stickymint Posted June 5, 2012 Share Posted June 5, 2012 When using my Go Pro there is a high level of background noise caused by engine vibration. It is mounted on the roll cage, with a rubber trim seal acting as a insulator between the cage and the clamp. However as soon as the engine is running it picks up and gives an over riding interference over which no other noise can be heard. What solutions have you found that eliminate this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted June 5, 2012 Share Posted June 5, 2012 External mic is the best way if using a mark 2. Unfortunately otherwise your going to be restricted in what you can do; the less securely mounted, ie more flexible damping there is, the more your also likely to suffer from rolling shutter effects. GoPros are so good at what they do, peoples enthusiasm tends to hide what they don't, and that's high quality audio. Many of the specialists (including amateurs) that use them use small digital recorders and ignore the onboard recording. This is something they've carried forward onto mark 2 models that have mic sockets. Even with an external mic, there are still one or two "issues", I've found the most balanced audio comes from having the mic. In the boot box - out of the slipstream, so no wind noise, plus it gets a decent balance between exhaust and intake. You could try experimenting with different positions for the camera though, also make sure that it's not simply rattling in the outer housing. Likewise make sure that the quick release foot isn't rattling in the base plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted June 6, 2012 Share Posted June 6, 2012 Gadgetman has described it well - use the external mic on the HD2 and hide it in the boot box or way way up under the dash to get it out of the wind. For the HD1 you need a good mount and one of those furry dead cat back things and even then you are likely to be disappointed. If you have a HD2 and using an external mic then go for a powered mono mic. The external plug socket does have some power but not enough for a quality recording. It is also a mono input socket - so if you use a stereo mic you will find sound levels of the video post production are quite low as it only has one side of the stereo input. The fix for this is double the volume in your post production editing software or use a mono mic. Also the internal mic continues to record on HD2 even if you use external mic - so cover with tape or silicone it up if you want a permanent solution. GoPro themselves use either a separate digital recorder or this external mic for some of their videos http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Sennheiser+MKE400&N=0&InitialSearch=yes Either way is not cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted June 6, 2012 Share Posted June 6, 2012 The Zoom range of recorders seem a very popular choice in GoPro circles for those wanting the slickest audio. For HD2 users looking for something a little more basic by way of an external mic. The Audio Technica Lavalier clip on types work well for around the £20 mark. Small and easily tucked away on the car too. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Technica-ATR-3350-Omnidirectional-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B002HJ9PTO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338982324&sr=8-1 ...there's a good reason why lots of automotive, or other high vibration type films taken with these have music backing tracks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickymint Posted June 6, 2012 Author Share Posted June 6, 2012 Sadly I have the older HD1 model, so it looks like I need one of those furry dead cat back things - any idea where I can get one? I will also play around with the mounting to further reduce the unwanted background noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westy turbo Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Would the mic from amazon work on the HD1? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRuss Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 HD1 doesn't have a mic input. That was a new feature with the HD2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 For those of a more adventurous nature, it is possible to connect external mic.s in via the Hero expansion port on the back of the camera, remote stop/start switches too. But it does involve soldering your own leads up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustCallMeMac Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Sadly I have the older HD1 model, so it looks like I need one of those furry dead cat back things - any idea where I can get one? I will also play around with the mounting to further reduce the unwanted background noise. When I had an HD1 I used this fixed to the back of both the waterproof and non-waterproof housings, which worked well for me. Wind noise was definately suppressed to a greater extent and exhaust / induction note were more prominent but some mechanical noise from the rear was still heard during playback (fuel pump etc) http://www.amazon.com/Micover-Stickover-Windscreen-Motorsports-On-Board/dp/B00533YQVI Think AdamR, on this site, made his own but not sure what the results were. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Think AdamR, on this site, made his own but not sure what the results were. Still not had chance to test it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westy turbo Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 For those of a more adventurous nature, it is possible to connect external mic.s in via the Hero expansion port on the back of the camera, remote stop/start switches too. But it does involve soldering your own leads up. Thanks for the info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanoecosse Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 For those of a more adventurous nature, it is possible to connect external mic.s in via the Hero expansion port on the back of the camera, remote stop/start switches too. But it does involve soldering your own leads up. Gadgetman, Is this on the HD1? If so, would you happen to have any links to information for doing this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Yes it is, half a mo while I dig out the link! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianstewartshouse Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 All my videos on YouTube are from the Hero 2. Some are with ext mic and some not (when I forgot to plug it in!) if you search for ianstewartshouse on YouTube you'll see them. I think the one labelled Ian track day 15th April 1st run is the onboard mic with no wind deflector and the ian first race.....or not is the external mic. Its fitted up ontop of the transmission tunnel behind the dash out of the wind. You'll know which is which when you watch it! If anyone wants details of what I use for the external mic let me know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 There's some useful info about the audio in connections on the HD Bus here: http://goprouser.freeforums.org/how-to-connect-an-external-microphone-to-a-gopro-t3676-10.html There's more general info on using the bus in the other threads in that section of the (very useful) GoProUser forum. Quite a long thread on general use of the HD bus here: http://goprouser.freeforums.org/the-gopro-hero-hd-bus-interface-old-thread-t3681.html I know there's lots to wade through, but IIRC it gives details of suitable connectors and general pin outs for the bus etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.