Input from forum about Zoom Q3HD recorder

[Longridge]

Would like to hear input from the forum about Zoom Q3HD video/audio recorder. I have checked out most of the YouTube vids and would value opinions you might want to post.  Thanks !

[BenF]

I did have a q3, and found it did ok video, which I guess this does better being HD. However, it did great audio. Problem was, it wouldn't do both at once, because to use the camera, it had to be placed too far away from the source to puck up the guitar and vocals very well.

I also found the USB cable (built in) very short and the wrong way around, so I always seemed to be twisting it to plug in. I see this is still the same on the new unit.  I sold mine partially because I figured the wire would break very quickly.

This brings me to the next issue. The USB connection, and associated software was poor, and you could not use it as a USB mic. I used my H2 for this a lot.  A major major failing in my opinion.

The record button being located on the back is a pain.

I find I get better results using an H2 for audio and my iPhone for the video.  That also gives you the flexibility to place the mic in the best position, to use it as a USB mic and multitrack using audacity or similar.

Given that HD video is the norm on mobile phones, the features the Q3 lacks to 'try' to do both audio and video is a massive let down.

What zoom needs is a camera and mic linked by a cable, so they record simultaneously, but can be independently positioned. THAT would be a winning design.

I therefore do not recommend tge Q3HD, in case that wasn't clear.

[nikmisdik]

People have touched on this subject previously, but I still feel my questions haven't been answered so I'm going specific.

We are giving our daughter a Canon Vixia High-Definition SD/SDHC Camcorder (HFM30) for Christmas. She is a young musician, trying to build her career. We are looking to also give her an external microphone to enhance the audio portion of her recordings. My husband noticed an ad or write-up for the Zoom H4n in one of the music mags he subscribes to. It implied that this device could be used in conjunction with a camcorder to provide the audio component.

What I am trying to find out is:
1. will the zoom h4n be compatible with this particular camcorder?

2. Does she need anything additional to use them together?

3. Can the zoom be used as an audio line in on the camcorder - i.e. provide the audio track directly onto the a/v recorded within the camcorder, or will she have to try to sync everything later on her computer?

4. What do people think of the sound quality when used in this way (assuming she can line-in to the camcorder)?

I wrote to Zoom Corporation in Japan and asked the same thing and got the following reply:

We retrieved specs of the camcorder of Canon on the website. As the Canon has a inputs of microphone, it is compatible with the H4n. Please connect the cable from the headphones outputs of the H4n to microphone inputs of the Canon. However, though it has a different impedance both of the H4n and Canon, it need attenuator cable as follows.

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-b ... /270/audio
Stereo 1/8 inch Male to Stereo 1/8 inch Male attenuator Cable

As other methods, you can edit the movie and audio with software. We recommend the software of the Vegas movie studio. It can edit the HD movie and audio. For example, you record the movie with the Canon and audio with the H4n separately. Then, download the audio and video to software. You can edit the movie and audio with the Vegas movie studio.

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/moviestudiohd

Our daughter has a Mac and uses Garage Band sometimes, possibly Cakewalk, not sure what else. She also has another "studio in a box" type audio mixer (Snow? maybe?) that she has been using a bit. My wish is to give her tools that are easy to use. The less of the tech stuff she has to do, the quicker she will begin to actually produce videos with the equipment. She is a musician, not a sound engineer, although like most musicians, she is finding she has to be both. The Zoom reply suggests that it can be used either way (as long as we also get her that 1/8 to 1/8 cable), but I want confirmation from actual users, as well as some impressions on how easy it is to work with and the quality of the audio product. She will likely be recording herself performing her own songs in her "studio" at home as well as recording some live performances.

Thanks in advance!