Great Audio Outdoors

What are some challenges with recording audio outdoors? What are some ways to get around them and record great audio?

    Some challenges with recording audio outdoors are uncontrollable sources of noise such as the wind, airplanes, cars driving by, people, animals, etc. Some ways to get around them and record great audio are to use a lavalier microphone, a boom mic, or a handheld mic. Regarding issues like wind and traffic noises, most mics will be a massive improvement from on camera mics that often peak when the wind blows. The best microphone to use for the best sound is a lavalier as it can capture a subject very well without picking up anything beyond them. When using a lavalier, it is a lot better if you use a wireless connection as having the subject wired into equipment, especially the camera, is not ideal. However, if you're trying to record multiple subjects, a lavalier might not cut it. In this case a boom microphone can be the solution. As they have some directionality, they can eliminate most of the unwanted noise that it is facing away from and using a wind sock can help prevent it from picking up the sound of the wind. Booming can be especially useful when recording narrative films as it is much easier to get good sound without having the microphone on camera. Unfortunately, having a boom will require another person, which may not be possible for everyone. Another option, if you aren't concerned with having the microphone on camera, is a handheld microphone. This is especially good for interview or reporting and can effectively eliminate unwanted sounds and get good audio.