Woodwind.OrgThe Clarinet BBoardThe C4 standard

 
  BBoard Equipment Study Resources Music General    
 
 New Topic  |  Go to Top  |  Go to Topic  |  Search  |  Help/Rules  |  Smileys/Notes  |  Log In   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 
 Best handheld audio/visual recorder?
Author: ClarinettyBetty 
Date:   2016-11-02 20:00

With all the new products out there--Zooms, Go-Pros, etc, what do you all recommend as an excellent recording device? I plan to use it for auditions, so the recording quality must be top-notch.

Thank you!

-----------------------
Eb: 1972 Buffet BC20
Bb: Selmer Paris Presence
A: Selmer Paris Presence
Bass: 1977 LeBlanc

https://gentrywoodwinds.com




Reply To Message
 
 Re: Best handheld audio/visual recorder?
Author: Fuzzy 
Date:   2016-11-02 22:54

I watch a lot of Lasse Collin's video on YouTube. He uses a Zoom (which you can see mounted to the side of a mic stand in his videos). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY_E6sKHuWo

Partly on his recommendation, I use a Zoom H4N...really like it for audio, but that's all it does (No video). I can send you a link to a personal bass clarinet recording I made with it. If you want to zap me an e-mail to fuzzy@fuzzyjazz.com, I'll send you the link to the audio files. I posted mp3's, but it will record directly to WAV if you want. It should give you a good idea of what the device produces. (The recordings were made in a normal room without any fanfare. I simply laid the device on a hand towel upon my desk. No modifications were made to the recordings as I was actually testing out a new-to-me bass clarinet, and I wanted to hear exactly what it sounded like.)

If you're not needing four mics, (and if you're looking at the Zoom line anyway), I'd probably recommend one of the "lesser" Zooms.

Fuzzy

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Best handheld audio/visual recorder?
Author: ClarinettyBetty 
Date:   2016-11-02 23:17

I'll look into the Zooms. I need one with video capabilities also, however. Many of the applications for graduate school, as well as auditions, want it to be an audio/video recording, one take, unedited. Whew! So I'm looking for the best bang for my buck, something that can do everything.

-----------------------
Eb: 1972 Buffet BC20
Bb: Selmer Paris Presence
A: Selmer Paris Presence
Bass: 1977 LeBlanc

https://gentrywoodwinds.com




Reply To Message
 
 Re: Best handheld audio/visual recorder?
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2016-11-02 23:40

You may want to check out the Zoom Q4n (~$250). It was designed as a "concert recording device" (good audio, wide angle video, fast lens)

No affiliation whatsoever, except that I own a Zoom H1 and a H2 and am very happy with them.

--
Ben

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Best handheld audio/visual recorder?
Author: Merlin_Williams 
Date:   2016-11-03 00:19

Zoom makes excellent bang for the buck audio recorders. I have not tried their AV recorders.

GoPro cameras are terrific for an immersive video experience, not so much for general video. Not good for sound.

HD Camcorders these days are quite inexpensive, but sound capabilities are limited.

DSLR cameras do very good video, so so sound. There's also a maximum of 30 mins/clip record time on them.

I use all of these tools in various combos to produce my videos.

My fave is to film on the DSLR, and sync the audio from my Zoom H6 in post.

Jupiter Canada Artist/Clinician
Stratford Shakespeare Festival musician
Woodwind Doubling Channel Creator on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/WoodwindDoubling

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Best handheld audio/visual recorder?
Author: dubrosa22 
Date:   2016-11-03 02:32

A feature-rich but basic handheld recorder like the Zoom H2n or H4n Pro can do fine job on its own, but if you couple that with a ext. mic like a Sennheiser MD441 or Beyer M130 you will get a better sounding result with more flexibility in mic placement.



Reply To Message
 
 Re: Best handheld audio/visual recorder?
Author: ClarinettyBetty 
Date:   2016-11-03 03:38

How would I couple the external mics to the recorder? (I'm new to this, but I want to learn how to do it well!)

-----------------------
Eb: 1972 Buffet BC20
Bb: Selmer Paris Presence
A: Selmer Paris Presence
Bass: 1977 LeBlanc

https://gentrywoodwinds.com




Reply To Message
 
 Re: Best handheld audio/visual recorder?
Author: dubrosa22 
Date:   2016-11-03 04:28

The Zoom H4n can accept two or more XLR or ¼" balanced or unbalanced mic inputs
The Zoom H2n can accept two ⅛" unbalanced mic inputs

These are industry standard cables. These units also provide phantom (aka Plug-in) power for condenser type mics.

I'm not a Zoom endorser by any means - try Tascam, Sony, Roland... all much the same type of specs in their offerings - but I think having a handheld recorder do everything is a mistake. Better to have the option to use a external studio type mic with a good recorder.



Reply To Message
 
 Re: Best handheld audio/visual recorder?
Author: Chris_C 2017
Date:   2016-11-03 15:03

I use a Zoom H2 (a bit old now) for sound, and my phone or camera for 1080p video; Then I use a free video editor to replace the sound in the video recording with the much better Zoom sound. Alignment is made easy by the existence of the (heavily compressed) phone sound track. All quite easy after the first couple of attempts.... As noted above, any of the decent audio recorders will do the job, and most smartphones have excellent cameras. Just watch for the 29min59s limit on cameras and stock phone apps - I found an app without that limitation.

All made possible by the accuracy of the system clocks - separate recordings stay in sync for more than an hour.

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Best handheld audio/visual recorder?
Author: Sean.Perrin 
Date:   2016-11-04 10:11

I use the Shure MV88 with my iPhone. It's amazing.

Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com

Reply To Message
 Avail. Forums  |  Threaded View   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 


 Avail. Forums  |  Need a Login? Register Here 
 User Login
 User Name:
 Password:
 Remember my login:
   
 Forgot Your Password?
Enter your email address or user name below and a new password will be sent to the email address associated with your profile.
Search Woodwind.Org

Sheet Music Plus Featured Sale

The Clarinet Pages
For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.

 
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org