Video recorders

Video recorders are cameras for musicians that capture high-quality stereo sound with their own microphones alongside 4K video. They are suited to recording rehearsals, concerts or practice sessions, making videos for social media and live streaming. There are two Zoom models to choose from: the compact Q2n-4K and the larger Q8n-4K with XLR inputs for external microphones. Both have a wide-angle lens with a 150-degree field of view, so the whole band fits into the frame even in a small rehearsal room.

Q2n-4K or Q8n-4K: which Zoom video recorder should you choose?

The Q2n-4K is a small camera that you can place on a stand or shelf to record an entire rehearsal. It offers 12 preset scenes for different lighting conditions and HDR technology, so it can handle a dark club as well as bright sunlight. The Q8n-4K has a larger body and a flip-out colour display that lets you see yourself while recording. You can connect a vocal microphone and a line output from a mixing desk, for example, to its two XLR inputs.

How do you stream live with a Zoom video recorder and where do you save recordings?

You can connect both Zoom video recorders to a computer via USB and use them as a camera with sound for live streaming, for example on YouTube. The Q2n-4K also has a micro HDMI output, so you can watch your recording on a television. Video and audio are saved to microSD cards (SDHC or SDXC), so have a card with sufficient capacity ready for your recorder. If you want to combine pictures from several cameras, see Video/AV Mixers; for converting video between interfaces, see Video converters.