Audio for Video CHAPTER 10 However, hidden mics do have their limitations. Although the mic can be hid- den, the cable must not be visible or the transmitter must be out of site. sound quality may also be affected by nearby reflecting or absorbing surfaces. Because the microphone covers a fixed localized area, the talent has to be relied on to play to the mic and not speak off mic. 249 CONTROLLING DYNAMICS 10.22 DYNAMIC RANGE everyday sounds can cover a considerable volume range. fortunately for us, our ears are able to readjust to an astonishing extent to cope with these variations. But audio systems do not have this ability. if audio signals are larger than the system can accept, they will overload it and become badly distorted. if, on the other hand, sounds are too weak, they get lost in general background noise. to reproduce audio clearly, with fidelity, it has to be kept within the system's limits. A lot of sounds pose no problems at all. they don't get particularly soft or loud--that is, they do not have a wide dynamic range. when recording sounds