Table of Contents
The Importance of Good Audio
Video has grown over the years to become a very powerful tool for communication. But in today’s day and age where the use of videos widespread, only great videos will be able to retain the viewers attention. Even good videos get skipped sometimes, let alone bad videos.
What seperates good videos from bad videos? Other than content, good audio is what defines a good video. Picture this, would you rather watch a video with great visuals but audio you can barely make out and possibly even with background sounds of the printer running and the other employees talking in the background or a video with decent visuals and decent audio?
Office Talking Head Video Production
Talking Head Video Production is especially useful in the office setting where management wants to give a speech about the progress of the company or maybe the marketing team might want to showcase the companies new business model. Point is, its utility is endless.
With Talking Head Video Production, attention is given to a SME (Subject-matter expert) as the main subject who is either talking into the camera or off-camera (think interview style). This is usually substantiated with b-rolls to help the audience to visualise the subjects discussed.
Consider Hiring a Professional
If after reading all these, you decide “I would rather leave all these technical camera work to the professionals” then you should consider hiring a professional. Here at Vivid Snaps, we live and breathe corporate video production so you won’t have to worry about handling the technicality of recording an office video.
Our team work primarily with corporate clients to produce corporate videos for internal & external communications. These include CEO speech video, interview video, office tours, video presentation, remote filming and event video production. We also work with customised requirements, depending on your business objectives.
Our Expertise
- Corporate Video Production
- Virtual Event & Live Streaming
- Event Photography & Videography
- Corporate Photo Shoot
Upon contacting us via email, our project coordinator will discuss with you on your project requirements. Then provide you with a proposed quotation for review and approval. Depending on the complexity of your shoot, pre-production services such as scripting, conceptualisation, storyboard, location sourcing may be required.
We advise a 1-2 weeks lead time for straight-forward video shoots, and 4 weeks lead time for video shoots requiring pre-production services.
Sample Work by Vivid Snaps
This CEO speech video is a pre-event teaser for the financial organisation’s award ceremony and is a good example of making full use of what you can find around you to use as a backdrop.
Regional CEO of Airport Service Provider makes a speech to his employees worldwide. This video was shot in the CEO’s office with him seated making it more personable yet professional.
This speech video showcases the President of a Non-Profit Organisation congratulating it’s award recipients. One thing you might notice about this video are its colours. Making good use of colours, the video is able to better relate to its Indian audience’s vibrant culture.
This video will definitely stand out from the rest as it is more dynamic in its nature. Making use of various talents, the screen time is passed around as subject experts take over for each respective segment with the host walking around the office.
Speech videos don’t necessarily have to be filmed in the office. This speech video for a Government Agency for instance makes use of a green screen studio. This gives a great amount of flexibility to the background choices as talents can be placed in front of Marina Bay Sands, a beach or a graphics as seen in the video. The possibilities are endless when shooting in a green screen studio.
Green Screen Filming Studio
For the convenience of our clients, we have a small green screen studio at our office, suitable for video filming with 1 to 3 on-screen subjects. The studio rental is usually offered as a complimentary add-on when you engage our corporate video filming services.
And because our in-house green screen studio is exclusively reserved for our clients, and not available for standalone rental. We can offer high availability, providing you with greater flexibility in filming schedule.
Audio Equipment Needed for a Office Talking Head Video
Great, you have decided to give it a shot on your own. Now the most important question is “What equipment do you need?”
First and foremost, it depends what you will be filming on and your budget on hand. Filming on a smartphone will require slightly different equipment from filming on a DSLR or a mirrorless camera.
Shotgun Mics VS. Lavaliers
For filming on both smartphones and DSLR/Mirrorless cameras, you will most be posed with the same question. “Should you use a Shotgun Mic or a Lavalier?” Typically, we would recommend the lavalier for ease of use especially when you have limited manpower on set.
Shotgun Mics
Shotgun microphones can be used in two ways, on-camera or off-camera. The main difference in these two set ups is that off-camera shot gun microphones will usually be placed on a boom pole (requires a additional assistant to hold) or mounted pointing towards the subject.
On the other hand, the on-camera shotgun microphone set up usually isn’t recommended unless you are filming a close up of one subject with the subject talking straight to the camera.
Lavaliers
Lavalier microphones are wired clip on mics that are pinned onto talents/actors. Otherwise known as lapel mics, these often come in either omnidirectional or cardioid configurations.
Omnidirectional lavaliers, as the name suggests, picks up a wider range of sound. This means the microphone can be easily positioned and the audio picked up will sound more natural but will include background noises, ambient noise along with other talents/actors.
On the flip side, cardioid lavaliers allows for isolated audio recordings but the microphones will have to be positioned towards the talent/actor’s mouth.
Filming on a smartphone
When having to film on a smartphone, odds are that you probably aren’t given a high budget for better equipment. But fret not, even smartphones can produce pretty great videos with the right set up.
What you will need:
- A smartphone
- A tripod
- A ring light/small LED light
- External Microphone
- Teleprompter (Optional)
Types of Audio Equipment for Smartphones
RODE smartLav+
- Omnidirectional Lavalier
- 4.5mm Microphone
- Compatible with IOS and selected Android devices
- Includes windshield and mounting clip
With the RODE smartLav+ coming in at just SGD$ 79.00 (Price from Cathay Photo), it is the highly affordable choice for those who are looking to film their first video. It comes with a RODE Reporter App which allows IOS users to turn their device into a “fully capable field recorder”.
Samson Go Mic Mobile®
- Omnidirectional Lavalier
- Receiver mount allows for easy mounting on any device via included mounting options
- Compatible with IOS and Android devices
- Comes with lightning cables, USB-C and USB Micro B cable
- 3.5mm audio cable
The Samson Go Mic Mobile® is designed for smartphone users but is also compatible with DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras. Offering not only the lavalier option, users can opt for the package that includes a dynamic handheld microphone. With all these capabilities, its USD$ 199.99 (Price from B&H Photo) price point still sounds pretty reasonable.
Movo PM10 Deluxe Lavalier Microphone
- Omnidirectional Lavalier
- Includes windshields and mounting clips
- 3.5mm audio cable
- Compatible with IOS and android devices
The cheapest option on this list is the Movo PM10 Deluxe Lavalier Microphone. At just USD$ 14.95, you will be equipped with a basic microphone that will improve your audio recordings.
RODE VideoMic Me
- Comes in three options, VideoMic Me (3.5mm headphone jack), VideoMic Me-L (Lighting heaphone jack) and VideoMic Me-C (USB-C headphone jack)
- Includes windshield
- Compatible with IOS and selected Android devices
As the only shotgun microphone included on the list for smartphone filming, the Rode VideoMic Me can only be used “on-camera” or in this case on-phone. Similar to the RODE smartLav+, it comes with a RODE Reporter App which allows IOS users to turn their device into a “fully capable field recorder”. This product comes at a fairly reasonable price of SGD$ 99.00 (Price from Cathay Photo)
Filming on a DSLR/Mirrorless Camera
When equipped with a DSLR or a Mirrorless Camera, you are most probably looking to take your video to the next level. Below, we will include the basic equipment used for a typical Office Talking Head Video Production set.
What you will need:
- A DSLR/Mirrorless Camera
- A tripod
- Three-point Lighting
- External Microphone
- Teleprompter (Optional)
Types of Audio Equipment for DSLR/Mirrorless Camera
Sennheiser AVX
- Omnidirectional and cardioid lavalier options
- XLR Audio input
- Phantom powered
- Link protection
- Digital wireless signal
The Sennheiser AVX is a wireless lavalier option for filming that takes away the difficulty of audio once plugged into the camera.
The AVX comes in 4 different packages, AVX-ME 2 Set (Omnidirectional Lavalier) at USD$ 1,169.00, AVX MKE 2 Set (Cardioid Lavalier) at USD$ $1,479.00, AVX 835 Set (Handheld Microhphone) at USD$ $1,319.00 and the AVX-Combo Set (Omnidirectional Lavalier and Handheld Microphone) at USD$ $1,629.00 (Prices from Sennheiser).
Sennheiser G4
- Omnidirectional and cardrioid lavalier options
- XLR and 3.5mm audio inputs
- Various add ons available such as boom and handheld microphones
- Analog wireless signal
The Sennheiser G4 is the industry standard all-in-one wireless audio system. With their G4’s receiver, users can pair it with many other Sennheiser products such as the MKE 600 Shotgun Mic. The G4 comes with a receiver, a transmitter, 2 clip on microphones, both XLR and 3.5mm audio cables and AA batteries to power both the transmitter and the receiver. This basic package will cost USD$ 1,009.00.
RØDE Wireless GO
- Omnidirectional lavalier
- Includes windshield and mounting clips
- 3.5mm audio input
The RODE Wireless GO is the most affordable and consumer friendly option in the list and does not compromise too much on quality. With both the transmitter and receiver weighing at only 31g each, this is perfect for those who are looking for a lightweight and portable set. In comparison to the Sennheiser lavaliers, RODE is a sure win when it comes to price point as you can get one at just SGD$ 259.00 (Price from Cathay Photo).
RØDE Wireless GO II
- Omnidirectional lavalier
- Includes windshield and mounting clips
- 3.5mm audio input
The RODE Wireless GO II is the upgraded version of the Rode Wireless GO. It allows for two transmitters to be paired with the receiver which is ideal for users who are looking to record two audio sources. It is priced slightly higher than the RODE Wireless GO at SGD$ 389.00 (Price from Cathay Photo).
RØDE VideoMic Pro
- Rycote Lyre shock mounting onboard
- Integrated foam windshield
- Standard sized shoe mount for camera mounting
- Camera shoe 3/8 “ thread for easy boom pole mounting
- 3.5mm audio input
The RODE VideoMic Pro makes use of a special technology, Rycote Lyre, which allows for shock absorption to minimise noise from external factors. If you are looking for an affordable shotgun microphone, this is the perfect one to get the best bang for your buck at just SGD$ 269.00 (Price from Cathay Photo).
Shure VP83 LensHopper
- Rycote Lyre shock mounting onboard
- Integrated foam windshield
- 3.5mm audio input
- Standard sized shoe mount for camera mounting
The Shure VP83 LensHopper is designed specifically for on-camera usage. This ‘run and gun’ microphone will cost you USD$ 269.00 (Price from B&H Photo).
Sennheiser Pro MKE 600
- Full-metal housing
- XLR to 3.5mm audio input
- Phantom or battery powered
- Removable foam windshield
The Sennheiser Pro MKE 600 is the highest priced Shotgun microphone on this list coming in at SGD$ 509.00. However, you will definitely be getting your money’s worth if you are particular about getting the best audio.
Hire Us for Your Office Talking Heads Video Production in Singapore
Our video production team consists of videographers, video editors, photographers, designer and project coordinators. We pride ourselves in being versatile, actively looking for new ideas to execute your vision.
Office Talking Heads video production is one of the many video works that we provide to our corporate clients. In fact, we have produced such videos for the likes of AIA, Changi Airport Group and various government agencies.
Get a Video Production Price Quotation
Some projects are straight-forward while others can be complex, drop us a message with your project requirements. Our project coordinator will get in touch with you to provide a price quotation.
