HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR MOTORCYCLE ONBOARD SOUND RECORDINGS // SCHAAF-METHOD

So far I've been managing with the built in go pro mic, i have my camera mounted below my chin, and somehow when mounted in that position I get next to 0 wind noise. Might be the new fancy go pro working its magic, or maybe there just so happens to be a blade of clean air at that spot. Likely will switch to an external recorder eventually.

Nice work

here i am, watching in 2023

Question. 10 years on since this video was published, have you changed your method in any way? Do you do anything else differently these days? Thanks for sharing. Personally, I've been struggling to get clear audio without wind buffeting. Your sound is very muted and I wonder why that is. Are you doing heavy post processing and tune the s**t out of EQ or is it just the side effect of keeping the recorder in a backpack?

10 years later...still a legend!

Still a good video, 10 years later

For me it depends a lot on what kind of bike I'm riding. I.e., I mostly ride Ducatis, and some of the best Ducati sounds come from the intake, not the exhaust, so having the audio recording device in a backpack doesn't work very well. The best audio I've managed so far came from putting a foam wind slayer on the GoPro and a fluffy wind muff on the H1n, GoPro on the chin bar of the helmet and the H1n in a side pocket of a backpack. By using both audio tracks you can balance intake/exhaust noise to recreate what you actually heard while riding. The only issue with that method is you have to be a lot more precise in syncing your audio, just a visual cue along with a noise isn't enough since you need milliseconds of accuracy to sync the engine sound. Usually it works for me to have a coarse audio sync cue like tapping something metallic in the video, then that gets it close enough to zoom in on the waveforms and look for the similar engine sound patterns in the two audio tracks and sync them up more precisely that way. You can tell when you're close because the combined engine audio will suddenly become sharp and clear.

Hi Schaaf! Any recommendations settings for H2n , like audio format mp3 or wav, lo cut, comp/limiter?

hey there, do you have any advice? I try this method too, and until like 80 kmh it's pretty fine, but the wind is still too present and noisy in the lower frequencies. greetings

still the best video on this topic

@schaaf thanks as always for the interesting video. Would you recommend an alternative the zoom, or why this one compared to another voice recorder by Sony or else, a little cheaper ?

I got myself a camera + audio setup for 180 euros: gopro hero white 7 for 110 (second hand), the parts for helmet setup for around 20, zoom h1 for 20 (secondhand), deadcat for zoom h1a for 12, sdcards 128g + 32 gb for 16. Honestly all I need since il be making pure sound type videos only! :) would recommend people to look into second hand, so much value to be found!

Love it. From now on, I'll replace my phone in a socks by this. :D

Is this still your audio setup?

Thx! Do you use it in your latest videos still like this? Greetings

Hey,
Nice vid.
Could you tell me your gopro settings pls?

Thanks so much for this. Just tried it and it came out amazing. Will definitely be the only way I record now. Cheers 🇺🇸

What an amazing video. Cannot believe it's 9 years ago

I’m watching this in 2023 and your bike audio is still one of the best audio captures I’ve heard even with our current wireless mic options etc, this still sounds awesome

what are the ideal settings of the recorder to record in the backpack?

digga du bist durch man 😅😅😅

Servus Schaaf ist es möglich das Du das gleiche Video auch in komplett in Deutsch hast ? Mein Englisch ist nicht gut. Danke.

Will try this method. At the moment the Zoom picks up any movement within my backpack so lots of scraping noise. Hopefully this will muffle unwanted sounds.

Hi ! I just tried your trick. The sound is really better. But I still have a little wind above 50-60km/h!
Stupid question: Do you put the whole microphone in the foam or do you let the microphones stick out of the foam?
Thanks for your reply 😉

Nice movie. I think the position of recorders is very important. I usually place microphone in my collar back. It seems backpack is olso good idea.

Amazing!!! I am looking to up my game in relation to my motorbike recording and this definitely helps A LOT!

I can't believe that a 9 year old video could be so relevant and helpful in early 2023. Will certainly get that H1 or H1n. Will tuck that mic+foam setup inside a tail bag. Right now I'm just using my cheap vlogging lav mic tucked inside my helmet as my RAW audio recorder.😅

I was planning to get a separate audio recorder and was wondering how the hell am I going to sync with the go pro. The horn is an excellent signal. Thanks a lot!

I'm going crazy trying to get good audio.

Thanks! I've been cutting sticky dead cats to fit over my gopro mics but I want more engine sound. I like the foam idea to combat the handling noise👍🏍

The stupid music is worse than wind noise.

Thanks for this excellent video. I'm gonna to give it a try. I'm getting tired of recording rides and finding out I have nothing but wind noise as a soundtrack! PS: your video editing is second to none!

Alter, mega kreativ! Super erklärt, habe lange nach einer Lösung gesucht. Vielen Dank!

Thanks for the video I wish I saw this earlier. I went for a ride recently and my mic was bouncing around my pouch bag. Also on the levels part I'm still working out whats the best level. I find auto not suitable as it has a mind of its own. Will post a ride video soon!
Thanks a lot for the video love your content and keep up the good work! keem em coming!
From Malaysia

I'm about to try something with gopro in a media mount and an external rode mic with big sound muff on, mounted behind registration plate near exhaust on 1250GS, have you done anything similar with good results, I don't own a Zoom recorder yet but i do have all the other equipment so just going to have a play with that.

Super Video, Schaaf!

Awesome! Thumbs up.

locut OFF, limiter OFF, auto OFF.... yours? what is your advice or suggestion?

Thanks!

Amazing method!!!! very useful!

While I'm waiting for my second hand h1 zoom recorder, I'm doing some tests with my phone and a Boya BY M1 mic inside the foam that comes with pelican cases (pelican replica) inside my camera backpack and also under the seat cover of my RE Interconticeptor. Very cheap setup but wind noise is not that high and exhaust sounds good.
I'm also waiting for my ND filters for all my go pro cameras !

Did you change something to this over the recent years?

the mic is not ever covered with foam/deadcat and your have CLEANEST audio, how is that even possible im thinking. i had my zoom h1n on my back belt bag, mic pointed to the exhaust side, damn.. lotsa wind noise like the beginning of your clips hahaha

Would you consider doing an updated version of this video with your current setup and configs? Cheers.

Hello. Are you still using the same method? Which changes have you applied, if any?

Thanks!

Hey Schaaf, you should do an update to this video! I'm curious if you're still recording this way.

gotta love this

Your ZOOM settings sir ?

So you won't covering the zooms mic?