The Role of Music and Sound in Chicago Video Production
Covered in this post—
Setting the tone with music
Enhancing the story with sound
Questions to ask a video production company
Bringing video to life with great audio
When was the last time that you watched the Oscars? There are countless awards given out during the event, including one for Best Original Score. In a world where acting and video production reign king, music is still recognized because it has the ability to transform, create immediate impressions, and generate an immersive experience for the audience.
You might be thinking – “What does this have to do with the commercial, or training video I want to create for my company?”
You don’t have to be putting on a Peter Jackson-level film to benefit from music in your video content. In fact, more and more companies are tapping into the power of music for social media content, recruiting videos, sizzle reels, and training material.
If you are looking for ways to set your company apart from the competition, or are simply highlighting your most recent event, music is a component that shouldn’t be overlooked. Its ability to generate an emotional response, enhance your story, and create additional layers makes it a must-have.
At Mark Campbell Productions, we work closely with our clients to find music to help transform video content into works of art that generate engagement and create buzz. Backed by a full production staff, we can update existing content or help you create a new library of video content.
Setting the Tone with Music
The video content may be the main course, but we have all experienced a meal that could have been better seasoned. Think of music as the seasoning for your video. It makes it more palatable and improves the overall experience.
We all have songs that resonate with us, potentially transporting us to a different time and place. This is because music creates an emotional connection. It is the reason you can’t get a catchy hook out of your head and why people often revisit memories when a nostalgic song comes on their Spotify playlist.
But that doesn’t mean that you can throw different spices onto your meal and expect it to come out great. The Colonel carefully chose his signature eleven herbs and spices, and the same goes for adding audio to your video content. Here’s a perfect example…
You’ve been tasked with choosing a song for a video that celebrates the life and achievements of the founder of your company who recently passed away. Your first choice probably isn’t going to be My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion.
Choosing the right song requires a clear understanding of the intended message and the audience you are trying to reach. For Chicago video projects, you may have a local artist already picked out, and a song in mind. In this case, the professional videographer needs to be aware of the music selection so that they can generate the same type of mood through the film.
Enhancing the Story with Sound
Similar to music, common sounds can also draw the audience in and help them connect with the story that you are trying to tell through video. Sound effects are becoming more common in corporate video production, because of their ability to connect with the viewer.
In an average day, the human brain processes around 30,000 words and an endless cacophony of different sounds. From the sound of our dog pacing at the back door to the honking synonymous with Chicago rush hour traffic, our ears are constantly being flooded. Despite all the noise, we easily pick up sounds that hit specific chords.
Using these types of sounds in the video production world is known as Foley artistry. Within the Chicago video production industry there are a number of different Foley artists that have closely studied which sounds evoke specific emotions, reactions, or generate action.
Questions to ask a video production company
If you are new to video content, you may have limited exposure to the audio side of the industry. Before you start feeling overwhelmed take a moment and breathe. One of the biggest benefits of working with a professional video production company is that they should have all of the technical components in place before you even begin.
There are too many pieces of equipment and terms to adequately cover in this article, so let’s stick with a few key questions to ask as you explore different Chicago-based video production companies.
Can you walk me through the audio editing process?
This question is one that should be easily answered by any reputable company. While each organization will certainly have its own post-production techniques and processes, they should be well-defined.
This is probably one of the most overlooked pieces of the video production process, but it is essential to get high-quality content on an accurate timeline.
How will you tell our story?
Again the answers will vary depending on the organization, their structure, and their expertise. Pay close attention to whether or not they gloss over the audio component. Amateur videographers may only specialize in video content. They do not have the tools or the resources to fully edit video and add audio like you would find with a full production company.
What industries have you worked with?
It can be easy to fall into the trap of working with production companies that only work in a specific niche industry. While there are certainly some benefits to going in this direction, you are limiting yourself from a creative perspective.
Instead, look for a production company that has experience working across multiple industries. In our experience, this creates better networks with local artists, so you can not only get great video but also great audio for world-class content.
Can you provide examples of ____?
Don’t be afraid to ask for a portfolio. Once you are reviewing video content, pay close attention to the sounds and music used throughout each piece of content. Ask yourself: Did the music fit? Did I feel something? How would I have done it differently?
These types of questions make it easier to share your thoughts with the video production team during the planning process, making an end product that brings your vision to life.
Bring Video To Life With Great Audio
Music and sound might not have crossed your mind when you have created video content in the past. You aren’t alone. However, more and more, Chicago-based companies are leaning into the audio components of video production to help enhance their story and bring their brand to life.
The Mark Campbell Productions team has spent the last decade working with businesses and organizations around Chicago, helping them tell their stories through professional video content. We see music and sound as an essential ingredient in every piece of video that we help create. From planning to final execution, our team is dedicated to making great content that you can be proud of, and that your audience will love.
Connect with our team to get a quote for your next project.