Question about Zoom video recorders?

[Chris Olka]

Hey folks, I've been using my iPad for recording my "Drill of The Week" videos for a while. I'm pretty much a Luddite when it comes to tech gear but feel that I need to upgrade to something better. So here's the question...any of you guys have first hand experience with the Zoom Q2, Q3, or Q4 video/audio recorders? Obviously they make fantastic audio recording gear but I've never heard of them as a maker of video gear. I don't need huge capability...I'm sitting on my keister playing the tuba. Should I just pick up a camcorder at the local big-box? The money is about the same either route. Just wondering if you guys have tried the Zoom. I'm leaning towards them but....any first hand experience, advice, etc...

Thanks in advance,

[itai]

Hi Chris,
I've been using the Zoom Q2HD to record my playing for the past few months, also as an upgrade from an apple device.
It's got the same mic quality as the Zoom H2n, with decent video quality. It's surprisingly handy and in general for less than 200$, I think it's well worth the buck.
Here is an example of the quality in an orchestra setup (of course, youtube doesn't do too good)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr5um1UwZoY" target="_blank

All the best,
Itai Agmon

[Chris Olka]

Thanks for the replies and PMs too. I think I'm going to try the Zoom Q2 HD for ease of use. I'll let you know how it works out when I start using it for Drill of The Week.
Best regards guys,

[Lingon]

I have also been using the Q2HD and also think it works very well. Mainly I have used it when practicing and found it to be very useful both regarding audio and video. It has not yet been used to capture our whole orchestra but I think it will work for that too.

It has a feature that is valuable or absolutely necessary when dealing with our instruments and that is the analog gain control so you can adjust the input volume in the analog domain for real. Other devices uses automatic gain control, or has a switch for high or low volume. The Q2HD also has the feature of using M/S stereo so you could vary the stereo width, which may not be necessary when using it for just one instrument, but the possibility exists. It can handle up to 128MB memory cards so the recording time could be veeery long.

The only drawback is that it uses a fix focus lens so it is not possible to adjust and get that super sharp details. But that aside it is a neat little camera/recorder that works very well.

Here is a link to Zoom's Q2HD side http://www.zoom.co.jp/products/q2hd
I just realized there seems to be some new Zooms, for example the IQ5 mic for Iphone and Ipad, http://www.zoom.co.jp/products/iq5 which might be an alternative if using the phone.

As far as I understand if you want to get the best video a camcorder is the way to go, but for audio you really must get some good external mic/s. So with the camcorder plus mic/s the cost would be a lot higher than the Zoom. With the Zoom video is not the absolutely best but audio is so good 'out of the box' that I think it makes out for a really good compromise.

[Art Hovey]

Whatever recorder you use, I would suggest getting small mixer and a microphone with a switch. You could use the switch-mic for the spoken portion of your video, and then switch it off when you pick up the tuba. One or two other microphones would then be used to record the tuba. Recording levels could then be pre-set for the two different situations.

I don't know anything about the Zoom video recorders, but I do know that most video recorders have pretty poor sound quality because they have too much automatic gain control built in. That works pretty well for recording spoken words, but not so well for music.

[WitchyPsycho2]

Dr. Peacock at Central Washington University uses a Zoom for a large majority of what he records.

Heres a video of him playing Hindemith:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ne0Q1l9J1U" target="_blank

Heres a video of the CWU Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble recorded with one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTe5oNuEYkw" target="_blank

The best way to record with one is to set the levels low and boost them later so the mic wont clip.
I hope this helps.

Best Regards

[Chris Olka]

Thanks guys, got the Q2 coming in the mail. Can't wait!