A pair of mics, four phantom-powerable XLR connectors (with the ability to add two more via an accessory replacement of the mic pair), mixer, battery-operated... this thing is an amazing miniature multi-track recording studio. I have been using it mostly for recording my live sitar performances in front of an indoor cafe at a local cancer hospital, Sunday traditional choir Masses at my church, and miscellaneous outdoor live settings. It's very convenient and sounds fabulous.
I use NiMH rechargeable batteries. I ran it flat out one time and it was able to record for about 15 hours on one charge. The funny thing is the battery segments drop to one after only a few hours, so that's not much use as an indicator of remaining time. It has a menu setting that lets you specify the type of battery, rechargeable vs. alkaline, because of the voltage difference. But that doesn't make this indication of remaining battery any more accurate! :-) No worries, I just recharge the batteries from time to time and it's not really an issue.
Another thing I've noticed is the timebase is a little off for some reason. I have had multiple Sony handheld stereo recorders over the years, as well as a KORG D3200 multi-track recorder, all of which I have been able to sync together over long periods of time (I do video work) with absolutely no drift between them. I just thought this was something they had handled in the digital world, with crystal-controllable clocks of extreme precision.
But when I take a two hour recording from this device and put it up against my other recording devices, there will be a very small drift between them (10 - 20 millseconds) by the end of two hours. This is a VERY subtle and tiny difference that most people wouldn't even care about or notice, but it IS noticeable if you are doing sync work with video. It shows up as sounds being in different places when you load the waveforms into a computer and blow them up. This is the amount of time that short reverberations off of nearby hard surfaces take. So if you are recording things in a reverberant space, like a church, this drift can interfere with the natural sound of your recording. It means you have to cut it into a few pieces and make micro-adjustments to the timing every 30 minutes or so to keep it under control. Or you have to set it going for a few hours at the same time as your other recorder, figure out the percentage difference, and apply that amount of timing correction in your audio software every single time. It's not the end of the world, but it IS an added pain when I have gotten used to NOT having to do that for the past 20 years working with digital recordings.
Also, it seems to me when doing critical listening that this recorder may not produce as crystal-clear, clean recordings at volume extremes as other devices I own or have used, especially when recording loud, impulse-y things like church choirs with sopranos. I'm not talking about clipping either. Even well below clipping level, I swear I can hear something happen that is hard to characterize when a loud peak is reached by female singers. It's one of those things that drives you nuts as you listen to side-by-side recordings from different recorders and you try to figure out if you are really hearing something or not. It doesn't really sound like brick-walling either. We should be well within the capabilities of the mics and pres at the levels and distances from the subjects that I am recording.
So, all-in-all it's a great recorder for most things, especially if you aren't using it to sync to something else or for super-loud, impulsive subjects, but I give it 4 stars for these admittedly highly subjective observations. I haven't checked this sound issue with my own mics yet (R0de NT-5's) which I know can handle jet engines and things like that.
Your mileage may vary.
A couple more quick positive notes to finish... it can act as a 6-channel audio interface to your computer as well as a stand-alone recorder. That's VERY convenient if you want to record things directly to hard drive using your DAW software! And the memory capacity is great, too. I put a 16 GB memory card in it and that gives me over 15 stereo hours, almost 8 at four channels, and over 5 at six channels. And you can put MUCH bigger memory cards in it! I had to install ASIO4ALL (a free ASIO driver) to make this device work with my computer, but it works flawlessly.
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From the manufacturer
ZOOM H6 BLACK
The recorder that does it all.
The H6 is the ultimate portable recorder. With its advanced preamps and interchangeable capsules, the H6 delivers unmatched versatility and award-winning quality.
Features
- Interchangeable input capsules
- Six-track simultaneous recording
- Four mic/line inputs with XLR/TRS combo connectors
- Large full-color, angled LCD display
- Records directly to SD, SDHC and SDXC cards up to 128GB
Podcast Anywhere
From the studio to remote locations, podcasts are produced everywhere. With inputs for every guest, the battery-powered H6 is a complete portable podcasting solution.
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Unlimited Studio TimeThe H6 is your personal music studio 24/7. With up to six* discrete line-level / mic-level inputs, plus the ability to overdub and more, the H6 provides the road from a great idea to the perfect track. *Optional EXH-6 mic capsule required |
Sound for Every SceneFeaturing interchangeable mic capsules, four combo inputs and six tracks of quality recording, the H6 is ready to record on any set and in any scene the director throws at you. |
From Sampling to Sound DesignWhether you’re a musician creating your own unique masterpiece, or a sound designer looking for that perfect sound effect, the H6 will become your most trusted companion. |
Ins & OutsIns The H6 offers four XLR/TRS combo jacks with dedicated pad switches and gain control for distortion-free recording. Outs The H6 features two 1/8” outputs, a stereo line out as well as a headphone out with dedicated volume control. |
Multi-Channel Audio Interface
The H6’s USB port enables it to serve as a stereo or multi-channel audio interface for your computer or iPad.
Recording Time & File Formats
Record continuously for over 20 hours with just four AA batteries or extend your recording time indefinitely with the optional AD-17 adapter.
The H6 records individual WAV files in any of the following formats:
- 44.1kHz / 16-bit
- 44.1Khz / 24-bit
- 48kHz / 16-bit
- 48kHz / 24-bit
- 96kHz / 16-bit
- 96kHz / 24-bit
Compare with similar items
Customer Questions & Answers
Customer reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2017
style: H6 (pre-2020 Model)Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2018
style: H6 (pre-2020 Model)Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2017
The H6 is the "Papa Bear" of Zoom's line of field recorders. Leader of the pack. For its pricepoint of around $350, it isn't exactly an impulse buy, but for the value and features it delivers, I believe it is a great buy. It is truly a studio in the palm of your hand.
It is a very intuitive device to figure out whether you're a hobbyist like me, or an advanced audio pro. I was able to get everything strung up and produce some high-quality recordings very quickly. Re ergonomics, the shape and build of the H6 make it easy to use when it is lying flat on a work surface. However, I decided to mount it to a [[ASIN:B00D76RNLS Manfrotto MTPIXI-B PIXI Mini Tripod, Black]]. Part of my enjoyment of having nice gear is to see it in action. The H6 + PIXI combo is a very cool sight in the middle of any recording setup! (Note: there is a knockoff tripod for about 1/3 the price but I decided to get the Manfrotto after seeing it in use with my wife's MEVO camera).
One of the few knocks against the H6 is the exposed and unlockable gain knobs for each input. I can see how this could be an issue in a situation where a sound tech had this in a gear bag out in the field. Random bumps could move the knobs and that would not be good. For my needs in a more controlled and stable setting, this has never been an issue. In fact it is a good thing because I can easily "ride" the gain knobs if necessary during a recording. I would not be surprised if someone has come up with a hack or aftermarket device to cover the knobs in some way.
Another knock is the angle and location of the screen. This is an issue for people recording themselves via the capsules on top of the device. In that application, the capsules would be facing the audio source and the screen would not be viewable to monitor levels, etc. Again, for this hobbyist podcaster, this has not been a problem.
One accessory I would love to see is a protector to prevent scratches on the display screen. I have heard of some workarounds that people have used but Zoom would do well to offer a custom-fit item for this.
Re energy consumption, I installed the 4 alkaline batteries that it shipped with, but I mostly power it via USB cable and a small white Apple charging block. I also have a small [[ASIN:B00EF1OGOG Anker Astro 6700mAh Ultra-Compact Premium Portable Charger (2nd Generation External Battery Power Bank) with Fast Charging PowerIQ Techonology and Panasonic Battery Cells]] that I keep in my gear bag that will power the H6.
The Zoom H6 is a piece of gear that you will be proud to own and use. It is the core of my recording setup and I love pulling it out of its case each time I use it. You will not have any buyers' remorse if you spring for the Zoom H6!
style: H6 (pre-2020 Model)Verified Purchase
Pride of ownership
By Eastport Rover on April 16, 2017
I purchased the Zoom H6 after starting out with the also-fine H4nPro. I needed additional XLR ports without resorting to cable and adapter workarounds. I will be using it primarily to record interviews and podcasts with each participant (3-4 on avg) on their own dedicated XLR dynamic mic.By Eastport Rover on April 16, 2017
The H6 is the "Papa Bear" of Zoom's line of field recorders. Leader of the pack. For its pricepoint of around $350, it isn't exactly an impulse buy, but for the value and features it delivers, I believe it is a great buy. It is truly a studio in the palm of your hand.
It is a very intuitive device to figure out whether you're a hobbyist like me, or an advanced audio pro. I was able to get everything strung up and produce some high-quality recordings very quickly. Re ergonomics, the shape and build of the H6 make it easy to use when it is lying flat on a work surface. However, I decided to mount it to a [[ASIN:B00D76RNLS Manfrotto MTPIXI-B PIXI Mini Tripod, Black]]. Part of my enjoyment of having nice gear is to see it in action. The H6 + PIXI combo is a very cool sight in the middle of any recording setup! (Note: there is a knockoff tripod for about 1/3 the price but I decided to get the Manfrotto after seeing it in use with my wife's MEVO camera).
One of the few knocks against the H6 is the exposed and unlockable gain knobs for each input. I can see how this could be an issue in a situation where a sound tech had this in a gear bag out in the field. Random bumps could move the knobs and that would not be good. For my needs in a more controlled and stable setting, this has never been an issue. In fact it is a good thing because I can easily "ride" the gain knobs if necessary during a recording. I would not be surprised if someone has come up with a hack or aftermarket device to cover the knobs in some way.
Another knock is the angle and location of the screen. This is an issue for people recording themselves via the capsules on top of the device. In that application, the capsules would be facing the audio source and the screen would not be viewable to monitor levels, etc. Again, for this hobbyist podcaster, this has not been a problem.
One accessory I would love to see is a protector to prevent scratches on the display screen. I have heard of some workarounds that people have used but Zoom would do well to offer a custom-fit item for this.
Re energy consumption, I installed the 4 alkaline batteries that it shipped with, but I mostly power it via USB cable and a small white Apple charging block. I also have a small [[ASIN:B00EF1OGOG Anker Astro 6700mAh Ultra-Compact Premium Portable Charger (2nd Generation External Battery Power Bank) with Fast Charging PowerIQ Techonology and Panasonic Battery Cells]] that I keep in my gear bag that will power the H6.
The Zoom H6 is a piece of gear that you will be proud to own and use. It is the core of my recording setup and I love pulling it out of its case each time I use it. You will not have any buyers' remorse if you spring for the Zoom H6!
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
DRW
Glad I managed to snag a discontinued 2019 model.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 21, 2020style: H6 (pre-2020 Model)Verified Purchase
mireille
Not as advertised
Reviewed in Canada on July 21, 2020style: H6 All Black (2020 Model)Verified Purchase
Not as advertised
Reviewed in Canada on July 21, 2020
Just Got my package was kind of disappointed as I did not find these ItemsReviewed in Canada on July 21, 2020
1. Mic MSH-6 mic capsule
2. Windscreen
3. USB cable
4. Case
The American sites with the same price offer what I just mentioned
I do not know if I should return this package for the price I paid. The inclusions is in a small line by the end of the description.
Images in this review
John
Recording Must have
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2019style: H6 (pre-2020 Model)Verified Purchase
Samar Dhaliwal
Better if you could source it from abroad
Reviewed in India on August 1, 2017style: H6 (pre-2020 Model)Verified Purchase
Rohan Meren
Same good old recorder with fewer accessories
Reviewed in India on June 21, 2020style: H6 All Black (2020 Model)Verified Purchase
