Didn't yet receive the new ZedI in the mail which gives me 4 channels through USB. Already second guessing myself and considering returning it for a Zoom H6 would give me mobile options to record gigs. Anyone using the H6?
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Audio and video recording
- Thread starter peterpalmieri
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I was recently looking at the Zoom F8 for someone that wanted to do multichannel audio recording for film. Eight input, ten track. At $1K it looks interesting.
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I've read some reviews about the F8. For the money it seems to be very very good. Some shortcomings compared with much more expensive devices, but for the money...
I love my R8 for the money. The only issue I have with Zoom are their music-"cameras". Audio is excellent for the money but the cameras are crap.
Did their marketing department really expect people to buy a camera as a just one more device that offers a picture quality that is far worse than any smartphone of the last years?
I just bought myself a Canon 750D. I was a bit afraid of the complexity - I'm much more into audio than filming or photography and I was already kind of satisfied with the picture and even more so video quality of my iPhone 6. But it is a huge step forward in quality, even for someone who knows next to nothing about objectives, aperture, ISO etc.
I just wish the DSLRs would be as good in audio as an iPhone with a USB-interface or mic.
I'm experimenting with one of the headphone outs of my SPL Crimson and manual gain settings at the Canon.
The results aren't as bad as I expected, but my first recordings with automatic gain settings were horror...
But the picture quality really surprised me.
I got the new Zed in the mail. Think I'm going to keep it. Four channels on my desk top is nice! And will serve the purpose of my home videos. Will keep researching field options. The F8 does seem very nice.
Canon digital cameras are used by a lot of professionals, a lot of their feedback goes into their products. Hope that you enjoy your 750D, nice camera. As with anything new, it takes a while to figure out how to get the most out of it.
Finding the right external mic can help. The audio quality is better. Then it takes some experimenting to get the the input level right so that it doesn't distort. For sure, don't use the auto gain setting. Recording music is certainly more difficult than what most people typically do. You have to contend with dynamics in the levels.
You can always find ways to spend more money on equipment. The problem with anything digital is that there are always new products in the pipeline. I think that it makes sense to start with a less complicated system. In time, with experience, you'll have a better idea as to what you will best serve your needs.
The F8 has features but 8/10 inputs is probably more than you would ever use for music in your srudio. You can always use a sub-mixer to premix mics if you need more than four channels.
The 4 mic inputs on the A&H are good enough for my personal home projects. The problem with the H6 is not enough when I have a small group over. 3 drum mics, stereo keys, bass and I'm maxed out. Add a vocal and sax and the F8 have hit its limit. There are better options for multitrack at home.
As far as recording live gigs for the $1000 of the F8 I have many options like the QSC mixer where I can capture 16 tracks to a hardisk without all the splitter and cabling issues of making the F8 work.
Another interesting topic. Just finished up a rehearsal only to find out the drummer does all this stuff he produces and edits tutorial videos for one of the big cable companies. So I've got a huge brain to pick in terms of my gear review video.
I bought the Shure MV88 for iPhone and have been happy with it doing some basic videos. The lighting at this place was difficult to deal with, but you can at least hear the audio quality of the Shure and a bit of EQ in GarageBand. Used a small Gorilla tripod wrapped around a post with some gaffer tape for security.
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The quality of the MV88 is very good. I did read lots of reviews about it and it seems to be the best for the buck, even better than the ones from Rode, who use to have a good reputation among filmers. I afforded myself the Lewitt DGT650, but that is really luxary. I have made so many mistakes in filming (or not filming at all
) that I'm not allowed to critizise others, but I have the impression, the iPhone cam can do much better, even under difficult circumstances. Did you try the Movie Pro app? It is really worth the money (10,-) or so and you SEE the audio level and you can change the iso-settings (very important if the light isn't ideal).
) that I'm not allowed to critizise others, but I have the impression, the iPhone cam can do much better, even under difficult circumstances. Did you try the Movie Pro app? It is really worth the money (10,-) or so and you SEE the audio level and you can change the iso-settings (very important if the light isn't ideal).
I used an H6 for quite a white, noted in the referenced thread. Last Dec. I upgraded to the F8. It's a night and day difference in sonic quality. The H6 preamps are pretty good. The F8's preamps are excellent. Makes all the difference in recording quality if that's what you're shooting for. The extra inputs are just gravy.
Recording in your home studio for a video seems easy but if your ears are at all tuned to sonic quality, you'll very quickly be sucked into a rat hole of gear and software required to get there. Not that this is a bad thing! Just sayin....
Recording in your home studio for a video seems easy but if your ears are at all tuned to sonic quality, you'll very quickly be sucked into a rat hole of gear and software required to get there. Not that this is a bad thing! Just sayin....
Danke Dir Dirk - werde ich machen!The quality of the MV88 is very good. I did read lots of reviews about it and it seems to be the best for the buck, even better than the ones from Rode, who use to have a good reputation among filmers. I afforded myself the Lewitt DGT650, but that is really luxary. I have made so many mistakes in filming (or not filming at all
Thank you. As a bad example of how good the iPhone cam is, even under the worst possible conditions:Danke Dir Dirk - werde ich machen!
I recorded this about 10 meters away with the iPhone on its own and the Lewitt. I just left the camera on its own and set the ISO to about 1600. It was a kind of private party and there was no light directed at us at all, the only light was behind(!) our vocalist and then even some daylight was working against the camera. Couldn't be worse for a cam. But the picture is still - given the circumstances - relatively sharp.
I wouldn't have published this on youtube, but just to show how good the iPhone cam works even under these conditions:
An big advantage of a remote recorder that runs on batteries is that it has a low noise floor. The power supply is DC, no AC wobbling that can add hum. Well that and not being tied to a wall plug.
Great discussion thus far and I hope to keep it going. Busy life doesn't leave me a ton of time but I think I've worked out most of what a need for the review of my new Drake Custom bass.
Here is the plan, recording video with the Go Pro Session and audio with the ZedI 10FX. I will be recording 2 tracks 1 from the DI on my Jule Monique and the other from an overhead a C414. I am going to just record one long take as I ramble on and play.
My first step in editing is to work the audio in garage band, muting the overhead while I am playing and muting the DI while I speak. I am going to drag a stereo file into I Movie and sync it to the Video from the sessions. Once I've got it sync'd up I will export the file to pair the audio and video and bring it into a new session so I can cut sections and keep the A/V paired. Add in transitions, and still photos of the bass, maybe some B roll of the bass too.
Does that make sense? This is all new to me.
Pete
Here is the plan, recording video with the Go Pro Session and audio with the ZedI 10FX. I will be recording 2 tracks 1 from the DI on my Jule Monique and the other from an overhead a C414. I am going to just record one long take as I ramble on and play.
My first step in editing is to work the audio in garage band, muting the overhead while I am playing and muting the DI while I speak. I am going to drag a stereo file into I Movie and sync it to the Video from the sessions. Once I've got it sync'd up I will export the file to pair the audio and video and bring it into a new session so I can cut sections and keep the A/V paired. Add in transitions, and still photos of the bass, maybe some B roll of the bass too.
Does that make sense? This is all new to me.
Pete
BTW I also set up the go pro at a rehearsal the other night. I edited it down to a single 30 minute video with transition slides, 6 songs. I uploaded it unpublished to youtube and was able to share the link with the rest of the group. Audio wasn't bad, good enough for the purpose of allowing everyone to review difficiencies.
For rehearsal recording in a small room, you might check out a Blumlein Pair configuration with two condensers. Uses 2 channels so no DI. It makes a stereo image of the whole room. All instruments will sound clear. I've done this a lot with great success.
How crappy is the ZoomQ4n compared to it's predecessor the Zoom Q4 video wise?
Thought the Q4n was supposed to be a big improvement over the Q4 for video portion.....
btw:- there's no "remote " option for the Q4n is there?
I've made a mistake, I own the Q4 not the Q4n. From reading user-reviews it seems the camera of the Q4n isn't much better. Some users expected it to be better but were dissapointed when they tried the Q4n. When the light is really good the Q4 is not that bad. I've recorded one gig in the morning at a sunny day. That was o.k. but still significantly less sharp than an iPhone 6. I like the Zoom a lot from an easy to use perspective: just look for a piece of metal (I have a magnetic gorilla-pod for it), preferable on the ceiling, press record and forget it. For this reason I did read user-reviews and expected the Q4n to have a better camera. But it doesn't.
Yes....ZenG.....I think I know the guy......
( I posted that comparison later after I asked you the question...looked it up on YouTube
).
