Low budget (ie Cheap) stereo audio recorder.
Discussion
Afternoon all,
I've just bought a DJI Mini 2 drone so do some filming and playing with, mainly it'll be to film me and friend on MTB's and Motocross bikes and other actiony type things like RC cars. The only that that I didn't even think of when I was looking at drones, is the lack of audio recording, it does make total sense though with it being a noisy little thing thats up in the air anyway. I've done it a bit of reading, and alot of Youtube type folk use their phones to record the audio while they fly the drone, which is mine for adding narration or for close by sounds, but for filming an aerial shot of a MX bike going around a corner it would mean having to be close to the corner and then probably end up being in the shot. I was thinking of a dictaphone type device that I could place close to the corner, sort of at the apex of a hairpin position, so it would record the bike coming in one side and out the other. Has anyone used or know of a cheapish, ideally less than £50, recorder that would do the trick. There are hundreds of cheap Dictaphones on amazon, but alot of the reviews complain about tinny sound, which goes against the engine sounds a bit. Some have stereo mic inputs, so I could use a better external microphone, but it just means taking more and more kit in a backpack when I go out for a ride vs the simplicity of just propping a little record against a rock and pushing record.
Theres things like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/AOMAGO-Digital-Recorder-L...
but then a jump to £70/£80+ for things like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus-LS-P1-Hi-Resoluti...
The other option I suppose would be to use an old phone to do the job, but I'd still question the quality of the tiny mic on an old phone, although I suppose it could also be used to provide a second angle for filming whilst still recording the audio. I don't know if any of my old phones record in stereo though, but at this stage its probably not the end of the world.
Any tips would be great. Thanks
I've just bought a DJI Mini 2 drone so do some filming and playing with, mainly it'll be to film me and friend on MTB's and Motocross bikes and other actiony type things like RC cars. The only that that I didn't even think of when I was looking at drones, is the lack of audio recording, it does make total sense though with it being a noisy little thing thats up in the air anyway. I've done it a bit of reading, and alot of Youtube type folk use their phones to record the audio while they fly the drone, which is mine for adding narration or for close by sounds, but for filming an aerial shot of a MX bike going around a corner it would mean having to be close to the corner and then probably end up being in the shot. I was thinking of a dictaphone type device that I could place close to the corner, sort of at the apex of a hairpin position, so it would record the bike coming in one side and out the other. Has anyone used or know of a cheapish, ideally less than £50, recorder that would do the trick. There are hundreds of cheap Dictaphones on amazon, but alot of the reviews complain about tinny sound, which goes against the engine sounds a bit. Some have stereo mic inputs, so I could use a better external microphone, but it just means taking more and more kit in a backpack when I go out for a ride vs the simplicity of just propping a little record against a rock and pushing record.
Theres things like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/AOMAGO-Digital-Recorder-L...
but then a jump to £70/£80+ for things like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus-LS-P1-Hi-Resoluti...
The other option I suppose would be to use an old phone to do the job, but I'd still question the quality of the tiny mic on an old phone, although I suppose it could also be used to provide a second angle for filming whilst still recording the audio. I don't know if any of my old phones record in stereo though, but at this stage its probably not the end of the world.
Any tips would be great. Thanks
I use a Sony ICD PX370 digital mono dictaphone for video work. The range, search for Sony ICD PX, includes stereo models that come within your budget.
I've had good use from mine. It's taken few knocks as I tend to look after it, but it's fallen from tables a couple of times onto carpet without problems.
The quality is good enough with the built-in mic as a dictaphone, but not for a video. An external mic is more or less an essential. The problem there is that the good quality ones are quite expensive. However, I've used a cheap(ish) lapel mic and the quality improvement is remarkable. The price of the mic and the stereo recorder might push your budget.
Speech is quite clear with the external mic, but general sounds, especially the exhausts of sports cars, come out clear enough for me. The controls are quite chunky and easy enough to use 'in the field' as long as you are not wearing gloves. From off to recording takes 10 seconds, which sounds quick but is interminable when you need it quickly.
I bought a very cheap digital recorder. Waste of money as poor quality sound, difficult to use and unreliable.
I've used the Sony for crowd noises for rugby videos, and the sounds of players in rucks and lineouts, and it's better than the built-in mic in my camera.
I've had good use from mine. It's taken few knocks as I tend to look after it, but it's fallen from tables a couple of times onto carpet without problems.
The quality is good enough with the built-in mic as a dictaphone, but not for a video. An external mic is more or less an essential. The problem there is that the good quality ones are quite expensive. However, I've used a cheap(ish) lapel mic and the quality improvement is remarkable. The price of the mic and the stereo recorder might push your budget.
Speech is quite clear with the external mic, but general sounds, especially the exhausts of sports cars, come out clear enough for me. The controls are quite chunky and easy enough to use 'in the field' as long as you are not wearing gloves. From off to recording takes 10 seconds, which sounds quick but is interminable when you need it quickly.
I bought a very cheap digital recorder. Waste of money as poor quality sound, difficult to use and unreliable.
I've used the Sony for crowd noises for rugby videos, and the sounds of players in rucks and lineouts, and it's better than the built-in mic in my camera.
Thanks for the reply,
I think the Sony was one of the ones I came across earlier and almost added it to my Amazon basket, but then thought I'd ask on here first.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MZIXLB0/?coliid=I1Q... That seems to be the stereo version of yours. It may be thats its good enough on its own for just adding the sounds of bikes to the video when accompanied by music. The effect in this video https://youtu.be/ifl3Jk8JzsM?t=186 is the sort of thing I'm after. I may give it a go with some RC cars so its a bit more controlled, and then when lockdown is over and I get get back out on the bike again I can try it for real.
If the sound isnt good enough, I wonder if something like this - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GKXTDY1/?coliid=I2Q... would be any good without spending mega money.
I think the Sony was one of the ones I came across earlier and almost added it to my Amazon basket, but then thought I'd ask on here first.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MZIXLB0/?coliid=I1Q... That seems to be the stereo version of yours. It may be thats its good enough on its own for just adding the sounds of bikes to the video when accompanied by music. The effect in this video https://youtu.be/ifl3Jk8JzsM?t=186 is the sort of thing I'm after. I may give it a go with some RC cars so its a bit more controlled, and then when lockdown is over and I get get back out on the bike again I can try it for real.
If the sound isnt good enough, I wonder if something like this - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GKXTDY1/?coliid=I2Q... would be any good without spending mega money.
gazzarose said:
Thanks for the reply,
I think the Sony was one of the ones I came across earlier and almost added it to my Amazon basket, but then thought I'd ask on here first.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MZIXLB0/?coliid=I1Q... That seems to be the stereo version of yours. It may be thats its good enough on its own for just adding the sounds of bikes to the video when accompanied by music. The effect in this video https://youtu.be/ifl3Jk8JzsM?t=186 is the sort of thing I'm after. I may give it a go with some RC cars so its a bit more controlled, and then when lockdown is over and I get get back out on the bike again I can try it for real.
If the sound isnt good enough, I wonder if something like this - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GKXTDY1/?coliid=I2Q... would be any good without spending mega money.
Glad if I've been some help. I think the Sony was one of the ones I came across earlier and almost added it to my Amazon basket, but then thought I'd ask on here first.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MZIXLB0/?coliid=I1Q... That seems to be the stereo version of yours. It may be thats its good enough on its own for just adding the sounds of bikes to the video when accompanied by music. The effect in this video https://youtu.be/ifl3Jk8JzsM?t=186 is the sort of thing I'm after. I may give it a go with some RC cars so its a bit more controlled, and then when lockdown is over and I get get back out on the bike again I can try it for real.
If the sound isnt good enough, I wonder if something like this - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GKXTDY1/?coliid=I2Q... would be any good without spending mega money.
With mics, I've tried a few. I've had problems with those with on/off switches on them. Great to begin with, but some clicking after a while.
One I use is https://www.amazon.co.uk/Microphone-Omnidirectiona... I bought it for Zoom in lockdown for my wife.
I've got another one, a bit more expensive, that I've used for three or four years with no problems.
I also record direct to PC with voice recognition software (Dragon, it's excellent) and the Mostech is the best one to use for me, and I used to use a condenser mic.
Little update.
I had a reply this morning to the same question on a drone site that recommended a Zoom H1, which are £80+, but the reply also came with the tip that there was one for sub £50 on eBay. It finished this afternoon at £51 with me as the highest bidder so should be with me in a couple of days and hopefully give it a go on the weekend.
For now here's the edit of my first drone flight. The RC car in the video is a 23cc 2 Stroke 1/5 Scale, so a bit of engine noise on the video would be good.
https://youtu.be/zAzUJxheLHE
I had a reply this morning to the same question on a drone site that recommended a Zoom H1, which are £80+, but the reply also came with the tip that there was one for sub £50 on eBay. It finished this afternoon at £51 with me as the highest bidder so should be with me in a couple of days and hopefully give it a go on the weekend.
For now here's the edit of my first drone flight. The RC car in the video is a 23cc 2 Stroke 1/5 Scale, so a bit of engine noise on the video would be good.
https://youtu.be/zAzUJxheLHE
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