How to Attach Mics to Car?

Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Well-known member
Hi,

I'm looking for some advice on how to go about attaching mics to the exterior and interior of a car. Can't really afford to use the trial and error method, needs to work on my first try. Don't want to damage the car's finish and don't want to see my mics go flying off the car in the first curve. The cars are participating in a drifting event. The mics will include the AKG D112, DPA 4061/4062, EV RE50N/D-B. I've never used gaffer tape and was thinking to just tape the smaller mics to the vehicle's body. Looking to buy some tape, I see there are some that are "aggressive adhesive". I don't want to leave any residue or pull off any paint, so thought I better check with someone who's done this. Also, I was going to get some XLR cables to run into the car's interior where the Zoom F8 will record everything. Hate to have the unsightly cables running up the side of the car and into a cracked window, but how else? Any ideas much appreciated.

Domo,
Mark
 
You're going to attach mics on the outside of a car?

EDIT: What sounds are you actually trying to record? Tire noise? Engine noise?

What sounds are you trying to avoid? Wind? Debris spray? Frame/panel vibration? Tire noise? Engine noise?

Whatever it is, it's really unlikely to work well on your first try. Recording car noises is way more difficult than it seems like it should be; it takes practice.
 
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Yes, I'm definitely going to attach mics outside a car, along with cameras as well. I have suction cups for the cameras. I think most people use gaffer tape and just attach mics to the bumper. I'll have anywhere from 3 to 5 mics on the back of the car.
I want to record exhaust sound, and of course I will be wanting to minimize wind noise.
I've got zero experience, have to start somewhere. I expect it to work very well on my first try, with some helpful advice.
 
Without knowing the context I would suggest using your AKG D112 and EV RE50N/D-B as drive by mics catching sound as the car passes by. I might suggest using your DPA 4061's on the interior capturing the sounds of the driver braking and such, and use your DPA 4062's mounted on the exterior of the car capturing the louder sounds. Again I have no idea of the car hence no idea about mounting positions. Or how the sound is to be used, so no idea what you really need. I am also going to guess that you will be riding along, as someone will need to check levels and monitor. If so, be sure to have any needed safety equipment required by the track. As a side note.... When I have recorded automotive audio in the past at closed tracks I have used wireless mic setups for all on-car recording.
 
You seem to have unrealistically high expectations for a difficult job with zero experience.
You mentioned almost nothing about wind protection. I suspect that will be your major problem.
You should at least do some tests on your own car. Tape your mics to the body and record as you drive around.
Nobody can develop better experience with YOUR mics than YOU.
If you are worried about gaffers tape, buy 2 or 3 different kinds and test them on your own car.
Or go down to an auto wrecking yard (or a auto body shop) and try them out.
 
I would also suggest getting some cheap mic's for that kind of thing, or good insurance. Tape does fail and an expensive mic hitting the pavement at high speed is probably going to wind up junk.

While I have not done this sort of thing, I have seen articles on the we describing how pro's do it. I suggest you do a google search.
 
The cars are modified rear-wheel drive passenger vehicles. Mostly plastic molded rear bumpers. I won't be riding along and will not be able to have anyone else adjust recording levels.
I need to record the exhaust not only as the car passes by my position, but long afterwards. There will be action cameras attached, which is how I currently record audio.
I do plan to test on my own vehicle for practice and working out some mounting methods. Wind noise is a concern and I'll try out some different materials. I have a single Sony wireless kit. Being in Japan temporarily, I don't want to buy anymore of these, since they may not be much use in the USA. I could try my wireless for one of the mics. Just want nice exhaust audio on a car that has a fairly loud exhaust, and is making laps around a drift course. Some videos I've made are attached for reference. I'll order an assortment of gaffer tape and test on my own vehicle.
To address the problem of not being able to adjust levels dynamically, I was planning to install the mics and then have the driver rev the engine loudly to help get the level setting in the ball park.


https://vimeo.com/187832485
https://vimeo.com/154725968
 
You wil generally tend to get rattling and wind noise so it may be best to record the car interior or engine bay and enhance it in post.

If you are shooting the cars going around then the correct perspective will be from the camera POV with a shotgun mic panning with the camera.

Interior sounds can be recorded nicely with a couple of lav mic's fitted to the sunshades, indeed this is how a lot of dialogue is recorded when cars are on low loaders for drama.
 
Well, I have actually recorded Formula D racing.

Your odds of getting anything if you don't have someone IN the car are really close to zero. Ridding along is a fun near death experience. We didn't really have a problem getting rides on some of the practice runs. You might have a chance IF someone rides some practice runs and sets levels up and then you just strap it all in for the actual competition runs?

We had mics near the wheels and taped, with LOTS of foam, on the rear bumper for the exhaust. One in front of the grill can also be useful. Inside it's kind of a mess, so we did have some inside but it's not that useful.

For folks who don't know you can probably find some video of "drift racing" also known as Formula D. Basically you are rated on the length and quality of your tire squealing. It's like all the best shots of an action film chase scene. Anyway you absolutely want something that will pick up the tires. Ideally for this kind of thing you would want 4-8 tracks to really cover the car. The biggest issue other than really LOUD sound levels are the G levels. You and whatever you attach, strap in, etc will get tossed all over the place. If everything is not really secure you will loose it and maybe cause a crash.

My partner at the time barely got through the lap with out puking and then the drive turned to him and said "strap in, that was just a warm up...".
 
Wires and such can usually be run through the trunk lid or hatch and through to the interior. There's normally holes in the trunk floor with rubber/plastic plugs as well that wires can go through. Engine compartment mics can be run through the firewall to the interior. Do not use adhesive tape in there as it gets hot. Nylon tie straps won't melt unless they're close to the exhaust.manifold. I always used dynamic mics for the exhaust and engine compartment since SPLs are usually high.
 
Also in the engine compartment stay away from the ignition wiring. You can get some very unpleasant inductive voltages, really bad for gear.
 
I'm not planning to put anything in the engine bay at this point. As for perspective, there will be cameras mounted to the cars, so I don't see a problem using my on-car audio recording with the on-car video. I'll also be recording from trackside, and get whatever I can. I will have two FDR-AX100's, two FDR-AX53's, and the FS7 available. The FDR-AX100 is great in that you can record sound while in high speed mode, the FS7 will not. Not 100% sure about the AX53, but I think no audio in high speed, same as my AX33 (which met an untimely end).
The F8 recorder gives the option to use a smart phone to control levels. I'll test the range and see if that's a possibility. I have Googled this topic and found lots of tips prior to posting here. Original question was mostly about the different types of tape. I've looked some more and found photos of how they gaffer tape the mics. They use a LOT of tape. I have several rolls of Visual Departures brand tape on order, based on the reviews. Most of what I shoot doesn't require much audio consideration so I'm not too experienced in that area. Would like to have some high quality audio on my next attempt.
 
I think people are saying that you MUST try it out and then alter your positions, wind screening, and levels after listening - there is no other way to make sure it works.
 
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