[RNLD] re: Video - Handycam or Zoom Q3HD

[Steffen Haurholm-Larsen]

In my experience, the most important aspect of good quality audio
recordings, whether combined with video or not, is microphone placement,
(assuming that you are able to reduce back ground noises or willing to live
with them.) A good quality external microphone placed as close as possible
to the sound source can be connected to: a solid state audio recorder, a
consumer grade camcorder, a professional camcorder or a preamplifier used
with a camcorder. I have used the last option for my own fieldwork and this
has the advantage of being able to control the microphone levels and
provide external power so that the microphone does not have to rely on the
device for power (particularly if running on batteries). Depending on the
type of events you are planning to record, you can consider a lavalier
microphone, perhaps wireless; this would be good for events where people
move around a lot. Or you can go with a larger mic on some kind of stand
(or boom pole?) - this is what I have been using for my recordings of
Garifuna, as most of my recordings have been of conversations where people
are sitting with a minimum of moving around.

I hope this helps in some way.

Steffen Haurholm-Larsen
University of Bern, Switzerland


On Sun, Mar 9, 2014 at 9:07 AM, Stephen Morey <S.Morey at latrobe.edu.au>wrote:

>  Dear RNLD list,
>
> I am at present in North East India, where members of the language
> communities are busy making recordings. Up to now we have preferred to use
> the Zoom Q3HD for video, rather than buying a commercial Handycam, because
> the sound is supposed to be much better. However the picture doesn't seem
> to be, and the shape of the Zoom is not necessarily the best for taking
> video of events (though fine if you set it on a stand for video of a story!)
>
> So I am wondering what people on the list think about the option of
> purchasing a handycam of similar cost to the Zoom Q3HD and making a
> simultaneous audio recording on the Zoom H4n? Or is there a better option
> available?
>
> Best
>
> Stephen
>
>   Stephen Morey
> Australian Research Council Future Fellow
> Centre for Research on Language Diversity
> La Trobe University
>  Website:
> http://www.latrobe.edu.au/humanities/about/staff/profile?uname=SMorey<http://www.latrobe.edu.au/rclt/StaffPages/morey.htm>
>
> Language data website: http://sealang.net/assam
> Dictionary websites: http://sealang.net/ahom;  http://sealang.net/singpho;
> http://sealang.net/phake
>
> Linguistic data archived at::
> DoBeS:  http://www.mpi.nl/DoBeS and follow a link to projects, then
> Tangsa, Tai and Singpho in North East India
> ELAR: http://elar.soas.ac.uk
> PARADISEC:  http://www.paradisec.org.au
>
> North East Indian Linguistics Society: http://sealang.net/neils
>



-- 
Mange venlige hilsener,

Steffen
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