GoPro Media Mod review: Turn your action cam into a YouTuber’s dream

The GoPro Hero8 Black is already the simplest action camera you'll buy, but it had been never meant to succeed in its full potential by itself. one among the key features promised at its launch was support for Mods, a set of three official GoPro accessories that hook up with the Hero8 and expand its functionality.

Of these, the $79 Media Mod is far and away the foremost important. Not only does it expand the input/output capabilities of the GoPro and add a miniature shotgun microphone, it’s also the centerpiece to which the Display Mod and lightweight Mod attach. While we had previously tested the sunshine Mod on its own for our Hero8 Black review, it wasn’t until we later received a Media Mod that we could use it attached to the camera.

GoPro’s goal with the Media Mod is to cement the Hero8’s position as a capable vlogging camera, breaking the stereotype that GoPros are only used for extreme sports.

Of course, people are attaching mics and lights to their GoPros for years, but never has there been quite so elegant an answer because the Media Mod. It seems like the foremost well-thought-out accessory that GoPro has made, and one that ought to find a home with many vloggers and YouTubers.

Set up and use

The Media Mod may be a frame that completely encloses the Hero8. You’ll got to first remove the Hero8’s battery door, then the camera simply slides into the frame and connects to the USB-C port. That single connection powers the Mod’s shotgun microphone also as USB-C, micro HDMI, and 3.5mm ports on the rear of the Mod.
Those exposed ports mean you won’t get GoPro’s legendary waterproofing, but it should be ready to handle some inclement weather. it had been raining during our test, and that we didn’t encounter any problems.

The Mod’s integrated microphone is really two, one front and one rear. you'll select which one you would like to use within the camera settings.
The 3.5mm jack allows you to attach an external audio source. you'll select the sort of input from the menu, including powered mic, unpowered mic, or line-in, also the choice to feature 20 decibels of gain. Note that attaching an external mic overrides the opposite audio options.

The Media Mod also adds two cold shoes, one on the highest and one on the proper . Thankfully, these are standard-size shoes, meaning they also work with non-GoPro accessories. This makes attaching an external microphone, monitor, or light easy — you’re not forced into buying GoPro’s Light and Display Mods if you already own other options.

Audio quality

If you’re watching the Media Mod solely as a way to spice up audio quality with its integrated microphone, you would possibly be disappointed.
Compared to a unadorned Hero8 Black, sound quality from the Media Mod’s integrated mic appears to be more accurate and fewer muffled. Objectively, it’s better, and power users will likely prefer it.

However, many of us will find the hotter , more processed sound of the Hero8’s built-in mics to be desirable. Voices are slightly deeper, and ground noise is reduced relative to what you'll hear with the Media Mod, albeit it sounds less natural.

Part of the difficulty is that the Media Mod mic just isn’t very long. in comparison to an external Rode VideoMic, the difference in directionality is obvious . The VideoMic was less sensitive to off-axis sounds, while the Media Mod mic offered virtually 360 degrees of sensitivity, being only slightly biased to sources ahead .

The option to feature an external mic is a component of what makes the Media Mod a worthwhile accessory, but some GoPro owners would likely prefer a less expensive option that didn’t include an integrated mic.

Worth the investment?

The Media Mod lays the inspiration to create up your Hero8 Black into a strong production tool, but there are a few barriers to entry.

First, it works only with the new Hero8 Black. Owners of the Hero7 and older are out of luck.

Second is cost. While $79 for the Media Mod is hardly exorbitant, fully decking your Hero8 out with all three Mods would add $210. That’s quite half the value of the camera itself.

While some Hero8 owners could be hesitant to drop that sort of money to switch a camera which will undoubtedly see a replacement this year, GoPro CEO Nick Woodman did imply to Digital Trends that future Hero cameras would remain compatible with the present Mods.

That’s by no means a guarantee, but GoPro a minimum of recognizes that introducing a redesigned, incompatible camera for subsequent generation would rub customers the incorrect way.

Our take

The Media Mod is made for alittle subset of GoPro Hero8 owners, but that group of individuals will find it a welcome addition. It solves tons of the issues inherent to an action camera during a way that creates a minimal sacrifice to handling.

By itself, the Media Mod might not offer the leap in audio quality that some customers would expect. except for those that already own external mics and need the simplest possible solution to connect them to their GoPros, it’s a clear choice.

Is there a far better alternative?
No. The Media Mod might not be the be-all-end-all audio solution for you, but as long as it also makes attaching an external mic nearly effortless, it’s something you’ll need anyway.

How long will it last?

This is hard to mention , but we don’t expect the Media Mod are going to be made obsolete for a minimum of subsequent generation or two of GoPro cameras. In terms of durability, it feels alright made and will delay well to wear and tear.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you propose to use your Hero8 Black in any situation outside of utmost sports.