Recording comms to DJI Action cameras

[tojjer29]

Hi,
Has anyone managed to find a way to record your group comms over Cardo / Sena straight to a DJI camera, either the 3, 4 or 5 Pro?
I know Phil Tonic did it by cutting and splicing wires etc, but is there any other way using standard audio cables either trs or trrs?
Obviously, the usbc coming out of the camera needs to have the DAC Chipset in it, maybe that's what limits it to one audio source going in?
Tried splitters, stereo breakout cables, but only one mic will work at a time.

Any ideas folks?
Thanks

 

[tojjer29]

Update: Been playing around with all sorts of cables etc. It seems that all of the cameras ( 3,4,5) will only allow one audio source in at a time.
I've managed to get two feeds that will go into the camera via:

a usbc to 3.5mm trrs from the camera
into that is plugged a trrs splitter.
One feed of the splitter has a trrs mic plugged into it. The camera records this perfectly.
The other feed has a trrs to trs adapter plugged into it. The trs end plugs into the audio out plug of the Cardo. This records my Cardo speaker audio perfectly onto the camera.
The problem comes when the Cardo is sending audio to the camera and the other microphone is sending audio at the same time. One overrides the other, and one feed cannot be heard until the other is silent, then it kicks in after a brief pause.

To me, it's either the usbc or the actual camera that cannot handle the dual input.

I know with the 5 Pro, I can use two Mic 2's to record another audio source onto the camera footage, but there is normally more than two of us on a ride. Also there is the problem of range when we are on different bikes.

Back to the drawing board!

 

[Drakhen99]

I just tape a mic over my right-ear speaker for my comms unit, and use a 2-into-1 Y cable to join it with my helmet mic. As long as the comms unit volume is high, the levels are the same, or close.

I showed it in a video on my channel [link in my signature, search for "dual vlog"].

The camera shouldn't be able to discern between the 2, unless there's some voice isolation going on in-camera.

Hope that helps!

-John

 

[tojjer29]

Cheers John, just to be a PITA I use earbuds not speakers. I think DJI may have done it to protect Mic2 sales???
I use to do that with my GoPro, but got rid of them a long time ago. I think I'll have to carry on using the Mic2 with the 5 Pro to record me, and run a single cable to one of the other cameras to record the comms. Not watertight then though.
Was hoping to get all audio on one camera, but doesn't look like it'll work.

Cheers bud

 

[Drakhen99]

Cheers John, just to be a PITA I use earbuds not speakers. I think DJI may have done it to protect Mic2 sales???
I use to do that with my GoPro, but got rid of them a long time ago. I think I'll have to carry on using the Mic2 with the 5 Pro to record me, and run a single cable to one of the other cameras to record the comms. Not watertight then though.
Was hoping to get all audio on one camera, but doesn't look like it'll work.

Cheers bud

Hmm, if you can wire up a Tascam or something to a spare comms unit, to pick up the conversation, and then put that in a saddlebag or something, that might work. Would be hell trying to sync it all in post, though.

-John

 

[tojjer29]

Just to be awkward again, I had a spare cardo and wired that to a Sony Voice recorder. It worked, but it was poor quality for some reason. Whether or not it was because it was tucked in the tank bag, I don't know. The aerial was up on the Cardo in the bag. And yes, it was hell syncing it all up in post.

Maybe one day, GoPro, DJI, Insta will all get together with Cardo and Sena and make a unit that is a comms unit with 8K camera built in. Pigs will fly first I think.

 

[Theodor]

Earbuds sure make it more difficult. Splitting the analogue part of the wiring is the simplest way to go in my opinion too.

 

[tojjer29]

Yes they do, we'll keep trying until something works. Thanks guys

 

[Slorida]

Just to be awkward again, I had a spare cardo and wired that to a Sony Voice recorder. It worked, but it was poor quality for some reason. Whether or not it was because it was tucked in the tank bag, I don't know. The aerial was up on the Cardo in the bag. And yes, it was hell syncing it all up in post.

Maybe one day, GoPro, DJI, Insta will all get together with Cardo and Sena and make a unit that is a comms unit with 8K camera built in. Pigs will fly first I think.

Could be reception if sound is intermittent, but if it is distorted it could be the recording volume on the Sony unit.

I think that was the main issue when I used a splitter cable from the Cardo output (speaker), not tried it for a couple of years though so can't remember too many details about it.

 

[tojjer29]

Could be reception if sound is intermittent, but if it is distorted it could be the recording volume on the Sony unit.

I think that was the main issue when I used a splitter cable from the Cardo output (speaker), not tried it for a couple of years though so can't remember too many details about it.

I agree Slo, I think it's the volume I have the cardo at that is distorting the recording

 

[Slorida]

I agree Slo, I think it's the volume I have the cardo at that is distorting the recording

That is also possible.

 

[tojjer29]

I've stuck an attenuator cable inline from the Cardo to the sound recorder. We will see what that does. I have read that it can make it too quiet then.