Improving Audio - Wireless Mics?

[E36Dan]

Afternoon all,

I've been making YouTube videos (I know..) for a while now, one thing that's always been a bit poor is audio. I think it's time I got a wireless mic, but as with any purchase I'm looking for advice from the PH masses first.

At the moment I've got a Sony ECM-CS3 lapel mic, which if I'm driving I'll plug into the GoPro. The sound quality is okay, but I get a lot of noise from clothing and from the cabin. You can't (correct me if I'm wrong) lower the gain significantly in the GoPro settings to correct this. I've never been satisfied with this method, but it's very convenient.

The allure towards wireless mics now comes as I'm looking to do not only more of the above, but I'd also like to play with some new camera positions, from which the Rode shotgun mic I have on there becomes unusable.

A YouTuber I watch often, Doug De Muro, seems to have an excellent wireless mic setup. He has previously shared the hardware he uses, but I'm not sure I can stretch that far. I like the way Doug is free to roam around/inside cars without having to worry how far he is from his camera, something I have to worry about when recording similar shots.

With very little prior investigation, I tried to use my smartphone (OnePlus 5T) to record audio using the previously mentioned Sony lapel mic and a TRSS adaptor this weekend. The result was poor, the phone detected the mic but would only record mono sound. It sounded terrible. I was told this would be a nice cheap solution, but I'm getting the impression smart phones are the jack of all trades...

I'm hoping there's someone reading this with a bit of experience in recording spoken audio from a single party. I've been told before to look at the Zoom H1 mics, but I don't really know what I'm looking for.

I don't really have a budget as I'm not sure what these things cost. Any advice on that will be appreciated too.

The end goal here for me is to have better spoken audio whilst driving, I think I can only do that by recording it separate to the video.

Cheers,
Dan

(oh, I know "wireless mics" in the title may be a bit misleading, but hopefully you knew what I meant - recording audio separately)

[jon-]

For internal stuff I usually use

https://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/Rode...

into a go pro.

You can check my audio on my channel, it's good enough for me for now.

[Beefmeister]

I use the Rode lapel mic plugged into my iPhone using their app, with video from the GoPro. A simple loud clap at the start makes syncing a doddle and the audio quality is brilliant.

[StevieBee]

E36Dan said:

The end goal here for me is to have better spoken audio whilst driving, I think I can only do that by recording it separate to the video.

Exactly this. Unless you're using pro-spec video cameras, the sound processing capabilities of even the more expensive DSLR offerings are generally appalling.

The iPhone solution mentioned above is good.

You might also want to consider investing in a decent MP3 recorder to which you can fix any type of microphone. Although the iPhone is a good solution a dedicated recorder will be even better.

Regardless of the make of microphone, you should look for one that is 'directional'. Other mics will pick up a lot of background noise.

[Slushbox]

Agree on the use of separate recorder. We use a Tascam DR-05 with an external lavalier or a shotgun mic plugged in. Can be powered from a USB battery pack or two AA's, record to WAV. Sync soundtrack to camera with a loud handclap. Fits in an inside pocket. Headphone live monitoring.

If you need XLR then you need something else, DR-05 is 3.5mm jack only.

The pocket 'shaver' recorders are really good these days. There's a lot of alternatives. We tried a few, including the Zoom range, the Tascams have easy to use 'tape transport' controls on the front with mic level control on the <<<< and >>>> buttons, plus a peak limiter and rumble filter. (Cars?) There's also electret power for an external mic on the DR-05.

'Only records in mono.'

Usually mic tracks are only recorded in mono unless there's a reason for stereo or two track recording: extra voices, ambient sounds on the other track, etc. They're 'always' panned to center, unless there's a good reason not to. Stereo single voice recordings would be combined to mono in post. Your Sony mic is mono, I think.

Good levels for web/YouTube are -5dB peaks when recording.

We use this set up for live studio mic recording and outside broadcasts for a BBC local radio station, having finally ditched MiniDisks. ;-)


See:

https://www.andertons.co.uk/recording/pocket-recor...

Edited by Slushbox on Tuesday 16th October 11:34

[Punio]

Have you not tried a directional mic first? The Rode Mic Pro+ is a decent choice. It's a lot cheaper setup and less hassle imho.

[mudnomad]

I've been using Sony's FDR-X3000's built in mic for majority of our YT in-car videos and sound is more than decent.
GoPro has always been s...t in sound department so maybe think of changing the camera?

[E36Dan]

Thanks for the replies all - certainly enough options to keep me thinking.

The Rode SmartLav seems a reasonable solution, although I do like the look of the Tascam range.

jon- said:

For internal stuff I usually use

https://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/Rode...

into a go pro.

You can check my audio on my channel, it's good enough for me for now.

That seems to do an impressive job, does it take much setting up?

StevieBee said:

E36Dan said:

The end goal here for me is to have better spoken audio whilst driving, I think I can only do that by recording it separate to the video.

Exactly this. Unless you're using pro-spec video cameras, the sound processing capabilities of even the more expensive DSLR offerings are generally appalling.

The iPhone solution mentioned above is good.

You might also want to consider investing in a decent MP3 recorder to which you can fix any type of microphone. Although the iPhone is a good solution a dedicated recorder will be even better.

Regardless of the make of microphone, you should look for one that is 'directional'. Other mics will pick up a lot of background noise.

I'm seeing mixed reviews on the iPhone/Rode setup. Perhaps for a little bit more cash, it'd be wise to get a dedicated recorder. Plus, I hate my iPhone (it's prehistoric)

Slushbox said:

stuff

Great info, thanks!

Punio said:

Have you not tried a directional mic first? The Rode Mic Pro+ is a decent choice. It's a lot cheaper setup and less hassle imho.

Yes, I have a Rode Video Mic Pro shotgun mic as my "main" mic, have been using that for a year or so, it's great!

I have thought about using it in the car too, but it's bulky.

mudnomad said:

I've been using Sony's FDR-X3000's built in mic for majority of our YT in-car videos and sound is more than decent.
GoPro has always been s...t in sound department so maybe think of changing the camera?

You don't use an external mic at all? Do you have any samples?

Beefmeister said:

I use the Rode lapel mic plugged into my iPhone using their app, with video from the GoPro. A simple loud clap at the start makes syncing a doddle and the audio quality is brilliant.

Do you have any samples too?


Cheers all, sorry for the slack reply!

[jon-]

E36Dan said:

Thanks for the replies all - certainly enough options to keep me thinking.

The Rode SmartLav seems a reasonable solution, although I do like the look of the Tascam range.

jon- said:

For internal stuff I usually use

https://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/Rode...

into a go pro.

You can check my audio on my channel, it's good enough for me for now.

That seems to do an impressive job, does it take much setting up?

Literally plug and play, range is huge and batteries last for ages.

I'm not sure why people would go into an iphone rather than a gopro, sure the gopro mics are a bit trash but their internal audio recorders can't be that far off and then you don't to sync everything you record.

[TheRainMaker]

If you have to keep the GoPro, I would use something like this hard disk recorder

https://tascam.com/us/product/dr-10l/top

Then a good mic

https://www.mercury-av.com/sales/Sennheiser-MKE2-E...

Then look at some undercovers

https://cvp.com/product/rycote_065504

[jon-]

I feel like audio guys are overestimating youtube audio quality needs

[E36Dan]

jon- said:

Literally plug and play, range is huge and batteries last for ages.

I'm not sure why people would go into an iphone rather than a gopro, sure the gopro mics are a bit trash but their internal audio recorders can't be that far off and then you don't to sync everything you record.

Perhaps there is the ability to turn down gain in the Rode app? I think that's where the GoPro falls short.

[TheRainMaker]

jon- said:

I feel like audio guys are overestimating youtube audio quality needs

If a jobs worth doing etc etc

[jon-]

TheRainMaker said:

jon- said:

I feel like audio guys are overestimating youtube audio quality needs

If a jobs worth doing etc etc

There's a certain balance with youtube over doing it right, or doing it well enough and saving yourself time in post. Most youtubers use the internal mics on go pro 4's because they "don't have time" to lav mics