Flip video cameras are a rather new technology and therefore have some downsides. While the flip camera features simple point and shoot buttons for easy use, it does create some shaky video when not used with a tripod. Also, many educators who have used flip video camcorders in the classroom can attest to the fact that the sound quality on the recorded video is poor unless the camera is close to the subject being videotaped (suggested distance, five feet). Another shortfall to be aware of in terms of audio quality is that any background noise will be picked up and can make it difficult to hear the subject speaking. It is not recommended that the flip be used in an auditorium, gymnasium, cafeteria, or any other large open space with poor acoustics, unless there is no background noise and the camera is close up to the subject.
Kevin Caves, Instructor in Biomedical Engineering at Duke University, who has used Flip Video camcorders in his capstone course in Biomedical Engineering says, “The nice thing about the Flip is that you flip it on, and you start recording.” What he didn’t like as much was the audio. “Students typically have to record voiceovers separately to ensure decent sound quality for the presentations” (Caves, 2009).Mary Beth Bergh, Middle School/Upper School Technology Coordinator at Cape Cod Academy and graduate school student at Bridgewater State University in the Instructional Technology Program says, "In using Flips in our classroom projects, we noted the same thing--the audio is good to a distance of about 5 feet (such as for close up interviews), but not good in a classroom, and certainly not in an auditorium."
