How to record decent ride audio/video on the cheap.

[Gorminrider]

Gorminrider,
The fanny pack or backpack located mics were used on many of the sites I visited when talking about motorcycle sound recordings, including the blog mentioned above.

I'm definitely going to try that.

I also have a Cannon Powershot something that records in stereo, but doesn't have aux inputs for mics. I never use it anymore, and I might break it open to see if I can tap the mics for a jack. Or shoot, maybe I'll just put the whole camera in a backpack and sync the audio in post.

All good ideas.

-Kevin

Yes it's too bad most cheapos have nothing like a mic jack....now THAT is a useful idea there, with the audio from the backpack...or anywhere really- you could try all sorts of places- under a sidecover or in the airbox comes to mind....

[CivilRock]

So my neighbor is into video. He's got a quad copter with a Hero 3 camera all set up with a remote viewer, etc, and does tons of photography and video. I brought up the subject to him and he's got an old GoPro, a quality mic, and a dead cat that will work perfect. So he says. He's out of town, so next week I'll try his rig. I had to google "Dead Cat" to figure out what exactly that was, but I think I saw those all over the Indian for recording.

Until he gets back, I'll be playing around with what I have, and see how it compares.

Stay tuned....

-kevin

[Turtleface]

Wait, he's into quad copters and dead cats? Is he Dutch?

http://youtu.be/5hrGAcKPE20

[Rob S.]

One of the best parts of the blog is that he has the mp3 files right there on the site for your listening pleasure.
-Kevin

Very nice. I closed my eyes and it's a warm spring day in 1976...walking near my grandfather's farm in south Jersey...middle of nowhere, two-lane road. My license is revoked for speeding, and my CB350 is waiting for me in NYC. Two bikes approach and then recede, sharing their side of the road. After their sound fades, total silence again.

So beautiful.

[CivilRock]

Wait, he's into quad copters and dead cats? Is he Dutch?

http://youtu.be/5hrGAcKPE20

Forwarded. And BTW, that was slightly disturbing.

Rob S. As requested, your walk around/start up video. Now the camera I'm using is about 5-6 years old was the last version of this camera before they started making HD and 16:9 the norm. The reason I used it was for the stereo microphones, and I found a setting in the menu where I can manually turn down the gain on the mics. I turned it down to about 10% and I think it really helps capture the music of the bike. I should try it on Auto too. Next time.

http://youtu.be/dwfs1dsxN10

I suggest using headphones to listen to the video, and change the quality to 480p as soon as it opens.

-Kevin

[Gorminrider]

ah yes..."clipping" that IS a nuisance I forgot to mention. It seems to be camera -specific. I think you can attenuate the condenser mics pretty easily but I haven't cared enough to fiddle with it. I can tell you that my Olympus E-PL2 was suprisingly bad, and that the Canon S3,S5, and that ol' gem the A550 are pretty good.

I've never SEEN one you can turn down the gain- that's pretty cool. But of course the "Auto-level" some have is always garbage, wherever you find it.
I tried a non-smart cellphone with the plugin or bluetooth headset recording audio, but again, pretty bad quality. The codec is crummy and the mic is tinny, but it's sooo convenient.
...well, I'm looking forward to your ride video.

[bonanzadave]

I gave up on the sound cause it was so terrible on my crappy Kodak camera. Instead I grabbed a funky sound track off youtube .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9fvC1459IM

[CivilRock]

Here's test #2. This time I taped the phone to my chest, but first took my headset and wrapped a scrap of foam around the mic and stuffed it between the motor and the frame. I wasn't sure if the camera was pointing correctly, but I was more worried about the Gorilla tape failing and my phone ending up on the road. It's obvious that the helmet is the best place to mount a camera. But I'm getting closer on the sound. This placement does record a lot more of the clickety clack of the flat slides rattling around, but it's almost too much. Next time I'll try and get closer to the exhaust.

http://youtu.be/BdpSBhn5aVs

-Kevin

[Gorminrider]

Excellent, Civil-Rock! That is really good! #2 Video? You are leaps and bounds ahead of any of my early attempts.
This is the gopro3 and a quality mic?
I rather like the camera placement on the chest myself because I can see the clocks...and it's easier to turn off the stuff on and off too.
Sometimes, I also mount the camera on my leg with a strap.The front fork gets in the way and there's more vibration , but I like lower the view of the wheel and road and it's easy to turn off and on.

[CivilRock]

This is the gopro3 and a quality mic?

Thanks! It's getting there.

No, this is my cell phone and an old set of iPhone
earbuds (with a mic).

I'll keep doing this until I reach the end of my patience or I'm satisfied with the sound. There's 1M videos of people riding motorcycles on youtube, but few with quality sound. That's my goal.

Kevin

[Gorminrider]

Yes there's a lot of chaff on youtube. I don't have any posted there because I find it all a bit much since they linked it to everything "AllGoogleAllTheTime....or whatever.

well, what kind of cell phone? I've tried the same as you(cheapo wired-earbud,mono mic) on a Nokia C3,and a Nokia 6275i but clipping and generally poor audio quality is what I got. Especially at anything much above 40mph.

Just a thought but some memory cards are faster now but cost abit more and useful only IF the phone or camera is capable of using the better write-speed.... And some cameras can do a faster than 30fps framerate too..might be called "sports mode" on a dial.

[CivilRock]

Well, what kind of cell phone?

Samsung Galaxy Note 3

This one only does 30fps, but I did figure out that it records in stereo with the native mics. I knew there were 2 mics, one for talking and one for speakerphone. But I didn't read anywhere that it records video with stereo. I was looking at the youtube specs of my first test video and noticed that it listed the audio as 2 chanels. And when I listened to it again I could hear it.

Now if I could only plug in a stereo mic we'd be in business.

Kevin

[CivilRock]

Do you have a start up and walk around video (with a few blips thrown in)?

Rob, did you have a chance to watch this?

http://youtu.be/dwfs1dsxN10

-Kevin

[Rob S.]

Yes, like it a lot.

What kind of choke control do you have on the left bar?

I have the stock set up, but I have to help it with a hand down on the carbs.

Do you have any dyno or dragstrip numbers?

Also, did you weld pins onto the swingarm for the rear stand?

[CivilRock]

Yes, like it a lot.
What kind of choke control do you have on the left bar?

Thanks. I made that video to your order.
It's the standard choke control for the handlebar controls that I bought. The ebay listing said 2003 GSXR750, but the 750s have been EFI since 1998. Either I have an older set of controls, or they still had a high idle start lever? Not sure. I wasn't expecting to get choke control when I was looking for a set of handlebar controls, but it's been a great addition. My stock GS choke lever was horrible too, and I had to help it open. One of many things I didn't like about the GS controls. Not only can I open the choke from the bar, but the bar lever holds it open while the bike warms up. I do use two hands to set the choke just in case my little aluminum bracket gets stressed. But I close it with the bar control. The RS38 choke lever is on the carbs and snaps closed when you let go. I had a new GS throttle cable leftover from the conversion, so I fabricated little brackets to adapt it to work as the choke cable. Works like it's factory. I have no worries about being period correct with this bike, so any parts that look and work better are fair game to me.

Do you have any dyno or dragstrip numbers?

Not yet. I doubt I'll go to a dyno, but I will go to the strip. Soon, very soon. Just got my seat back, and the weather has turned sour. That, and it seems to be 1st grader birthday party season. Every weekend day we seem to have a stinking 7yr old BD party to attend.

Also, did you weld pins onto the swingarm for the rear stand?

No, they come standard on the 1992 GSXR1100 swingarm I used. All I did was buy spools. I did have to weld on shock mounts and a brake stay. I had a buddy that builds boat towers do the welding for me. I cut out the mounts from some scrap I had and he welded them on. I could do it, but my aluminum welding is not for show (or structural integrity). He welds all day, every day, and it's artwork. I did give him a 20 spot for the effort.
(These pics are from 9 years ago when I did the swingarm swap)

Might as well hack off the mono shock mount.


-Kevin