What signature techniques does Paul Rogers recommend for avoiding poor audio in video production?

Hi, I’m Paul Rogers from That Creative CEO. Love this question.

Here are the big signature moves I lean on to avoid trash audio:

• Get the mic close – shotgun or lav as close to the mouth as you can without entering frame. Distance kills audio faster than anything.
• Kill echo: record in treated or “soft” spaces (curtains, couches, rugs) and avoid bare walls.
• Monitor with headphones so you catch hums, clipping, or background noise on set.
• Always grab 10–20 seconds of “room tone” for cleaner audio edits.
• Prioritize clean capture over fixing in post. Good levels, low noise, consistent mic position.

Want me to break this down for beginners or for more advanced, multi-mic setups?