Tip #4: Read the manual!
I know how condescending and anal that sounds, but most people only read the manual far enough to know how to do the basics. Many cameras have some quite powerful software built-in that can do all sorts of funky tricks. By taking the time to read the instructions (and I know how hard this is, especially for guys) you will be able to get the best from your camera.
Tip #5: Learn how to edit.
You go out with some friends. One has a new car. You have a camera. You spend some time drinking, then talk, then go for a drive, then talk some more. Then the person with the new car does a burnout. Everyone talks some more and then everyone goes home. You’ve caught it all on tape and decide you want to share the burnout.
Don’t just upload the entire video! By spending a few minutes with the editing software (most cameras come with some) you can pull out the interesting bits: the person talking about their new car, the burnout and everyone cheering. Slap them together and upload that. Add some music. Don’t add long titles detailing whose car it was, whom ‘directed’, what you had for breakfast and so on.
Another thing: if you’re doing something deliberate (maybe a fake commercial for a school project) and the sound is bad (maybe you were filming outside and it was windy) then take a moment to perform a function known as ADR. This stands for Automatic Dialogue Replacement (commonly referred to as ‘looping’ on DVD commentaries) although there is nothing automatic about it.
Basically what that means is that you record the sound and action on the day, and then later you re-record the sound in a controlled environment. “But I don’t have a sound studio” I hear you cry. Well, you don’t need one. Let’s say you film something and the sound is shocking. Go to your living room (or one of your friends’) and watch the footage (with the bad sound) a few times so that whoever is doing the voice can practice the words and the timing. Then just use the microphone on the camera to record them saying the lines. If you want to be really clever: turn fans, the washing machine and the fridge off (don’t forget to turn it back on!) along with any other devices or people that will create background noise.
Even if the new sound isn’t terribly good, it will still sound better than the original sound. Keep in mind that you will need to record each person this way, along with getting sounds for everything on the screen (footsteps, engines, punches, etc).
Well, that’s all of the tips I have. As you can see, there are many ways to easily give your projects that little bit of extra oomph without spending a lot of money.
Be creative and have fun!
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