How would you like to record a podcast interview with a portable open air microphone and still get studio quality sound without spending more than a couple hundred dollars in the process?
Well, if you use the H2 Zoom Recorder you can do just that and more. The H2 Zoom runs on double AA batteries, has VCR style controls, and takes standard SD cards for additional storage space. Here is a close up look at the device and all it’s features.
The H2 Zoom fits in your pocket, has settings for custom environments, and also works as a working microphone solution via usb. For a small investment between $160 to $180 you can get an extremely versatile device that is portable, impressive, and doubles as a studio microphone for day to day recording. I use the Zoom for all my on the go recording and as my in studio microphone and it’s fantastic.
In this detailed look of the H2 Zoom I’ve included a video review of the device and an audio sample so you can get a feel for just how well the recorder works.
Watch the H2 Video Review
Here is some sample audio using the Zoom as an in studio usb microphone.
The H2 has two stereo mics facing front and rear. This is great for capturing stereo sound. The two sets of mics – one pair facing the front and one pair facing the rear – allow you to record at 90° from the front or 120° from the rear. This is great for recording interviews or capturing audio from a single source. You can also use both two pairs to produce a four-channel recording with 360° coverage to get a full surround sound recording.
The H2 even has a built-in 3D panning function that gives you full control over the front/rear/left/right balance. Or if you prefer, you can use authoring software like Garageband or Audacity to create 5.1 surround recordings.
You can record audio in several formats. You can choose 24bit/96kHz linear PCM (WAV files) format for better than CD audio quality, or you can record directly to MP3 format in an almost any bit rate for longer recording times and smaller file sizes.
Recordings are stored on Secure Digital (SD) card. A 512MB SD card is usually included with the device, but I recommend you buy at least a 2 to 8 GB SD Card for normal usage. The H2 can accommodate up to a 16GB SDHC card, but keep in mind that a single recording file is limited to a 2GB file size. I carry several cards with me when I want to make sure I have enough storage space for major events. According to the manufacturer, you can record up to 24 hours of total recording time using the 16bit/44.1kHz WAV format or up to 280 hours of sterio recording using a 128kbps MP3. I’ve never had to test this out.
The H2 has a USB port so you can move your recordings to your computer and use recording software to edit the audio, create mixes, burn CDs or distribute your recordings by email or on your website. You can also move MP3 files to your H2 for storage or later playback. The Zoom can be used as an MP3 player and you can choose between single-file playback, single-file repeat, all-file playback, or all-file repeat. TA-B repeat lets you “zoom in” on a specified section of a file.
Using the BWF (Broadcast Wave Format) your files can be set with timestamp information and markers (cue points) during recording. This makes playback and editing much more efficient. I haven’t used this format since I am usually wanting MP3 format for podcasts, but it sounds like a handy feature you might explore for yourself.
You can also set the H2 to automatically start recording when audio is detected and stop when audio ceases. This allows you to capture all the important audio you want during a conference or lecture while minimizing the total recording time.
The H2 has an Auto Gain Control (AGC) function and Low-Cut Filter that allows the H2 to automatically record at the right level while eliminating unwanted low frequency noise. You can also manually control the gain levels with the Low/Mid/High selector and then fine-tune the levels with gain control buttons on the front panel. This allows you to get clear recordings with very low noise and no distortion. I’ve found this most helpful when setting up the device for recording in very quiet or very noise environments.
The H2 can also function as a USB microphone, letting you record directly to your computer. Using almost any recording software, you can create a podcast. This is a great option if you need a good quality microphone, but don’t have the budget to buy both a high end microphone and a portable recorder.
Editing files on the device is extremely simple. Even without editing software, you can divide a recorded file at any desired point, right on the H2. The built-in normalizing feature lets you optimize the volume level, and can even convert WAV files into MP3s. The normalizing function is not applied to MP3 files. You can also record your audio in higher quality formats like WAV and then encode them down to the compressed MP3 format using the H2.
The H2 has an input jack for external stereo mics and it supports plug-in power for equipment that requires additional power to operate. There is also a stereo line input for external audio sources, in case you want to bring in audio from another device.
The low-power circuitry in the H2 makes it possible to run the unit continuously for about 4 hours on two AA alkaline batteries. For longer sessions you can plug in the supplied AC adapter. When using the unit as an SD card reader or USB mic, it operates on USB bus power. I always recommend carrying extra AA batteries to make sure you have enough power for important events. Since the H2 runs on standard AA batteries, you can quickly swap them out and be back up and recording in under a minute.
The H2 usually comes with a desktop stand as well as a mic clip adapter for attaching the unit to a mic stand. It also comes with a 512MB SD card, earbuds, a windscreen, AC adapter, a USB cable, and a 1/8-inch to RCA stereo cable, so you can begin recording from the moment you open the package.
The best selection and cheapest price I’ve found is to purchase the Zoom on Amazon. You can also check eBay for current pricing, but this can be hit or miss, and I definitely advise that you check the sellers feedback and inventory listings before making a purchase.
As you can see, there are a lot of available options. If you need additional podcast coaching, let us know and we’ll help you set up a solution.
See you in the forums,
Charles McKeever
OpenSourceMarketer.com
Hi Charles,
Thanks for the detailed review. I’m wondering if you’ve seen the new Zoom H1 and how that compares to the H2. It’s a bit smaller and uses only 1 battery. But the real question is in feature comparison and sound quality. Any thoughts?
thanks,
Gregg
http://www.todoinstitute.org
I haven’t personally used the H1 Zoom yet, but from what I can tell it’s basically a very simplified field recording device. It comes with a 2GB Micro SD card and can take up to a 32GB card. It uses one AA battery and has the crossover microphones for getting good stereo audio.
The main benefits that I see on the device is that it provides one button recording and the most common controls are physical buttons on the side of the device. So if you want to increase the gain or switch recording formats, the buttons to change the settings are push button simple.
Between the H4, H2, and H1, the H1 Zoom recorder seems to be targeting ease of use. The H4 is a good device for taking in multiple inputs from devices that use XLR cables (like hand held mics, or musical instruments) but the manual to use the device is think and an engineering friend of mine admits that the controls are a bit complicated, even for him.
The H2 is much more simplified over the H4 Zoom recorder and the H1 seems to have gone even further to reduce the complexity. However, that may mean some slight feature loss. From what I’ve heard, the H1 can’t be used as a USB microphone (although it can still be used as a USB storage device).
Being able to use the H2 recorded as a USB microphone is a big plus and it’s one of the reasons I will continue to recommend the H2 Zoom recorder. The H2 can be used as a portable pocket recorder and it can be connected to your computer to be used as an in studio mic.
Overall, the feature and price point seem to be very well matched and if I didn’t already have an H2 Zoom recorder that I love, I’d definitely be looking at the H1 as an alternative.
Please help me to understand how to set up different files on my H2 Zoom recorder.
Thank you!
Lin
Lin, I’ve never had to setup “different files” on the zoom before. Can you describe what your trying to do exactly?