ZOOM Q2n-4K — a miniature camera with professional XY microphones

Maxim Liadov

High-resolution, high-quality video no longer surprises users. Audio still receives less attention, even in expensive action cameras, smartphones, and handheld camcorders. Even professional cameras often use inexpensive built-in microphones. It is fortunate if automatic recording level control can be disabled and the microphones do not overload as soon as the source gets louder.

Another problem is that cameras are not designed for musicians. Constant battery charging, too many controls, complex menus, and thick manuals get in the way. High-quality sound is therefore often recorded separately on a portable recorder, requiring later audio/video editing. Users must learn an editor, create a project, import files, synchronize them manually, and export another format. This adds time and cost and can discourage musicians from recording at all.

There is another option. ZOOM has extensive experience making professional, affordable recording equipment. The Japanese company's range includes portable video recorders, with the Q2n-4K as its latest design.

XY microphones are two microphones positioned very close together and angled at 120 degrees. They create a stereo recording with a strong sense of space. Audio-only recording is available too, saving memory-card space. Video can be more enjoyable, however, and the finished file can be uploaded directly.

The camera is no harder to use than a GoPro action camera. Insert the 2 supplied AA batteries and press the large red button in the center. A battery set lasts from about half an hour to 6 hours, depending on recording format. Use 4K for critical recording and Full HD for most other situations. For important recordings at maximum quality, a power bank can supply power through USB. A standard smartphone charger can also run it continuously from 220 V mains. When recording starts, the front indicator below the lens changes from green to red.

We have more than a year of personal experience with the Q2n-4K. We bought it for a professional musician who leads several ensembles and prepares students for national competitions, but had never even filmed with a smartphone. We also bought a modern branded microSD card, which was inexpensive. At first, the musician worried that the device would be too complex and take too long to learn. In practice, it needed only batteries, power-on, and a press of Record. No focusing, exposure adjustment, or even manual audio level was required. Manual level is available through a convenient side wheel, but the user can simply switch on, press the red button, and concentrate on music. Manual modes are rarely necessary. The ZOOM handles video and audio automatically very well.

Operation is simple. Select a video format from 720p to 4K. Choose whether to use the low-cut filter: 80, 120, 160 Hz, or off. Five field-of-view settings range from 150-degree WIDE to maximum digital zoom at TELE. There are 10 creative filters: OUTDOOR, SUNSET, NIGHT, CONCERT LIGHT, JAZZ CLUB, DANCE CLUB, MONOCHROME, SEPIA, FILM, and X-PROCESS. FLAT is also available for later color grading, or the user can leave AUTO selected. Recording level can be manual or use three automatic modes: CONCERT for loud sources, SOLO for quieter sources, and MEETING for speech.

The lower buttons, left to right, are PLAY for power and playback, RECORD for starting/stopping and confirming choices, and EXIT for canceling and opening settings. There are few settings, so navigation is easy. Useful options select camera, card reader, USB webcam, or USB microphone mode. Other settings cover battery type, date/time, language, automatic power-off, and factory reset. There is nothing unnecessary, and users with no time to study manuals can still understand it. A Russian manual is available on the official website: zoomrussia.ru.

ZOOM Q2n-4K specifications

• Sensor: 1/2.3-inch, 16 MP CMOS
• Lens: F2.8, 150° field of view
• Video format: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV)
• Field of view: WIDE · 0 · TELE (5 steps)
• Scene modes: AUTO, OUTDOOR, SUNSET, NIGHT, CONCERT LIGHT, JAZZ CLUB, DANCE CLUB, MONOCHROME, SEPIA, FILM, X-PROCESS, FLAT
• Display: 1.77-inch full-color LCD (160 × 128)
• XY stereo microphone with fixed 120° angle
• Maximum sound pressure level: 120 dB SPL
• Video resolution
  4K: 30 p, 25 p, 24 p
  1080: 60 p, 50 p, 30 p, 25 p, 24 p
  720: 30 p, 25 p
• WAV audio formats: 96 kHz/24-bit, 48 kHz/24-bit, 44.1 kHz/16-bit
• Low-cut filter: off, 80 Hz, 120 Hz, 160 Hz
• Automatic gain: off, CONCERT, SOLO, MEETING
• Delay: 0.0 F, 0.5 F–10.0 F (webcam mode)
• Direct monitoring: on/off (USB microphone mode)
• Microphone input: stereo mini-jack; gain: -∞ dB to +39 dB
• Combined line/headphone output
• Video output: micro-HDMI Type-D
• Built-in mono loudspeaker: 300 mW
• Memory cards: microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC (256 GB maximum)
• USB connection: micro-USB
• Webcam video: 1080p Full HD (firmware 2.0 required)
• Card reader
• USB microphone: UAC 1.0, 44.1 kHz/16-bit
• Note: webcam mode is unavailable on iOS devices
• Power: 2 AA batteries — LR6 alkaline (1.5 V), HR6 NiMH (1.2 V), or FR6 lithium (1.5 V)
• USB power supported
• Estimated recording time: 0.5–6 hours, depending on battery type and video format
• Dimensions: 58.7 mm (D) × 68.5 mm (W) × 83 mm (H)
• Weight: 124 g

The camera quickly became part of everyday work and is used extensively. Some students studying remotely came specifically to record high-quality instrument assignments for their teachers. Musicians also liked listening back and identifying passages that needed practice. While playing, attention is focused on performance, so recording and listening afterward has always been useful advice. The difficulty was finding a simple way to do it. Now one button gives an immediate result without complicated work. A finished file can be dropped into a browser and uploaded without editing. Creative filters can be applied during filming, as on smartphones. For more demanding users, the ZOOM also offers an HDR profile. Manual work can extract more from the recording than standard automatic modes.

The Q2n-4K is also impressive as a USB webcam and opens useful possibilities. We plan to use it for remote music lessons, especially as distance teaching is regularly required. Ordinary webcams overload badly when an instrument is played forte, with little control over the sound. Connected to a computer, the ZOOM can serve as a webcam or a stereo USB microphone in a home studio for practice recordings and demos. Portable ZOOM recorders have long offered this, so it makes sense here too. Direct hardware monitoring is available through a separate button.

A few practical points emerged. The camera stands securely on any flat surface without support. On location, where no suitable surface exists, a strong tripod is better. We started with the cheapest folding photo tripod available, then moved to a stronger professional Manfrotto Compact Light.

The Q2n-4K also suits video bloggers who are musicians and value good sound and simple operation.

For a blogger using it as a fixed replacement for a still camera, the screen is a limitation. It is small, has large pixels, and does not flip out. However, the micro-HDMI output can connect to a Full HD monitor facing the user, giving a large view of the camera image.

 

The microphone input provides switchable power for electret microphones, especially wired lavaliers. A volume rocker sits next to the headphone output.

With automatic recording level disabled, the wheel provides convenient manual adjustment.

We tested the micro-HDMI output on a large screen. It provides a clean image without status overlays, allowing connection to a video recorder, mixer, or broadcast equipment.

Rubber feet underneath support desktop use, and a standard thread accepts a photo tripod. A small desktop tripod is useful for webcam operation. The manufacturer offers an optional microphone-stand adapter.

Any two AA batteries or rechargeable cells can power the camera. They sit under the bottom cover and are held securely by springs. The optional ZOOM BCQ-2n pack adds 4 batteries, increasing total operating time by a factor of 3. USB power is also available from a power bank or mains adapter. For its recorders, ZOOM recommends the AD-17, which supplies 5 V/1 A and is designed to avoid audio power-supply interference.

No microSD card is included, but cards are inexpensive and widely available. Audio-only and medium-quality video recording work with ordinary cards. Maximum capacity is 256 GB. For 4K at 30 frames per second, use a card rated for continuous video recording without dropouts. We used an inexpensive Kingston V30 microSDXC video card and had no problems.

Recordings are MOV files with H.264 compression. Maximum-quality bitrate and format information is shown below:

Audio is uncompressed linear PCM. Audio-only mode creates the same kind of WAV file as a portable ZOOM recorder.

We recorded an alto saxophone in 24-bit/96 kHz WAV PCM to check whether the built-in XY stereo microphones provide professional audio quality. Recording level was manual, with the wheel in its middle position at 5. In our view, quality is excellent. If there is anything to criticize, it is the performance rather than the recording. The microphone was 30 cm from the instrument. No EQ or reverb was added, but you can download the file and process it yourself if desired.

A dedicated ZOOM audio recorder will have longer battery life and model-specific features. These may include interchangeable capsule modules, more channels, and multiple external microphone connections. In our view, however, the Q2n-4K can replace the simplest, most affordable audio-only recorders.

The manufacturer offers the free ZOOM Handy Share application for managing recorded files. In card-reader mode, the application starts and shows the recordings. Its player works without extra codecs or players. It also checks for new camera firmware online and notifies the user, which is convenient.

Conclusions

This camera is close to a musician's ideal tool. It can record rehearsals and concerts, upload videos quickly, stream online, and even serve as a stereo USB microphone in a recording studio.

Note. This is an adapted machine translation into English. It follows the “In simple terms” approach. Read the original article at https://prosound.ixbt.com/microphones/zoom-q2n-4k.shtml.