At the top of my holiday wish list this year was a video/audio recording device that I could use during my student teaching experience. As I was doing research into specifically which device I wanted, I found that there were a wide range of options! From the very popular “Flip” cameras to the wide variety of other options, I needed some “expert” opinions. Naturally, the first place I turned was the Music PLN! It was there that Richard McCready (@richardmccready on Twitter) suggested I consider purchasing a Zoom Q3HD. After some research, it looked like the Q3HD was the best fit for me, and after a few weeks of use, here is my review:
Video
The Q3HD is an extremely high-quality video recorder. It allows you to record video up to 1080p High Definition at 30fps, and all the way down to WVGA video at 30fps. Here is the full list of video quality options:
- 1080p HD, 30fps
- 720p HD, 60fps
- 720p HD, 30fps
- WVGA, 60fps
- WVGA, 30fps
The video settings also let you change the exposure to account for different types of scenes including concert lighting, and nighttime video. In addition, the Q3HD comes equipped with an auto-level feature to help stabilize video when the device is not mounted on a tripod.
Recording video is very simple to do – just hit the record button, and you’re good to go! You can zoom in and out using the right and left directional buttons around the record button. Zooming is very smooth, and can be done mid-video (you’re not stuck at the zoom level you started at, as you are with some other cameras) with the 4x digital zoom feature. Afterwards, you can go to playback mode, rotate the device to a horizontal position, and view the widescreen playback of your video immediately (controlling volume using the up/down arrow buttons). Screen resolution isn’t great on the actual device; videos look better on a computer screen than on the Q3HD’s screen.
Audio
One of the major selling points for me with the Q3HD was the fact that it had just as high-quality an audio recording set-up as it did for video. The device uses an X/Y microphone set-up similar to Zoom’s fantastic H4N audio recorder, and allows you to record at the following bit rates:
- 160 kbps
- 192 kbps
- 224 kbps
- 256 kbps
- 320 kbps
All videos are recorded at a sample rate of 48 kHz, and can be recorded in either PCM or AAC formats.
Audio recordings are crisp and clear, and the Q3HD does a fantastic job of capturing as much of the live-sound feel as possible. This device can double as a great audio recorder in the classroom, too, since the Q3HD can run in audio-only mode. Audio can be played back through the speakers on the device, or through the headphone/line out jack in the side of the device.
Intangibles
Design – The design of the Q3HD is very intuitive, and the form factor, while slightly bigger than others like it, still fits comfortably in the hand for hand-held recording. If you prefer, there is a spot at the base of the device where it can be connected to a tripod.
File Transfer – Another fantastic feature of this device is the ease with which the user can transfer files from the Q3HD to a computer. The Q3HD has a USB connector folded into the bottom corner of the device, and when users want to transfer files, all they have to do is flip out the USB connector and plug the device straight into the computer… no cables required!
Other Ports - In addition to the USB connector and line out jack, the Q3HD has a plethora of input/outputs and setting switches on the side of the device. These include:
- Line In (for an external microphone)
- DC Power (by default, the Q3HD runs on two AA batteries
- 1/8″ TV out (for a cable that splits into component outputs)
- Mini-HDMI out (to send to TV’s for immediate playback in HD)
- SD-HC bay for SD Card
- Mic Gain switch (Low/High/Auto)
Overall Thoughts
I could not be happier with my decision to get a Zoom Q3HD. This high-quality video recorder comes with just as high-quality an audio recorder, which is something indispensable to any music teacher. The device is intuitive to use, it comes with tons of settings and options to let you customize your recording experience, it makes transferring files to a computer simple, and the quality of the output files is fantastic. The Q3HD would be a smart purchase for anyone looking for a dual-threat recording device.
About Andy Zweibel
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