Audio for nature videos

Kaya Saman · May 9th, 2026, 02:34 AM

@Allan, nice setup!

Now you guys have me thinking about the crickets chirping from my childhood around the Aegean/Mediterranean region

For those who saw my previous post I touched on some of my health difficulties so now we're working hard to be able to get me back to being able to do stuff again and hopefully back home - which I haven't been to for 20+ years and hopefully have a rest and a reset and actually start filming wildlife and being able to do my photography too

What excites me there is the amount of animals like Lynx, Caraculs, Anatolian Leapord, Wild Boar, Badgers, Deer and so many others as well as even under water wildlife like the Mediterranean LoggerHead Turtle etc...

@Doug hello again :-)

I think audio adds to the ambiance but in real life probably no one will know the difference or care.... so you have a point.

I'm just thinking back to the black and white days when a few pioneers set off into places far from where the rest of the world were familiar with... (mainly Attenborough) and the type of run-and-gun video shot there.

Ok it was a different time with no internet and techniques hadn't been developed yet but there was a lot of explanation and exploration. This is kind of what my idea is... to have fun mainly and not worry too much about a massively polished look.

Don't get me wrong - I saw your videos on Youtube and think they're amazing and I'm definitely going to be paying attention to your course, as I mentioned previously

This is quite an involved subject that you can go bananas on from all angles but for me I think I'd love to get great captures in both video and audio - even if the audio is just a bit of natural ambiance but to me at least it's a lot of fun :-)

Kaya Saman · May 9th, 2026, 02:45 AM

Actually this is a really good example of what is inspiring me. It is in the Turkish language....
- it might have English auto generated AI subtitles?

Some background on this.... there is an organization to do with wildlife in Turkey - I am not sure if it's more study based or conservation based but there are many academics involved with title Prof or Dr.

This particular guy on Youtube normally records stuff using trail cams and compiles video that way

My personal idea would be of course to combine things and actually turn it into a little documentary with narration and story telling.

Camera technique is also important to me as well as grading etc... but I don't need to rival the National Geographic or BBC etc....

Like mentioned previously, I just wana have fun and do something I enjoy and let it build through time and experience:

Doug Jensen · May 9th, 2026, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaya Saman

I'd love to get great captures in both video and audio - even if the audio is just a bit of natural ambiance but to me at least it's a lot of fun :-)

If you are having fun recording audio, then that is what counts the most. Go for it.

Andrew Smith · Yesterday, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Jensen

I literally put zero effort into capturing audio when I'm shooting wildlife and nature. Total waste of time.

I can see it now.

"Hi, I'm Doug Jensen, and I thought I'd take a couple of minutes to film my comprehensive video on recording wildlife audio when out in the field."

Andrew

Doug Jensen · Today, 05:51 AM

H,ha. And here is the entire script . . . .

"Mount a good shotgun mic on the front of the camera, set the levels for automatic, and hope for the best. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Happy shooting."

But I'll still need a prompter, because that is too long for me to memorize.

Andrew Smith · Today, 07:30 AM

Do it. Seriously.

Record it like your other videos in the series and release it on YouTube. It will one of the best industry gags ever!

Andrew

Kaya Saman · Today, 09:52 AM

Guys, you're all scaring me....

Next thing you are gona start saying is that people don't film wildlife, they just stand in front of a blue or green screen then AI everything else in :-(

Even the shown cameras are all fake AI renditions.....

hahahaha

Welp, I've got a plan and if I am able to do anything it will be places like these:

https://nationalparksassociation.org...national-park/

https://nationalparksassociation.org...national-park/

https://nationalparksassociation.org...national-park/

...I did white water rafting at the last location as a 15 year old. It was amazing!

May 9th, 2026, 02:34 AM	#16
Kaya Saman New Boot Join Date: Jan 2026 Location: London, England Posts: 17	Re: Audio for nature videos @Allan, nice setup! Now you guys have me thinking about the crickets chirping from my childhood around the Aegean/Mediterranean region For those who saw my previous post I touched on some of my health difficulties so now we're working hard to be able to get me back to being able to do stuff again and hopefully back home - which I haven't been to for 20+ years and hopefully have a rest and a reset and actually start filming wildlife and being able to do my photography too What excites me there is the amount of animals like Lynx, Caraculs, Anatolian Leapord, Wild Boar, Badgers, Deer and so many others as well as even under water wildlife like the Mediterranean LoggerHead Turtle etc... @Doug hello again :-) I think audio adds to the ambiance but in real life probably no one will know the difference or care.... so you have a point. I'm just thinking back to the black and white days when a few pioneers set off into places far from where the rest of the world were familiar with... (mainly Attenborough) and the type of run-and-gun video shot there. Ok it was a different time with no internet and techniques hadn't been developed yet but there was a lot of explanation and exploration. This is kind of what my idea is... to have fun mainly and not worry too much about a massively polished look. Don't get me wrong - I saw your videos on Youtube and think they're amazing and I'm definitely going to be paying attention to your course, as I mentioned previously This is quite an involved subject that you can go bananas on from all angles but for me I think I'd love to get great captures in both video and audio - even if the audio is just a bit of natural ambiance but to me at least it's a lot of fun :-)

May 9th, 2026, 02:45 AM	#17
Kaya Saman New Boot Join Date: Jan 2026 Location: London, England Posts: 17	Re: Audio for nature videos Actually this is a really good example of what is inspiring me. It is in the Turkish language.... - it might have English auto generated AI subtitles? Some background on this.... there is an organization to do with wildlife in Turkey - I am not sure if it's more study based or conservation based but there are many academics involved with title Prof or Dr. This particular guy on Youtube normally records stuff using trail cams and compiles video that way My personal idea would be of course to combine things and actually turn it into a little documentary with narration and story telling. Camera technique is also important to me as well as grading etc... but I don't need to rival the National Geographic or BBC etc.... Like mentioned previously, I just wana have fun and do something I enjoy and let it build through time and experience: KURT VE AYI DEREDEN GEÇMEYE ÇALIŞIYOR ! - YouTube

Today, 05:51 AM	#20
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,544	Re: Audio for nature videos H,ha. And here is the entire script . . . . "Mount a good shotgun mic on the front of the camera, set the levels for automatic, and hope for the best. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Happy shooting." But I'll still need a prompter, because that is too long for me to memorize. __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools

Today, 07:30 AM	#21
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,170	Re: Audio for nature videos Do it. Seriously. Record it like your other videos in the series and release it on YouTube. It will one of the best industry gags ever! Andrew

Today, 09:52 AM	#22
Kaya Saman New Boot Join Date: Jan 2026 Location: London, England Posts: 17	Re: Audio for nature videos Guys, you're all scaring me.... Next thing you are gona start saying is that people don't film wildlife, they just stand in front of a blue or green screen then AI everything else in :-( Even the shown cameras are all fake AI renditions..... hahahaha Welp, I've got a plan and if I am able to do anything it will be places like these: https://nationalparksassociation.org...national-park/ https://nationalparksassociation.org...national-park/ https://nationalparksassociation.org...national-park/ ...I did white water rafting at the last location as a 15 year old. It was amazing!