Digital media production spearheads creative expression. From captivating videos to animations, creative media entertains, informs, educates, and inspires. In this episode of AV123 – an audiovisual show powered by Voice123, Steve Porter, an award-winning music video producer, DJ, and remixer at PorterHouse Media, discusses pushing boundaries in viral digital production.
At Voice123, where you’ll find pro advertising voice actors – we believe in keeping up with digital media technology trends. So, here’s a summary of Steve’s insights on creative media in a digital production era.
Listen and download the full episode here:
What is digital media production?
Digital media production is the AV process of creating, editing, and distributing videos, audio, graphics, animations, and interactive media for digital platforms to reach global audiences instantly and provide creators with real-time analytics. As a cornerstone of the modern media landscape, digital media production constantly evolves in storytelling, visual effects, and audience interaction.
Steve Porter shares his personal transition from music to video production to expand on what is digital media production.
“I started applying the techniques that I would use to create a dance track or electronic house music track to video editing. And that’s when I started making some pretty creatively intense video remixes that I was putting up on YouTube, which went viral through different channels.”
The evolution of digital media technology
Digital media technology has revolutionized the AV industry with enhanced visual experiences, streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, and the integration of social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Virtual reality and augmented reality transform 2D animation into realistic experiences, while AI impacts automated editing, personalized content recommendations, and improved user interaction with AI assistants and chatbots.
Steve shared his view on adapting to new digital media technology:
“I’m always on the team; ‘if you can’t beat it, join it.’ As far as a tool and being able to use it as a utility, I’m all for it. I’ve been using AI-like things since the beginning of my music production career.”
5 Key elements of digital media production
- Storytelling: Use a clear beginning, middle, and end structure, with relatable character motivations, to make audiences emotionally invested in the story’s outcome.
- Editing: Skillful video editing evokes emotions, builds tension, and creates comedic timing. Transitions, cuts, and effects also control the story’s rhythm and flow.
- Scoring and sound design: Music and sound effects create the emotional backdrop for a story, reinforcing key moments and providing auditory cues that transport audiences into the story world.
- Visual design and cinematography: Framing and camera angles guide attention, while lighting choices and color palettes convey mood and atmosphere, bringing fantastical worlds to life.
- User experience design: Feedback on user actions can enhance engagement and usability, creating experiences that support a production’s audio, visual, and story elements.
Steve notes:
“The story is number one…the edit, the scoring, the use of sound effects…that you create are extra. One of my best colleagues mentioned that ‘everything lives and dies in edit.’ So you can have a great story, but if it’s not stitched together in a sound way or doesn’t capture your attention, that can potentially lose the viewer.”
Listen to Steve Porter’s full interview with AV123 for more digital production insights.
How to stand out in digital media production
1. Define your niche
Specialize in a specific genre, style, or industry segment, using strong artistic direction to set your work apart.
2. Innovate with technology
Stay updated with the latest tools and techniques in digital media production, like AI and VR/AR.
3. Focus on storytelling
Write video scripts with stories that resonate emotionally or intellectually with audiences for more depth and authenticity.
4. Collaborate with talented professionals
Work with skilled collaborators in areas like voice overs, cinematography, sound design, and editing to elevate the quality of your productions.
5. Offer customization and personalization
Tailor your services to meet your client’s or audience’s specific needs and preferences, providing custom solutions.
Steve’s approach to maintaining originality is:
“We try to provide not just a boilerplate production…our secret sauce is the ability to intertwine audio with video in a unique way that nobody else is doing.”
Overcoming challenges in digital media production
Maintaining interest in an oversaturated market is challenging when attention spans are increasingly fragmented. It requires engaging content that holds interest amid frequent online distractions. Managing client feedback is another setback, as it involves balancing creative integrity with expectations. To fully understand what is digital media production communication, clear project scopes, and collaboration are necessary.
To handle these challenges, Steve says,
“In the early days when Porterhouse Media started, I didn’t know what the client was saying to me. I didn’t know if they wanted me to start over or work with what we had…I just kept digging and probably made three different versions of something before we all came around to figuring out which one we liked…my angle is just keep drilling until you figure it out.”
The role of voice overs in creative media
Voice overs in creative media provide narration, dialogue, and character voices, making storytelling more enjoyable. In videos, animations, documentaries, and advertisements, they maintain clarity and flow, establishing audience connections. They create consistency and professionalism in marketing, reinforcing brand messages and elevating quality across various platforms.
Regarding voice overs Steve states:
“Voice over plays a really big version in what we do because most of the podcasts that we work on depend on high-quality voice over from hosts or interview subjects. So I would say it’s huge.”
Need a voice actor for digital media? Check out Voice123 to find talented vocal pros.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re an aspiring digital media producer or a seasoned pro, understanding the intricacies and possibilities of creative media opens doors to limitless creative potential. As Steve explained, use tools and master techniques, and let your creativity drive the future of digital storytelling.
Need a vocal maestro for your digital production? Hire a skilled pro at Voice123, or opt for our Managed Services team to oversee your project. And don’t forget to subscribe to AV123 on your favorite podcasting platform for the latest AV insights!
It’s time to create digital magic in the AV realm!
FAQs
It’s creating and delivering content through digital technologies, from production to editing and distributing videos, podcasts, websites, and interactive apps.
They oversee the entire process of creating digital content, from planning to coordinating production schedules, managing budgets, directing creative teams, ensuring technical quality, and overseeing distribution strategies.
It can be valuable for careers in the media and entertainment industries because it teaches technical skills in digital content creation, production management, and multimedia storytelling.
They include online videos like YouTube, podcasts like Spotify, interactive websites, and apps like social media, VR experiences, and AR applications.