Anyone who has ever gotten their hands on a piece of Zoom recording equipment will know just how capable they are of capturing fantastic studio quality sound. This latest creation from the Zoom team has combined their renowned audio prowess with a HD quality video camera. So what happens when a reputable manufacturer dips their toes into an unfamiliar pond?

The result of this venture by Zoom is an easy-to-use, convenient and, in general, thoroughly excellent HD video recorder with an incredibly high capability for top quality audio.
The most impressive element of the Q2HD is the Mid-Side recording feature. Mid-Side recording combines a unidirectional Mid mic that captures sound directly in front of you and a bidirectional Side mic that captures sound from your left and right.
Put simply, this means the Q2HD is perfect for adjusting the sound to capture whatever ambience you want.
Whether you are focusing the mic on one person recording an interview or broadening the stereo field to record music at a gig, you can adjust the mic accordingly. With the Q2HD there is no need to lug around a separate attachable microphone, as it is perfectly capable of generating output of a high quality on its own.
Recording equipment of this calibre should, in theory, be a nightmare to work. Zoom products are often a bit more technical because of the number of audio settings available, but the manufacturers have managed to create a user-friendly interface which anyone who’s used a mobile phone in the past ten years will be able to master.
On this straightforward interface you can adjust the video quality from 1080p, 720p, WVGA, 60fps and the standard 30. The full high definition video camera also has specific lighting settings, including an automatic and concert lighting option which allows you to capture the best possible video.
The Q2HD is an odd-looking gadget with a spherical shaped mic that sits like a planet on its top. Cased in plastic the recorder is light and small enough to shove in your pocket when you’re on the move. This is the perfect tool for bands or musicians who want to record promo videos in unusual places, because of its HD video camera and its ease of transport. Other notable features of the Q2HD include a tripod mount, USB port and a HDMI cable which allows you to connect to Ustream where you can directly stream audio and video.
iPhones, smartphones and the like have allowed people everywhere to record video and audio at their own leisure. What the Q2HD has beyond these mobile devices is quality. When you compare the difference between audio recorded on a smartphone and audio recorded with this Zoom, it will feel like you’ve just removed a shed load of cotton buds from your ears.
The only problem with the recorder? Be careful of your sound levels. Loud sound and strong voices may start to clip because of the mic’s sensitivity, but this is easily rectified by keeping an eye on the levels and adjusting the mic gain.

The Zoom Q2HD and other models are available from Waltons’s South Great Georges Street and Frederick Street stores. www.waltons.ie