[Rikx1M]

Using external microphones with our GoPros can be a challenge especially when you are rigging things together to save a few dollars. So the current challenge was to use the Hero 3 polycarbonite case and use the USB audio cable at the same time. I want to keep my Hero 3 case and glass in front of my camera to protect it if I put it outside the car. I decided to drill out the area where the GoPro cable goes into the camera. Photo 1. I then used small jewelers files and filed the sides of the hole smooth so the cable would fit snug and still provide some measure of weatherproofing. Put it all together and drove around the block...camera didn't record the mike, only the internal mike was recorded. I realized cable wouldn't go into the camera deep enough for the small USB connector to fully seat into the connector.

Having been in audiovisual field for 19 years now, I knew the USB connector would have some extra rubber that I could shave off and maybe shave enough to seat better. So I used a razor blade and shaved off about 1/8" of rubber around the connector end.

Now it sits deep enough in the case to fully connect and I get good audio and I also still have a snug fit for waterproofing.

I hope this helps those of you with similar issues.