Specifications

Manufacturer:
Zoom, samsontech.com

List Price:
$249.00

Originally published in Guitar World, June 2010

If audio is a priority, the Zoom Q3 is a very capable yet affordable video recorder that offers decent video with outstanding sound.

The difference between a good video and a great one often has more to do with sound quality than picture quality. It’s hard to keep a viewer’s attention when the accompanying audio sounds noisy, flat and lifeless. The problem is that most affordable video recorders treat audio as an afterthought. They feature only tiny built-in mono microphones and low-bit, compressed recording capabilities. It’s no wonder the resulting audio sounds about as good as an Edison cylinder phonograph.

The Zoom Q3 Handy Video Recorder stands out from today’s current crop of compact, affordable video recorders like the Flip and Vado by providing a pair of built-in X/Y-configured condenser microphones that record high-quality audio in stereo. While the Zoom Q3 shares a similar vertical handheld format as the Flip and Vado, the presence of a large grille mesh, instead of tiny holes for soundwaves to squeeze through, shows that this video recorder means business when it comes to pro-quality audio.

FEATURES

In addition to its built-in stereo condenser mics, the Q3 has a fixed-focus lens with 2X digital zoom, a 2.4-inch 320x240 LCD and a USB 2.0 output with a built-in cable. The unit records up to 24-bit/48kHz WAV audio when accompanying video, or you can record audio only at 24-bit/96kHz (WAV). You can also encode audio to MP3 (up to 320kbps). Video resolution is 640x480 at 30 frames per second, and the format is MPEG-4 SP. Video and audio are recorded to a removable SD or SDHC card, and the Q3 is compatible with cards up to 32GB. Recording capacity is about 30 minutes per gigabyte. The unit is powered by a pair of AA batteries, and it is compatible with rechargeable NiMH batteries.

PERFORMANCE

Capturing perfect audio is simple, thanks to the Q3’s auto record level setting, which automatically adjust the ideal input level. The sound quality is similar to that of Zoom’s audio-only H4n Handy Recorder, and the addition of video is a nice bonus. I recorded a variety of soft and loud sound sources, like acoustic and electric guitars, and the Q3 captured them all in crisp, lifelike detail. The Q3’s video recordings aren’t as high quality, however, but they’re fine if you primarily plan on sharing your videos via YouTube.

THE BOTTOM LINE

If audio is a priority, the Zoom Q3 is a very capable yet affordable video recorder that offers decent video with outstanding sound.

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