camcorder with high-quality audio

[rolyther]

Hi there,

Was wondering if would you recommend some inexpensive camcorder (up to $800-1000) to record video with audio from a mixer. Need high quality audio (input from a musical instrument via a mixer). As I see many cams do not have any audio input today besides the internal microphone? Is there any possibility to use a camera to record video directly onto the hard disk and audio via the computer audio in?

Thanks in advance!

[filmboss80]

One of the things that make inexpensive camcorders inexpensive is the absence of sophisticated external audio inputs. You can find camcorders with mini-pin audio inputs and buy an XLR adapter with level knobs from a place like BeachTek, but you may still face problems with mic and line impedance mismatches. There is also the option of recording the audio from the mixing board using a separate digital recorder (like the Zoom H4), then match up and replace the audio track on your video, using good video editing software. (This is what I would do.)

As for simultaneously capturing live video and analog audio directly to the computer--best to abandon that idea. I really don't think it could be done--at least not without the risk of introducing errors and freezing up the system.

[2Bdecided]

There is also the option of recording the audio from the mixing board using a separate digital recorder (like the Zoom H4), then match up and replace the audio track on your video, using good video editing software. (This is what I would do.)

Or, if you have a decent sound card, just record the audio into the PC while recording the video using the camcorder, and then sync in post. Use the sound picked up from the camcorder's microphone as a reference for sync.

Cheers,
David.