Well, it took a few months, but I've finally committed myself to purchasing a camcorder. Now I need some help making the final decision. The camera itself would be used almost exclusively for musical recordings (on youtube), so audio quality is obviously the priority here -- but I'd still like decent video quality as well.

From what I've gathered so far, the Zoom Q3 HD can give me top tier audio and at least mediocre video for around $300. The Panasonic TM-900 offers substantially better video but slightly inferior audio for $600.

Now, the price doesn't concern me all that much, but the audio/video does. Could anyone here with one (or both) offer some input as to how great the differences would be? Also, how much would an external mic comparable to the Q3's cost? I'd rather not have to purchase an audio recorder and then sync them manually.

Get the Zoom. It's riDONKulous.

I use a Zoom H1 ($99) with the line out plugged into a Kodak Zi-8 ($180). The Zoom H1 uses basically the same microphones as the Q3, and the Kodak has superior video quality. It's not as self-contained, but it's equal audio and better video for the same amount of money.

By comparison, here's a video with the Zoom/Kodak combo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlcGSXwsuYo

And an earlier video I did with just the Q3:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EitjeyWfiO8

I had considered a setup like that (with the zoom acting as an external mic) but decided against it when I read that the shift from microphone input to line-level output causes distortion. Interestingly, your video seems clean.

If it causes any distortion, it's not nearly as bad as my Q3. My Panasonic compact SLR may actually take better audio recordings.

In fact, I decided to test that out. I played the same piece and recorded with my Zoom Q3 ($92 on Amazon), then with my Panasonic DMC-G3 ($599). For a piece like this that's medium volume, the Zoom kicks the Panny's behind in terms of noise floor, distortion and sound options (the Panny has zero), though of course the video quality is much better with the SLR. I've been told the sound guts of the new Zoom Q3HD aren't as good as the old model.

Zoom Q3:



Panasonic compact SLR:

Neither!

Get a DSLR Kit or even a micro four-third camera (eg. Sony Nex) and use an external mic as advised above. If you are using DP, you can route the output to Mac/ PC.

http://youtu.be/5Lo4Zg5dBrI See if you like this. Video is captured by a Panasonic DMC FZ150, audio is recorded by a zoom H2 handyrecorder, with minor processing done in audacity (added some reverb). The video is HD (view in full screen for 720p) and will look much better in more light, this was the minimum setting on my lamp and I'm very happy with the low light performance of this camera.