Video Recording
 

After seeing all the various video recorders out there, Zoom, Sony, etc, I'm at a loss as to which one to get. I don't want to deal with the fisheye look I've seen on some and would like to have a decent stereo audio recorder. I'm leaning toward the Sony HDR-MV1. Budget of $300 give or take. Suggestions please.

I researched and decided on the Sony HDR-MV1.

I didn't research the Sony, I just went ahead and bought the Zoom Q2n. After buying all the extras, the Q2n still costs around $280 plus Corel editing software. So don't let price be an issue. But the bottom line is I got a very easy to use camera that makes great sounding and looking video's. I can't complain.

After one evening of putzing around I am now able to make music video's fairly easy. Mission accomplished.

I decided to go a little past the entry level recorders & get the SONY AX53....Got it on sale and it is just awesome.

Glad I did so

HI Mr. Martin Maniac,

I am considering the Q2N. Can you please explain a bit about the extra’s you purchased. I'm trying to figure out if I could get by with just the Q2n. So are those extra's enhancements or are they fundamental requirements?

Thanks so much for the advice!

Well I bought all the extras. The accessory pack comes with a bunch of goodies, a semi hard shell carrying case for the Q2n itself which I think is a necessity to save the camera from damage while transporting it. the Q2n fits snuggly inside. Yes it's a custom made case, hence the cost. A wind screen designed for using the camera outdoors on a windy day ...meh ..?? A lens cap to protect the lens while not in use, that's pretty important. Then a lens shield that fits over the lens and keeps unwanted rainbow glare out of your video. This happens when recording inside and overhead lighting glares into your video...very important.---- There's has a mounting attachment I haven't figured out yet, and it has another attachment that you can use to hold the camera with your hand or slip it into a standard microphone clip adapter, so you could use a mic stand for a camera stand....also pretty cool. All these things come in the $50 accessory package. I feel it's worth it. YMMV.

Also, you'll have to buy a Class 10 memory card, costs about $20-30. Buy it with the camera so you get the right card. I also bought a AC adapter for about $15.00, You get a USB cord anyway so you can power the camera off the computer if you want. The camera eats batteries, so going with an AC adapter made sense to me. The camera comes with two AA batteries to get you started.

I also have a 6"-7" tripod camera stand that I use to hold the camera while filming.

For Video editing software, a friend suggested the $79.99 Corel X-10 Pro version, not the $99 dollar ultimate version. The X-10 Pro version worked out great for me and has all the editing features I need plus many more.

Next up you'll want a You Tube account to host your video's. That's free. Posting on Facebook is a breeze too. Both can be posted directly using the Corel Software.

I know it sounds like a lot, but it really isn't...I was up and running in minutes and produced my first test video in about 5 minutes. Now after spending a little time with the Corel software, I could probably make a video in about 30-60 minutes from start to finish.

rjbee:

Check out Fran Guidry's website where he does head-to-head comparison's of the various recorders: http://www.homebrewedmusic.com

Based on his demos, I bought the Sony HDR-MV1. For great sound recordings, the closer the mic is to the sound source, the better the sound quality of the recording. However the problem with placing the recorder too close is that you might not capture everything you want in your picture frame. The Sony solves that problem by using a fish-eye type of lens.

I bought mine through amazon.com. I bought the kit for $308 (name of vendor was Focus Camera). I recommend that you buy the kit that includes the extra battery, the battery charger, the media card, the lens cleaning kit, a tripod, the camera case, and the usb cable.

I have the Zoom Q4n. Great stereo sound recording, and good enough 1080p video.

I've recently added a GoPro Hero 5 Black to my setup, and sometimes use the Q4n to record the audio, and send that signal into the GoPro, which gives me 4k video with better sound than the onboard mics of the GoPro.

Do you expect to edit your videos, that is, trim the beginning and end? Maybe add titles? If so, it's only very slightly more work to sync an externally recorded audio, in which case the audio of the camera is used only as a guide and replaced with higher quality audio from the recorder.

If you think this is a viable option, then a used consumer camcorder will deliver superior video quality with more flexibility, and these things are quite inexpensive on the used market.

Another direction to consider is an add-on audio gadget to use with your smart phone. In this case I strongly recommend that you look for a solution that lets you place the mic separate from the phone/camera.

Fran

I have the Zoom Q8 and it makes pretty good recordings, though nothing too exceptional. It suffers from fisheye too.

Sent from my LG-US996 using Tapatalk

IMHO the elephant in the room is... the room.

Most all of the video I see done for Youtube is recorded with a built-in mic which ends up sounding way more like "the room" than the instrument. A prerequisite for good sound (for me) is to get the mic somewhere between 8" to 12" from the instrument. That isn't possible with the built-in mic, so it's a choice of either a camera that accepts external mic input or recording audio and video separately and syncing in an editing software.

Fran's suggestions are excellent, and his Homebrewed Music website has some very good advice.

With all the consumer music-oriented video cameras I don't know which I find more annoying, really bad audio or fish eye video.

I have this and am trying to figure out how to use it well....distances, levels, settings....so far I really don't like it....I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong, if it's the room I'm in or what but I don't think the recording it captures sounds even remotely close to "real" life...and it's kinda bumming me out....any tips?

Sure.

Read all the stuff on Fran's site.

http://www.homebrewedmusic.com/

thanks! lots of info

Sony MV1 for me too