Looking to buy camcorder for recording live music
September 12, 2014 4:18 PM Subscribe
I'm looking for a camcorder or camcorder/microphone setup to record my band's practices and shows for uploading to YouTube.
I want to spend no more than $1,000—though I would obviously love to keep it as inexpensive as possible—including accessories, like tripod, memory card, spare battery, case, etc. (I'm new to all of this, not upgrading.) I also haul a lot of gear for the band, so I would prefer something simple, like an all-in-one camcorder, but I will go the camcorder and microphone route if that's the only way.
Audio quality is really the priority here. We're a loud garage/punk band so it would need some kind of built-in attenuator in the microphone. I'm not looking to film a professional music video here, so video quality isn't a huge consideration. But if it's better to get a decent camcorder and a quality microphone, I can do that.
I'll be editing on a PC, probably using Windows Movie Maker, really because I don't need anything fancy. So if there's a proprietary video or audio format, that's a concern. If I need to buy special software and it won't put me over cost, I can do that.
The Sony HDR-MV1 is my current top contender, though I'm not a fan of the non-zoomable fisheye lens, but it seems to have excellent low-light video for live shows. The Canon VIXIA mini X is a second choice, but it seems to have the same features as the Sony and is more expensive. And then there's the Zoom Q4, but it seems rather cheap.
Any first-hand experience or suggestions to get me going in the right direction?
I want to spend no more than $1,000—though I would obviously love to keep it as inexpensive as possible—including accessories, like tripod, memory card, spare battery, case, etc. (I'm new to all of this, not upgrading.) I also haul a lot of gear for the band, so I would prefer something simple, like an all-in-one camcorder, but I will go the camcorder and microphone route if that's the only way.
Audio quality is really the priority here. We're a loud garage/punk band so it would need some kind of built-in attenuator in the microphone. I'm not looking to film a professional music video here, so video quality isn't a huge consideration. But if it's better to get a decent camcorder and a quality microphone, I can do that.
I'll be editing on a PC, probably using Windows Movie Maker, really because I don't need anything fancy. So if there's a proprietary video or audio format, that's a concern. If I need to buy special software and it won't put me over cost, I can do that.
The Sony HDR-MV1 is my current top contender, though I'm not a fan of the non-zoomable fisheye lens, but it seems to have excellent low-light video for live shows. The Canon VIXIA mini X is a second choice, but it seems to have the same features as the Sony and is more expensive. And then there's the Zoom Q4, but it seems rather cheap.
Any first-hand experience or suggestions to get me going in the right direction?
Response by poster: That's interesting, and kind of what I thought.
It's interesting that you mention the Zoom H1, though. One of the reviews of the Sony HDR-MV1 said it's microphone was better than the Zoom H1, but that there are better Rode microphones. I will look into the Zoom anyways, and Rode for comparison.
A question about the NEX, though: I've heard that DSLRs can overheat. Would a NEX work for 2-3 hour practices or shows?
posted by Woodroar at 6:12 PM on September 12, 2014
It's interesting that you mention the Zoom H1, though. One of the reviews of the Sony HDR-MV1 said it's microphone was better than the Zoom H1, but that there are better Rode microphones. I will look into the Zoom anyways, and Rode for comparison.
A question about the NEX, though: I've heard that DSLRs can overheat. Would a NEX work for 2-3 hour practices or shows?
posted by Woodroar at 6:12 PM on September 12, 2014
Best answer: I just bought a Zoom H4N and just now went through a soundtest podcast with my wife. Super easy to use, attach microphones to, etc. We're not planning on using it for video, but I see a lot of people using it for sound with their DSLR cameras. If you're looking to record a band, you'll want the different tracks the H4N can offer - this will allow you to tweak things later on if you like.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:31 PM on September 12, 2014
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:31 PM on September 12, 2014
Best answer: From the Zoom stables, there is also the Zoom Q2HD, a small all in one video/audio recorder. Might want to check that out too!
posted by TrinsicWS at 7:23 PM on September 14, 2014
posted by TrinsicWS at 7:23 PM on September 14, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
Yea, that's what you want here. Especially for cheap-ish. The quality you'll get from two separate units just makes it not worth it to try and buy an all-in-one device.
Audio: Zoom H1
Video: literally anything. Personally i'd buy like, the cheapest sony NEX i could get my hands on just because you get great video and low light performance especially out of an APS-C sized sensor, and you can get nex 3n or a3000 for really cheap.(and the a3000 especially is really nice for what it is, even if it feels cheap and has a crappy screen/viewfinder). Like $200 or less cheap. The 3n was like, $140 at best buy on clearance recently with a lens and everything.
Almost no cameras built in mike will work worth a crap for this. And the zoom is GREAT for high volume stuff. There's also an upgraded zoom model like, $100 above that one.
You should be able to knock this out for under $300 if you hustle. Figure $200-250 for the NEX/alpha, and $80-100 for the H1(it's cheaper sometimes than it is on amazon...).
Get a cheap-ass tripod mount flash holder, and bolt the h1 onto that. Now you have a contiguous unit. With that, and extra batteries and stuff you're probably still under $500.
The only real downside here is that now you have to sync the audio and video later manually. But it's not like there's going to be real time drift since this isn't 1965, and you have the cameras crap audio to line up the recorders audio with.
posted by emptythought at 4:41 PM on September 12, 2014 [3 favorites]