Before Claudio Caluori’s hilarious World Cup course previews came along, I could understand people thinking “Why would I want to hear myself talk during my biking video? It’ll just sound like disjointed hooting and hollering while I try to concentrate on riding.” Now that we all know the entertainment value of doing exactly that, let’s check out how Roland’s new Wearpro microphone can help you capture high quality, real time audio from your GoPro.
In short, the Wearpro is a wearable device that provides high quality 3-D audio capture from several of GoPro’s recent models. Your voice combined with real-world audio adds excitement and realism to point-of-view videos, and with the included mic clips the Wearpro is also ideal for video blogging, interviews, or webcasting. If your ears are perked, click below the break for more…
The WearPro is essentially a pair of headphones in reverse- you wear them as such, and their tiny condenser microphones capture standard stereo or binaural audio, the latter of which recreates the way we naturally hear sound. By capturing audio from each ear, the Wearpro reproduces a 3-D audio experience with sounds seemingly coming from all directions. This 3-D experience is most enhanced when listening through stereo headphones, but the Wearpro still produces immersive real-world audio through stereo speakers. Check out the above video to hear the Wearpro in action.
The earpieces feature an open air structure so you can still hear what’s going on around you while you’re recording. This is a smart idea for filming action sports when you want to keep tabs on your surroundings, or when broadcasting from a crowded area.
Combing Roland’s website for info, we did discover one caveat for cyclists- Roland states:
“The WEARPRO Mic is not designed for use in situations where the microphone elements are directly exposed to extreme airflow noise, such as motorcycle riding, skydiving, and other high-speed activities.”
Now if you’re filming a DH video, the earphones would be inside your helmet and blocked from the wind, but this would also inherently hamper their ability to capture 3-D audio. The Wearpro also may not be ideal for road or XC riders with open-faced lids, but this depends on exactly how sensitive they are to wind noise. It would be great to see them tested in action on different kinds of bicycles.
Using the WearPro is painfully simple- Just stick the mics in your ears, plug them into the camera and start hootin’ and shootin’. The attached cable plugs directly into the mini-USB port on your GoPro with no adapters required. There are no additional onboard batteries to charge, as the Wearpro takes its juice from the GoPro. One thing to keep in mind is since you need access to your camera’s USB port, some protective cases or covers will not accommodate the Wearpro. Roland also notes that the Wearpro device is not waterproof.
The Wearpro comes with two mounting clips to attach the earpieces to your shirt, a tripod, or selfie stick for interviews, webcasts, etc. Two windscreens and four different sized rubber earpieces to fit everyone from kids to adults are included as well.
Roland’s Wearpro is compatible with GoPro’s Hero 3, 3+, and Hero 4 models (excluding the Hero 4 Session). Pricing info was not currently available, but has been requested so watch for a possible update to this article. The device is available at Roland dealers across the USA, check out their website to find a retailer near you.
