How to Build an External Vlogging Microphone for a GoPro Hero 4 Action Camera
38In this video I show how to build your own external vlogging microphone for a GoPro Hero 4 Black action camera. This microphone will also work for all GoPro 4 models as well as GoPro 3s as they use the same audio wiring on their USB input.
This microphone is an omni-directional microphone, which means that it is very good at picking up sound from all around it, especially dialogue for vlogging as it's close your voice.
The video also demonstrates the microphone being used for vlogging with my GoPro 4, on a 3 axis stabiliser gimbal, on a simple pistol grip and then simply hand held with the GoPro.
Here are a bunch of links for the components used.
The all important microphone capsule is the Primo EM172, which is available from MicBooster.com
https://micbooster.com/primo-microphone-capsules/8-primo-em-172-z1.html
The body for the capsule can be taken from a wide variety of cheap lavaliers and other small microphones. Here's a list of some really cheap options that all have a body/enclosure capable of holding the 10mm diameter of the capsule.
https://amzn.to/2Tpe06r
https://amzn.to/2Tr0xel
https://amzn.to/2QnerMG
You probably wont need a foam shield for plossives or light wind protection as there's likely one with the mic you use for the body but a lavalier deadcat would also be a great option for mild breezes etc. Here's a cheap one that I use myself for my small mic builds and it works very well.
https://amzn.to/2TofgH5
Finally, you will need a GoPro USB to 3.5mm audio adaptor cable with a right angle at the USB end. Again, these can been found very easily around the internet and are very inexpensive. Here are some links but you may be able to source one elsewhere.
https://amzn.to/2R94I1Y
https://amzn.to/2RvWPmt
https://amzn.to/2SzPmAh
In total and if you shop about, you can build this microphone for less than £20.
If you are unsure of which are the live cable ends after chopping of and stripping back the USB cable. If you strip back the cables at the 3.5mm jack end that's left over after you chop it off, you will be able check or bell out those cables to see what are the live elements and then just use the same colours at the USB end for the two live and the single ground cable. Or, you can always do a quick test by soldering the cables to the capsule and testing it in your GoPro before you do the final installation into the body. At least that way you are also double checking that everything works before finalising your mic build.
The reason for two live cables is because one feeds the right input of the GoPro audio and the other the left. Once combined and soldered to the live pad of the Primo EM172 ECM capsule, it will mean that your mono microphone will appear in both the left and right sides of the stereo recording.
Like I said in the video, this is an overview of how to do this process which will be enough for anyone who has an understanding of such things to be able to reproduce. This guide is not designed for anyone who has never done anything like this before or who doesn't have a basic understanding of microphones, electronics and soldering.
On the point of soldering. I never show myself soldering in my videos because I'm terrible at it :) So here's a couple of links to YouTube videos that best show how to solder.
https://youtu.be/BLfXXRfRIzY
https://youtu.be/qxqZJH3SfN4
https://youtu.be/IpkkfK937mU
https://youtu.be/Qps9woUGkvI
Anyway. I hope this video was entertaining and hopefully helpful if you were thinking about building a good quality external vlogging mic for your GoPro Hero 4 Black.
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Cheers,
Dave.
www.YouTube.com/DavidHarry
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