Unleash Your Inner Commentator: Recording Your Commentary During A Race

Unleash Your Inner Commentator: Recording Your Commentary During A Race

Unleash Your Inner Commentator: Recording Your Commentary During A Race

Lucy Wyndham
24 March 2020

There are currently 850,000 active podcasts in the world, showcasing how podcasting has become mainstream. People from all walks of life are turning their passions into podcasts, creating viable and entertaining content for the masses. For the racing enthusiast, this means there’s a podcast for every listener, from Chequered Flag Formula 1 to Sports Car Unleashed, along with a wealth of inspiration for listeners thinking of recording their own audio. Whether it’s for a video, podcast, or your own personal enjoyment, this may leave you wondering how you can record your own sound in an innovative way. Could you, for instance, record your own commentary from within your car? The answer is yes, but it will require a little organization.

Microphone Choice

To record your commentary while you’re racing, you’ll need a mic with a tight pickup pattern because you’ll need it to pick up your voice over the sound of the engine. Mics like these will focus on the sound in front of the mic rather than sound coming from the side. Ideally, you need a mic that can isolate your voice from the car’s vibrations.

Any mic that would work well for an outdoor recording should suit your purpose here, as there are similar issues with background noise in both scenarios. A lavalier mic may be your best choice, as this is wireless and hands-free, making it safer to use while you’re driving and well-placed to adapt to your movements as you record. Lavalier mics pick up less ambient noise than other types of microphones, so you should get a clearer sound. However, you could also use a larger directional mic set up inside your car. If you do this, you’ll have to think carefully about how it’s positioned in order to get the best sound.

Microphone Positioning

Although choosing a directional mic will help your sound quality, there’ll still be background noise that will pick up. Secure towels over the dashboard to deaden the space, which will help to manage some of the background noise. You’ll need a mount for your mic if you’re not using a lavalier, and you’ll need to clamp the mic onto the dashboard. As you’ll be using the steering wheel, you won’t be able to attach the mic to it, so you’ll need to find the closest space you can safely mount it. Remember to prioritize your safety. Recording sound in a car is one thing; recording sound while you’re racing means you need all your equipment to be safe and secure.

Additional Soundproofing

If you’re going to record your commentary regularly while you race, you can make some modifications to your car to make it a more soundproof space. A car has several features that already make it a good recording environment. The window and door seals, carpeted floors and plush seating all help with soundproofing. However, a car also has a lot of reflective surfaces — like the dashboard and windows — which interfere with the soundproofing. Covering your dashboard in towels or blankets will help deaden the ambient sound, but because you’re driving at speed, it’s important to make sure these are all secure. If you plan to record regularly, it may be better to attach a thick fabric to the dashboard using an adhesive.

The sound of the car’s engine will be an asset to your commentary as long as your voice can clearly be heard over the top of it. It will give your recording ambience and context, and should make for a more exciting commentary. However, if you plan to share your audio with an audience, it’s important that the background sound doesn’t interfere with the content, so choosing the right mic and considering positioning and soundproofing within the car is vital. Whether you plan to use your commentary for a video, podcast or simply as a log of your own achievements, setting up your recording method thoroughly will help you get the sound quality you need.