Looking for an external, self contained, audio recording solution

Sarra · October 25, 2020

I've been attempting to record some video for a youtube channel, but I'm struggling with quality of both video and especially audio. Since the GoPro is my only reasonable choice for the video right now, I'm going to have to focus on the audio quality.

Basically, I'm recording in a vehicle, while driving. I am looking for a low cost, reasonable quality audio setup. The GoPro's internal mic is obliterated by noise from my transmission, which is transmitted directly to the camera case via the windshield mount, and I've given up on fixing this, and I do not have a Black edition GoPro, so getting a little USB boom Mic is not an option, since it's flat out not supported by GoPro.

I did a test using my cell phone, on a windshield mount, and the audio quality is really... Interesting. The phone uses it's processor to cancel out background noise, which is great, but causes a lot of distortion at higher speeds, and completely eliminates all of the sounds of the vehicle, which gives an odd feeling, since the road noise and such is all removed. My phone also went into overheat mode after less than 30 minutes, and most of my videos are 3-5 hours.

Sadly, the phone actually took way higher quality video than the GoPro, and also pretty sad, my phone and it's accessories actually cost less than the GoPro. >_>

So, is there an external, self contained, low cost audio recording solution I can get, that lets me dial back on noise cancellation if I want? I think this is a tall order, but I'm not familiar with this kind of equipment, so...

LaFemmeEnVert · October 25, 2020

1 hour ago, Sarra said:

I've been attempting to record some video for a youtube channel, but I'm struggling with quality of both video and especially audio. Since the GoPro is my only reasonable choice for the video right now, I'm going to have to focus on the audio quality.

Basically, I'm recording in a vehicle, while driving. I am looking for a low cost, reasonable quality audio setup. The GoPro's internal mic is obliterated by noise from my transmission, which is transmitted directly to the camera case via the windshield mount, and I've given up on fixing this, and I do not have a Black edition GoPro, so getting a little USB boom Mic is not an option, since it's flat out not supported by GoPro.

I did a test using my cell phone, on a windshield mount, and the audio quality is really... Interesting. The phone uses it's processor to cancel out background noise, which is great, but causes a lot of distortion at higher speeds, and completely eliminates all of the sounds of the vehicle, which gives an odd feeling, since the road noise and such is all removed. My phone also went into overheat mode after less than 30 minutes, and most of my videos are 3-5 hours.

Sadly, the phone actually took way higher quality video than the GoPro, and also pretty sad, my phone and it's accessories actually cost less than the GoPro. >_>

So, is there an external, self contained, low cost audio recording solution I can get, that lets me dial back on noise cancellation if I want? I think this is a tall order, but I'm not familiar with this kind of equipment, so...

you can plug external mic to the phone and record audio. some choices., i dont know if you have iphone with lightning connection or other phone with 3.5mm jack:

http://en.rode.com/microphones/videomicme

http://en.rode.com/microphones/videomicmel

http://en.rode.com/microphones/sc6-lik

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1561503-REG/saramonic_lavmicro_u1a_ultracompact_clip_on_lav_mic.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/983763-REG/polsen_mo_pl1_lavalier_microphone_for_iphone.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?q=mic for phone&filters=fct_category%3Amicrophones_22909

or you can use a external audio recorder that has a mic built in or connect a mic with 3.5mm jack
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1381744-REG/zoom_zh1n_h1n_handy_recorder.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1453029-REG/tascam_dr_05x_stereo_handheld_digital_audio.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1453030-REG/tascam_dr_07x_stereo_handheld_digital_audio.html

Sarra · October 25, 2020

2 hours ago, LaFemmeEnVert said:

you can plug external mic to the phone and record audio. some choices., i dont know if you have iphone with lightning connection or other phone with 3.5mm jack:

http://en.rode.com/microphones/videomicme

http://en.rode.com/microphones/videomicmel

http://en.rode.com/microphones/sc6-lik

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1561503-REG/saramonic_lavmicro_u1a_ultracompact_clip_on_lav_mic.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/983763-REG/polsen_mo_pl1_lavalier_microphone_for_iphone.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?q=mic for phone&filters=fct_category%3Amicrophones_22909

or you can use a external audio recorder that has a mic built in or connect a mic with 3.5mm jack
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1381744-REG/zoom_zh1n_h1n_handy_recorder.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1453029-REG/tascam_dr_05x_stereo_handheld_digital_audio.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1453030-REG/tascam_dr_07x_stereo_handheld_digital_audio.html

I've got a Razer Phone 2, with USB type C, and no headphone jack at all.

I'll take a look at the links, thank you.

Edit: Alrighty, the Tascam recorder looks really promising, especially since I can use it with a lav mic, so that will be the route I am most likely to go for this.

First, I need to get some more storage space, so I can actually do some more recording. My 2TB drive is totally full, and all of my other drives are also full, so it's time to upgrade to some 10TB drives.

LaFemmeEnVert · October 26, 2020

17 hours ago, Sarra said:

I've got a Razer Phone 2, with USB type C, and no headphone jack at all.

I'll take a look at the links, thank you.

Edit: Alrighty, the Tascam recorder looks really promising, especially since I can use it with a lav mic, so that will be the route I am most likely to go for this.

First, I need to get some more storage space, so I can actually do some more recording. My 2TB drive is totally full, and all of my other drives are also full, so it's time to upgrade to some 10TB drives.

there are som USB C lav mics that can work with phones, even some of the lav mics I suggest for phones I am not sure of the quality. i mostly use rode mics for phones.

i have the tascam DR 05 and DR 07, bothe are very good recorders and if you use a decent cable lav mic, the audio will be good quality. you can do noise reduction when you edit.

Sarra · October 26, 2020

54 minutes ago, LaFemmeEnVert said:

there are som USB C lav mics that can work with phones, even some of the lav mics I suggest for phones I am not sure of the quality. i mostly use rode mics for phones.

i have the tascam DR 05 and DR 07, bothe are very good recorders and if you use a decent cable lav mic, the audio will be good quality. you can do noise reduction when you edit.

That is the plan. The Tascam DR 05 is what I'm looking at, it fits my budget and looks like it will have all of the features I need, so I've got that one on order.