A bit of an odd post maybe for a car forum but I don’t really know where else to ask!

 

Having got my hands on a 1988 Citroen 2CV in May, I have recently started making some YouTube content kind of “adventures in a 2CV” style. Just as a hobby, no where near monetising the channel! 

 

I’ve managed after a few films to sort out focus problems on the visuals, learnt my way round some basic editing on iMovie (which I already had on my MacBook), and got my head around how to load onto YouTube.

 

But I am struggling to get a decent sound for recording my voice while driving along. I’m filming on an iPhone 6 and have bought a Nicama lapel mic (£14.95) ....but that didn’t cure things.

 

The attached video explains the problem I’m having and isn’t exciting viewing, it’s more about illustrating the problem. 
 

So I’m looking for some help please as to what I’m doing wrong with the mic, or advice as to a better mic to get hold of. As mentioned, this is only for fun so I don’t want to be spending loads of cash!

 

Thoughts from the collective wisdom awaited please!

 

Ps - Raymond who is referred to in the clip is the 2 CV, not a person!

 

 

I can't help with specific models of mic but I would say the best kind of mic for recording voice whilst moving around is a "headset" mic rather than a lapel mic. The headset mic is either worn like headphones or has a loop that goes around one ear. The mic is on a thin wire "boom" that is held along one side of your face (often with some tape) and stops just at your mouth.

 

This keeps the microphone element closest to the source of the audio - your mouth. That means you can turn down the recording levels, which in turn means less pickup from the surroundings - especially if you can talk fairly loud while recording. Because it's attached to your head, you can move your head around and the mic stays in the same location relative to your mouth, so the levels don't vary if you turn your head. The mic element is also firmly supported so it doesn't rattle around and, if worn correctly, there won't be any "handling noise".

 

I don't know what options there are for headset mics compatible with an iPhone.

 

As a test, you could making some sort of "headset" for your lapel mic and positioning it at the side of your mouth - or maybe just taping it to your cheek to see if that helps at all !

Thanks @BOD20 . -I’ll  raid the good lady’s hair bands and wire coat hangers and see what I can rig up 🤔

Ok, following the suggestion of using a headset mic, I had a go earlier. Interestingly someone on Faceache suggested the same thing.

 

Results are as per the attached, but to save viewing it didn’t really work.
 

The next thing to try is to see if the iPhone is vibrating too much in the holder - I have a solution for that but can’t try it until tomorrow at the earliest.

 

So other suggestions would still be gratefully received !

 

 

 

 

 

So as an update, I did some experiments today using the gear I currently have. I worry that my YouTubing is just a Covid Cabinfever reaction so don’t want to spend much money trying to indulge myself!

 

anyhow, I think the outcome of the experiments will be that I should film on either the iPhone 6 or my Nextbase dashcam, and record the sound on the iPhone using the Apple earbud type mic that Apple supply.

 

Who’d have thought it - Apple mic working better with Apple stuff than a £15 cheap mic 😂😂

 

results of experiments are on this video.

 

 

My mate is a journalist with the BBC he showsed us all the microphone he had to use when broadcasting, it cost £15k.

 

I'm sorry to say if you want to do this a bit more seriosuly you might need to spend a bit more money. You'll probably at least need something with a wind muff type cover.

 

Quick google and this is the sort of thing being recommended - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rode-Smartlav-Lavalier-Microphone-Smartphone/dp/B00EO4A7L0

 

It's not cheap but it's a lot less than £15k.

 

 

Thanks @Aspman

 

I posted the problem on Faceache to see if anyone had friends of friends who could help (knowing my immediate FB friends probably wouldn’t know themselves).

 

the one recommendation for microphone that came back is exactly the one you suggested....so the weight of argument seems to be that I shouldn’t have tried to save a few quid by buying cheap first time.

 

Others have suggested new cameras which have better built in mics, the DJI Osmo Action Cam being one suggestion. But at £230 before you buy the add ons like mounts etc I think I will get the Rode microphone first.

 

Thanks again for your input, much appreciated.

Yeah it's buy cheap buy twice. With the cheap stuff you just don't know what you will get, and sometimes you will get lucky and it's a complete steal, but often it's a bit of a disappointment.

I do it with headphones, keep buying 'good' cheap ones only to regret not paying more.

 

I'm not sure you'll need a better camera, there have been movies filmed on iphones (and not the current ones) so that you can probably do without. You might need to invest in memory or software.

 

BTW Shotcut is a pretty decent free video editing package. Takes a bit of learning to use though.

 

https://shotcut.org/

Well @Aspman the deed is done, Rode microphone ordered from Amazon. We have family prime membership so should be with me tomorrow!

 

onwards and upwards.

 

I’ll take a look at the editing software too. I’m using iMovie which does seem to get a bit easier every time I use it..

Ok , following on from the advice given, I bought the recommended mic.

 

pleased to say it was a complete success, so many thanks @Aspman and his pal.

 

the results are per 5 minute video below if anyone’s interested.

 

 

I've only just found this thread. The personal mics we use in broadcasting are usually things like the Sony ECM77 and 88 as well as Sennheiser MK2s and various Sures, Sankens  etc. The staple for a cable lapel mic though is the Sony ECM77 @ around £300 (it has a battery so does not need phantom powering if you don't have it. Rhodes produce a variety of great 'value for money' mics which are pro or semi pro in quality and generally are robust, good quality and excellent bang for your buck mics. One issue lapel mics have, is owing to their small size they are usually omnidirectional and as such pick up everything. So the noisiest thing tends to win, also this can lead to the compressor in your recording device 'pumping' which is the sort of thing you used to hear a lot with Radio 1 Djs on medium wave. 

 

So a couple of things that in general might help your recording are

•  Ensure you are recording in manual mode if available. You need to set this for the loudest sound obviously, but it you under record slightly, you will probably be better able to lift the levels in post, than to reduce the distorted and 'pumping' sound of an over recorder signal. You can't undo distortion, or over compression really.
• The second thing is mic placement. One place that is often used, especially if you are using the sun shade and it's a little far away, is the seat belt. It is a faff but you clip the mic high up near to your chin area, clipping the cable around the back of the belt using the underside of the mic clip to hold it in place (like the newsreaders if you look at their mics) and then apply a bit of gaffa tape on the underside to stop cable movement, which can cause microphonic handling noise sometimes. Just remember to unclip the mic before you release the retracting belt (if your 2CV has that style)

Edited 26 June, 20205 yr by Lady Elanore

This lady shows you how to clip the mic on your body, but it's the same for the seat belt, the advantage of the belt is it is less likely to rub against the mic, whereas if you wear the mic on your shirt you may get some contact and hence a loud rubbing or banging sound.

 

 

 

 

 

If the wind noise is ever too much, you need to get what we call a 'hamster' which is a furry little ball that pulls over the mic and is transparent to sound...it will muffle it a little, but you can fix that to good degree in 'post'. You can hide mics under clothing, but again with a seat belt placement has to be very carefully thought of in advance. Of course you may not want to see a mic at all, although a black mic on a black seatbelt isn't too bad, but if it is an issue then your sunshade will probably be best for that compromise. From what I heard in your vid the mic picked up a lot of background noise with the roof on but improved a lot when the roof was dropped. The audio quality of the mic is good though  

 

These are the ones we often use, but are a little pricey for a  hobby set up   

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rycote-065501-Windjammer-Lavalier-Black/dp/B008EUMPWE/ref=sr_1_15?dchild=1&keywords=rhodes+personal+mic+windshield&qid=1593206014&s=electronics&sr=1-15

 

Rhodes do a cheaper one

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/RØDE-MINIFUR-LAV-Artificial-Wind-Shield/dp/B00539YQ08/ref=pd_sbs_421_3/257-5460470-6973867?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00539YQ08&pd_rd_r=9e09bd71-bafa-4b90-98e5-9e4bd089e261&pd_rd_w=zkktu&pd_rd_wg=dRAg6&pf_rd_p=2773aa8e-42c5-4dbe-bda8-5cdf226aa078&pf_rd_r=Y0MBV4AQCG42DD1V2BEV&psc=1&refRID=Y0MBV4AQCG42DD1V2BEV

 

 

Generally the windgags are a tiny piece of cloth with a ballistic fibre covering and an elasticated 'mouth' that pulls over the mic to form a sort of mini furball (think of a teeny Tribble if you of that age  ). It never feels like a tight fit though, so expect it to feel like a fantastic professional bespoke cover...and make sure they are fully on as they can come off!

 

Sorry, one more thing. We often find that the first attempt at placement in a tricky environment isn't the one we stick with. Trial and error is a great way to find the optimum position for your circumstances and although it's good to have a sensible starting point, you should accept it may not ultimately be the best place for a mic. 

 

 

.

 

Edited 26 June, 20205 yr by Lady Elanore

Here is another way of mounting a mic. It's nice and close to the mouth, but you do lose a bit of 'top' with it under the chin, although you can fix that in post-production. But it is nearer the mouth so it's proximity will decrease background sound, also it is out of the way of the seatbelt.....doesn't look so good though, but if you want to hear the words sometimes you have to compromise 

 

 

 

@Lady Elanore thank you so much for your helpful pointers. The professionals make this stuff look so easy, it’s only when you have a go yourself you realise how hard it all is!

 

I’ve tried out mounting the mic on the seatbelt today, seemed to be OK but we were in Swmbo’s car which is very quiet..(I’ll post a link to that video in the Electric Cars section). Also tried turning the mic down a bit on input and boosting it in post, the waveform track definitely shows less peaking (shows as yellow then red on IMovie) so have been able to increase the volume a bit in editing as opposed to having the reduce the volume but still being left with distortion.

 

It’s all a massive learning curve for me, one which I’m enjoying immensely and as I said, your help and input (along with others) is proving invaluable!

 

 

The guys that do 'Top Gear' have had years of playing with it to get it right. It's always easy when you have figured out how, or a colleague tells you the best way, to do it. Sounds like (pun intended) you are going about it in the right way, so I expect you to nail it