Gitup GIT2 Audio

[shredder]

Picked up a GIT2 Pro package recently including their external stereo mic and after updating firmware to latest got round to a bit of testing.
I have a few questions which I have posted as separate threads to keep it clean. I need cam for 3 main activities:-
Mountain Biking
Karting
Snowboarding

I tried cam on mountain bike yesterday. Cam mounted on handlebars inside waterproof cae (My helmet does not have any suitable area to mount sticky base due to all the ventialtion slots).

After finally getting footage to play on PC (see separate thread for problems) I realised the audio is non-existent (or just bit of creaking form bike frame). Bit of testing at home quicly showed that getting any sort of audio while in standard case is virtually impossible regardless of audi level setting.

I am wondering best way to get decent audio. For all activities I need case/lens protection. For karting and snowboarding definitely need water protection - biking less so.
The external mic (usb) works fine but cannot be used with standard case.

I thought maybe get another cheap compatible case (Gopro 3/4) and drill hole(s) at stategic place would enable built in mic to pick up sound. I dont know where builtin mic is on cam (Gitup?) but I guess this approach may give wind noise problems.

For karting the 2 stroke race engines are very loud plus I guess a lot of wind noise at speed if exposed. So I was thinking to run external mic up to inside helmet but then there is still the problem of weatherproofing cam.... Snowboarding is sort of inbetween - needs sound, water protection and wind noise minimisation.

All suggestions welcome!



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[Nigel]

I thought maybe get another cheap compatible case (Gopro 3/4) and drill hole(s) at stategic place would enable built in mic to pick up sound. I dont know where builtin mic is on cam (Gitup?) but I guess this approach may give wind noise problems.

The microphone is above the connectors, 2 small holes. On the Gitup case it is just hidden behind the latch, you could drill a hole alongside the latch and get some sound in but it is going to be hard to avoid wind noise. On a GoPro case with the latch at the top you probably have plenty of room to drill a hole alongside the microphone, doesn't need to be big, maybe one 6mm hole, you can then cover it with fury windshield material to remove most wind noise. Alternatively use a GoPro case and drill a hole for the external microphone connecter, then you can fit your external microphone with a really good windshield.

 

[Gibson99]

tall order...

on the mountain bike you can probably just use a regular gopro3+ skeleton case - it has openings for the plugs.... or drill holes like you said. the mic is behind two tiny holes next to the plugs on the camera body. i bought the cheapest gopro case i could find on amazon, which was actually advertised as being a skeleton case but is NOT actually a skeleton case. but that's ok because i planned on drilling holes in it anyway. you could put a piece of foam or felt over the mic hole in the case to help reject wind noise. my idea was to have the camera on the side of my race helmet (Snell SA2010), and run the external mic up inside the helmet, velcro'd to the inside of my chinbar. this might work for you for karting. curious though - where do you kart that you need water protection? do you race in the rain?

skiing/snowboarding there isn't much you can do to get sound. when i had mine attached to a head/helmet strap (ran strap thru the same retainer that holds my goggles strap) or a chest strap, i could (mostly) hear myself talking just fine, and even got a little wind noise from the case when i picked up some speed on faster blues and blacks, but couldn't hear anything anyone else said, even if they were standing right next to me. when the camera was attached to the board, all you could hear was snow crunching/squeaking under the board.

edit: they do make bike helmet mounts for action cameras - they use velcro straps to go thru existing vent holes on the helmet. i'm sure a little searching online will find one for cheaper than what gopro itself wants.

 

[shredder]

OK I see the builtin mic. Embarassingly I had assumed those 2 holes were for the actual connection of a mini mono mic connector ! doh!

@Nigel. Seems like getting some cheap case(s) and experimenting is the way forward.

@Gibson99. I am in UK so plenty of rain and yes we kart in rain. Only time rain stops racing is when track gets too much standing water (even the wet tyres aquaplane then).
So what case did you use for skiing - the skeleton one or standard full case?

Interesting we have a Contour cam and have used this on karts.
It copes very well with audio - it does not get overpowered with engine or wind noise on track yet when in pits you can clearly hear people around talking.

 

[Gibson99]

for skiing i used the standard gitup waterproof case. my only issue with it (especially when mounted on the snowboard) was that snow/powder would get into the spring area of the buttons, freeze solid, and make it REALLY hard to press the buttons.

 

[Nigel]

for skiing i used the standard gitup waterproof case. my only issue with it (especially when mounted on the snowboard) was that snow/powder would get into the spring area of the buttons, freeze solid, and make it REALLY hard to press the buttons.

Ahh, I did wonder why they didn't turn it on while still in the case 😀

 

[Gibson99]

you can press buttons while underwater - that will be fine. it's just when the snow gets inside the little shield around the button, it gets really hard to press them. doesn't help that the rubber seals get hard from the cold. before the shields/springs got packed with snow, i had no trouble pressing the buttons, even with my gloves on.

edit: just watched that ice video. poorly edited. camera/hands go out of frame (and there's even a bad cut right as he takes it out of the bowl that makes it look like he switched the camera with another. but yes, the buttons were probably full of ice, based on how they apparently froze it in a bowl of water.

 

[shredder]

Thanks guys. Really useful info.
Will definitely avoid trying to mount on snowboard.
Helmet mount looks favourite. I have a remote control so hopefully this will avoid fumbling for buttons on top of head ;-)

 

[F70100]

Looking forward to seeing some karting footage, and a photo of how you mounted the Git2 to your helmet would be appreciated too. I also use a Contour (an old 720/30fps) and I think they're still the easiest for helmet mounting and give a natural POV from a helmet. A moment of glory here...

 

[Gibson99]

Thanks guys. Really useful info.
Will definitely avoid trying to mount on snowboard.
Helmet mount looks favourite. I have a remote control so hopefully this will avoid fumbling for buttons on top of head ;-)

why avoid the snowboard mount? it can give some pretty unique video:


just be sure to tether the camera to the bindings, just in case the suction cup (or adhesive mount if you use one) lets go because of the cold or vibrations.