Recording issues at track

[2morrow]

This is a 2 pronged thread.

GoPro’s: does anyone else have a lot of issues having your GoPro’s overheat then turn off? I’ve reduced resolution, frame rate and bouncing compensation to have the processor work less but it still overheats and eventually turns off. Typically during a session. Frustrating AF.

Recording Audio: I’ve recorded session through my phone using TrackAddict and although a great app, capturing audio is a challenge. I’ve been experimenting with a lavalier mic but the sound is blown out and I can’t adjust the gain on the iPhone.

For those of you that record your sessions, what is your method of capturing good audio?

Thanks in advance!

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[NightmareMoon]

Try an opaque case if you're running it bare or in a clear case. Keeps the direct sun off it. Throw something over it when you're parked so its not just baking.

For audio I run a mini stereo line to a mic in a wind sock off the rear trunk/bumper. Much better sound with a wind sock and a dedicated mic.

 

[MrMike]

I'm think that GoPros have gotten worse at handling heat with every new model that comes out. I'm starting to become convinced this is the main reason I see so many Garmin Catalysts and Insta360s.

 

[tosha]

What gopro model do you use? Where is it located in the car?

I have 11, it's mounted away from the windshield, it's set to max resolution but the frame rate is at 30fps if I'm not mistaken. Never had overheating issues in ambients up to ~90F. I do have a bunch of spare batteries and a charger with power bank at track. One battery is good for couple sessions.

 

[WItoTX]

You could try throwing it in your cooler in a plastic bag in between sessions.

I have a 7, and if I leave it together between sessions it will overheat. If I pull the battery out, it keeps working. Done this on 100 degree days pretty successfully. No help on the mike part.

 

[HeelToeHero]

No issues with overheating on my hero 3. Battery life doesn't last a full day anymore so I bring a charger to charge at lunch.
I'm using a Fantaseal AK-M mic with an adaptor for the gopro and taped to my back bumper. I'm using racechrono which starts my gopro and obdii data capture automatically.
Here's one of my latest. The sound isn't super accurate but at least it's not blown out or wind noise:

 

[Brooski1]

I have a GoPro 9 and haven't had a shutoff while recording issue. It definitely gets hot. I've recently had an issue with GoPro batteries expanding to the point I can't get them out of the camera without putting the camera in a fridge or cooler. I've got my resolution set for 1440 and frame rate at 30. I can usually get 2 - 20 minute sessions on one battery before I have to swap in a new one.
I improved the audio quality by using the GoPro Media Mod. This adds a directional microphone with a windscreen and an external mic input.

 

[mavisky]

For audio I run a mini stereo line to a mic in a wind sock off the rear trunk/bumper. Much better sound with a wind sock and a dedicated mic.

I too run a stereo mic with foam over the mic, inside a windsock, inside a 3d printed case. I also just throw it in to the trunk by wedging it into the foam as well sometimes. Audio quality is much improved, but I can still blow out the high end of the audio sometimes when using the external mic placement leading to pops in the audio.

You can see the 3D printed mount here above my license plate

Mic inside in the trunk


Mic outside on the bumper - you can hear the cracks when the audio blows out the mics.

 

[Bob Lob Law]

It's not always heat that will shut it off like that. If the memory card isn't capable of writing fast enough it will also shut off like it overheated. I have run into that before.

 

[HeelToeHero]

I too run a stereo mic with foam over the mic, inside a windsock, inside a 3d printed case. I also just throw it in to the trunk by wedging it into the foam as well sometimes. Audio quality is much improved, but I can still blow out the high end of the audio sometimes when using the external mic placement leading to pops in the audio.

You can see the 3D printed mount here above my license plate

Mic inside in the trunk


Mic outside on the bumper - you can hear the cracks when the audio blows out the mics.

Oh I like the 3d printed mount idea! You just gave me a winter project!

 

[HeelToeHero]

I too run a stereo mic with foam over the mic, inside a windsock, inside a 3d printed case. I also just throw it in to the trunk by wedging it into the foam as well sometimes. Audio quality is much improved, but I can still blow out the high end of the audio sometimes when using the external mic placement leading to pops in the audio.

You can see the 3D printed mount here above my license plate

Mic inside in the trunk


Mic outside on the bumper - you can hear the cracks when the audio blows out the mics.

The sound in the trunk also sounds like a better representation of the true sound. I wonder if that's what I should try.

What foam in the trunk are you wedging it into?

 

[mavisky]

The sound in the trunk also sounds like a better representation of the true sound. I wonder if that's what I should try.

What foam in the trunk are you wedging it into?

Where the spare tire inflator goes. GT350's don't get a spare.

Here's the mount.

 

[HeelToeHero]

I don't have a spare either but trying to picture where since that's all hard foam. I'd probably have to do something to stop the cover from flopping around too since usually it's all shifted out of position. When I go to pack up at the end of day.

 

[2morrow]

Learned a lot here, thanks for the collective input!

Try an opaque case if you're running it bare or in a clear case. Keeps the direct sun off it. Throw something over it when you're parked so its not just baking.

For audio I run a mini stereo line to a mic in a wind sock off the rear trunk/bumper. Much better sound with a wind sock and a dedicated mic.

I have an opaque case and thats a good idea about the cover. I typically rent a garage0 but I bet a lot of the heat soak happen while waiting on grid.

I have 2 dedicated mics now as I got tired of wind noise. More on that in a sec.

I'm think that GoPros have gotten worse at handling heat with every new model that comes out. I'm starting to become convinced this is the main reason I see so many Garmin Catalysts and Insta360s.

You're spot on. As the processors have gotten better the heat dissipation hasn't developed as the casing is the same. THeres a good thread on the GoPro forum on this topic.

What gopro model do you use? Where is it located in the car?

I have 11, it's mounted away from the windshield, it's set to max resolution but the frame rate is at 30fps if I'm not mistaken. Never had overheating issues in ambients up to ~90F. I do have a bunch of spare batteries and a charger with power bank at track. One battery is good for couple sessions.

I have a Hero 5 and a Hero 9 Black. I mount it either on the top of my front splitter, under the "5.0" badge, driver side rear window, and at the rear lower bumper. I've learned to bring charger's batteries and a extension cord lol.

You could try throwing it in your cooler in a plastic bag in between sessions.

I have a 7, and if I leave it together between sessions it will overheat. If I pull the battery out, it keeps working. Done this on 100 degree days pretty successfully. No help on the mike part.

This is a great idea, I'll do it in about 8-10 hours lol.

I improved the audio quality by using the GoPro Media Mod. This adds a directional microphone with a windscreen and an external mic input.

I'll look into this thank you.

I too run a stereo mic with foam over the mic, inside a windsock, inside a 3d printed case. I also just throw it into the trunk by wedging it into the foam as well sometimes. Audio quality is much improved, but I can still blow out the high end of the audio sometimes when using the external mic placement leading to pops in the audio.

You can see the 3D printed mount here above my license plate

Mic inside in the trunk


Mic outside on the bumper - you can hear the cracks when the audio blows out the mics.

Another great idea. I'll work on this in the offseason. I'v 3D printed several parts for the s550 community in the past. THis one is next!

It's not always heat that will shut it off like that. If the memory card isn't capable of writing fast enough it will also shut off like it overheated. I have run into that before.

I've learned this as well. Keeping the OEM storage for GoPro's is critical (Temperamental lil effer lol)

 

[2morrow]

After a week's worth of research and learnings I abandoned my original Mic concept for the car with a much simpler solution with a Zoom H1n recorder and dual Lav Mic's for stereo exhaust notes. The test runs still crackles/pops because the car is pretty loud in the high RPM range.

I'll tweak it more in about 7 hours when I get to test it again at Sonoma Raceway.

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