Music Video Production Key Terms

Learn key terms to understand all aspects of music video production

It's important for filmmakers as well as pre- and post-production crew to understand music video production key terms to make communications on film sets productive and clear. Time is money so knowing these terms will save valuable time and money during production of music videos. Take the time to learn the key terms for music video production so that you can produce a music video that will get attention and ensure success.

 

Storyboard

A storyboard is a series of sketches that detail specific things in a music video. It can detail such things as the placement of the singer or musicians, as well as the placement of actors, sets, cameras and other equipment. Directors use storyboards to decide the location of lighting and audio/video equipment.
Try: Use this example of a storyboard from Sotherden.

Camera dolly

A camera dolly is a wheeled flat piece of equipment where cameras are mounted. There are camera dollies of all sizes to accommodate different kinds of music video shoots. There are ones small enough to fit through a door or tight areas, and larger ones for outdoor music video productions.
Try: Learn about camera dollies at Microdolly Hollywood.

Wireless microphone

Wireless microphones can be used outdoors, on stage or in a recording studio to record music or vocal tracks without wires or cables that make moving around difficult and cumbersome. They have been especially helpful to those in music video production because wired microphones and audio equipment have cables that cover the floor, making it difficult to film scenes where musicians or singers dance and perform.
Try: Get information about wireless microphones at Sweetwater.

Steadicam

The steadicam is a stabilizing mount for a camera. It is attached to a camera operator with a harness. For smooth movements during action scenes, the steadicam is the best choice. Instead of jerky movements that sometimes occur with dollies or hand-held cameras, steadicams offer smooth movement and camera shot flexibility.
Try: Go to Steadicam to learn about steadicams and how they are used.

Video editing

Video editing is part of the post-production of a music video shoot. Video footage is pieced together to create the final film. There are software programs and services that will help with video editing so that your music video will have the smooth, professional look you want.
Try: Read Tobin Productions to learn about video-editing software.

Video transcoding

Video transcoding is the digital-to-digital conversion of from one encoding format to another. This is done so that some videos can be showcased in more than one format. There is also video transcoding software that makes this process easier.
Try: Learn about video transcoding software at Thomson.

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