Audio '2.0' Cardo Edge, Insta360 X5, Hero10 Black?

[RTRuss]

Doing a '2.0' setup for recording our trips; new helmet (LS2 Advant X Carbon, replaces Schubert C4), new 360 cam (Insta360 X5 upgrade from X2), Cardo Edge (replaces Packtalk Bold), but sticking with Hero10 Black with media module for now as I don't see any real reason to upgrade.

We always ride two-up and very often with another couple also on Cardo comms, but who do not do any vlogging.

Finally got too frustrated with the onboard nav system on our '21 BMW R1250RT and purchased a Chigee AIO-6 for which I'm waiting for the adapter for the BMW Quick Release mount, so haven't figured out how to incorporate this into the comms and moto. (Apparently you can't do wifi screen projection to a CarPlay device like the AIO-6 and the BMW Connected app at the same time, BUT it may be possible to bluetooth pair to both at the same time, although I'm not sure this will be necessary, as the AIO-6 should handle everything the BMW Connected app did previously. I'll find out once the mount arrives.)

Previously I used a splitter for the Packtalk headphones, and had to solder in a jack to the Packtalk mic, then those two inputs went into the media module mic input. This worked reasonably well, although several times my SO and other riders indicated there was an annoying echo in their coms when I had everything hooked up and working. I was never really able to fully get rid of this, but thankfully it wasn't debilitating.

I had hoped that in the 3+ years since I put this all together the first time that there would be an easier and more straightforward way of capturing the audio. After reading through a lot of threads on this site and wading through YT videos, it seems like the answer is... not really.

Here's what I came away with:

1. Yes, you can now pair the Cardo Edge with the Insta360 X5, but this takes one of the Cardo bluetooth channels so you will have problems with music playback, and the quality is a bit average. In the past I left the X2 recording audio with its external mics to capture the exhaust noise which worked surprisingly well at lower speeds, so I'm ok with about not using the X5 for capturing the comms, and using it for ambient instead.

2. Yes, you can record the Cardo communications directly in your phone, but this means having to manage the app, and synchronize the audio in post, and the quality is also bit average.

3. Yes, you can get an additional external mic (Purple Panda mentioned most often) and use this instead of splicing into the GoPro mic, but you get no direct feedback (can't hear the mic in your comms), and it's not a great solution for flip-up helmets where you are using the Cardo boom mic, not the small velcroed mic. Quality can be very good once you get mic placement correct.

4. Yes, you can pair a separate bluetooth mic (eg. DJI mic, which I already own for other applications) to the X5, but this is another device to charge and turn on and off, and again, doesn't work so well with a flip-up helmet. ...although as there is a cable required from the helmet liner to the GoPro media module anyway, you could conceivably mount the mic in the chin piece of the helmet since it needs to be closed when you are recording. OTOH, you only capture the rider, not all the coms with this method, so you would still need to feed the Cardo speaker output into the GoPro media module.

5. If none of the above works, you're back to the same solution as I did years ago; cutting, splicing, soldering the Cardo mic and using a cable, probably with a volume control, to inject this with the Cardo speaker signal into the GoPro mic input. There are still no sources for the (apparently proprietary) Cardo mic connector which would allow a plug-and-play solution with a splitter like you can easily do with the speakers using an 1/8" stereo splitter cable.

Questions:

- Did I miss any solutions? If anyone else is doing vlogging with the same setup (Cardo Edge in flip-up or open helmet, X5, Hero) what did you end up doing?

- I know many have moved from GoPro HeroXX to AcePro2, but this seems to be more for low light ability and recording times, not so much to capture good audio. Phil Tonic's setup and posts seem to confirm this as he also went with #5 with an AcePro. Phil also talks about the echo problem and suggests a solution but I haven't seen confirmation that this works 100% yet.

Sorry for the long post, just wanted to consolidate everything I found in one place.

RTRuss

 

[R-Rated]

That is a lot of information and I would step back and look at what you want to capture as far as sound sources then compare that with your ear. What do your hear when riding?

For me when riding with someone else I hear my bike, my voice, and their voice through a headset speaker. Both passenger on the intercom and another rider, music, or CB transmission come in on an intercom.

So there are three sources of sound - the bike, me, and the intercom speaker. I followed @LoneWolfer and his setup. In my modular helmet I have a Purple Panda near the boom for my headset. That goes into a two female to one male splitter. The other female has the mic for Røde mic that looks just like a Purple Panda but picks up much more sound. That mic is right by the speaker in the helmet. Then the male end plugs into the GoPro mic adapter that plugs into my Hero 8 or 11 or one of my other cameras.

I did try an alternative during a trip with @scooterwuf because I had an adapter fail and did not have a spare. I bought a Hero 13 to connect via Bluetooth to my Sena SRL. That did not work well at all. The Sena would connect to the camera or Scooterwolf but not both at the same time. The audio from the Sena to the camera was like listening to me talk into a paper cup. Finally, if the Sena's excellent noise reduction filtered out wind along with nearly all motorcycle sounds.

In my experience, keeping the wire connections are much better audio experience though fussy on the plugs. A little duct tape keeps connections secure though.

 

[Theodor]

I would also argue two wired mics is the way to go. Not so sure about splicing them in to the comms wiring. I have a theoretical setup done with two mics, as I was planning on doing my last long trip with a companion, but as that did not happen, all I achieved was recording my navigation more.
Only alternative I would think of, is using them comms that have the mesh functionality and adding a separate audio recorder that can last a whole day on the comm, in a pannier or backpack, with n'th comms unit. But that would mean additional charging and connecting, just like the bluetooth mics. Voice quality could be touch better though.

 

[TALOS RIDER]

I am playing around with a similar setup. Only difference is I am using wireless mics instead of wired. I have the action 5 pro which allows for two channels, so I have the mic mini to record me, and a mic 2 connected to the cardo. Still work in progress, so I haven't uploaded any videos with cardo audio on my channel yet. Once I get it figured out I will make a video on it.

 

[RTRuss]

I would also argue two wired mics is the way to go.

Is this with an open or flip-up helmet? Not heard of anyone using two mics in this case; how would you mount the second mic?

Only alternative I would think of, is using them comms that have the mesh functionality and adding a separate audio recorder that can last a whole day on the comm, in a pannier or backpack, with n'th comms unit. But that would mean additional charging and connecting, just like the bluetooth mics. Voice quality could be touch better though.

I actually have a spare Cardo Packtalk Bold and thought about using it for capturing comms. Two choices would be: a) attach it somewhere to the helmet and feed the output to the GoPro; or b) have it completely separate feeding into an audio recorder. Problems: a) is it's yet another thing sticking on the side of your helmet; b) have to synch the audio in post and remember to start/stop another device. Also is another communicator to charge and turn on/off each day.

 

[RTRuss]

I am playing around with a similar setup. Only difference is I am using wireless mics instead of wired. I have the action 5 pro which allows for two channels, so I have the mic mini to record me, and a mic 2 connected to the cardo. Still work in progress, so I haven't uploaded any videos with cardo audio on my channel yet. Once I get it figured out I will make a video on it.

Wireless mic to the cardo? Not heard of that before. You still need to have the Cardo mounted on your helmet to get audio to your speakers, correct? What would be the advantage of using a wireless mic as input to the Cardo then? ...wasn't aware the action 5 pro has two bluetooth channels. That's a plus.

 

[Theodor]

Is this with an open or flip-up helmet? ...; how would you mount the second mic?

You'd mount the end of the mic somewhere between the foam and shell, I guess. Depends of the exact way the specific helmet is made. And then bend the mic to appropriate position in front of your mouth, Similarly to the comms mic.

Spoiler