Off
One of your best sound-effects devices has teeth and a tongue. April, 1998 On-line version.
Cutting Remarks
Professional tricks for dialog and voice-over editing. May, 1998 On-line version.
Digitize with Dignity
How to make your desktop editor sound like an online suite. June, 1998 On-line version.
Prepare for the End
An out-of-house audio sweetening session may be just what you need to finish that desktop project. Here's how to do it cheaply and efficiently. July, 1998 On-line version.
Over the Top
Why waste data on sounds that'll never be broadcast? Here's how to manage those mangy bits. August, 1998 On-line version.
Gadgets
Got ten bucks? Here are some easy-to-build audio circuits that can make your sessions go a lot easier. September, 1998 On-line version.
Toy Story
There's a reason why a $50k audio workstation sounds better than a $50 sound card. Here's how to make the most of whichever you're using. October, 1998 On-line version.
Voice-Over Recording
Feature length article on the art and science of making announcers sound good. November, 1998 Link to article. On-line version.
What to get a Sound Designer for Christmas
Handy stuff costing between $10 - $300. December, 1998 On-line version.
Make Room!
A good mix keeps everything in its place. January, 1999 On-line version.
Comp Time
Compressors can be incredibly useful... once you understand what all those knobs are really doing. February, 1999 On-line version.
The Art of the Pickup
It's shoot time. Do you know where your microphone is hearing things from? March, 1999 On-line version.
Fool the Ears
A little art, a little magic... and your track can sound better than it really is. April, 1999 On-line version.
How to Waste Money on Sound
Here are the tricks beginners use to waste time and cash. Try to do the opposite. May, 1999 On-line version.
Getting Small with MP3 and AAC
How those algorithms squeeze sounds down to a few percent of their original size. June, 1999 On-line version.
Active 'Verbs
Reberberation: how it works, and how to pick the best settings for video production. July, 1999 On-line version.
Hard Effects are Easy
Bang! Crash! Kiss! Bring your track to life with sync sound effects. August, 1999 On-line version.
Mixmasters
Here's why those multimedia speakers that came with your NLE will ruin your project... and what you can do about it. September, 1999 On-line version.
Hooked on Phonemes
Learn to spot the tiny sounds that make up speech, and you'll be a much better editor. October, 1999 On-line version.
The Myths of Analog
Is digital better? Is analog? Here's the scientific truth... and ways you can prove it to others. November, 1999 On-line version.
Sounds of Christmas Past
Classroom films, old radios, telephones: recreating an analog century. December, 1999 On-line version.
Got to Lav It!
They keep getting smaller and keep sounding better. Here's how to get the most out of those tiny mics. January, 2000 On-line version.
Got to Love It!
Jay's valentine to a creative way of thinking about projects February, 2000 On-line version.
Shhh...
Noise can sneak into any recording. Here's how to tame those tarnished tracks. March, 2000 On-line version.
Boom Mic Basics FEATURE ARTICLE
The fine art of hanging around. March, 2000 On-line version.
I See What You're Saying
If you want to talk about production issues, it helps to know how your client's brain is wired.
April, 2000 On-line version.
Un-Absolute Zero
A simple calibration tone can be anything but... May, 2000 On-line version.
Off Tape
There are plenty of ways to convert old analog tapes to digital, but only one way to do it right. June, 2000 On-line version.
Meet Mike
Knowing what's inside a microphone will help you choose the right one for the job. July, 2000 On-line version.
Ransome Note Rules
If you edit voice tracks properly, nobody will know you've done anything at all. August, 2000 On-line version.
See What I Hear
Here's some eye candy for your ears. September, 2000 On-line version.
Scout's Honor
To find the best locations, you have to use your ears as well as your eyes. October, 2000 On-line version.
Dialog Unplugged FEATURE ARTICLE
The Art of Wireless Mics. Written with G. John Garrett, CAS October, 2000 On-line version.
On Golden Ears
When you're working with video sound, knowledge is more important than great hearing. November, 2000 On-line version.
MD in the House
There's nothing Mickey Mouse about MiniDiscs. December, 2000 On-line version.
EQ IQ
How to get the most out of an equalizer. January, 2001 On-line version.
Kids' Stuff
Children can be heard as well as seen, if you follow the tips in this article. February, 2001 On-line version.
A Place to Play, part I
How to soundproof an edit room or studio. March, 2001 On-line version.
A Place to Play, part II
Getting the room quiet is only half the job. April, 2001 On-line version.
Say What? Editing voice tracks like a pro FEATURE ARTICLE
Here's a little ear training to help you become a better dialog editor. April, 2001 On-line version.
When Worlds Collide
How to make digital video sound like film. May, 2001 On-line version.
Shooting Yourself In The Foot
The best place to fix bad dialog tracks is at the shoot. June, 2001 On-line version.
Sfxual Healing
Turn wimpy stock sounds into sonic perfection. July, 2001 On-line version.
Say it Again!
If dialog is hard to understand, try getting looped.. August, 2001 On-line version.
Stereotypes
TV may have two speakers, but it's not your father's stereo. September, 2001 On-line version.
A Delicate Balance
A hundred-year old technique can quiet your wiring. October, 2001 On-line version.
Thanksgiving Hymn
We have a lot to be thankful -- and to watch out -- for. November, 2001 On-line version.
Multiple Choices
Boom or Lav? DAT or MiniDisc? Stereo or Mono? Decisions, decisions... December, 2001 On-line version.
BeachTek DX6A Phantom Power XLR AdapterREVIEW
A useful gadget with significant improvements over previous BeachTek adapters... and a possibly fatal flaw. December, 2001 On-line version.
Working with Music Libraries FEATURE ARTICLE
Stock music doesn't have to be boring... January, 2002 On-line version.
Bah: Hum
The worst electronic noise may be the easiest to fix. January, 2002 On-line version.
Speakeasy
Knowing how the voice works can make you a better narrator or director. February, 2002 On-line version.
Elementary, My Dear Watts
Impedance? Power? Voltage? Life shouldn't be that complicated. March, 2002 On-line version.
The Space Between the Words
Background sounds can make or break your soundtrack. An April Fool's column, as well. April, 2002 On-line version.
There was no article for May, 2002. They sold more ad pages than expected, and I got bumped.
The Wrong Line
Learn the nuts and volts of equipment interconnection. June, 2002 On-line version.
Big Mistakes
Ten audio blunders that can hurt your video. July, 2002 On-line version.
Walk This Way: The Art of Foley
How to create those little sounds that mean so much. August, 2002 On-line version.
Comb Neatly
Turn a precise delay into a filter that virtually eliminates hum and buzz. September, 2002 On-line version.
Medium Well
The sound of a track depends on where theyÕre listening. October, 2002 On-line version.
Somebody Isn't Listening
Those cute little speakers bundled with your NLE can hurt. Here's how to choose better ones. November, 2002 On-line version.
DV Camera Audio: Real Numbers, Real Recommendations FEATURE
We (Dan Rose and I) took some popular cameras into the lab and measured their true audio performance. Here's what we found... and how to make them sound their best. November, 2002 On-line version.
Somebody Isn't Listening!
Those speakers that came bundled with your NLE might be damaging your tracks. Here's why, and how to select better ones. November, 2002 On-line version.
DAT's Nice
Thinking Double-System? Here's the best recorder for it. December, 2002 On-line version.
January '03: No column, but reviews of the Marantz CDR-300 portable CD recorder and Metric Halo's Mobile I/O multi-channel laptop recording interface. Also some predictions for the next ten years in film and video sound.
Pattern Recognition
How a directional mic really hears the world... and why sounds coming from the sides often get distorted. February, 2003 On-line version.
The Pad, and How to Use It
Some simple, easy-to-build gadgets for interfacing different audio levels. March, 2003 On-line version.
Vox Machina
Presenting the Vocoder: a device invented for telephones in the mid 1930s (and not practical until modern cellphones)... and an important sound design tool. April, 2003 On-line version.
Ratio Shack
Decibels aren't like volts or watts or degrees centigrade... but they are perfectly understandable. Here's the story. May, 2003 On-line version.
Lies, Damn Lies, and Product Specs
What you see on websites and equipment catalogs is frequently, well, exaggerated is puting it mildly. Learn to tell when a manufacturer is stretching the truth. June, 2003 On-line version.
Sunk!
No lipsync, no reference, no slate? Here's a procedure for making things match again. July, 2003 On-line version.
Copy Rites
What's the real deal on copyright infringement, Fair Use, and other things that can put an unwary filmmaker out of business? One of my attorney friends* was VP of Music Business Affairs at Paramount for 12 years, and is now in private practice as an entertainment lawyer in LA...
* - Not an oxymoron.
August, 2003 On-line version.
September Song
Advances in computer technology make getting great location sound easier than ever... even if you don't want to take your laptop to the location. September, 2003 On-line version.
DV's philosophy of hiring expert video and audio people to write original articles, rather than use a stable of freelance journalists to rehash press releases and interview 'user stories', is expensive. And as times have gotten tighter, declining ad budgets forced them to cut most columns down to once every two months starting October, 2003.
Home on the Ranges
Not knowing what frequencies are critical to dialog or music can hurt you in production and post. Here are the real facts, along with graphic proof and downloadable audio samples.
Bonus: As a follow-up to last August's article, tips on how filmmakers can license well-known recordings for independent features and corporate projects.
November, 2003 On-line version.
Level Headed
A camera's or recorder's meter only guesses at what's going to cause distortion, and the accuracy of that guess depends on what you're recording. Here's why, and how to be smarter than your meter.
January, 2004 On-line version.
Producing Great Advertising Voice-Overs
If you're just sticking a mic in front of an announcer and letting them go, you're doing your client and yourself a disservice. Here's how the Clio-winners (like me) do it. Also, some tips on writing great voice-overs.
March, 2004 On-line version.
Digidesign 002 REVIEW
Hardware controller bundled with ProTools LE. Bottom line: nice, but missing one vital feature and over-priced for DV production.
April, 2004 On-line version.
Supersize!
Making things bigger by compressing them
A compressor can make your tracks jump out of the speaker. But using the wrong settings - which includes using most factory presets - can turn good sound to mush. Here's the right way to do it.
May, 2004 On-line version.
Running Scared EDITORIAL
Today's economic climate can force you to do bad work... or give you an opportunity to do the best stuff of your career. It's up to you.
June, 2004 On-line version.
PSC DV Pro Mix REVIEW
Field mixer designed for the DV shooter. With a little level-tweaking, it's a great deaal for the money.
June, 2004 On-line version.
Fair and Balanced
There are plenty of ways to use pro XLR microphones with your mini-jack camera, and they don't have to be expensive. Here's what, why, and how.
July, 2004 On-line version.
In the Blink of an Ear
When editing dialog, little things - often less that a frame long - can mean a lot.
September, 2004 On-line version.
Logic Pro 6 / Logic Express REVIEW
Apple's new audio software is a wonderful environment for creative sound for video. Is it expensive? You bet, though not as much as some other programs. Is it worth it? Depends on what you're doing: read the article.
September, 2004 On-line version.
Zapped Weasels
A few guidelines for setting equalizers and compressors... and why you should take them with a grain of salt.
November, 2004 On-line version.
Bias Peak 5.1 / SoundSoap Pro / SuperFreq REVIEW
A very powerful audio editor and nice parametric/shelving/cutoff eq for the Mac, and an intelligent and useful Mac/Win noise reducer.
December, 2004 On-line version.
My Brain Doesn't Work Right!
Want better mixes? Learn to think like a sound designer. January, 2005 On-line version.
Free is Nice.
Got a few bucks for audio resources? Save them! March, 2005 On-line version.
Little Bits.
16 bit audio? 24 bit? Sometimes a trillionth of a decibel matters... and sometimes it doesn't. May, 2005 On-line version.
Fostex FR-2 REVIEW
Reasonably-priced field recorder with some very nice features... plus one that's not worth wasting your time with. May, 2005 On-line version.
Beep Beep
You don't need a synth to create electronic sounds... or to have fun with them. July, 2005 On-line version.
Say it Ain't So!
A lot of what you hear about audio can be just plain wrong. The truth about bitrates, single vs double system, mini-jacks, mp3s and more... September, 2005 On-line version.
No November column... I was busy doing sound design and dialog/music editing for a small Hollywood feature.
What I Did Last Summer
Ah, the things they do in the movies! Some tips and tricks gleaned from the Hollywood pros. January, 2006 On-line version.
Soundtrack Pro REVIEW
It's not a full-featured DAW like Nuendo or ProTools, but easily could be all a filmmaker needs... and it does some valuable things that those big boys don't. February, 2006 On-line version.
Edirol R4 REVIEW
Portable multitrack recorder; review by John Garrett, with tech measurements and analysis by me. April, 2006 On-line version.
Tascam HDP2 REVIEW
Very impressive stereo field recorder with DV-friendly features; review by John Garrett, with tech measurements and analysis by me. August, 2006 On-line version.
Time Piece
Prepare to enter another dimension... the one where sound lives. July, 2006 On-line version.
Deconstructing Jay
Lots of things are easier when you have a formula: writing a technical column, designing a soundtrack... January, 2007 On-line version.
Disco Ducker
A concept that helped radio broadcasters in the 1970s can improve your TV mixes today. April, 2007 On-line version.
Decapitation
There's an art to cutting talking heads. There are also some nifty tricks. August, 2007 On-line version.
Other recommended books (not necessarily by Jay Rose).
Special index for readers of DV magazine.