In the world of film and video, sound can often get the short end of the stick. Though the role that audio plays in making a successful professional production is nothing short of crucial, it's a subtle art – and one that unfortunately can get overlooked by novices working under a tight budget.

Full Sail recently hosted National Market Development Manager David Missall from audio company Sennheiser for a Sound Academy seminar in Full Sail Live 1. During his fast-paced presentation, Missalll – who has provided troubleshooting support and RF wireless solutions for broadcast networks and organizations such as CNN, ESPN, Univision Network, CBS, and NASCAR – gave students some of his techniques to ensure great sound on shoots.

With plenty of Sennheiser demonstration gear with him onstage, Missall spoke on a variety of topics, including microphone pickup patterns, choosing the best interview microphone, tips and tricks for eliminating unwanted noise during production, and knowing when to use a lapel microphone.

The seminar also allowed audience members to practice microphone placement in a mock scene and actually record and play back the results. Throughout his presentation, Missall also answered questions from students about Sennheiser's products, different production techniques, and more.