@mark4amp Hi- Thanks for watching. I recorded this video right after acquiring the Q3. It's the original, non-HD model, and the Handyshare editing update had not yet been released for free download from ZOOM. The settings used for this video were 24-bit/48kHz audio resolution/sample rate, and AUTO record level. That original Q3 software version had only the AUTO mode for lighting. After the software update, and susequent release of the Q3HD, my audio/video quality improved. -Mark
I have one of these and whenever i record something with it the playback volume is really low. It's typically at about half the volume of a normal You Tube video. Yours seems o.k. though. Did you use their editing software? Do you have any suggestions? Thanks.
@stubee5150 Great question! My reply here may be somewhat lengthy ( wordy! ) and might require multiple messages, so please bear with me. My Q3 is an early production unit and is NOT the newer HD model. Every single one of my videos was shot using this recorder, and I am totally pleased with it, with only one minor annoying characteristic that used to drive me crazy: tricky volume level management! [end of part 1; please see part 2 of this reply]
@stubee5150 The Q3's Low Gain setting doesn't pick up much of anything that might be deemed "normal" sounds, but is useable on the very loudest of sources. The High Gain mode is far too sensitive in most audio environments and the recorded result tends to be horribly distorted. I have found the Auto Gain Level setting to be the way to go. In Auto mode, however, you need to be fussy about the dynamic range of the overall sound level in the venue in which you are recording. [end of pt 2; see 3]
@stubee5150 The Q3's auto-levelling compression/limiting circuits do a great job of downwardly adjusting the overall recording level, to prevent signal clipping and its associated unpleasant audible distortion. During recording, each instance of an increase in the sound pressure level (SPL) "heard" by the Q3's mic triggers a lowering of the recording's overall volume level, from that point, on. Even a momentary, transient, sound will cause the volume to go down. [end of part 3; see part 4]
@stubee5150 An airplane flying overhead, a motorcycle driving by, my neighbor's lawnmower, thunder, or even just someone's footsteps elsewhere in the house, or my own manual handling of the Q3 are examples of things that can trigger the automatic levelling and cause a reduced recorded volume level. When recording at home, I try to make the subject of the recording (usually my "music") loud enough in the room to acoustically mask the unintended noise that leaks into the Q3's mic.[end 4; see 5]
@stubee5150 That's how I've managed to get useable audio levels on my videos. I'm very happy to say that my most recent handful of videos have benefitted significantly from the free editing software update, which I downloaded from ZOOM a short time ago. I very highly recommend implementing the newest HandyShare editing software in 3 steps, in this particular sequence: 1st) use Trimming to crop your original video- 2nd) apply the Maximize or Ultra Maximize function, your choice- (end 5; see 6)
@stubee5150 - 3rd) Normalize to your preference of either "Full Scale 0 db" or "-3 dB (Broadcast)". I consider it a genuine Blessing to be able to upload to YouTube now at volume levels that enable the listener to better hear and appreciate the good audio quality of the Q3's recordings. Thanks to ZOOM for providing the improvements. Eventually, I would like to get my hands on an HD version of the Q3, to upgrade the video component of my uploads, as well! (end of part 6; please see part 7)
@stubee5150 Finally!!!!!- the last part of a 7 part reply! (Hey, I did give you fair warning!) If any of this info helps you, please let me know. For that matter, even if it was just a big pain-in-the-you-know-where, you can let me know that, too! I sincerely wish you well with your projects. Have fun! Take care & God bless. -Mark
@unclemark1000 You sir are amazing! Thank you for taking your own personal time to give me such a detailed response. This info is and will be very helpfull going forward. Liked, favorited, subbed! See you soon : )
why do all these "gear" videos feature horrendous guitar butchering? it really takes away from whatever piece of equipment is being demonstrated if we have to listen to this crap playing
Thanks for watching my video. This original Q3 (non-HD model) has seen consistent use on family / social outings and events, and has been useful in a variety of educational applications, as well as for recording music at home and elsewhere. For well over a year, now, I have enjoyed its reliability and ease of use. Eventually, I will probably upgrade to the Q3HD or whatever the then-current model / version will be. If you get one, I hope you like it as much as I do mine! God bless.
It sounds like a high quality hand-held portable recorder, but it can also record video... just in case it wasn't good enough without it, they go and throw in a whole new dimension of functionality. Think I'll be whipping out the debit card tonight.
@guitargod666able Hi, thanks for watching. This was recorded using only the Q3's built-in microphones. My Q3 is an early model, which has no line-in feature. I may eventually acquire a Q3HD, but for the time being, the Q3 will suffice. Take care & God bless.
hey nice video! What is the audio-video sync like on your Q3? on my q3 the video is about 2 seconds slower than the audio and this gets much worse as the video progresses! Do you know what this could be?
@32xJeffx32 Thanks for the kind remark. Mine is the original non-HD model Q3; I'm not sure about yours. 2 seconds is mighty long. The worst I have experienced is about 1/5 of a second, but still plenty annoying. In my case, I find the problem clears itself up two different ways. One is when played back on a computer using a recent version of Quicktime (as opposed to any other player, such as Windows Media Player or Realplayer). The other is after YouTube has finished processing an upload.
@32xJeffx32 I'm not certain if anything I've mentioned is helpful to you. I wish you well with it. I'd like to hear how it all pans out for you. I still like mine a great deal and may eventually upgrade to the Q3HD. Take care and God Bless!
@JunhaoMusic Hi- Thanks for watching the vid. All of the sound you're hearing was captured strictly using the built-in mics. A similar example would be my Egnater Rebel 20 demos, both the Clean and With More Gain videos. The built-in mics are pretty directional, which can be used to your advantage. Check out my Reamp Your Recorded Guitar Signal video to hear the effect of directionality as the camera was moved around the room. I hope you find this helpful. Take care & God bless.
Thanks for uploading and for citing the audio setting you used. I don't think any-one else has mentioned the settings they used and it's pretty important for viewers if they are to be able to gauge the quality of the audio.
Sounded crisp and really good even when compressed by Youtube.
Hi! Could you send me your ZOOM Q3 setting?
mark4amp 2 months ago
@mark4amp Hi- Thanks for watching. I recorded this video right after acquiring the Q3. It's the original, non-HD model, and the Handyshare editing update had not yet been released for free download from ZOOM. The settings used for this video were 24-bit/48kHz audio resolution/sample rate, and AUTO record level. That original Q3 software version had only the AUTO mode for lighting. After the software update, and susequent release of the Q3HD, my audio/video quality improved. -Mark
unclemark1000 2 months ago
I have one of these and whenever i record something with it the playback volume is really low. It's typically at about half the volume of a normal You Tube video. Yours seems o.k. though. Did you use their editing software? Do you have any suggestions? Thanks.
stubee5150 7 months ago
@stubee5150 Great question! My reply here may be somewhat lengthy ( wordy! ) and might require multiple messages, so please bear with me. My Q3 is an early production unit and is NOT the newer HD model. Every single one of my videos was shot using this recorder, and I am totally pleased with it, with only one minor annoying characteristic that used to drive me crazy: tricky volume level management! [end of part 1; please see part 2 of this reply]
unclemark1000 7 months ago
@stubee5150 The Q3's Low Gain setting doesn't pick up much of anything that might be deemed "normal" sounds, but is useable on the very loudest of sources. The High Gain mode is far too sensitive in most audio environments and the recorded result tends to be horribly distorted. I have found the Auto Gain Level setting to be the way to go. In Auto mode, however, you need to be fussy about the dynamic range of the overall sound level in the venue in which you are recording. [end of pt 2; see 3]
unclemark1000 7 months ago
@stubee5150 The Q3's auto-levelling compression/limiting circuits do a great job of downwardly adjusting the overall recording level, to prevent signal clipping and its associated unpleasant audible distortion. During recording, each instance of an increase in the sound pressure level (SPL) "heard" by the Q3's mic triggers a lowering of the recording's overall volume level, from that point, on. Even a momentary, transient, sound will cause the volume to go down. [end of part 3; see part 4]
unclemark1000 7 months ago
@stubee5150 An airplane flying overhead, a motorcycle driving by, my neighbor's lawnmower, thunder, or even just someone's footsteps elsewhere in the house, or my own manual handling of the Q3 are examples of things that can trigger the automatic levelling and cause a reduced recorded volume level. When recording at home, I try to make the subject of the recording (usually my "music") loud enough in the room to acoustically mask the unintended noise that leaks into the Q3's mic.[end 4; see 5]
unclemark1000 7 months ago
@stubee5150 That's how I've managed to get useable audio levels on my videos. I'm very happy to say that my most recent handful of videos have benefitted significantly from the free editing software update, which I downloaded from ZOOM a short time ago. I very highly recommend implementing the newest HandyShare editing software in 3 steps, in this particular sequence: 1st) use Trimming to crop your original video- 2nd) apply the Maximize or Ultra Maximize function, your choice- (end 5; see 6)
unclemark1000 7 months ago
@stubee5150 - 3rd) Normalize to your preference of either "Full Scale 0 db" or "-3 dB (Broadcast)". I consider it a genuine Blessing to be able to upload to YouTube now at volume levels that enable the listener to better hear and appreciate the good audio quality of the Q3's recordings. Thanks to ZOOM for providing the improvements. Eventually, I would like to get my hands on an HD version of the Q3, to upgrade the video component of my uploads, as well! (end of part 6; please see part 7)
unclemark1000 7 months ago
@stubee5150 Finally!!!!!- the last part of a 7 part reply! (Hey, I did give you fair warning!) If any of this info helps you, please let me know. For that matter, even if it was just a big pain-in-the-you-know-where, you can let me know that, too! I sincerely wish you well with your projects. Have fun! Take care & God bless. -Mark
unclemark1000 7 months ago
@unclemark1000 You sir are amazing! Thank you for taking your own personal time to give me such a detailed response. This info is and will be very helpfull going forward. Liked, favorited, subbed! See you soon : )
stubee5150 7 months ago
why do all these "gear" videos feature horrendous guitar butchering? it really takes away from whatever piece of equipment is being demonstrated if we have to listen to this crap playing
SuperNoobTroll 8 months ago
@SuperNoobTroll Thanks for offering your thoughts. God Bless you in your quest for gear demos you find useful. Take care.
unclemark1000 8 months ago
Thanks for watching my video. This original Q3 (non-HD model) has seen consistent use on family / social outings and events, and has been useful in a variety of educational applications, as well as for recording music at home and elsewhere. For well over a year, now, I have enjoyed its reliability and ease of use. Eventually, I will probably upgrade to the Q3HD or whatever the then-current model / version will be. If you get one, I hope you like it as much as I do mine! God bless.
unclemark1000 10 months ago
It sounds like a high quality hand-held portable recorder, but it can also record video... just in case it wasn't good enough without it, they go and throw in a whole new dimension of functionality. Think I'll be whipping out the debit card tonight.
Kart00nHead 10 months ago
did you use the line in
guitargod666able 11 months ago
@guitargod666able Hi, thanks for watching. This was recorded using only the Q3's built-in microphones. My Q3 is an early model, which has no line-in feature. I may eventually acquire a Q3HD, but for the time being, the Q3 will suffice. Take care & God bless.
unclemark1000 11 months ago
thanks dude!
JunhaoMusic 1 year ago
dude you mat have just made my mind up for me...cheers bro
BANGERS68 1 year ago
@BANGERS68 Thanks for watching. Have fun! God bless.
unclemark1000 1 year ago
hey nice video! What is the audio-video sync like on your Q3? on my q3 the video is about 2 seconds slower than the audio and this gets much worse as the video progresses! Do you know what this could be?
32xJeffx32 1 year ago
@32xJeffx32 Thanks for the kind remark. Mine is the original non-HD model Q3; I'm not sure about yours. 2 seconds is mighty long. The worst I have experienced is about 1/5 of a second, but still plenty annoying. In my case, I find the problem clears itself up two different ways. One is when played back on a computer using a recent version of Quicktime (as opposed to any other player, such as Windows Media Player or Realplayer). The other is after YouTube has finished processing an upload.
unclemark1000 1 year ago
@32xJeffx32 I'm not certain if anything I've mentioned is helpful to you. I wish you well with it. I'd like to hear how it all pans out for you. I still like mine a great deal and may eventually upgrade to the Q3HD. Take care and God Bless!
unclemark1000 1 year ago
is line in or just using the built in mic?
JunhaoMusic 1 year ago
@JunhaoMusic Hi- Thanks for watching the vid. All of the sound you're hearing was captured strictly using the built-in mics. A similar example would be my Egnater Rebel 20 demos, both the Clean and With More Gain videos. The built-in mics are pretty directional, which can be used to your advantage. Check out my Reamp Your Recorded Guitar Signal video to hear the effect of directionality as the camera was moved around the room. I hope you find this helpful. Take care & God bless.
unclemark1000 1 year ago
Thanks for uploading and for citing the audio setting you used. I don't think any-one else has mentioned the settings they used and it's pretty important for viewers if they are to be able to gauge the quality of the audio.
Sounded crisp and really good even when compressed by Youtube.
Bet you're happy with the little Zoom camcorder.
rotosphere2000 1 year ago
@rotosphere2000 Very happy! Thanks for watching and commenting. God Bless.
unclemark1000 1 year ago
NIce video! Love the gear!
yeebie4 1 year ago
Love that clear crisp sound!
vocart 1 year ago