Best point-and-shoot camera for live music?

As I said, camcorder is not an option whether I like it or not. All my SD cards are top end so I have no problem with that. Only limitation in terms of size and processing I'd have are whatever the camera limits would be.

I've seen HD videos with quite good sound now so they do exist but I thought it would be easier to have a comprehensive topic rather than following up every single video that sounds kind of decent, that's why I asked. And I'm not the only one with that issue. Also there are new cameras released almost every week and nobody really knows how they sound until you test. If they got it right with the circuitry of my camera they can do it again. To be honest, Canon already have it, they just need to mount it in an HD camera.

There are some cameras that can do a decent job but your limitation of requiring a small camera is the problem.
To work well in low light you need a bigger lens and sensor.
The small sensors found on small cameras do not produce enough light to work well in low light.
Until someone creates a small sensor that works well in dim light, you are out of luck.

I have seen sample videos that people claim are good, but I would not rate them as such.
Sound is usually a problem because digital camera makers treat video as an afterthought.
They don't want to spend money for good microphones and sound circuits.
They feel that would cut into their camcorder sales.

The sales departments usually drive what features are available.
Sales are the reason we see so many megapixels on too small sensors.
It seems to be an upgrade, on the surface, but the engineering people know better.

..

I have got some of my videos featured on basically every single decent music outlet from Pitchfork to MTV and a few of them have made it to actual DVDs (the upcoming Foals at Royal Albert Hall, for example) or even features (Shane Meadows' "Made Of Stone"), not counting the hundreds bands from The Knife to Dinosaur Jr. or Grandaddy passing through tons of small bands and music venues/promoters that have used them for promo. Believe me, you do get more than enough quality from compacts.

This naysaying is the reason why there isn't more information about it, because every time somebody opens a post about it somebody else says "no, that doesn't exist/it's pointless/never will happen". Just an example of what you can get with my friend's Canon. Sound's worse than mine and it blows when it gets too bass-heavy (which is why it's not for me) but still pretty decent considering The Forum hasn't got the best PA setup. If you don't think that's enough video quality for an amateur piece of footage then we're speaking different languages here: http://youtu.be/MlUcVs4w5uE?t=49s.

I know the limitations and I perfectly understand the pixel paradigm but the truth is I get almost as good quality sound with my camera as my friend does with his 500-pound sound recording device and you can see the video quality my friend gets there. Now, can we be constructive and let anybody else share their experience if they have it?

Can you understand the words to the song she is singing?

Definitely, and I've never been the best at picking out lyrics from songs, especially live. Can't you?

"Picking out the lyrics"?
I prefer to hear the words.

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Useful comment for sure...

When was the last time you were at a music concert? It's hard to understand what some artists say on record, let alone live. Believe me, you wouldn't have heard it much clearer live than it can be heard there.

In any case I can perfectly understand what she says on that video, which was the original question.

This is one of mine, just for sound and video comparison: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwndO1UcJ5c. That initial light flare is the main reason why I want one of the newer models that don't suffer anymore with that problem (apart from the definition issue and the fact it's 5 years old).

It appears that cell phone cameras can bet this on video quality.

so do you have something better than an Iphone that can reproduce the quality that I said before or better and small fo any show venue.I mean equal quality or better quality than a iphone in video camera?

I can't guess if you figured it out yet but cell phone cameras are creating trouble for camera makers.

Read http://news.yahoo.com/japan-mid-tier-camera-makers-face-shakeout-smartphones-211223894--finance.html

What's better is in your DSLR models. The Q3HD made big promises and has good audio as you have figured out.
Bob

I heard that Point and Shoot camera are good, DSLR also, and Smartphone too including iphone. Q3hd is good too but a lot peoples told that the video quality is not that great compare to an iphone or good smartphone. I want something like I said earlier compact small beacause any venue don't want big pro camera or huge video camera and also like I said with the youtube video exemple I want great audio and video image. I wantpay 500$ or 1000$ when I get a similar quality at a fair and good price for what I need. SO what should I get and I know it's on the market today I just have to get it but what ??????

As the compact point and shoot market is in disarray you will not find any "best" for what you are trying to do. It appears you didn't get the hint that an iPhone (current model) is hard to beat.
Bob

1080p in hd video
Great or high zoom
and the most difficult of them all "can work in low ligh situation"
and also DSLR are banned from a lot venue for music shows
(beause they think that it's a pro camera) so I won't buy them
The use is only for VIDEO I don't about the "photo" option.
I'm only interrested in shooting video.
Like I said I won't spend 500$ or 1000$ on a video camera or photo/video camera
when I can get a good one for less then that or for a good fair price
So. ????

The concert camera discussions are well done. You would think that after hundreds of such you would find this. I'm going with no, there is no such thing today and can't imagine why you didn't figure out why the iPhone is doing this better than most cameras in this class. You can imagine they don't ban the iPhone.
Bob

Why buying an Iphone when I can get an camera or video camera for the smae pice or less that is doing the same thing and I don't have to get a contract and pay for the phone.I won't pay 500$ for an Iphone 5 just for the camera no way !!!!

Here's a comparison of a many thousand dollar DSLR to the iPhone.
http://www.geek.com/apple/how-does-the-iphone-4s-camera-compare-to-a-dslr-1432533/

It appears you may be searching for an Unicorn.
Bob

I can bet the first video you posted was filmed with a Panasonic. Video quality is not as good as you get with the equivalent Canon or Sony but the audio distorts less. Main problem it has is the sound is very muffled. My friend has an older model (no HD) and he has the same muffling issues you have in that video: http://youtu.be/gLahUwscYHA.

Canon's been getting closer and closer so I'll keep an eye open for that and eventually get the most decent one they release and keep my old Ixus for the noisier stuff.

If you don't mind that much about the type of muffling of that video then definitely go for Panasonic. I'll ask my friends and see what model is the Panasonic gold standard, sound-wise.

I don't have any experience with GoPros. Might be interesting but, at least the old ones, had limitations in terms of optics. I don't know how far they've got now. I don't know the exact model but this video I know was filmed with a GoPro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvUnjaGZNtM

I'll ask my friend what his exact model of Canon is. But, yeah, it does distort as soon as there's some louder bass. And I mean just your regular rock bass drumming can start distorting.

Can we cut the condescending story of the unicorn? How obtuse, ffs...

This one is better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlUcVs4w5uE&feature=youtu.be&t=49s.

Now, can we move on? Seriously, this is the 3rd or 4th topic where I see you being completely obnoxious and unhelpful.

Thanks for theses info I'll check for that canon
and what do you think gopro ???

Sorry but if there was such a camera folk would come out and tell you to get it.

Nice idea about the gopro but the lighting would kill that one off my lists.
Bob

It is not a well beat area because every time anybody opens a topic about it somebody comes, says that's impossible and shuts down the conversation. In all the years I've been doing this I haven't found a single topic with any actual useful information because of that.

And that Canon I've posted is definitely better than the iPhone...