Experimenting with my GoPro camera

[FUNFER2]

I made a bushing for the crank end and pin, then used thick sticky back foam for protection. I can use my wireless mic under the dash, engine bay ect.
I can also tilt the camcorder up & down, and rotate 360 degree's using the handle, when I'm alone or a passenger. That camcorder can also take photo's while driving with a hand held corded button, and also turn on/off the recording. This Sony has great software and can even edit the recording at ant point, stop and create a photo.

[Bernica]

I'm glad you posted the videos. I was ready to buy one, but I think I'll find something with a remote microphone.

[WardL]

Great videos. Sun Dude, does your hand brake actually work? I saw you reaching down there to release it. I never use mine. Maybe I should look at that sometime.... Oh, your speedo jumps around about like mine. Don't you love that? The passenger has no idea how fast you are going! Good show guys.

[SunDude]

WardL, my parking brake works as well as yours I'm sure. ;-) I've had my mechanic adjust it as much as possible and leave the car in gear when parked too. I've gotten used to driving the Cobra with the bouncing speedo, but often wonder if it'll help explain things to the cop who finally pulls me over...

[SunDude]

Here are my latest sound tests. In both cases, I set the camera's sound level to LO and removed the O-ring from the case as I don't need it to be waterproof for this.

In this test I mounted the camera high above the hood for a different viewpoint than my previous videos. The sound quality is somewhat improved, but overall it's the wind you hear more than anything.



In this test I mounted the camera behind the windshield as suggested by FatBoy. It starts off pretty good sound-wise, but the sound clips very badly under acceleration. And the reflections off the inside of the windshield are pretty distracting.



I think the bottom line is this: No matter what I try to do, the GoPro camera simply doesn't have a good enough microphone to give the result I'm looking for. The picture quality is good and it's easy enough to use, but the sound just isn't there. Bummer.

[Silverback51]

This is my first try at trying to attach a video, so I hope it works.

The camera is a JVC GZ-HM400U. In this video it's mounted behind the windshield without the remote microphone. With the remote microphone there is very little wind noise.

Well appearently I'm to f*cking stupid to embed the video. Lets see if the link below works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP3Ks-Meg6g

[SunDude]

Please check out this seven-minute tour of several landmarks in Ottawa, Canada's capital city, at the wheel of my Superformance Cobra.

The tour starts on the twisty Rockcliffe Parkway (under repair in places) which borders the Ottawa River that separates Ontario and Quebec. I take one quick loop on the roundabout near Rideau Hall, so you can see the entrance to the Governor General's and to the Prime Minister's residences.

The route then takes Sussex Drive past the old City Hall building at Green Island, the National Research Council laboratories, the Royal Canadian Mint, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the National Gallery of Canada near the Byward Market. Next we continue straight onto MacKenzie Avenue past the new U.S. Embassy in Canada and Major's Hill Park, then turn right onto Wellington Street where we pass the famous Chateau Laurier hotel, the War Memorial and the Parliament Buildings.

Enjoy the ride!

[Jake]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

This is my first try at trying to attach a video, so I hope it works.

The camera is a JVC GZ-HM400U. In this video it's mounted behind the windshield without the remote microphone. With the remote microphone there is very little wind noise.

Well appearently I'm to f*cking stupid to embed the video. Lets see if the link below works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP3Ks-Meg6g

John, nice video. I have forwarded it to district court for charging. You should be getting something in the mail soon.

Love , Jake

[Silverback51]

As luck would have it, I have bail money set aside for this type of thing.

However, I should mention that the video was taken in Nevada, not Washington. Does that make a difference?

[Dangerous Doug]

Have you tried putting a small piece of foam over the microphone input? This can help baffle some of the wind noise. Not familiar with the camera you have, so it may have some foam on the microphone already. Might try some denser foam?

DD

[Jamo]

I just picked up the GoPro at Sears Point during the SAAC...we have a Gashole team setting up for a 24 hours of Lemons in a few months and it seemed perfect for the job.

Using the roll bar mount to start off with...since I tend to break things when I tighten them, do the joints always give when you push on them regardless of high tight you make the bolts?

SunDude...and you may have already answered this...which back are you using?

[SunDude]

I have the GoPro Motorsports HERO Wide, just the basic package and suction cup stand, no extra rollbar mount or anything like that.

My camera mounts inside a clear plastic, waterproof case. I have the option of taking out the rubber O-ring on the rear door of the case, or leaving it in. I tried both to see which gave the better sound. The answer: neither. O-ring in, the sound is muted but mostly undistorted. O-ring out, the sound is a bit louder but subject to more distortion and wind noise.

There is no jack anywhere on this thing to mount an external microphone.

I suppose I could try to record the sound on a separate device, and then try to synchronize video and soundtrack in Movie Maker. Seems kinda complicated tho'...

[Jamo]

Mine's the HD Motorsports Hero, and I added the rollbar mount. It provides two different backs for the plastic case, one sealed completely for weatherproofing, and one with open windows. Instructions are to use the open one for "below 100mph" and the sealed one for "above 100mph"...guess I'll try the open window one first.

Thanks.

[SunDude]

Here's a new video I just shot today. For this one I positioned the camera on the left flank, just ahead of the driver's door, for a different viewing angle and (hopefully) more sidepipe music. Unfortunately, I also got more road/tire and wind noise.

Check it out and let me know which camera angle (of all the videos I've posted so far) you like best:

• on the bulkhead, right behind the cockpit;
• low on the cowl, directly ahead of the driver;
• high on the cowl, directly behind the hood scoop; or
• on the side/flank, near the sideview mirror.

[4pipes]

Jamo, please report on your success with the mount and the sound. I've been thinking about the same setup and would like you're assessment.

[PDUB]

Dude,

It was amazing how several times during the last clip you got your front tire to roll so slowly while at speed, then slowed it down, stopped it, and actually got it to turn backwards! It looked like you were moving forward the whole time...

[SunDude]

Originally Posted by PDUB

Dude,

It was amazing how several times during the last clip you got your front tire to roll so slowly while at speed, then slowed it down, stopped it, and actually got it to turn backwards! It looked like you were moving forward the whole time...

Yeah, it reminds me of when the Batmobile used to do that in the old Adam West TV show.

[lnfletcher]

If you are needing one with an external mic input, consider the Drift HD170 POV camera.

[Silverback51]

For those that are interested in mounts for a standard video camera. These are two that I made up.

First one is for the roll bar.



The dash mount one is adapted from the GoPro dash mount. I just made an adapter that fit the mount and my camera.