Hey Spelunkers and Other Undergrounders,
I am toying with the idea of buying one of them Zoom Q3HD audio/video field recorders.
I was wondering what anyone else's thoughts or experience might be, regarding this gadget, or any other gadget? Is there something better out there I don't know about?
One thing I notice is that I'd really need a friend, or a mirror, or both to ensure I'm framed correctly in the camera while I'm recording myself. Also, I'd want to keep an eye on the audio levels, to ensure I'm not over-modulating. I notice there is a video output, so it must be possible to have a small video monitor sitting close by so as to allow you to see what the camera is pointed at, but that would still leave the audio unmonitored. You know, my Sony Camcorder has a built in LED monitor that I can swing out and upside down. That allows me to see, albeit upside down, just what's in the frame. It's too bad this gizmo can't do that.
The big appeal, for me, with this new piece of gear, is the ability to record proper audio and video, simultaneously. I produced a few videos for YouTube using my SONY, or my iMac's built-in camera, and then had to juggle things around with re-recording audio, or stripping the audio and processing it in GarageBand to add reverb, or whatever. The big problems here was that it was time-consuming, and it was bloody nerve-wracking to try and manually sync the processed audio back up with the video, again, by ear. This contraption should avoid that hassle. And, I can apparently add a touch or reverb while recording, which is basically all I ever wanted to do with the audio, anyway.
You know, I'm a firm believer in a 'live off the floor' approach to recording. I'm more concerned with performance, rather than post-production. If I'm not performing, I'd rather spend my free time learning new music, instead of learning how to be a recording engineer.
So, would this piece of hardware make the cat moo and the cow meow? What sayst thou?
I am toying with the idea of buying one of them Zoom Q3HD audio/video field recorders.
I was wondering what anyone else's thoughts or experience might be, regarding this gadget, or any other gadget? Is there something better out there I don't know about?
One thing I notice is that I'd really need a friend, or a mirror, or both to ensure I'm framed correctly in the camera while I'm recording myself. Also, I'd want to keep an eye on the audio levels, to ensure I'm not over-modulating. I notice there is a video output, so it must be possible to have a small video monitor sitting close by so as to allow you to see what the camera is pointed at, but that would still leave the audio unmonitored. You know, my Sony Camcorder has a built in LED monitor that I can swing out and upside down. That allows me to see, albeit upside down, just what's in the frame. It's too bad this gizmo can't do that.
The big appeal, for me, with this new piece of gear, is the ability to record proper audio and video, simultaneously. I produced a few videos for YouTube using my SONY, or my iMac's built-in camera, and then had to juggle things around with re-recording audio, or stripping the audio and processing it in GarageBand to add reverb, or whatever. The big problems here was that it was time-consuming, and it was bloody nerve-wracking to try and manually sync the processed audio back up with the video, again, by ear. This contraption should avoid that hassle. And, I can apparently add a touch or reverb while recording, which is basically all I ever wanted to do with the audio, anyway.
You know, I'm a firm believer in a 'live off the floor' approach to recording. I'm more concerned with performance, rather than post-production. If I'm not performing, I'd rather spend my free time learning new music, instead of learning how to be a recording engineer.
So, would this piece of hardware make the cat moo and the cow meow? What sayst thou?