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How to improve the sound on your track video's for cheap (especially your gopro)

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Old 02-14-14, 02:24 PM
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Sua Sponte

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How to improve the sound on your track video's for cheap (especially your gopro)

It's always annoyed me to watch gopro video's with washed out sound and significant wind noise. It's worse on some than others. There are tons of solutions out there, but here is a $20 fix that has worked for me.

I purchased this external microphone:
Amazon.com : Audio-Technica ATR-3350 Lavalier Omnidirectional Condenser Microphone : Wireless Microphone Systems : Musical Instruments Amazon.com : Audio-Technica ATR-3350 Lavalier Omnidirectional Condenser Microphone : Wireless Microphone Systems : Musical Instruments

I also had to buy a mini usb to 3.5mm adapter for my gopro Hero 3 black. I placed the microphone in the rear license plate area and ziptied it for extra security. You need to be a little more careful/deliberate with your external mic on the rotary since they like to spit flames.

Here is my Hero 3 black internal vs external mic comparison:
Old 02-14-14, 02:57 PM
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I want to drive COTA!

Thanks for the video. Have you had enough time with the mic to know how battery life is? Do you have to turn it on and off for each session?

I've also heard good videos with people putting external mics on the floorboard behind the passenger seat.
Old 02-14-14, 03:08 PM
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Sua Sponte

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Originally Posted by Smokey The Talon
I want to drive COTA!

Thanks for the video. Have you had enough time with the mic to know how battery life is? Do you have to turn it on and off for each session?

I've also heard good videos with people putting external mics on the floorboard behind the passenger seat.
I used mine for the first time this past weekend. They say battery life is 1000+ hours. I turn mine on and off after each session, but you don't have to. It would just require more frequent battery changes, not that big of a deal either way.

I've had some Corvette friends put the mic behind the seat with good results. I like the sound quality on my sony camera that sits behind my bulkhead in my FD too.

... and COTA was awesome! I'd love to been there in my FD, but the other car wasn't bad either Gotta love a V8 that has a stock redline of 8400rpm's and a double clutch transmission that shifts at the touch of the paddle shifters
Old 02-16-14, 07:22 PM
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Do a barrel roll!

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Funny to see you post this on here, as I was just looking for this exact type of thing. How do you think it would work with a very loud car, would there be distortion on the mic or would one just have to experiment with where to place it?
Old 02-16-14, 07:45 PM
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I think it would be fine, but that is just a guess. Assuming it is a rotary, it would have to be a little ways off of the exhaust anyways to keep it from burning it with the flames. I think the hatch area would yield really good results in the FD. Out of the wind and plenty of the exhaust note.

I actually found this set up on one of the BMW forums. There are a lot of guys that use it. When I was at COTA last weekend, I shared a garage with the hoosier rep that was driving a 997 GT3 RS. He had his right above his exhaust and his car was pretty loud for what it's worth.
Old 02-16-14, 09:27 PM
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Do a barrel roll!

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Cool, appreciate the info!
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