The perfect handy recorder! This review is how we use it, how we love it and why. I am not a paid reviewer either. I just feel that this product is so fairly priced for what you get, I just got to share!
We shoot a lot of dance recitals and stage plays. We use boundary microphones to capture stage sounds, i.e. tapping, effects etc. We capture the facilities “sound system” directly to one of our cameras for the music and vocal microphones and leave the H6 to record the natural sounds of the stage and room. In the past we would run very long XLR cables back to our cameras, 100’s of feet worth counting all the mics. With this recorder we are now able to put more microphones on stage and not have to run those long XLR cables that take a lot of gaffer tape and time.
Both microphone attachments that come with the H6 sound great. But I feel the MSH-6 MS mic is the best to me. It picks up exactly as you hear it naturally, the highs and the lows! It gives a natural Right Center and Left in one audio track. You can adjust this effect from narrow to wide, just astonishing! We produce 5.1 surround on all our projects - the H6 will allow us to do this more accurately and easier! You get separate audio tracks for 4 mics and 1 stereo track for the attachment mics, although, you can make 1 & 2 stereo and / or 3 & 4 stereo if you need.
The H6 noise floor is very low, lower than our cameras built in XLR’s which surprised me. With the high bit rates, the H6 will record may be why. In the editing room is where I really feel good about this!
One thing I wish I had known before I put it to professional use - if you put batteries in the H6 and plug in the power to an outlet and the plug gets unplugged by accident, the batteries take over instantly! During a play we shot as the actors were jumping off stage one hit the outlet and well the recorder stopped. Not a big issue as it was just before intermission and we shot the same play 4 times I could just use another show for that scene, but backup batteries would have been helpful. I just did not know it would do that. If the recorder gets unplugged while recording and you don’t have batteries installed you must use the file repair feature in the H6. I had to run the repair twice to get the file playable and downloadable but it worked! But backup batteries… wish I had known.
Other good info to know:
You can run either one XLR from the line out of the recorder to your camera, reason for this, easy sync! The H6 has a sine wave noise, (you have to turn this feature on in the menus) you know the blip sound. As you hit record on the H6 the camera will record that blip and in post you can simply line the blips up and perfect sync in seconds. Yea there are methods for automating sync I know I use them, but this is just quicker and easier. We run a line out to a mic pack transmitter and wirelessly transmit to a receiver on the primary camera to record this without a long XLR cable run, and it allows you to monitor the sound.. sort of, as well as getting that blip noise for sync. The headphone jack on the H6 will give you a true preview, the line out is really just for sync purposes, you get a monotone lower quality sound… you get it.
Run time?
Phantom power on all 4 tracks along with the MSH-6 MS mic while recording 48k 24 bit will drain alkaline batteries in about an hour. Our rechargeable batteries in 10 minutes. Use a power source for long recording needs, or just don’t run mics with phantom power??. They claim 20 hours of recording, maybe if you run just the attachment mic and at a low bit rate??? But my test in a real-world situation the way we require - 1 hour! But power outlets are never an issue for us. Stages always have an outlet within reach., just have batteries installed for backup if an accident happens.
Setup?
The menus are very easy to navigate. I figured it out in about 2 minutes. Easy to configure! Backup recording only backs up the attachment mics and this records a -12db track from where you have your mic set, very nice! Project folders = organized files for post!
Build?
Feels durable and fragile all at the same time. Meaning it feels like it could take a drop but my mind says no! Has a rubbery feel so can get a good grip on it. The H6 has a standard 1/4 “tripod thread on the bottom for connecting to a stand of your choice.
There is a newer model of this item:
ZOOM Zoom 2020 Model Linear PCM/IC Microphone Capsule Replacement Handy Recorder H6 Black
$408.89
Only 5 left in stock - order soon.
$408.89
Only 5 left in stock - order soon.
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From the manufacturer
The Zoom H6 Handy Recorder
Change the Way You Think About Recording… Forever
Zoom''s flagship H6 is the most advanced portable recorder ever. It utilizes a system of interchangeable input capsules that can be swapped out as easily as the lenses of a camera and comes with both X/Y and Mid-Side stereo mics.
Great for live recording as well as studio-quality music production, the H6 offers six tracks of simultaneous recording and four mic/line inputs.
- Uses a system of interchangeable input capsules
- Includes detachable stereo X/Y and Mid-Side capsules
- Six tracks of simultaneous recording
- Records directly to SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards up to 128GB
- Up to 24-bit/96kHz audio in BWF-compliant WAV or a variety of MP3 formats
- Four mic/line inputs with XLR/TRS combo connectors, each with dedicated volume control, selectable phantom power, and -20dB pad
- Requires just four standard AA alkaline or NiMH rechargeable batteries (over 20 hours of operation with alkaline batteries)
How Do You Want To Record Today?
The H6 is the most versatile portable recorder ever, which means it can handle virtually any kind of recording job, from live concert recording to location videography, from electronic newsgathering to music production.
Included Capsules
XYH-6:
The XYH-6 allows you to do stereo X/Y recording and provides dual large diaphragm mic elements with adjustable width—choose 90 degrees for a more focused sound or 120 degrees for a wider stereo image. It''s great for recording classical music and for capturing sound effects in the field.
MSH-6:
Step up to a whole new level of precision sound-shaping with the MSH-6, which contains a forward-facing, unidirectional mic (the “Mid”) and a side-facing, bi-directional mic (the “Side”). In conjunction with the H6''s onboard MS decoder, it allows you to capture a fully mono-compatible stereo image that can actually be adjusted after recording—ideal for film, video, and television projects.
Available Capsules and Accessories (Not Included)
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SGH-6 Shotgun mic capsuleGet all the pickup with half the length by connecting an SGH-6, which adds a professional-quality, highly directional shotgun microphone to your H6. Three elements, combined with digital signal processing, give you the highly directional pickup power of a conventional shotgun in a unit only half the size, making it optimum for recording dialogue and narration with no intrusive mic in the scene. |
XYH-5 shockmounted X/Y mic capsuleThe advanced XYH-5 provides dual matched unidirectional condenser microphones housed in an advanced shockmount to minimize vibration and handling noise—ideal for location videography and broadcasting/podcasting. In addition, the XYH-5 is designed to handle extremely loud sounds, making it the perfect choice for capturing the sound of live rock concerts and for electronic newsgathering (ENG) applications. |
EXH-6 Dual XLR/TRS Combo capsuleThe EXH-6 adds two more mic- or line-level inputs to your H6, allowing you to connect up to four discrete signals from external microphones, instruments, mixers, or portable music players and fully realize your creative vision. |
APH-6 Accessory PackProfessional hairy windscreen Wired remote control AC power adapter USB cable Professional hairy windscreen Wired remote control AC power adapter USB cable |
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| H6 | H5 | H4n Pro | |
| Number of inputs | 4 (expandable to 6) | 2 (expandable to 4) | 2 |
| Phantom power | +12/+24/+48V | +12/+24/+48V | +24/+24/+48V |
| Uses interchangeable capsules | Y | Y | N |
| Provided microphone(s) | XYH-6, MSH-6 | XYH-5 | Built-in X/Y Stero |
| Maximum SD card size | 128 GB | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| Separate line out | Y | Y | Y |
| USB audio interface in/out | 6/2 | 4/2 | 2/2 |
Compare with similar items
 | Zoom H6 All Black 6-Track / 6-Input Portable Recorder with Single Mic Capsule, Boya Omnidirectional & Cardioid XLR Lavalier Mic Bundle | Tascam Portable Studio Recorder, Black, 7.5 x 2.4 x 1.2 inches (DR-05V2) | Zoom SSH-6 Stereo Shotgun Microphone Capsule with Hairy Windscreen for Film, Video, ENG and Dialogue, works with H5, H6, Q8, U-44, F1, F4, F8n, and F8 | TASCAM Mini Portable Digital Audio Recorder with Lavalier Microphone, 24-Bit/48 kHz BWAV File Format, Black (DR-10L) | |
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| Customer Rating | (1969) | (26) | (1480) | (200) | (1053) |
| Price | From $444.88 | $334.98 | $199.99 | $139.49 | $149.00 |
| Sold By | Available from these sellers | Kellards | 212 Distributors (blue light serial #'s recorded) | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
| Color | MultiColored | Black | Black | Black | Black |
| Item Dimensions | 3.06 x 1.88 x 6.02 inches | 10.5 x 8.2 x 3.3 inches | 7.48 x 2.36 x 1.18 inches | 3.7 x 8.7 x 3.4 inches | 1 x 2 x 2.2 inches |
The perfect handy recorder! This review is how we use it, how we love it and why. I am not a paid reviewer either. I just feel that this product is so fairly priced for what you get, I just got to share!We shoot a lot of dance recitals and stage plays. We use boundary microphones to capture stage sounds, i.e. tapping, effects etc. We capture the facilities “sound system” directly to one of our cameras for the music and vocal microphones and leave the H6 to record the natural sounds of the stage and room. In the past we would run very long XLR cables back to our cameras, 100’s of feet worth counting all the mics. With this recorder we are now able to put more microphones on stage and not have to run those long XLR cables that take a lot of gaffer tape and time.Both microphone attachments that come with the H6 sound great. But I feel the MSH-6 MS mic is the best to me. It picks up exactly as you hear it naturally, the highs and the lows! It gives a natural Right Center and Left in one audio track. You can adjust this effect from narrow to wide, just astonishing! We produce 5.1 surround on all our projects - the H6 will allow us to do this more accurately and easier! You get separate audio tracks for 4 mics and 1 stereo track for the attachment mics, although, you can make 1 & 2 stereo and / or 3 & 4 stereo if you need.The H6 noise floor is very low, lower than our cameras built in XLR’s which surprised me. With the high bit rates, the H6 will record may be why. In the editing room is where I really feel good about this!One thing I wish I had known before I put it to professional use - if you put batteries in the H6 and plug in the power to an outlet and the plug gets unplugged by accident, the batteries take over instantly! During a play we shot as the actors were jumping off stage one hit the outlet and well the recorder stopped. Not a big issue as it was just before intermission and we shot the same play 4 times I could just use another show for that scene, but backup batteries would have been helpful. I just did not know it would do that. If the recorder gets unplugged while recording and you don’t have batteries installed you must use the file repair feature in the H6. I had to run the repair twice to get the file playable and downloadable but it worked! But backup batteries… wish I had known.Other good info to know:You can run either one XLR from the line out of the recorder to your camera, reason for this, easy sync! The H6 has a sine wave noise, (you have to turn this feature on in the menus) you know the blip sound. As you hit record on the H6 the camera will record that blip and in post you can simply line the blips up and perfect sync in seconds. Yea there are methods for automating sync I know I use them, but this is just quicker and easier. We run a line out to a mic pack transmitter and wirelessly transmit to a receiver on the primary camera to record this without a long XLR cable run, and it allows you to monitor the sound.. sort of, as well as getting that blip noise for sync. The headphone jack on the H6 will give you a true preview, the line out is really just for sync purposes, you get a monotone lower quality sound… you get it.Run time?Phantom power on all 4 tracks along with the MSH-6 MS mic while recording 48k 24 bit will drain alkaline batteries in about an hour. Our rechargeable batteries in 10 minutes. Use a power source for long recording needs, or just don’t run mics with phantom power??. They claim 20 hours of recording, maybe if you run just the attachment mic and at a low bit rate??? But my test in a real-world situation the way we require - 1 hour! But power outlets are never an issue for us. Stages always have an outlet within reach., just have batteries installed for backup if an accident happens.Setup?The menus are very easy to navigate. I figured it out in about 2 minutes. Easy to configure! Backup recording only backs up the attachment mics and this records a -12db track from where you have your mic set, very nice! Project folders = organized files for post!Build?Feels durable and fragile all at the same time. Meaning it feels like it could take a drop but my mind says no! Has a rubbery feel so can get a good grip on it. The H6 has a standard 1/4 “tripod thread on the bottom for connecting to a stand of your choice.
Images in this review
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 28, 2020
style: H6 (pre-2020 Model)Verified Purchase
The perfect handy recorder! This review is how we use it, how we love it and why. I am not a paid reviewer either. I just feel that this product is so fairly priced for what you get, I just got to share!
We shoot a lot of dance recitals and stage plays. We use boundary microphones to capture stage sounds, i.e. tapping, effects etc. We capture the facilities “sound system” directly to one of our cameras for the music and vocal microphones and leave the H6 to record the natural sounds of the stage and room. In the past we would run very long XLR cables back to our cameras, 100’s of feet worth counting all the mics. With this recorder we are now able to put more microphones on stage and not have to run those long XLR cables that take a lot of gaffer tape and time.
Both microphone attachments that come with the H6 sound great. But I feel the MSH-6 MS mic is the best to me. It picks up exactly as you hear it naturally, the highs and the lows! It gives a natural Right Center and Left in one audio track. You can adjust this effect from narrow to wide, just astonishing! We produce 5.1 surround on all our projects - the H6 will allow us to do this more accurately and easier! You get separate audio tracks for 4 mics and 1 stereo track for the attachment mics, although, you can make 1 & 2 stereo and / or 3 & 4 stereo if you need.
The H6 noise floor is very low, lower than our cameras built in XLR’s which surprised me. With the high bit rates, the H6 will record may be why. In the editing room is where I really feel good about this!
One thing I wish I had known before I put it to professional use - if you put batteries in the H6 and plug in the power to an outlet and the plug gets unplugged by accident, the batteries take over instantly! During a play we shot as the actors were jumping off stage one hit the outlet and well the recorder stopped. Not a big issue as it was just before intermission and we shot the same play 4 times I could just use another show for that scene, but backup batteries would have been helpful. I just did not know it would do that. If the recorder gets unplugged while recording and you don’t have batteries installed you must use the file repair feature in the H6. I had to run the repair twice to get the file playable and downloadable but it worked! But backup batteries… wish I had known.
Other good info to know:
You can run either one XLR from the line out of the recorder to your camera, reason for this, easy sync! The H6 has a sine wave noise, (you have to turn this feature on in the menus) you know the blip sound. As you hit record on the H6 the camera will record that blip and in post you can simply line the blips up and perfect sync in seconds. Yea there are methods for automating sync I know I use them, but this is just quicker and easier. We run a line out to a mic pack transmitter and wirelessly transmit to a receiver on the primary camera to record this without a long XLR cable run, and it allows you to monitor the sound.. sort of, as well as getting that blip noise for sync. The headphone jack on the H6 will give you a true preview, the line out is really just for sync purposes, you get a monotone lower quality sound… you get it.
Run time?
Phantom power on all 4 tracks along with the MSH-6 MS mic while recording 48k 24 bit will drain alkaline batteries in about an hour. Our rechargeable batteries in 10 minutes. Use a power source for long recording needs, or just don’t run mics with phantom power??. They claim 20 hours of recording, maybe if you run just the attachment mic and at a low bit rate??? But my test in a real-world situation the way we require - 1 hour! But power outlets are never an issue for us. Stages always have an outlet within reach., just have batteries installed for backup if an accident happens.
Setup?
The menus are very easy to navigate. I figured it out in about 2 minutes. Easy to configure! Backup recording only backs up the attachment mics and this records a -12db track from where you have your mic set, very nice! Project folders = organized files for post!
Build?
Feels durable and fragile all at the same time. Meaning it feels like it could take a drop but my mind says no! Has a rubbery feel so can get a good grip on it. The H6 has a standard 1/4 “tripod thread on the bottom for connecting to a stand of your choice.
We shoot a lot of dance recitals and stage plays. We use boundary microphones to capture stage sounds, i.e. tapping, effects etc. We capture the facilities “sound system” directly to one of our cameras for the music and vocal microphones and leave the H6 to record the natural sounds of the stage and room. In the past we would run very long XLR cables back to our cameras, 100’s of feet worth counting all the mics. With this recorder we are now able to put more microphones on stage and not have to run those long XLR cables that take a lot of gaffer tape and time.
Both microphone attachments that come with the H6 sound great. But I feel the MSH-6 MS mic is the best to me. It picks up exactly as you hear it naturally, the highs and the lows! It gives a natural Right Center and Left in one audio track. You can adjust this effect from narrow to wide, just astonishing! We produce 5.1 surround on all our projects - the H6 will allow us to do this more accurately and easier! You get separate audio tracks for 4 mics and 1 stereo track for the attachment mics, although, you can make 1 & 2 stereo and / or 3 & 4 stereo if you need.
The H6 noise floor is very low, lower than our cameras built in XLR’s which surprised me. With the high bit rates, the H6 will record may be why. In the editing room is where I really feel good about this!
One thing I wish I had known before I put it to professional use - if you put batteries in the H6 and plug in the power to an outlet and the plug gets unplugged by accident, the batteries take over instantly! During a play we shot as the actors were jumping off stage one hit the outlet and well the recorder stopped. Not a big issue as it was just before intermission and we shot the same play 4 times I could just use another show for that scene, but backup batteries would have been helpful. I just did not know it would do that. If the recorder gets unplugged while recording and you don’t have batteries installed you must use the file repair feature in the H6. I had to run the repair twice to get the file playable and downloadable but it worked! But backup batteries… wish I had known.
Other good info to know:
You can run either one XLR from the line out of the recorder to your camera, reason for this, easy sync! The H6 has a sine wave noise, (you have to turn this feature on in the menus) you know the blip sound. As you hit record on the H6 the camera will record that blip and in post you can simply line the blips up and perfect sync in seconds. Yea there are methods for automating sync I know I use them, but this is just quicker and easier. We run a line out to a mic pack transmitter and wirelessly transmit to a receiver on the primary camera to record this without a long XLR cable run, and it allows you to monitor the sound.. sort of, as well as getting that blip noise for sync. The headphone jack on the H6 will give you a true preview, the line out is really just for sync purposes, you get a monotone lower quality sound… you get it.
Run time?
Phantom power on all 4 tracks along with the MSH-6 MS mic while recording 48k 24 bit will drain alkaline batteries in about an hour. Our rechargeable batteries in 10 minutes. Use a power source for long recording needs, or just don’t run mics with phantom power??. They claim 20 hours of recording, maybe if you run just the attachment mic and at a low bit rate??? But my test in a real-world situation the way we require - 1 hour! But power outlets are never an issue for us. Stages always have an outlet within reach., just have batteries installed for backup if an accident happens.
Setup?
The menus are very easy to navigate. I figured it out in about 2 minutes. Easy to configure! Backup recording only backs up the attachment mics and this records a -12db track from where you have your mic set, very nice! Project folders = organized files for post!
Build?
Feels durable and fragile all at the same time. Meaning it feels like it could take a drop but my mind says no! Has a rubbery feel so can get a good grip on it. The H6 has a standard 1/4 “tripod thread on the bottom for connecting to a stand of your choice.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 16, 2023
style: H6 All Black (2020 Model)Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 8, 2020
style: H6 All Black (2020 Model)Verified Purchase
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
John
Recording Must have
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 5, 2019style: H6 (pre-2020 Model)Verified Purchase
stewart
Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 17, 2017style: H6 (pre-2020 Model)Verified Purchase
Samar Dhaliwal
Better if you could source it from abroad
Reviewed in India 🇮🇳 on August 2, 2017style: H6 (pre-2020 Model)Verified Purchase
Richard
Five Star Quality Superb Sound UPDATE! Unit crashed!
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on September 28, 2019style: H6 (pre-2020 Model)Verified Purchase
