Customer Reviews

Zoom H2 Handy Portable Stereo Recorder

5 star:		(380)
4 star:		(146)
3 star:		(36)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(27)

 

 

A year ago, I wrote a lengthy comparison of the Edirol R-09 WAVE/MP3 Recorder, Black and the Zoom H4 Handy Recorder + 2GB Accessory Kit (pre-accessory kit). I wanted a high quality, easy to use recorder, so even though the H4 had all of the features of the Edirol and sold for considerably less, I kept the Edirol because it was so much easier to use.

Zoom has responded with the H2, a scaled down version of the H4 with all of the features of the R-09 and all of the controls right where you need them. The H2 even has additional features over the R-09, but they don't get in the way. For example, there's a choice of a 90 degree recording pattern, a 120 degree recording pattern, and even a surround sound option. Samsontech has some nice video demonstrations on its website.

One big complaint I've had with the Edirol is the cost of its add-on stand. Unlike the Edirol, the H2 comes with a simple stand. In addition, the H2 has a threaded hole so that it can be mounted on a standard digital camera tripod! On a separate note, it's much easier to replace batteries with the H2 than the Edirol.

Recently, I got together with friends and recorded the same live acoustic music on both the Edirol R-09 and the Zoom H2. I used Adobe Audition only to normalize both tracks (that is, equalize their loudness). The first time we played them back, I thought I detected a VERY slight preference for the Edirol, with the overall opinion of the group split between the two units. The second time we played them back, my preference was for the H2, with overall opinion continuing to be split. We all agreed that the differences were so small as to be negligible if there were any at all. The sound files can be found at [...] for those who'd like to hear for themselves. We were sitting in a circle with the recorders located next to each other on a mantle above and outside the group.

I do prefer the Edirol's control buttons to the H2's membrane and I'm not about to sell the Edirol, perhaps because I am more familiar with the Edirol and don't want to give it up just yet. Also, the Edirol R-09 is the darling of the moment. However, if I owned neither, I couldn't justify the huge bump in price of the Edirol over the H2 and would opt for the H2. When I went to a music party last weekend and knew I'd need only one recorder, I grabbed the H2.

Every once in a while, a product comes along that so exceeds expectations, it it almost hard to believe it is real.

I have been producing corporate marketing podcasts from a home office studio for about 2 years. A laptop computer (PC-Vista) is the "brains" of the studio. I use a couple different microphones, which produce decent results.

I also use a portable Olympus WS-320M to record interviews at trade shows and at client sites. It does a decent job. I have reviewed the Olympus on Amazon.

I like my gadgets to be small. Pocket sized is preferable. No excuse for not taking it on a trip. The H2 fits the bill, although I wouldn't carry it in my pocket. It would be OK in a suitcoat pocket, but usually it will be in a gadget bag along with a camera, videocam, batteries, memory cards, earbuds, and cables.

For my home studio, I have been looking to upgrade some of my equipment, especially my microphone (a Sony stereo electret mic), which was servicable, but not great.

On the sophisticated end, I was considering things like a mixer-board, mic pre-amp, and a capacitor mic (like a formal studio would use). A USB interface to my computer was essential.

I also wanted a better voice recorder. The Olympus did its job fairly well, but it was almost too small, and fairly limited in what it could do. It will remain a backup device which I will not hesitate to use if the need arises.

I looked at the Edirol R-09 and the MicroTrack 2496. Each had their positives and their limitations, which are well documented. I was just about to pull the trigger on the Zoom H4, but I am glad I waited for the H2 to come out. The H4 is great for serious musicians who need 4 channels, but the H2 is the better choice for podcasting and any voice recording. The H2 is no slouch for recording music, either. Just not as flexible with imputs and outputs. The H2 looks killer, too.

In a nutshell (after my long pre-ramble), the Samson Zoom H2 is one of the best gadgets I have ever bought (and I have lots and of electronics).

It is:

1) An outstanding Field Recorder
2) A fantastic USB audio interface (I can record directly into my computer)
3) A surprisingly good microphone for my mini-studio

I am adding an omnidirectional stereo lav mic setup so I can do face-to-face interviews.

I could simply place the H2 on a table and record the conversation in 2-channel surround (records from the front and back of the device), but I'd rather place the mics closer to the face. The clip-on mics will do the trick, and we have 10 feet of cord between us, which should work well if we are sitting or standing.

When using the H2 with my computer, I record through it directly onto the computer. No need to copy files from the SD card to the computer. Audacity is nicer to use for recording, then relying on the small meters on the H2's screen.

Quality

The recording quality really surprised me. Notable improvement over the Olympus, and much better than my Sony Mic through my SoundStation USB audio interface. Cleaner sound, and much less susceptable to clippping.

Recommendations

1) Don't record using the Hi sensitivity setting unless the sound you need to record is very faint. It picks up all the ambient noise, and has a bit of hiss. Mid sensitivity is very clean. Lo can be used for especially loud environments.

2) Get a couple 2GB SD cards. They are actually cheaper than a single 4GB card. A 2GB card record 94 minutes in CD-quality stereo, and 23 hours of 192kbps MP3 files. The H2 can take an 8GB SDHC card if you really need it. I prefer not to put too many recordings on one card, unless I have a computer nearby to dump it to.

3) Use NiMH rechargable batteries. 2 AA batteries go for about 4 hours. Have a small wall charger with 4 AA slots and you will be golden. You can always buy alkalines if you need batteries in a pinch.

4) Get an external mic. You can set the H2 down when recording, which will eliminate handling noise. Electret mics are fairly inexpensive. You can also use a plug-in power mic with the H2. As long as it has a 1/8" plug, you can probably use it.

5) Stay away from the Auto Gain Control feature and other sound processors on the H2. Better to tweak the sounf in your computer's sound program (DAW), such as Audacity, Cubebase, SoundForge, etc. Just make sure your levels aren't clipping or are not too low, and you will have a good file to work with.

6) Experiment. Get to know the settings and features. This puppy will do a lot of tricks, so don't treat it like a point-and-shoot camera (although you could if you want to - it's that simple).

Good luck!

I borrowed a Zoom H4 from a friend and found it extremely frustrating to use. The owners manual was just gibberish to me. I could not make heads or tails of the instructions. It was a totally frustrating experience and I was ready to give up on making a CD, and ready to go back to making old fashioned cassette tape recordings.

I took a chance on the Zoom H2 and am not sorry. All the head aches of the H4 have been addressed with the H2. This machine is much easier to use. I'm using it to record live string music and it does a wonderful job. Sounds great! I'm not an egg head geek or a computer expert nor am I a professional sound recording engineer, and I am very comfortable using this machine.

Zoom must have listened to everything people were complaining about the H4 when they designed the H2.

Like another reviewer, I found the earlier H4 buggy and difficult to use because of the poor interface. I also went through three of them and they all had defects. The H2 has a much improved interface and it's a great little recorder at its price point. The built-in mics are surprisingly good and the bottom line is--the H2 recordings sound very good. At the low and mid-gain levels, the noise floor is acceptable for voice and music recordings. At high gain, background noise starts to become intrusive. I used several external self-powered mics with no problem and got a good signal with a simple XLR>1/8" stereo cable.

The built-in functions like the limiter, compressor, MP3 converter, normalizer, etc-- are fairly primitive and you're much better off doing any post work in your audio software. The ability to choose from two different configurations of stereo mics and a surround configuration of all 4 mics is more useful than I would have thought and gives some nice options for tailoring the sound of your recordings. There are already some audio plugins that people have written to allow the conversion of 4 channels into the files required for making 5.1 surround recordings.

The build quality is fine, and although the construction is mostly plastic, the unit wasn't creaky or flimsy. There is a metal inset tripod socket for mounting the H2 to a stand instead of the crappy add-on mount for the H4. Also unlike the H4, the H2 uses BWF (broadcast wave format) for it's WAV files and the recordings are stamped with the date and time--which is a major improvement for file management.

Pros: Very good quality recordings, good interface, low cost, versatility

Cons: Noise floor may be a problem for very quiet recordings at high gain, primitive on-board processing

Important Note: the H2 recording level should never be set below 100 because it will clip the signal after it's converted from analog to digital (potentially causing distortion). It's best to just use the gain switch to set your levels. Raising the levels above 100 is fine, but is the same as adding gain in audio software after recording. I recommend recording at 24 bits at either the low or mid gain levels for the best recordings. Avoid clipping during recording and raise the gain or normalize as necessary in your audio software.

Finally, a product that is as simple to use as a point-and-shoot camera. Literally, I opened the box, put in two batteries, the memory card, read the quick-start guide, put the Zoom on the included stand, and got out my mandolin and started recording. The sound quality is great, and you can play it back directly on the Zoom by plugging in some head-buds (included). The control buttons operate like a DVD remote, with a "menu" button, using the "fast-forward" and "reverse" to scroll through entries, and the "record" button as the "set".

For someone who is not well-versed in audio terminology, gain, sampling rates, mics, pre-post amps, levels whatever, I just set it to medium gain, watched to make sure the lines don't go too far up, and was recording away in two steps. Push "record" to test the gain level, and push "record" again, (red light stays on), to record, and push "record" to stop. The file is saved, and then you can push play/pause to listen back. Deleting files is a few extra steps but if you know how to program a VCR you can use this puppy.

It is also handy, portable and easy to take places. I will take it to record jam sessions, music lessons, and practice to evaluate my playing, and instrument comparisons. The sound quality is great, and I could hear how resonant and clear my mandolin is. I wish my playing was as great since it recorded pick noise, finger slide noise, and other assorted twangs and twings. It records both in WAV (huge files) and mp3 (compressed), with various quality levels to choose from. You can easily connect it to a computer (Windows/Mac) with the included USB cable.

The only thing missing is a remote. Since you have to push the button on the recorder, you have to move to it to activate/deactivate it. Also picks up noise from your movements. But for the price $199, it's a real gem.

I always look for the one thing in a product that is a surprise, doesn't cost a lot and delights the customer. On this one, it is the included wind sock, a tiny foam cap that you can slip on top of the unit to screen the wind for outdoors recording. Cool!

I've had my H2 since September, and used it in a variety of professional broadcast situations, with mixed success. The recorder worked well when recording from a line level or mult box feed at mic level. I loved flipping out the card and putting it into my laptop's SD slot to get the files in quickly for edits.

Hoever, given that the recorder's construction precludes using it handheld (too much noise transmitted from handling) it is a definite negative that a standard broadcast field mic like an EV 635A does not deliver enough signal to overcome the poor mic preamp built in.

The built-in mic does work quite well (in the right setting) and is excellent for simple voice track tasks recording in a very quiet place. Be sure to use the included pop filter to prevent "P-popping."

I haven't tried it for face-to-face interview yet, using two of the built in mics, but I'm guessing it would be OK.

The Marantz 620 is being evaluated here and seems to be able to overcome a few of the H2's handicaps at a not-too-much-higher price.

Certainly for low-cost voice recording for amateurs or even limited professional use like mine, this is a very cost-effective tool.

The Zoom Handy H2 is a great little recorder. I got it for making podcasts in the office and out in the field. I am so glad I got this and not a plug in mic only. This is a SuperRecorder! buy one!

Pros:

- This thing picks up sound so well
- No Hisssssss
- High Gain is very sensitive
- Small
- Easy to use
- Low Learning Curve
- All the necessary peices come with it
- You can mount it on a Tripod
- You can put a 4gb sd card in it
- You can record VERY HIGH Bit Rate Wav or Mp3
- Sound options are amazing - front, surround, rear all work super great
- Convert Wav to Mp3 with it
- External Mic Jack
- Line In
- HeadPhone Jack
- Auto Record...
etc.....

Cons:
- Small Screen
- Small buttons

Overall... 5, but 4 on the size of screen and buttons.

This is a stereo digital recorder that in hands more capable than mine could produce quite-nearly professional level recordings.

I bought this a few weeks ago for interview and to create rich media projects for my work as a reporter. I found that when you take the time to be careful with it, and can do some clean up in post-production, this mic/recorder combo will rival systems costing thousands more. Yes, it's built in mics are *that* good. And it's an all-in-one solution to field recording. The basic design premise is quite clever, actually.

Choices for recording are broad, ranging from 44.1, 48 and 96khz/ 16/24 bit WAV files to various quality Mp3s. 5.1 Surround sound, if you want. Some built in limiters and three gain settings. And you can adjust the recording level in all modes. You can split tracks anywhere you want, normalize and more. Menu navigation is passable. Screen is adequate.

I recorded a live show with it, using a preset limiter for concert to keep the top end from clipping (I had to set and forget, couldn't adjust for how loud the show was) and the end product after tweaking it a bit in Audcacity was STUNNING.

No place for XLR mic inputs, so no phantom power whatsoever. It will accept and power 1/8" mini jack external mics. Handles my 4Gig SD card well, and I hear rumors that it'll handle 8gig cards as well. USB transfer is SLOW, so invest in a card reader.

Overall, I'm a bit concerned that I'll break it, it's made so poorly. The switches are flimsy plastic and seem as though they'll break if you look at them wrong. The plastic body seems like it'll shatter. 1/4" 20 tripod socket is more than just handy, but it's plastic too, instead of threaded metal. I would definitely prefer for a more robust body and would pay for it too.

The first thing to break on this thing will be the ultra-cheap battery door latch hooks which are .5mm thick, just waiting to be broken. I'll have use gaff tape to deal with that inevitability.

Note to Samson/Zoom: if the build quality were better all round, I'd bay $300 for it. Overall, this is a technical gem, fabulous value, but made of egg shells. Too bad such a machine will be broken due to a six-and-a-half-cent switch giving out. Samson could have done better.

What an amazing product! As a vocal performer, I consider it a stereo mike with a built-in recorder. And the sound is far superior to the thin audio signal of most digital recorders -- the Zoom's built-in condenser mikes deliver rich, full-bodied sound.

I've been using portable recording technology for 40 years -- from reel to reel to cassette to mini-disk to digital devices -- and nothing has been as easy to use as this unit! There's little need for an external mike, so no cable jumbles. No moving parts, so no self-generated noise from motors. Nothing to load onto the device, it comes ready to record out of the box. Best of all, no time or software to convert an arcane proprietary format to a .wav file -- this thing records .wavs or .mp3 files! With multiple settings for bit rates/sampling rates. To get the audio onto your desktop, you just use a USB cable and drag the files over! A day after getting the device I conducted three great tests with the Zoom:

TEST ONE -- Was to place it in our church balcony overlooking 9 piece orchestra and our 20-person chorus performing a holiday concert. (This was a last minute idea before a concert -- but the result was unbelievable: jaw dropping sound for everyone who heard the recording.) This little Zoom, sitting 40 feet back, above the performance, faithfully reproduced the rich strings, percussion and chorus with a blend so beaufiful, it rivaled the multi-track recording I did using conventional gear(mikes, cables, digital multi-track recorders)down on the floor. Our choir director was ecstatic, saying "now we've got a simpler way to capture these things!"

TEST TWO -- Was to place the Zoom atop an upright piano in our living room as our 21 and 24 year old jammed for a half hour on the keyboard. The unit recorded them beautifully with no distortion -- yes, no distortion even though it was SITTING ATOP THE PIANO!(You can select the units mike sensitivity.)

TEST THREE -- I placed the Zoom on a table between my sister and I, as we did our annual family history reminiscing at Christmas. Again, I got a beautiful stereo recording -- my sister in one speaker, me in another -- this time, by using the built in mikes at the 360-degree surround stereo setting.

SUMMARY -- Frankly, I can't say enough good about this recorder. For the price it's an absolute steal! The sound is as good as I can get with my AKG and AudioTechica mikes -- any of which cost more than this device! My advice for anyone purchasing it is to invest in a 4GB SD card for the device. That will give you a good 5+ hours of high quality recording time.

I have purchased both the Samson Zoom H2 and its predecessor, the Samson Zoom H4. For me, as a nonmusician who wants to just "bootleg" performances, the H2 is the better choice. But the H4 is vastly superior for many uses. So I will indicate which would be the right choice for which use in this review.

The H2 has greatly improved the user interface over the H4, and the buttons have a more substantial feel, too. The H2 package includes everything you would need to begin recording -- it comes with a 512 MB SD card (which I replaced with a 2 GB card, but 512 MB is certainly usable); a cheesy set of in-ear phones that you will only use if you don't have anything better; a decent windscreen; a table mount and a mic-stand mount; and a cheesy carrying case that you'll probably give to a 5-year-old for a marble bag. There are three basic mic patterns that can be used on the H2: 90-degree x/y; 120-degree x-y; and 360-degree surround sound (which can be used to produce either a pre-mixed or post-processed stereo or post-processed into 5.1 surround sound). There are the usual 44.1/48/96 KHz 16 and 24 bit record options for wav files, or a variety of compressions for mp3 files. While the H2 can supposedly accept external mics, the interface for that is pretty cheesy -- you need an adapter and can't get phantom power from the unit. I would never use this with external mics, but the built-in mics are quite decent for the money.

If you are just looking for a self-contained digital recorder, the H2 has a lot to recommend it. However, it has some serious limitations even for that. By far the biggest limitation is that it has horrific handling noise. You need to prune the part of the recording where you turn the unit on and off, and if you try to hand-hold it during a recording, the handling noise will make the recording useless for anyone who cares about what they are listening to. So this unit is completely inappropriate for use as a field recorder if by field recorder one means a recorder for use as you are walking around. You need to set the device on a stand of some sort and turn it on before the actual recording session begins. Then, don't touch it until the session is over. If you need to adjust the recording sensitivity, start over. If you can live with these serious restrictions, this is a wonderful unit with great sound quality.

If, on the other hand, you are a musician who wants to plug an external mic into an XLR, possibly with 48 v phantom power, or plug a guitar into the unit, or make field recordings, or use a multitrack capability to create demo CDs, you want the H4. This is a wonderful unit for a working musician. It has very low handling noise, dual combo XLR/TS jacks with 48 v phantom power available if needed; x/y mics for using the unit as a self-contained recorder (only one configuration built-in, but the mics are a bit higher quality than the H2); lower noise floor than the H2 on all recording gains; and the ability to be used as a multitrack recorder or an audio interface to your computer with the included Cubase DAW software. The unit does not include an SD card or earphones, but is otherwise a complete package.

The current street price for the H4 is not much more than the H2, so the H4 is a clear winner for use by musicians or people who want to replace their video camera's audio with better sound, etc. For those of us who are just setting up a stereo recording in a fixed location, the nice UI of the H2 and the ability to choose between recording patterns with the built-in mics makes it the better choice.