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Better video recording device?
Wanting a better video recording device for better sound quality
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Steve
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July 6, 2013 - 11:37 am
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I'd like folks to tell what they're using to record themselves for the video submissions of songs. Most sound pretty good to me, for sound quality. But my own Canon SD960 IS digital camera sounds particularly lousy for violin sound quality on a video recording made using that camera. I'd be amenable to buying something else that at least records sound better, and would like to know what you folks suggest.  (Prompted from DanB's comments on the current "Cheating" thread.) I know I can sound better on a recording as I have a decent USB microphone and have recorded into Audacity--that sounds very good (at least to my ears). But of course that's audio only, no video.

 

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Kevin M.
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July 6, 2013 - 12:28 pm
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Is there any way of using your usb microphone on your camera?

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Ferret
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July 6, 2013 - 1:11 pm
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Steve said
I'd like folks to tell what they're using to record themselves for the video submissions of songs. Most sound pretty good to me, for sound quality. But my own Canon SD960 IS digital camera sounds particularly lousy for violin sound quality on a video recording made using that camera. I'd be amenable to buying something else that at least records sound better, and would like to know what you folks suggest.  (Prompted from DanB's comments on the current "Cheating" thread.) I know I can sound better on a recording as I have a decent USB microphone and have recorded into Audacity--that sounds very good (at least to my ears). But of course that's audio only, no video.

 

Hi @steve mate

I know exactly where you are coming from. As you know, I started the ' cheating' thread.

Myself, I'm going to try a large diaphragm condenser mike. It may be the way to go

Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of dunno ..... What was I saying???? facepalm

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Steve
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July 6, 2013 - 2:03 pm
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Hi Kevin and Ferret--

Kevin, no, the USB mic only works with a computer, far as I know. And the Canon digital camera doesn't take an external mic.

Ferret, how will you attach your external mic to your recording device--maybe it has a jack for an external mic? And, I didn't find anything objectionable with the audio on any of your video recordings. Whatever you're currently using would be a whole lot better than what I'm using.

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Ginnysg
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July 6, 2013 - 2:51 pm
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My first video I used my Iphone 4S- but it has a weird issue were if you video in portrait, it flips it sideways or up-side-down - had to bring it into a program and flip it. and the sound was pretty flat.

I have a video camera, and will probably use an external microphone to see if I can get better sound

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent” 

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Worldfiddler
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July 6, 2013 - 6:38 pm
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I think the only way to get a good fiddle sound is to record the audio separately from the video.

I use two AKG C1000s mics to record on to a Fostex multitrack recorder.

So, the video track and audio track are separate, and I combine them using PowerDirector software.

The mic quality is the most important factor, and even if you don't record the audio separately and you have to plug it directly into the camera, a good mic will always give better quality than the integral mic of the camera.

It's a lot more work, but the end result is worth it, I think.

 

Mr Jim  dancing

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DanielB
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July 6, 2013 - 8:52 pm
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I would agree with Mr. Jim that about the best way is to record the audio separate with a whole different set of gear and then combine them in the editing process. 

What I have used for video recording for the one I have posted on the forum is a Kodak Easyshare digital camera.  Not a terribly recent model, it's 14 megapixel.  I do not like the sound much. 

Which is not really surprising, considering whatever it has as a microphone element can only "hear the world" through basically 6 pinholes in the bottom of the camera.  Even if it was the best mic in the world, putting it on the other side of a thick piece of plastic with a few pinholes in it would severely limit how well it can record.  

Digital cameras, video cameras and etc are not really made to be devices with good sound recording quality.

 

 

"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman

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Ferret
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July 6, 2013 - 11:19 pm
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DanielB said
I would agree with Mr. Jim that about the best way is to record the audio separate with a whole different set of gear and then combine them in the editing process. 

What I have used for video recording for the one I have posted on the forum is a Kodak Easyshare digital camera.  Not a terribly recent model, it's 14 megapixel.  I do not like the sound much. 

Which is not really surprising, considering whatever it has as a microphone element can only "hear the world" through basically 6 pinholes in the bottom of the camera.  Even if it was the best mic in the world, putting it on the other side of a thick piece of plastic with a few pinholes in it would severely limit how well it can record.  

Digital cameras, video cameras and etc are not really made to be devices with good sound recording quality.

 

Hi @DanielB 

I've decided to go that way. I have a very good video camera that has an atrocious microphone and good audio and video software.

I have just ordered USB Behringer large diaphragm condenser microphone.

It should work out well cow-fingerscrossed

Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of dunno ..... What was I saying???? facepalm

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Worldfiddler
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July 7, 2013 - 11:45 am
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I have just ordered USB Behringer large diaphragm condenser microphone.

Sounds like a good idea. It would be good if you could post a sample of music using just the camera mic, then using the good audio mic :)

 

Mr Jim dancing

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DanielB
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July 7, 2013 - 1:40 pm
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It might be a good time to mention a few other pieces of gear that can help if you're trying to get better results with either audio or video recordings..

For video recording- a tripod.  Preferably a floor/ground standing one rather than one of the tiny ones you set on a desk.   It can really beat trying to find someplace to just set the camera, so far as convenience and being able to get a decent camera angle.

For audio recording- a mic stand.  Again, it beats the crap out of trying to find a good place to set a microphone down.

Neither of those items has to be an expensive one.  There are inexpensive ones in the range of about 15$ or so brand new in both cases.  I recently found another camera tripod in good condition at a second hand store for 2$.

And possibly the most helpful "accessory" of all is.. Someone to watch and run the gear so you can focus on playing.  Ideally, this would be someone who has as keen an interest in making video or recording audio as you have in music.  But anybody who can hit the start and stop buttons and let you know if you've spoiled the take can effectively save you a lot of time and frustration.

If they can also maybe help a bit with getting the audio record levels set and/or making sure that whatever you're recording video with is looking ok before you actually start playing, it could be a lot of help.

 

"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman

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wookieman
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July 8, 2013 - 2:41 pm
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I used a GoPro that I suction-cup attached to the back of my violin for the Pachabel's Cannon group project.  I think having the camera attached added to the quality of the sound (very unfortunate for anyone who had to listen to my recording by itself (Pierre)) because it picked up the vibration from the fiddle and the actual audio.  I probably wouldn't recommend it on a nice violin though.  But that's what I have.

There is no failure, only results.

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Steve
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July 8, 2013 - 3:35 pm
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Thanks all for the comments--good info for me to keep in mind for the future--record the audio separately, mix it with the video with fancy editing software.

Yesterday I stumbled across something about decent audio from Zoom devices. They make sound recorders but I discovered they also make video recorders. I ordered an older H3 model--non-HD video, stereo audio. It had good reviews for the audio. So I'll try that out, and if it comes soon enough, maybe I can try it out to record the new Soloist violin (which is supposed to arrive this Thursday). Hoping for improved audio on the video recording using it. smilecrossedfingers

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Steve
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July 8, 2013 - 4:02 pm
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Oops, that's a Zoom model Q3 video recorder I ordered, not an H3.

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Ferret
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July 8, 2013 - 5:57 pm
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Worldfiddler said

I have just ordered USB Behringer large diaphragm condenser microphone.

Sounds like a good idea. It would be good if you could post a sample of music using just the camera mic, then using the good audio mic :)

 

Mr Jim dancing

I'd do that soon. At the moment a broken rib is slowing me down a bit (very painful)fainting-1344

Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of dunno ..... What was I saying???? facepalm

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StoneDog
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July 8, 2013 - 9:25 pm
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I'd do that soon. At the moment a broken rib is slowing me down a bit (very painful)fainting-1344

 

Holy Cow > what happened? Did you fall off the Great Wall?

 

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Fiddlestix
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July 9, 2013 - 4:57 am
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In the past, I have been using my Microsoft Webcam for video and audio, but like, DanielB say's, trying to get good quality sound through a pin hole is very hard to do.

I just bought a new mic for audio and it work's with Window's Movie Maker just fine. I also ordered headphone's.

 

qid=1373210938&sr=8-7&keywords=recording+headphones

Also, I have a 5 function stereo mixing console that has RCA in/output jack's, so i'll need a RCA to USB hub for that. I have an old Bell & Howell reel to reel tape recorder that I'm told can be used, ( I dunno how ) but that's what i've been told. A dynamic mic that doesn't work in the computer but will work in the stereo console.

Basic equiptment, now all I have to do is figure out how to connect it all together and how to use, Audacity. 

facepalm

Thank's to, DanielB, I now have a backing track for, "A Time For Us", that he put together and sent to me.

If nothing else, playing with headphone's on will at least look cool and will look like I know what I'm doing.

 

Ken.

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DanielB
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July 9, 2013 - 5:14 pm
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I don't want to sidetrack this thread too much, but a brief word about that old reel to reel machine.

Modern digital recording is cleaner, more convenient, and etc etc.. All true enough.  But it just doesn't sound the same as tape.  Tape recorders add a distinctive "color" to music, which is why most music recorded before about the 1980s just sounds different.

That difference can be a good sound, especially for voice, and violin is one of the instruments that closely resembles human voice. 

So being able to bounce a nice clean digital track out to a tape machine and back to "warm it up a little" can be a very nice option to have.  More of a "special effect" than a necessity, maybe, but darn nice to have.  If you have a nice old tape machine in good working condition, it can be worth keeping it for "sweetening" tracks to get that warmer "old school" sound that music had back in the days before digital. 

A very cool option to have.

"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman

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Ferret
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July 17, 2013 - 8:38 pm
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Ferret said

Worldfiddler said

I have just ordered USB Behringer large diaphragm condenser microphone.

Sounds like a good idea. It would be good if you could post a sample of music using just the camera mic, then using the good audio mic :)

 

Mr Jim dancing

I'd do that soon. At the moment a broken rib is slowing me down a bit (very painful)fainting-1344

@Worldfiddler  @Steve

I have posted the result of the project on this link

https://fiddlerman.com/forum/r.....os/#p46970

 

Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of dunno ..... What was I saying???? facepalm

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Ferret
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July 17, 2013 - 9:31 pm
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@Fiddlerman FM's opinion on this would be very useful

Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of dunno ..... What was I saying???? facepalm

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Fiddlerman
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July 22, 2013 - 4:14 pm
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I agree that an external microphone is the way to go. With recording equipment, it seems that the really great stuff costs much more money. When I play in studios the mics that they use are outrageously priced.

A lot of the recording engineers use the less expensive Countryman Isomax II for live performances. The advantage is that the volume is not affected by movement since the mics are attached to the instruments. Obviously the sound can't be as good as the large diaphragms but not that far off. I am always impressed by the results.

When I do videos I don't really use any fancy equipment but then again, it's obvious. :-)  I am using a Canon video recorder with a DM-100 external microphone hooked up to it. Nothing fancy or expensive but good enough for now.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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