How To Record Yourself Driving

I promised you something different today, and I’m delivering on that promise. Vantrue sent me their $200 N2 Pro Dual Dash Cam for review. It’s a bit different from my usual tech reviews, but I thought it’d be fun to mix things up and share a bit of my world with you. My original idea was to drive around Nashville and give you all a tour, but talking to myself while driving made me feel a little, well, silly. Instead, I’m going to share the basics of the dash cam with you and enlist the help of my friend Ang to show you the best things to do, eat, and see when visiting my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.

Before you use the camera, Vantrue recommends charging it for two hours using the included USB cable. After that, just attach the mount to the suction cup and keep it charged through your car’s cigarette lighter—or you can buy the optional hardwire kit to connect it directly to your car’s battery. The N2 Pro has a built-in battery, but it’s only meant for short-term use. Once the camera is set up, you can easily rotate it to find the perfect angle and fine-tune things by checking the footage on the 1.5″ LCD screen.

The LCD screen is also used to navigate the camera’s menu and adjust settings like resolution, which maxes out at 2K for front-only recording or 1080p when using both front and rear cameras. The camera also features a high frame rate and WDR, helping it balance shadows and sunlight well. It even switches to night vision mode automatically when needed. Footage is saved on a microSD card (not included), and you can view it directly on the camera, or connect it to a TV with a mini HDMI to HDMI cable, or use your computer. Files are labeled as A or B, indicating if the footage is from the front or rear camera, and audio is also recorded, though that feature is optional.

When it comes to security, the N2 Pro is packed with some great features. It has a crash sensor that locks in footage if it detects an impact, a time-lapse feature, and a parking mode that monitors for motion while your car is parked. If the car is off, you’ll need to supply power with an external power bank or the hardwire kit to keep it going. Those are the basics of the camera—now let’s put it to the test!

Ang, meet YouTube. YouTube, meet Ang.

Ang: Hey YouTube! My first must-do while you’re visiting Nashville is the music scene. If you were taking someone to see live music in Nashville, where would you go?

Me: The Basement. Sometimes they even have secret shows there, like late-night surprise sets from artists. Mumford and Sons did that once when we first moved here. And definitely the Ryman too—can’t beat the history.

Ang: It’s all about the experience. I love how you can just hop from bar to restaurant to live music, and even dance on a rooftop. It’s that mix that makes it special.

Me: Totally agree. Broadway gets a bit wild these days, though. You could go down there on a random Thursday afternoon, and it’s packed. Not to mention, it’s perfect for day drinking—you’re never alone.

Ang: Like what we’re doing right now? Thursday afternoon tea drinking?

Me: Yup, keeping it classy! But if you’re coming to Nashville, you’ve got to try the hot chicken. You weren’t always a vegetarian, so did you ever try hot chicken?

Ang: Yeah, I had Hattie B’s! Is that your pick?

Me: Absolutely. If you go to the Midtown location, skip the hour-long line by calling ahead and taking it to go. Maybe head to one of the beautiful parks or just eat it in your car—but make sure you have plenty of drinks, especially if you get it hot!

Ang: Oh, definitely. My vote actually goes to Prince’s. It’s greasy, it’s spicy, and I love how one journalist said he fears the burn of Prince’s hot chicken like he fears the wrath of God. Perfect description.

Me: Haha, totally! And for a must-do, I’d say catching a Predators game is a must. Nashville’s surprisingly a hockey town now.

Ang: If you’re into sports, you’d know that. But we’re not really sports people, clearly. I mean, we’ve had the Stanley Cup here… not the World Cup like I almost said.

Me: Yeah, we might not be the best guides for sports venues. But we do have the Sounds, a great minor league baseball team, and the Titans. Plus, a soccer team—maybe? At some point? Honestly, just forget the sports advice.

Ang: Roller Derby Girls! That’s our speed.

So that wraps up our mini-review of the N2 Pro and a little tour of Nashville. Thanks for joining us! Before you go, don’t forget to subscribe—I’ve got lots of new content on the way. See y’all later!