Q2HD is a compact, easy-to-use audio and video recording product with Full HD video, professional audio, good value for money… but not all that glitters is gold!
The hardware
The product is a bit "plasticky", too light (84 grams without batteries), in short, it does not make a great impression at first sight. With the batteries inserted it acquires some consistency. A circular capsule on top protects the microphone section. A 2 × 320 pixel 240 ”LCD screen allows you to view video and access the management software.
The accessories supplied are minimal, 2 AA batteries, a 2GB SD card and manuals. No usb / hdmi connection cables… all in the optional accessory kit. The recording is activated and stopped via a single central button in my opinion a bit too hollow in the side controls that do not always allow a certain pressure.
The display
The video is previewed on the 2 ”LCD screen. Considering that the small space available is covered for a third by the audio levels and summary settings, more could have been done. It is really inconvenient to frame a video in a window of just over an inch.
In case of playback, however, it is possible to choose the full screen display by holding down the play button, it is always 2 "anyway ...
Audio
The stereo audio quality is professional with the use of two condenser microphones with mid-side arrangement that allow a shooting angle from 30 to 150 degrees. Through the software you can choose the angle. Q2 can be used to record audio without video, acting as a full-fledged microphone / recorder. Through a lateral control it is possible to set the sensitivity of the microphones. Q2HD reproduces ambient stereo sound well with good sound not lacking in bass.
Supported formats:
PCM 16 / 24bit and sampling rate 44.1 / 48 / 96kHz
AAC 64 to 320kbps and 48kHz sampling rate
Microphone Settings:
Mid-Side stereo (MONO / 30 ° / 60 ° / 90 ° / 120 ° / 150 °)
Maximum sound pressure level: 120dB SPL
Input gain ： +1 to + 39dB
Audio effects
Lo-cut filter, Auto Gain (Concert / Solo / Meeting)
Video
The video quality is comparable to that of a good cell phone, good but not great. We are talking about videos that still reach Full HD but despite some selectable settings for environments with concert brightness and low brightness, the light remains essential for a good video. If the ambient light is good, the video is of good quality, if the light is poor the video, while respecting the colors, is grainy with loss of detail in the shadows. With good brightness the video improves considerably but there is a loss of definition on the details, a slowness of focus (typical of mobile phones) in the transition between low and high brightness. A home ambient light isn't enough for a good video in my opinion. Obviously if we consider Youtube as a target, with a notebook screen, then the video even at low brightness will probably be passable. If we view it on a 42 ”TV, things change radically. The video is comparable to that of an Iphone 5. If we use Q2HD without a tripod (optional in the additional package) the image stabilization is non-existent.
Sensor:
1 / 3.2 ”5M pixels CMOS sensor with fixed focus lens F / 3.2
Video resolutions:
HD1080p 30fps 、 HD720p 60fps 、 HD720p 30fps 、 WVGA 60fps 、 WVGA 30fps
Video format:
MPEG-4 AVC / H.264（MOV）
Video / zoom functions:
4x digital zoom, selectable settings (Auto / Concert Lighting / Night)
External links
The connection possibilities expand the ways of using the product making it even more versatile.
- HDMI for direct display on monitor / TV with the possibility of sending audio and video or video only
- USB for PC connection (mini usb-usb)
- headphone output for listening during recording or play
- SDHC / SDXC card reader
No cable is supplied so you need to equip yourself with the cable suitable for the chosen connection or buy the additional kit.
Software / use of PC / Ipad
The internal management software allows the selection of the various settings in a simple and intuitive way. It is possible to perform some video editing functions directly on the Q2: video split and trim.
Q2 has the software on its card Handy Share with absolutely basic functions. It allows you to trim a video, improve the audio and upload videos captured by the video camera to Youtube. The software is in Mac and PC version.
Q2HD connects to a computer via a USB cable and can have 3 functions:
- card reader, to read stored files or to update the firmware
- be used as a system microphone
- be used as a system webcam
All through the drivers on the SD card supplied.
Interesting is the use as a USB microphone. The use as a webcam did not particularly impress us, the video quality drops further, probably due to the reduced distance, the zoom functions are deactivated ... in short, the integrated webcam of my Mac is much higher than what I see with the Zoom at least at close range.
However, the idea of having an audio / video camera to stream via the web is interesting but the main advantage is the audio.
Q2Hd can be used on IPAD / Iphone as an external microphone via USB cable and adapter for Ipad / Iphone.
Battery life
The duration of the alkaline batteries supplied by the manufacturer is about 2 hours in video mode and 4 hours in audio mode.
I used Q2HD for about an hour recording and playing some sequences and the drums gave signs of failure so in case of a concert it is better to have additional batteries.
Bugs
During the tests a couple of bugs happened that I point out since there is no documentation about it.
We tested Q2Hd on a Macbook with OS Mavericks 10.9.1 installed. Handy Share software v. 3.0.0. he doesn't upload to Youtube, he tries but nothing happens.
Q2Hd with the Firmware version 1.0 (present on the device) if it is used as a card reader via the supplied driver it turns off. The problem is solved by upgrading the firmware to the version 1.20
Points in favor
Good quality / price ratio. Great for audio shooting. Simple to use. Manageable.
Points against
Video quality not always optimal even though it is a Full HD. Small display. The line in is missing.
The most popular question: Q2HD vs Q3HD?
They repeatedly asked me which product was the better of the two, so to avoid a new slew of questions I prefer to anticipate the matter.
The Q2HD came out after the Q3HD, don't ask me why the unfortunate and misleading numerical choice, but it should be an evolution.
The audio recovery of the Q2HD is in my opinion better. Microphones have gone from the 120-degree XY arrangement of the Q3HD to the more flexible mid-side of the Q2HD. The video is practically the same.
The Q3 has an integrated 2cm usb cable which was really inconvenient, the Q2 solved this problem with an external cable (not supplied but easy to find - it's that of external hd's -).
The Q3HD is not easily found on the market because it is going out of business.
A point in favor of the Q3HD is the presence of the Line IN and the larger LCD screen (2,4 "versus 2") things that in my opinion in the Q2HD have inexplicably regressed.
For all the undecided there is a comparison video that I invite you to listen with headphones. Do not trust the video differences that are seen, the shots are slightly different and are not very suitable to be compared, the audio instead. The video is available HERE
Accessories of the APQ-2HD Accessory Pack option kit
Price
149,00 euros including VAT
Accessories Q2HD Accessory pack APQ-2HD: 24 euros including VAT
Link
the next
Fabio Pesce
