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Vardaro « First impressions »
Published on 11/12/11 at 08:34Zoom Q3-HD First Impressions
Original English version from Vardaro
Zoom Q3-HD: first impressions.
Why the Q3?
Reviews showed disappointment in the video, but the initial bugs seem to have been corrected in the 2010 firmware, (v.1.15), and the unit seems reliable, and very practical.
I am a classical violinist and choirmaster, and so I need basic «natural» stereo. (XY 120 deg gives mono compatability but keeps the overall room acoustic).
I hesitated between the Q3-HD and a PlaySport in parallel with my Zoom H2 what decided me was the 2-second startup, the one-press rec/stop button, and above all the removable sd card and the standard, instantly replaceable batteries.
Superglue?
I am sorely tempted to stick some black loud-speaker mesh in the microphone compartment to protect the mics; and rims of plastic round the lens housing and screen ( I sometimes have to put the thing down!)
I shall also keep an elastic band in my pocket for when the little tags on the battery cover break!! (I'll be opening it rather often, I fear.)
Pleasantly surprised?
The default settings are sensible: 720/30 auto, AAC192 auto; but I was pleased to find that my own settings remained valid even after removing the batteries.
The Auto sound setting can be changed to High or Low at the flick of the external switch.
The two Auto sound settings are ingenious: Up & Down (default) levels everything; Down Only reacts to loud sounds, and then stays low to respect the expressive dynamics of the music – very important to the classical musician. Normally, I shall not be using Auto.
My settings?
Stop the beeps! Stop the speaker for playback! (My neighbour might be recording the concert too.)
PCM 16-bit 48Kz (I'll compress the sound later, if necessary).
720 (wider angle) 60ips (fluidity).
Concert Lighting (considerably reduces glare from facing lamps or windows).
Batteries?
Alkalines give 1.5v, NiMh only 1.2v, so it is important to adjust the settings, or the unit may give up early.
The official figures, (2 hours video, 4 hours audio) probably only apply to the very highest capacity alkalines, at the very lowest quality settings. The very highest settings give file-sizes 3-4 times bigger for the same timing, and so they must use considerably more current...
I shall set up an external battery box, or keep a huge supply in my pocket. At least there is no 4-hour wait for an unpredictable USB charge.
Remember that NiMh rechargeables lose their charge when not in use : (
File size?
Limited to under 4 GB (Fat32 limit on SD cards). This limits the recording time to betwwen 30 mins (highest settings) and 120 min (lowest settings). After 4GB, a new file is started, but I don't yet know how much is lost in between.
Precautions?
To avoid annoying neighbours, musicians, lecturers, union officials etc., I shall put a sticker on the little light under the lens, and a cloth flap over the screen (which will otherwise turn my face into a Halloween mask!)
For hand holding, I will hold the tripod – tight shut – with a cloth, to avoid creaking and rubbing noises.
Well, that's all for now, time for a full trial!
First test (a week later)
Settings: 720/30 concert lighting; PCM48kHz auto; Batteries NiMh (1.2v)
Batteries:
Fully charged NiMh 2500mAh lasted nearly 3 hours;
so, 2 3/4 hours with 2300mAh and 2 hours with 1800mAh batteries.
See above for warnings.
File size:
After the 4GB limit, a new .mov file starts automatically; I did not notice any loss during the switch. On the unit itself, the two files appear as one big file.
Also, when the SD card is full, the recording stops with no loss of data.
So, I know I can leave the unit running on a tripod, or attatched to a pillar,for the whole concert. (The lack of image stabalisation makes hand-holding rather cramp-inducing!) The mics pick up the slightest finger contact, or floor thump through a monopod, so I might use the conical adaptor wrapped in foam in a stadard mic-holder .
So, until I test the unit in poor lighting, etc, I am very pleased with my Q-HD!
Original English version from Vardaro
Zoom Q3-HD: first impressions.
Why the Q3?
Reviews showed disappointment in the video, but the initial bugs seem to have been corrected in the 2010 firmware, (v.1.15), and the unit seems reliable, and very practical.
I am a classical violinist and choirmaster, and so I need basic «natural» stereo. (XY 120 deg gives mono compatability but keeps the overall room acoustic).
I hesitated between the Q3-HD and a PlaySport in parallel with my Zoom H2 what decided me was the 2-second startup, the one-press rec/stop button, and above all the removable sd card and the standard, instantly replaceable batteries.
Superglue?
I am sorely tempted to stick some black loud-speaker mesh in the microphone compartment to protect the mics; and rims of plastic round the lens housing and screen ( I sometimes have to put the thing down!)
I shall also keep an elastic band in my pocket for when the little tags on the battery cover break!! (I'll be opening it rather often, I fear.)
Pleasantly surprised?
The default settings are sensible: 720/30 auto, AAC192 auto; but I was pleased to find that my own settings remained valid even after removing the batteries.
The Auto sound setting can be changed to High or Low at the flick of the external switch.
The two Auto sound settings are ingenious: Up & Down (default) levels everything; Down Only reacts to loud sounds, and then stays low to respect the expressive dynamics of the music – very important to the classical musician. Normally, I shall not be using Auto.
My settings?
Stop the beeps! Stop the speaker for playback! (My neighbour might be recording the concert too.)
PCM 16-bit 48Kz (I'll compress the sound later, if necessary).
720 (wider angle) 60ips (fluidity).
Concert Lighting (considerably reduces glare from facing lamps or windows).
Batteries?
Alkalines give 1.5v, NiMh only 1.2v, so it is important to adjust the settings, or the unit may give up early.
The official figures, (2 hours video, 4 hours audio) probably only apply to the very highest capacity alkalines, at the very lowest quality settings. The very highest settings give file-sizes 3-4 times bigger for the same timing, and so they must use considerably more current...
I shall set up an external battery box, or keep a huge supply in my pocket. At least there is no 4-hour wait for an unpredictable USB charge.
Remember that NiMh rechargeables lose their charge when not in use : (
File size?
Limited to under 4 GB (Fat32 limit on SD cards). This limits the recording time to betwwen 30 mins (highest settings) and 120 min (lowest settings). After 4GB, a new file is started, but I don't yet know how much is lost in between.
Precautions?
To avoid annoying neighbours, musicians, lecturers, union officials etc., I shall put a sticker on the little light under the lens, and a cloth flap over the screen (which will otherwise turn my face into a Halloween mask!)
For hand holding, I will hold the tripod – tight shut – with a cloth, to avoid creaking and rubbing noises.
Well, that's all for now, time for a full trial!
First test (a week later)
Settings: 720/30 concert lighting; PCM48kHz auto; Batteries NiMh (1.2v)
Batteries:
Fully charged NiMh 2500mAh lasted nearly 3 hours;
so, 2 3/4 hours with 2300mAh and 2 hours with 1800mAh batteries.
See above for warnings.
File size:
After the 4GB limit, a new .mov file starts automatically; I did not notice any loss during the switch. On the unit itself, the two files appear as one big file.
Also, when the SD card is full, the recording stops with no loss of data.
So, I know I can leave the unit running on a tripod, or attatched to a pillar,for the whole concert. (The lack of image stabalisation makes hand-holding rather cramp-inducing!) The mics pick up the slightest finger contact, or floor thump through a monopod, so I might use the conical adaptor wrapped in foam in a stadard mic-holder .
So, until I test the unit in poor lighting, etc, I am very pleased with my Q-HD!