Topic: recording music with a Canon PowerShot S5 IS

[cybergaloot]

Has anyone tried using one of these cameras to record music? It has stereo mics and a sound-only mode and will record in 44.1kHz/16bit wav format. It takes SDHC cards so capacity isn't a problem. I need a new digital camera anyways and am thinking about picking one of these up in a month or so.
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=144&modelid=15207

[BayTaynt3d]

It'll undoubtably sound like crap despite being 16-bit, lol. Also, don't be sure it'll do continuous recording for an hour plus (regardless of mem card size). It might, but it wouldn't surprise me if it couldn't.

[cybergaloot]

I'm certainly not expecting it to record pristine sound or to replace even my Zoom H2. I certainly don't expect the stereo image to be convincing. But it might be a handy addition to the arsenal. I'd like to hear from somebody who has actually used the camera to record sound but its beginning to look like nobody here has tried it. BTW, I think I read that it will record up to 2GB per file, just like the H2, but don't quote that as fact since I can't remember where I read that. They sell on eBay for a bit over $350, which isn't bad for that style digital camera.

[BayTaynt3d]

Trust me, the mic will be crap, and it'll ride the gain with some sort of AGC mode, and that's if it doesn't clip, lol... (I'm talking about loud music obviously...)

[mschiff]

I recorded a video of a piano trio on a cruise ship with a Canon S70 camera (which records only in mono), and I was surprised with the quality of the sound. It was compressed, but it was remarkably good considering the conditions and the fact that it is mainly a point and shoot still camera. Did not compare favorably to any of my audio recorders, but it was more than acceptable.

-- Martin

[cybergaloot]

I've had similar results with my old Fuji digital SLR style camera. I am surprised at the sound quality considering it wasn't designed for that. It certainly wouldn't replace a nice audio rig but its far from cheap cassette recorder quality.

I will be getting a Canon PowerShot S5 IS, soon I hope. Circuit City has them on sale for around $339. Not bad considering its a decent non-pro digital camera.

[Javier Cinakowski]

If they only made one of these little cameras with a line-input...

I have the Kodak V610 which is a bass-ass little point and shoot that does good video.  If it had a line-in I would be making sick videos!

(The internal mic sounds great for quiet stuff, shitty for loud stuff)

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

I have an S2 (previous version of S5) and I just record audio at lower quality so i can mix my regular AUD source over it. The internal mics sound mediocre at best.

Also, I can't record very long (despite having a 4GB card). The video seems to take up A LOT of memory. I will record a song or 2 with the S2 (video), but that's about it.

[cybergaloot]

The S5 has an "audio only" mode. So it should fit more on the SD card and it takes SDHC so bigger sized cards will work. What I don't know is how big that file can be though. It could be sort of like the Zoom H2 that will only write a 2GB file (plenty for most shows). If you record a long show with it, it will stop at 2GB, write the file and start a new one so you get this "cassette flip" gap type thing going.

But anyway, I don't expect the S5 to replace dedicated audio gear, but it would be nice if it would record in OK quality for those times when you either don't have or can't use better gear. Of course one person's "OK" is another's "nowhere near acceptable."

[bluntforcetrauma]

Has anyone tried using one of these cameras to record music? It has stereo mics and a sound-only mode and will record in 44.1kHz/16bit wav format. It takes SDHC cards so capacity isn't a problem. I need a new digital camera anyways and am thinking about picking one of these up in a month or so.
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=144&modelid=15207

i use the powershot s5 IS and i use the video, i can record up to 30 minutes of the highest quality video with good audio.

The one big problem with this camera believe it or not is that the lens cap keeps falling off, not goood if you are walking around and oops you scratch the lens.  I mean its that much of a problem that i would consider buying another camera with similiar specs but with a bettter lens protection.

[cybergaloot]

Has anyone tried using one of these cameras to record music? It has stereo mics and a sound-only mode and will record in 44.1kHz/16bit wav format. It takes SDHC cards so capacity isn't a problem. I need a new digital camera anyways and am thinking about picking one of these up in a month or so.
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=144&modelid=15207

i use the powershot s5 IS and i use the video, i can record up to 30 minutes of the highest quality video with good audio.

The one big problem with this camera believe it or not is that the lens cap keeps falling off, not goood if you are walking around and oops you scratch the lens.  I mean its that much of a problem that i would consider buying another camera with similiar specs but with a bettter lens protection.

Since you actually have used this camera, have you tried the audio only mode? How big a file will it record? How's the audio quality? And how big a SD card did you have for 30 minutes of video? I'd appreciate knowing about those things.

I received an MP3 player for Christmas that I don't particularly want and will probably return it to Circuit City (I have the receipt) to partially pay for one of these cameras.

[bluntforcetrauma]

Has anyone tried using one of these cameras to record music? It has stereo mics and a sound-only mode and will record in 44.1kHz/16bit wav format. It takes SDHC cards so capacity isn't a problem. I need a new digital camera anyways and am thinking about picking one of these up in a month or so.
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=144&modelid=15207

i use the powershot s5 IS and i use the video, i can record up to 30 minutes of the highest quality video with good audio.

The one big problem with this camera believe it or not is that the lens cap keeps falling off, not goood if you are walking around and oops you scratch the lens.  I mean its that much of a problem that i would consider buying another camera with similiar specs but with a bettter lens protection.

Since you actually have used this camera, have you tried the audio only mode? How big a file will it record? How's the audio quality? And how big a SD card did you have for 30 minutes of video? I'd appreciate knowing about those things.

I received an MP3 player for Christmas that I don't particularly want and will probably return it to Circuit City (I have the receipt) to partially pay for one of these cameras.

right now I use a 4gb SDHC Kingston card. 30 minutes of video using the highest pic resolution.  Its nice because you can hit record mode for the video at any time while you might be shooting pictures.  You dont have to reset the video each time.  it has its own separate record button. I have not tried to record audio only.  I do have a 8 gb SDHC card but I use that in the edirol r-09.  I know i said the audio is good--meaning its relative to the expectations--it is a camera not an audio recorder, that being said it depends on how you are going to use it.  Its kinda big to use to shoot lets say a concert.  Better with straight video camera. Nice 2.7 flip out LCD.  Nice 10x optical zoom--record in either PAL or NTSC.  Now I like the camera for gathering of friends.  I like the ability to go from a picture camera to a video shot in one.  I dont have to carry both a video camera and a picture camera.  Its great for capturing moments on the go.  Say your taking photos and you wnat to capture some video of the event it can be done.  I dont know the mic threshold but the audio sounds as good as the edirol built in mics.  But again i use DPA 4022 for audio, but again the powershot gives adequate audio.

[cybergaloot]

Thanks, this is the info I was looking for.

[Outrageous]

I actually recorded a Bonnie Raitt/Jackson Browne concert yesterday (at a John Edwards campaign event) using my Canon G7.  One problem is it's very inconvenient to set the levels manually since you have to go through some menus and then return to the recording page.  I used AGC and was not real happy with the effect.  On the plus side, it's very stealthy, since it just looks like you're  holding a little camera.

[cybergaloot]

I suspect that audio recording using digital cameras will improve to an acceptable level (relative to your tastes of course), though never reach the level of dedicated audio recording gear. The thing is, this may actually help us convince artists to let us record in the long run. When devices get more ubiquitous, the attempts to ban them become more futile and even silly. Try banning cameras now. Every other cell phone will take pictures. Not great ones but they can get something usable. Those photos are all over MySpace.  Many do a fair job of capturing video, given their limitations. Those videos are all over YouTube. What are they going to do? Strip search people on the way into a show? Have a roving goon squad throwing out anyone who holds their cell phone up? No, they will give up. Now you can record a reasonable length show on your digital camera. The sound will be a serious compromise but far better than the days when folks recorded shows on cheap portable cassette decks.