Zoom Q3 - anyone used one for recording gigs etc??

[drumsterphil]

Looking for a cost effective way of recording our gigs, rehearsals and this seems to fit the bill for a very reasonable cost.

Anybody got one, and if so how have you found it?

Interested in opinions on both the Q3 and Q3 HD.

Cheers
Phil

[davepoth]

Semms like a lot of money to drop on something that a mobile phone can do, surely?

[drumsterphil]

Possibly, but it's down to the recording quality of having condenser mics fitted which means no distortion - something that no phone app or cam-corder will really cope with at this price.

[davepoth]

drumsterphil said:

Possibly, but it's down to the recording quality of having condenser mics fitted which means no distortion - something that no phone app or cam-corder will really cope with at this price.

I guess - Although to be honest on the occasions I've heard a soundboard recording of a band I've been playing in I've wished there had been a lot of distortion on it to muffle all of the mistakes.

[drumsterphil]

davepoth said:

I guess - Although to be honest on the occasions I've heard a soundboard recording of a band I've been playing in I've wished there had been a lot of distortion on it to muffle all of the mistakes.

We're just gluttons for punishment, I guess!! lol

[chevy-stu]

I have used (and heard) many gig and rehearsal recording using the Zoom H2 and other similar style recorders and they're generally not bad..

For rehearsals, the key is positioning the unit as central in the room as possible to get a decent mix. We used a Hitachi one at a gig once right overt the middle of the stage, and worked well.. but we had great monitors so the vocals came out nicely.

It's not worth spending loads on one unless you need the extra features..

[drumsterphil]

We already have a Zoom H1 but wanted something that records video as well as excellent audio and after seeing this vid kinda figured that was excatly what we were looking for - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcHbr4nhYmo

[5705]

OK, I have NOT used it for recording a gig but I do have a Q3 HD. I like it, although battery life is so poor (which may matter to you) that I bought the accessory pack with AC adaptor/etc. (I record at home.)

Reasons I chose it were:
1) picture quality
2) sound quality
3) line in or mics
4) it is one of very few solid-state camcorder-ish widgets that allow you to turn off AGC on the sound (which matters to me)