 you go with an adult when you collect any vox pops and remember if you ask anyone under 18 you will need their parent’s signed permission.
Read the Recording vox pops section below for more information.
7. Once you’ve mastered the basics, think about how you can experiment. Instead of starting with an introduction by your presenter it might be more interesting to start with some vox pops or some unusual noises.
If your feature is about sweets maybe you could start with the sound of someone opening some sweets and eating them.
Can you get everyone to introduce themselves rather than the presenter doing it? Do you even need to be in the piece? Would it be more interesting if you weren’t in it at all?
8. Use music. This can be tricky because you have to be careful with copyright. But you could write and record some music yourself.
9. Use sound effects. It’s amazing what a difference a few sounds effects can make. Door slamming, dogs barking or even a well chosen raspberry – be inventive, listeners like to laugh!
You can make and record them yourself, or have a look at the 60 Second Shakespeare website to find out where to get sound effects on the internet. Use the link in the top right corner of this page.
Remember, it’s up to your teacher to make sure it is okay to use sounds from the internet on your school website.
10. Finally, think carefully about how are you going to finish your piece. Perhaps you could leave the listener with a question or something to think about, or maybe a sneak preview of the next programme, known as a teaser.
Don’t forget, it’s the last thing they will hear, so make it memorable.
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USING A MICROPHONE
Hold the microphone firmly in the middle
Rest your arm on a chair or table if you are recording a lengthy interview
Speak directly into the microphone while holding it 10 to 15 cm away from your mouth
Point the microphone directly at the person you are interviewing to capture their answers
Point the microphone at yourself while you are asking questions
Swap the microphone between your hands if your arms start to get tired
Wrap the microphone lead around the hand which is holding the microphone to keep it steady.
Grip the microphone too hard or your hand will go numb and may start shaking
Allow rings or bracelets to knock against the microphone or lead
Wave the microphone around or let it knock against anything
Fiddle with the microphone lead or let it sway as this interfere with the quality of your recording.
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USING RECORDING EQUIPMENT
Check that your recording machine works properly before taking it out.
Wear headphones while you are recording so you can hear immediately if there is a problem.
Check that your interview has been recorded before parting from your guest.
Make a note of your track numbers and what is on them. Knowing where your material is will save time when it comes to editing.
Label all your tapes, soundcards or minidisks.
Most machines have automatic recording levels. However, it is a good idea to keep an eye on them to make sure that they are not too low or too high. Moving the microphone a little bit nearer or further away from your guest can make a difference.
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RECORDING VOX POPS
A vox-pop is collection of opinions on a particular subject. They are not interviews, but usually one question answered by several people. Vox pops help illustrate what people think about an issue such as the government, or the latest film release. They often involve stopping and asking a selection of people in one place. This could be a street or a school corridor. Vox-pop comes from the Latin for “voice of the people”. Listen out for them on radio and TV news.
Think about where you are going to record your vox pop. Some background noise, such as traffic or a playground, will sound good but make sure it is not too loud. The background should be constant. A plane increases in volume as it passes overhead and then decreases again. This is the kind of noise to avoid.
Record a range of voices if you can. A vox pop will sound more interesting if it includes a mix of male, fe