Do You Process Your Audio To Clean It Up?

[JScrambler]

Just wondering how many people clean up their audio in post.

I can't seem to get good quality sound. Maybe it's the acoustics of the helmet. I'm not sure.

My setup: Tascam DR-05, lavalier Microphone with foam windscreen, and Gopro 4

I set my sensitivity to 3 and it's still too loud and sounds horrible. It's just not clear. It sounds like extra vibration or how cars rattle when the speakers are blown.

Maybe the the mic is too close to my mouth? It touches my cheeks so maybe I should should it behind my cheek pad?

Maybe I'm not utilizing the functions of the Tascam correctly. I honestly know nothing about audio.

If need be I can upload a small short video with a sample of what I'm getting. I been out trying to vlog, but hasn't uploaded anything do to poor sound.

 

[WingManGT]

I used to process it, I didn't on my last two videos. I'm using a Zoom H1 and my mic is on the chin bar right in front of my mouth. Recorder is set to 20 out of 100 (1/5th) and low cut is on. Mic is with both a foam cover and a deadcat over it. So far it seems fine to me.

 

[scooterwuf]

I'm starting to do normalization and compression in Audacity. My sound is fine if I listen with my headphones, but needs a little volume if I hear it over my laptop speakers. I have a faux fur windscreen on an my Drift cam external mic set on the medium range. It keeps the wind noise to a minimum, but maintains the clarity I need for speaking.

- Wuf

 

[HippoDrone]

def try repositioning the microphone, it makes a huge difference even just the mics orientation as well as it's location. I have a really expensive mic and it is useless for in helmet as it is too sensitive, even with 0 gain on my DR-05 it clips and is swamped. I also have a cheap £2 mic which seems to be far better as it isn't so sensitive meaning my bike doesn't drown me out quite so much.

 

[HippoDrone]

The forum won't let me upload a sound test so can't seem to show you the difference the mic makes but there was a noticeable gain in output from the Microphone Madness lapel mic over the cheapy mic, which would be great if we were using them as lapel mics but not so great when stuffed right close to your mouth in an enclosed space.

 

[WheelyPerd]

Try different postions inside your helmet, also try wrapping in foam.

I clean up all my audio because its recorded so horribly, I dont do a ton of effort, but I cut all the wind noise out. Also anything loud that would startle the viewer.

 

[JScrambler]

def try repositioning the microphone, it makes a huge difference even just the mics orientation as well as it's location. I have a really expensive mic and it is useless for in helmet as it is too sensitive, even with 0 gain on my DR-05 it clips and is swamped. I also have a cheap £2 mic which seems to be far better as it isn't so sensitive meaning my bike doesn't drown me out quite so much.

wow even at 0 gain. I think my mic might be to sensitive too. My other mic is a sony ecm-cs3, but it's too big to fit inside the helmet.

 

[JScrambler]

Here is a 10 second clip of the audio.

 

[lupin]

Set the sensitivity as low as it will go.

If that's not working then you need to either reposition away from your mouth, or start to cover the mic to reduce what it's picking up.

If your audio is clipping (Distorting) when your recording, no amount of post production is going to fix that.

 

[JScrambler]

Set the sensitivity as low as it will go.

If that's not working then you need to either reposition away from your mouth, or start to cover the mic to reduce what it's picking up.

If your audio is clipping (Distorting) when your recording, no amount of post production is going to fix that.

I will set it to zero next, it on three right now. The mic is covered with a foam windscreen that came with it.

 

[WheelyPerd]

Yeah agreed, you definitely need to lower the sensitivity. If that doesnt work and I remember you saying that you cant move it any further away, you'll need to start wrapping it in more foam.

 

[JScrambler]

I'm doing some test now on the lowest setting of zero with foam screen and furry windscreen on top. So far it's still too sensitive. Not sure if it will fit behind cheek with foam screen. If that doesn't work I will have to find a less sensitive mic.

 

[HippoDrone]

could you try putting it in the cheek foam? I find that tends to muffle things a bit though so although it would remove background noise and stop your breath causing issues, it could sound a bit like you are under water

 

[Superballs]

I use this mic:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01F8QTOBQ/?tag=yoursiteranke-21

It's cheap and actually mounting it might be tricky but it does the job.
I get some wind, some engine (more than wind) and all the voice I ever need.
I can clip it, but don't usually.

Of course, if you are using a dedicated audio recorder, I'm not sure how well it will work with that.

It's stereo too. If you are using a gopro 4, the adapter it comes with should plug right into that.

EDIT: YAY LINKS!!!

 

[Superballs]

I just wanted to quickly update on this.

Yesterday I had a Rode DeadKitten windshield delivered.

I installed it (the T-Shaped Mic fits right inside, and the elastic opening closes around it pretty nicely allowing the stem and cable to come out.

There is still wind...but it almost eliminated the low blustery sound that seems to overwhelm the mic. My bike and my voice come out a LOT cleaner than before. I'm going to take the Expressway home tonight, just because I want to be able to do a direct comparison video with and without (it gives me an awesome excuse to do some George Lucas wipes too).

 

[HippoDrone]

aye, a test at 70mph+ will show if it is working well mate!

 

[Superballs]

130KM/H?

 

[HippoDrone]

 

[Superballs]

Funny you reference that.

If you haven't, check out a movie called Hard Core Logo (which actually makes direct reference to This Is Spinal Tap with a couple in-jokes), it's another band mocumentary, and one of my favorite movies of all time.

 

[SighBored]

Using FCPX, I just set the levels to -2 dBm and the cut the noise by 2%, that's all. It does clean up the background wind noise a bit, as long as the speech is clear I'm fine with some wind noise in the back, after all wind noise is also an indication of speed.. Along with the sound of your engine/exhaust.