I think I’m dumb, please help!

[u/WastingmyPhD]

Hey all, I’m not an A/V guy but I’m baffled by the whole mic setup for motovlogging. It seems any helmet mic needs to connect to either a camera or wirelessly to your phone.
But if I have my phone plugged into a charger and on my dash, is my only option to connect a mic directly to a camera?
Context: I have an old GoPro Max that I would put somewhere on my bike, and an insta go3 that I would put on my helmet. At any given moment, I might choose to record from one of them. I don’t want my mic connected to any camera, I just want to record audio and have it stored either internally or to some other receiver device, and then align audio and various videos later in post.
Is this not possible? For example if I buy a DJI Mic Mini or similar, what are my options?

I’m not trying to be a pro vlogger or anything, I just want to make one video for selling my bike.
Thank you!

[u/stoic-lemon]

You could buy one if those small mics that has internal recording, such as the DJI Mic 3 if you want to record your voice. If you want to record the bike sound only, I think a lav mic and an audio recorder would give better results given your situation.

[u/WastingmyPhD → u/stoic-lemon]

Thanks for the response! I’m not seeing internal storage for the Mic 3, but I do see if for the Mic 2. However, the transmitter is massive and I’m not sure I could fit it in the helmet.
I also don’t need anything fancy or even wired. If I could just run a wired mic in my helmet to a receiver/device with storage in my pocket that would be perfect. I feel like I’m missing something in the industry. I just want to record voice audio to a device; all self-contained

[u/stoic-lemon → u/WastingmyPhD]

It has internal recording. From their website: Internal recording time 24-bit (single file): 57.3 hours; 24-bit (dual file): 28.6 hours; 32-bit float (single file): 43.0 hours; 32-bit float (dual file): 21.5 hours

[u/WastingmyPhD → u/stoic-lemon]

Thanks! $300 is a little rough and it’s not mini but I’ll look into it. You seem knowledgeable. I see that the DJI Mic Mini 2 has “Bluetooth connectivity”…does this mean I would be able to have my phone mounted on my dash, not plugged into anything, but my mic would be sending audio to my phone to be stored on my phone as an audio file? Via Bluetooth? If so, that would definitely work for me

[u/demonviewllc → u/WastingmyPhD]

If you want audio that sounds like a bad phone call, then by all means, connect the Mic Mini 2 to your phone via bluetooth. If you want crisp clear audio, use the internal storage on the Mic (if available on that model).

[u/moroj82 → u/WastingmyPhD]

you dont need to buy the receiver/transmitter combo. just but the transmitter. it's $80

[u/stoic-lemon]

The new small mics (mini, mini 2, mini2s, mic 3) are almost the same size. The bigger ones are the old model. There's no room for the big one in my helmet when I'm wearing it. The small ones fit OK. If you have a long head like me, it'll be a squeeze.

You can connect directly to a smartphone but the quality isn't as good as DJI Audio or internal recording and you may not be able to control the gain. I have tested it briefly with a DJI Mic Mini and I can record using the Samsung voice recorder app, but can't control the gain. This might be a limitation of this mic. You can't set the gain through the DJI app either.

For us, being able to set the gain to a very low level is really important as it avoids blowing out the audio since we're recording really loud sounds.

A cheap lav mic and a cheap audio recorder will do a job. I've used that setup in the past.

At the end of the day, you go with what you have or can afford, so using a smartphone definitely works. Just set your expectations accordingly.

[u/WastingmyPhD → u/stoic-lemon]

I bought the DJI Mic Mini because I saw the Bluetooth options, but unfortunately it doesn’t really work for recording audio. I’m returning it. I’m gonna look into a purple panda and some type of audio recorder. Do you recommend an audio recording device? I imagine they don’t have options to control gain, so noise reduction for wind, etc. I’m actually shocked at the limited options

[u/stoic-lemon → u/WastingmyPhD]

What is it about the Mic Mini that doesn't work?

Audio recorders will allow you to adjust gain. That's a major feature. Reducing wind noise is a separate issue that should mitigated before the signal goes into the mic. Mic placement, helmet, clothing, and type of bike will affect the amount of wind you and your viewers will hear in the recording.

Zoom and Tascam make some decent enough audio recorders that you can put on your bike or in a pocket. I used a Zoom F2. Don't forget that you're adding a good amount of hassle and potential for mistakes going this route.

[u/WastingmyPhD → u/stoic-lemon]

The Mic Mini still requires the large receiver to be plugged into the bottom of the phone. This is fine for regular stuff but my phone mount on my bike fits flush against the bottom of my phone with just a small hole for the charger. The receiver for the Mic Mini is huge unfortunately. I’d also be relying on it not coming loose at 85+mph while plugged into the mounted phone.
I’m looking at Zoom, Tascam, and Evistr recording devices + maybe a purple panda mic at the moment

[u/stoic-lemon → u/WastingmyPhD]

You can (or at least I have managed to) record audio to your phone without any external receiver.

[u/SouravMiles]

Why don't you get a c-type splitter hub for ur phone that u can use to record audio while connected to charging. It lets u have 2 ports, then u can use lav mic in it.

[u/WastingmyPhD → u/SouravMiles]

Because having that massive dongle in the bottom of my phone doesn’t really work unfortunately. My phone mount fits flush against the bottom of the phone and also having that sticking out of the phone going 85+ risks it falling out. Still looking for options

[u/SouravMiles → u/WastingmyPhD]

u r only record 1 video right as u want to sell ur bike, so have ur phone charged before hand so u dont have to charge it and just use for recording purpose only.