I guess I was hoping for a miracle. When I got the black edition GoPro a few days ago, one of the first tests I ran was recording in a quiet environment using the built-in mics.
"Hissssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss."

Apparently what they did was bump up the sampling rate but left the AGC and preamps untouched. At least the crackling and static you used to hear is gone!
I also tried external mics (Senheiser) using GoPro's mic cable but got the same disappointing results.
Which means my life-long pursuit for a simple life gets complicated by double system sound.

I use the usb mic adapter and a nice Sennheiser mic. Dead quiet, no background noise. Awesome sound.

You've run that test in a perfectly quiet room?

No sorry to say not. It was not perfectly quiet but quiet enough for the ring in your ears to be quite loud. It's not a perfect sound system in the Go Pro I'll agree.

Not that my system for monitoring is the best either, as I'm using the headphone port out of the LCD bacpac. Because it's almost impossible to adjust the volume of the bacpac, I'm not sure if it's cranked up all the way and that's why I'm hearing so much hiss or what. (Apparently the only way to adjust is by using the touch method, which doesn't seem to do anything.)
But thru that system, using ear buds, the hiss is loud.

You've run that test in a perfectly quiet room?

You plan on recording a perfectly quite room? The Hero 3 audio during actual action (i use it for motorsports mainly) sounds great, MUCH better than Hero 1 + 2. This is with no mics/add ons.

Yes, I'll be using it for a backpacking trip, traveling at 2 mph, not 200 mph!

Do you think that the sound recorded to Hero 3 using a cheap lavalier will help? I have ordered one and want to use it for getting some footage as well as natural sounds (wildlife) when placed close to the subject.

Update...I just lodged a formal complaint with GoPro's customer service. I explained to them that, no matter what mic I used (and I used a range of consumer to pro including Sony's AW3 bluetooth to Sony's condenser ECM-55 to Shure's dynamic SM-57)...no matter the mic, I still could hear a low level static or "rumbling" underneath my talking at a normal (not shouting) voice level at a normal distance (sometimes "eating the mic" but sometimes holding the mic a few feet away).
This is disappointing because I heard the same static a year ago while testing the Hero 2. I complained about it then but got no answer.
I was hoping the Hero 3's higher sampling rate would have addressed the issue.

Some folks who don't care that much about clean audio won't hear this static I'm talking about. They'll think, "hey, I hear the voice and that's good enough." Nor will folks who play their audio back in tiny computer speakers (altho' I can hear this even using the tiny mini-speaker in the LCD touch screen).

Nor will folks who play their audio back in tiny computer speakers (altho' I can hear this even using the tiny mini-speaker in the LCD touch screen).

But people who expect a tiny camera to record good audio will be disappointed too. I mean even a fairly large Zoom H2N that is specifically designed for audio recording has fairly lousy preamps.

Truthfully, I dont think the GoPro was designed with good audio in mind; you might be expecting too much from it in that capacity.

It was designed as a crash-cam; most people just use the audio as a reference.

If that was true, then why would GoPro even bother to offer an external mic cable?

Personally, I think what's going on is cross-talk or electronic inference from the internal components. It has that sort of "random static" nature to it. If this is the case, it wouldn't be the first time David Neuman, the chief engineer with GoPro, has managed to ignore such an important link in the audio chain. Back in the 90s David was with Applied Magic. They made an "editing appliance" called Screen Play, a proprietory black box meant to be a competitor to the venerable Casablanca editing box.
I bought one. Unfortunately the audio channels (it had two, right and left) talked to each other. When you muted the one, you could hear the other channel bleeding through. And that's what came out of the outputs! A messy system.

My hunch is that GoPro cameras suffer from the same lack of isolation of the audio channels from other components on the card. But they aren't willing to admit it. And thankfully, most of their customers adopt your attitude, "hey, it's a cheap camera...wadaya expect?"
Clean audio without static, that's all. Even hiss I could live with. But static makes it sound like there's always an imminent thunder storm just over the horizon.

Lynne, as has been pointed out to you many times, it's a sports action camera design with the focus on visuals. Cramming that much electronics into a such a tiny package and expecting audio to rival that of dedicated audio devices costing $500+ is being unrealistic, just use a dedicated audio recorder and your choice of mic.

This is what it excels at, awesome audio from the onboard mic with open back door and perfectly suited to the GoPro internal auto gain control. You can hear that V8 Torana coming from 1km away it the 2nd video and the auto gain compensates perfectly as it approaches and passes. It ain't gunna do the same for birds tweeting in the background.

Jason White Lambo Targa Wrest Point 2013 - YouTube
GoPro Hero 3 Black | Sound Test | 2013 Targa Wrest Point - YouTube

BTW, you can totally remove all static and unwanted noise using Izotope RX2 in post and have no affect on the wanted audio. Just sample the static in the program apply it to the clip and all static is gone, you can even apply that sample to the entire shoot from that day.

I use it heaps for removing ceiling fan, wind noises passing over the mic, planes going overhead during interviews, static caused by dirty mic socket connections during interviews etc.

iZotope RX 2: Denoise - YouTube
iZotope RX 2: Remove Hum - YouTube

Yes, I have complained about static for a long while!

But the question I'd like GoPro to answer is "Why offer an external mic cable if adding better quality external mics still have to contend with internally generated static?"

And given the random, intermittent nature of the static (it's like a crackle) I wonder whether any software program could sample it accurately. I mean, it's not like a constant hum like the above example. But until GoPro admits to this issue, it's nice to know there are secondary solutions. But who today, individual or company, admits to any faults? Rarely witnessed and when it happens, it's usually buried in self-defensive language propping themselves up all the while.

They don't have to admit anything, the ext mic connection is just that, an option to use an external mic for mostly mic placement reasons, not guaranteed better audio record quality.

The static from loose mic connections is random also, I have no problems removing it from interview footage or general background ambience.

Lynne... Here's what I would suggest.

Give up trying to get a GoPro to capture clean audio. Very doubtful that's ever going to happen because it doesn't appear that's part of the intended design.

Instead, record audio on a second device that's purposed for the task. Annoying, but it's a solution.

To sync it in post, use Plural Eyes (if you're on a Mac). Works great. I do this all the time with a 4-track recorder. All Plural Eyes needs is a decent audio reference to sync clips.

Yes, I have no other choice.
But I must say, whenever I complain about GoPro's audio being embedded with static (this being the 2nd time in 2 years), three things predictably happen:

1-Forum heavyweights speak up saying "It never was intended to be good audio."
2-Someone pipes up with "Sounds great to me."
3-The GoPro customer service people ignore my complaints sent to them.

You can form your own conclusions. Personally I think something weird is going on but I'll leave it there. You read it first here!

Not meant to be condescending, but all I hear is "This 500 dollar, 4k recording, 120fps+ shooting, HDMI outputting, cine log, super durable, highly reliable camera's audio noise floor is unacceptable as it attempts to record through its hard casing. I want super clean pre-amps added, and it can't increase the size, weight, or drain the battery quicker."

Use the tool for what it is.

I appreciate your cynicism.
But what if...what if the solution was

1--to admit the problem of static exists

and

2--add, let's say, better insulation between the pre-amp and the rest of the circuit board by simply adding a three-cent chunk of semi-conductor material?

Isn't that just so "corporate," to tell the masses what they should believe? (Cigarettes are good for you, high fructose corn syrup is good for you, GMO crops are good, HGH is good, Soylent Green is tasty, a $400 camcorder can't deliver both clean audio and clean video).

I think the Digital Bolex people are about to show us that good quality and reasonable prices can co-exist. (It's hard to imagine their engineers saying "Hey, this audio is good enough. Get over it.") And how refreshing it is for people like Blackmagic to be upfront about their struggles and shortcomings.

GoPro became so big so fast, they've decided that being hip is better than being right. (Exhibit A being their packaging--so much marketing money wrapped up in elaborate, complicated plastic boxes. "Green" packaging? Forget it! Each box is a Rubik's cube that's impossible to re-assemble if, God forbid, you have to send something back. Have mercy on the Foxcomm people who have to assemble that stuff. I can hear them saying "Believe it or not, there's a camera inside this somewhere.")

I feel forced to agree that the GoPro just was not designed to be used outside of the waterproof housing. As a highlight sound the thud of the hitting the ground or the rush of water might be fun and useable from time to time but really that audio will be edited out.

It is not something so corporate for GoPro to say, it's a feature not a bug, but a business decision. It appears that GoPro wants to sell this to consumers who want to make a short video with thumping music and no voiceover of an adrenaline rush. It looks like the professional use of a GoPro was an accidental market.

Good observation.

I just wish they'd stop marketing the external mic cable then. It's like a dangling carrot...as if it "really" mattered what sort of external mic you attached! Which of course it doesn't, as we now know. In fact, if anything, using an external mic "highlights" the issue.

Lynne, If GoPro intended to feature good audio it would have given you a separate 2.5 or 3.5mm mic socket for starters and a stereo internal mic not mono.

John, the pro interest in the GoPro wasn't accidental, GoPro invited and paid all travel expenses for 60+ video professionals and media people from all over the world to attend their HD3 product release presentation and gave them all a free camera to use in their next days extreme excursion. You can't watch a discovery channel show without seeing at least one clip from a GoPro if not entire program's built around it. Notice they ever use the audio from the GoPro, that is something Lynne has yet to realise and accept. It seems Discovery Channel has excepted it.

Clean audio isn't rocket science! I've heard better recordings from Edison's wax recorder, for God's sake.

Tested more live audio today outside in blowing snowstorm using the Hero 3 mics and next, the Sony bluetooth mics.
I conclude that GoPro should include a free copy of Izotope (hum remover) with every camera. I swear, the Hero 3 audio is worse than Hero 2. The buzz is omni-present, just like what you'd hear if you laid a mic cable over an AC line.

Lynne... there was a time when cameras didn't record audio at all.

The camera had to send a sync signal to a separate recorder which also recorded sound. Every shot had to be slated and documented. In post, that audio had to be resolved to fullcoat film, and cut in a ganged edit system.

That was double system sound, and it's how I do some of my "one man band" shoots, using a separate recorder with wireless mics.

In my work even if the GoPro had absolutely perfect audio it's seldom in a position to capture the best sound.

At this point I think you need to realize that even if GoPro admitted openly to a problem and did something about it, the solution isn't going to come anytime soon. And in the meantime you'll miss out on opportunities by waiting for any improvements.

Give the double-system sound technique a try. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the results and the flexibility it provides.

In case you're still curious, here's a one-minute sample clip I recorded a few days ago...

audio buzz lambs lookout Computer - YouTube

My GoPro Hero 3 (Black version) doesn't have that buzz.

I just tried it in a quiet room and all I hear is room sounds, including the refrigerator and a ticking clock that's 6 feet away.

Now that's what I need to know....that I'm not imagining things!

I've posted this for a GoPro customer service guy (Cooper) to listen to as well.
(This camera is still under the 30-day return from B&H. But it took a month to get it when I first placed an order. I'm leaving for my overseas trip in 3 weeks.)

Update...GoPro just confirmed this audio is not "normal." I have no confidence the next Hero 3 will be any better. This is the 2nd Hero (the last being the Hero 2) in a row I've found with bad audio.

Have it replaced.

At this point, there's nothing to lose. At least you now know the buzzing isn't prevalent in all units.

Ha! Judging from what Ian and others have said here, you may have the only Hero that DOESN'T have a buzz! How did you manage that? Early batch?

I just bought it a week ago. Perhaps it's part of the latest batch as the shop I got it from recently got a shipment.

I hope that's the case. I'm going to be re-ordering once I get this bad one sent back. In fact, I'm going to order another one from a different place and I'll compare the two. This whole experience has been so annoying, I have little confidence ANY GoPro unit will be much better.

Just give me CLEAN audio. Is that asking too much?

So within two days I have a replacement Hero 3 from the amazing B&H people (for whom I think it's business as usual)...here's a new clip. Can you tell me if this is "as good as it gets?" Should I not expect any "cleaner" audio than this when things around me are quiet?

audio test 3 lambs lookout - YouTube

The GoPro staff listened to the latest video posted (above) and concluded the buzz wasn't as bad as in the first video. However, here's what they said in an email to me:

"Our product engineers are aware of this slight audio buzz in some of the audio recordings. They are working hard on a firmware update that will be released soon and hopefully will resolve the buzzing issues."

One idea is to NOT use sound when you have scenes that are supposed to be dead quiet. No point in fixing something you're not going to really use.

There's an art to making backpacking videos (of a different sort).
One...record your foot steps on a separate track.
Two...record the natural sound (ambiance) on a separate recorder.

The problem I'm encountering is that I'd like to use the Hero for spontaneous interactions with folks I might have along the trail as well. Such conversations will be faint under the best of conditions. And it's not the sort of thing where you break the flow and say, "Oh, can we record that again because I've now got my second sound recorder turned on?"
That's why having clean audio on the Hero is important to me. The thought of having to later process all that footage to remove a "hum" or "buzz" bums me out (not to mention realizing I've had to filter out certain frequencies overall).
So here we are, what, four months after the Hero 3's release, and I'm still waiting for firmware updates to remedy a bad situation. Nothing I can do about it though.

Sounds like you are more needing professional or prosumer grade and not a $300 action camera. While I understand your dilemma, I've had the same issues with other cameras around the same price and even more expensive ones. Tape transport noise used to be an issue prior to solid state cameras. Bleeding edge cuts sometimes...

Well, it was a conscious decision on my part to have an "action camera" look for this video. I realize that imposes tremendous limitations, not the least being NO zoom. I had looked at Sony's GW-77 (I think I have that right) and I had shot previous backpacking docs using my trusty Sony HC-3. But I really wanted a "wearable" camera.
For better or for worse...

I'm in a similar spot but I have to press on because I already got rid of my old camera. Now i'm making do with what I have to work with. When I bought mine it was still pre-order and all the features weren't listed. I needed to be able to control shutter speed. I needed to be able to control aperture. Nope can't do it. Gotta find creative ways or workarounds.

GoPro does indeed have some issues with a buzz in the camera audio. It has been discussed in several of the specific gopro forums, too. Their service guys ahve given mixed messages as to the problem and to any fix. Never trust them to actually know the answers, but they did try to resolve such in the firmware at one point. Many users have experience this and they first claims were that it happened mostly in vehicles where the electrical components probably interfered with the camera. To date, this is an issue that has not been resolved by GoPro staff. If you play your video onto your tv, it can be even worse. The current audio issues with the new H3 cameras is a real problem situation for GoPro to contend with. Hopefully they won't sluff off in actually diagnosing the problem and fixing it, but so far, their support staff really do provide many, many mixed messages in what they provide. To a point, they are simply tossing up their hands and saying to overdub with music, which is not a cure at all. Me, I prefer using my GoPro mic adaptor and an extenal mic for the best audio. However, even with that, in some camera tests in my car, the slight buzz could be heard. With the video run through the tv, it got worse.

If your film in situations where you may run into things unexpectedly that do require sound, filming silent is not really such a great option. A better option may be using the Zoom H1 Handy recorder instead. Good luck in what you find to work for you.

Lynne, This is why i recommended you the SteadyCam Smoothee and the Gopro, its tiny, lightweight and works well with a bit of practice.

I think this was 1080p either medium or wide.

One of the best ways to get Pro moving camera shots and beat the jello wobble, nice editing taking just the right amount clip portions to sustain the shots.

"Switzer Heaven" - YouTube

I agree...Steadycam shots can be nice. I used the Steadycam JR when it first came out about 20 years ago. Found out fast, however, it doesn't take much to lose the delicate balance and get the camera drifting. I was shooting on a "cluttered" trail, lots of brush and weeds and branches around to interfere with the shooting process.