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#1 Photo Products - Zoom H2 Handy Portable Stereo Recorder
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List Price: $334.99
Our Price: Too low to display
Your Save: $ ( % )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Zoom
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Electronics
Brand: Zoom
EAN: 0884354007478
Feature: W-XY mic patterns with 4 mic capsules and signal processing allows Front 90 cardioid, Rear 120 cardioid and 360 polar patterns
Is Autographed: 0
Is Memorabilia: 0
Label: Zoom
Manufacturer: Zoom
Model: ZOO H2
Publisher: Zoom
Special Features: The Zoom H2 Handy Recorder puts pro-quality audio literally in the palm of your hand! The followup to Zoom?s super-successful H4, the H2 Handy Recorder gives you an amazingly versatile tool for capturing top-notch 2-track audio. Its internal 4-mic capsule allows for several different polar patterns which, combined with its signal-processing capabilities, give the H2 the ability to record 4-channel data that can be authored into 5.1 surround! With a USB interface, external mic In, and time stamp
Studio: Zoom
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Features
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W-XY mic patterns with 4 mic capsules and signal processing allows Front 90 cardioid, Rear 120 cardioid and 360 polar patterns
Finally record 360 sound as 2ch data or 4ch data simultaneously
Built-in USB 2.0 port for data storage
Records in WAV 96kHz/48kHz/44.1kHz at 16-bit or 24-bit, MP3 to 320kbps and Variable Bit Rate (VBR) data formats
Time Stamp and Track Marker functions in Broadcast WAV Format (BWF)
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: Near Perfect Field/Practice/Live Music Recorder
Comment: I have been looking at field recorders for a few months. Shopping and reading reviews and trying to get a handle on (1) what was available, (2) what fit my needs, and (3) what fit my budget.
The first two, what is available and what are my needs -
There are a lot of recorders out there, and almost all could fit my needs - provide a recording of my band at practices and occasional live shows. I wanted nothing more than to get a "good" recording of an event to document the sound of the band at that time; record practices so I could edit the songs down and create CDs so practice could continue at home; record live performances, to make sure we were getting a good mix for our audience. All available recorders could deliver at least that much. It also had to be simple to use - ready to go, right out of the box. Tweaking could happen later, after I had a chance to get the basic operation nailed down. That seemed to eliminate some recorders - a lot of "steep learning curve" comments peppered online reviews.
Next, my budget -
I really didn't want to spend more than $200 for something that was nothing more than a practice tool. Almost all recorders start at $300 and go up from there. Then I stumbled upon the H2 - reading about it in a Sweetwater catalog. They were one of the few big name online music retailers that carried Zoom, and the H2. I thought it was too good to be true. For less than $200, a field recorder that seemed to be capable of better than "good" recordings, and easy to use out of the box.
NOTE - There is a great review, with examples, on the O'Reilly Digital Media site, written by Mark Nelson. Do a Google search for it (ZOOM H2 REVIEW O'REILLY"). Although the reviews here on Amazon were great, that was the review that sold me on the H2.
Price Paid -
Average price early November 2008 was about $180. Then I found a music retailer on eBay, selling them for $160 delivered. eBay threw in a 10% off coupon - I got mine for about $145. I would have rather gotten it from Amazon (great return policy) or Sweetwater (same on the returns, plus they extended the warranty to 2 years). But I threw caution to the wind and snapped up the eBay special. The manufacturer's warranty of 1 year should be enough.
In the box -
The H2 comes with everything I needed to get started - table stand, microphone stand adapter, 512MB SD card, USB cable, AC power adapter, headphones, and carry bag. I charged up 6 "AA" batteries (it takes two), and took it to band practice.
Using it -
It cannot possibly be easier to use. There are some negative comments about the START RECORDING process. It takes two pushes of the RECORD button to start recording - first one puts the unit into "MONITOR" so you can check recording levels, and the RECORD light flashes; the second push starts the recording and the RECORD light turns to a steady glow. Some believe that a single push should do the trick. While I do not totally disagree, the reasoning behind the two push method is sound - check levels before you start. I've learned to get use to it. Not a big problem. I wouldn't even call it a problem.
Menu diving is a little problematic - the screen is SMALL, and the text is SMALLER. Perhaps a younger man's eyes would have an easier time. I need glasses to see what I am doing.
Default recording quality is the highest quality WAV - I think I can record about 10 minutes on a 512MB card. I did two things - switched recording quality to 256 MP3, and swapped in a Kingston 2GB SD card. Before you spring for a bigger card, make sure you go out to the Zoom site and check the list of compatible SD cards. The list is long, and surprisingly enough, although the manual states a maximum of 2GB (or a 4GB SDHC), it can take up to a 32GB (!) SD card. I had the Kingston lying around, and it was on the list. I can now record hours on the H2.
NOTE - There are a number of problems reported using a non-compatible card - "clicks" and "pops" on the recording, sometimes the unit crashes. I've suffered none of these.
NOTE - you MUST record in WAV format in order to record in surround sound, ie - both front and rear mic pairs. This is fun to use in a live recording situation, and with a good pair of headphone (NOT the ones supplied) you can get a sense of surround sound on playback.
NOTE - Before you start, go to the Zoom web site and get the latest firmware update (mine was delivered with 1.30; 1.40 was available at the time of this review).
Playback/Editing -
Playback is simple - press the PLAY/PAUSE button. Make sure you plug in a pair of headphones. And, about those headphones ... I didn't think there could be worse sounding pair of headphones out there than the Apple supplied iPod buds. Well, here they are - they definitely fall into the "WHY BOTHER" bin.
Each time you stop a recording, the file is saved. Hitting record again will create a new file. You can only playback the current file. In order to play back other recordings, you have to menu dive.
Editing is also a snap. Use the supplied USB cord to plug it into your PC. Turn the H2 on. My Windows XP laptop immediately recognized the H2. When you first plug it in, the H2 asks (in very tiny text) "STORAGE" or "AUDIO IF". Select STORAGE. You can now open Windows Explorer, navigate to the H2, select your folder (by default FOLDER 01). Your recordings are there. Copy/Move them off the H2. I use Audacity to edit my recordings.
NOTE - Again, some complaints about deleting or playing back files on the unit. Well, in order to playback anything but the most recent recording, or to delete a recording, you have to Menu Dive. NOT RECOMMENDED! I have had no need to playback anything but the most recent recording (to check sound quality and operation), and I have only deleted a file from the unit once, only to prove it can be done. Playback is better done, for me, on a PC with a decent set of speakers; I would rather move the files from the H2 to a PC, or copy, check and make sure the copies are good, and then format the card. I bring a spare card in case I am on the road and run out of room (hasn't happened yet).
Sound Quality -
DISCLOSURE - I am NOT an audiophile, nor a sound engineer. I am a full-time systems analyst, a part-time musician and a full-on gadget geek.
I have set the file quality to 256MB MP3 (a step below full 320 quality, and a couple steps up from 128 "CD" quality). Everything else is set to default. The recordings, to my ear, sound VERY GOOD, almost GREAT. I do not judge quality using the supplied headphones. I either use a pair of Sennheiser PX-100s to do quiet, laptop editing, or a Logitech X230 speaker system to listen. These are hardly top-shelf, but a nice pair of headphones and 2.1 speakers. The recordings exhibit a nice stereo separation; outstanding considering the microphones are enclosed in a 3 inch wide enclosure, pointing at either a 90 or 120 degree separation. I typically use the front 90 degree mics. I couldn't ask for, nor at this price, expect more from the H2.
Other Functions -
I have not used any of the other functions - metronome, tuner, file editing, etc ... But amazingly, at less than $200 ($180!) they are there!
Unit Quality -
OK - this is where it gets sticky. There are A LOT of complaints about the quality of the unit, specifically the case. The case is made of a light, seemingly cheap plastic. The unit, without batteries, is VERY LIGHT and CHEAP FEELING. But, to me, if Zoom made a design decision to ease up on the case quality in order to deliver more functions and a better sound, I say it's a fair compromise. At this price point, I can't imagine Zoom being able to do both. I handle the unit carefully, using a quality mic stand to hold it, and packing it away in a small foam lined case, with all the accessories, when done. The headphones are, in a word, junk. Everything else is very good to great quality.
Overall -
So, I've found a field recorder that does everything I needed it to do (record my band practice and live performances), quickly and easily (I can't imagine it could be easier, except to increase the size of the screen), and within my budget (less than $200).
Overall, my rating is a solid 4, maybe 4 ½ (if Amazon would let you!).
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Recorder
Comment: The Zoom H2 is a dream come true. I've recorded several live shows with it as well as some in-home recording. THe quality is unbelievable. Definitely demo worthy. I even recorded one loud rock & roll show where I could barely make out the vocals. The Zoom recorded everything clearly. I could hear the vocals better on the Zoom than at the show!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Compact Digital All-in-one Recorder
Comment: I play in a community band numbering over seventy musicians. I also am the band's recording technician. Since I have to be in the band playing my trumpet while making the recordings, I am always looking for a way to make the reecording process easier and better. Fool-proof is good. I have had recordings stop mid-way through a performance for a variety of reasons, none of which are pleasing to my colleagues in the band, nor to me. I have had devices that could not take the output of a group as big (i.e., LOUD) as ours. Setting up multiple microphones and wiring the system is a pain. So I ordered the Zoom H2, which appeared to be compact, simple, capable, and high-fidelity. It is all those things--with limitations. One needs to be careful. It will work just great on NiMH batteries until they ... just ... STOP ... dead! There is no warning. So if you want to be sure you have enough power, make sure your batteries are fully-charged each time you use the H2, or use fresh alkalines (and set it for them) each time you use it. Do not use the "touch" method of controlling it in a critical situation. You are better off to just let it keep recording than to try to pause it during breaks between numbers unless you can see it, as the pause button and the "record/stop" button are directly adjacent to one-another (can you hear the voice of experience here?). And do not expect that a one-piece, all-in-one microphone/recorder is going to do the job that a pair of good XLR microphones on a boom with a high-quality DAT or flash-memory recorder like a Marantz 660 can do. The H2 is surprisingly good for its price, but it is not "professional grade." I will use it to record rehearsals and as back-up for my main recording system. There are many uses this device can have, and it is remarkably capable. Just don't expect too much from it, because if you do you will be disappointed.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Works for Me!
Comment: The Zoom H2 recorder is a great little digital recorder and can produce near CD quality recordings. I've had it about 6 months. I record my acoustic trio (piano, bass, and drums) and the same rhythm section with three horns. I record all rehearsals is a tight fitting room with some acoustic damping. I'm moving up from a Sony MZ-N707 Walkman digital recorder that uses mini-discs. (I've got way too many discs laying around!) I record using a digital Sony ECM-MS957 stereo condenser mic. (I don't know about the H2 internal mics. That's asking too much in a small unit!) I do post-ops in Sound Forge with simple normalization, a taste of high-end EQ, and a touch of reverb. (The H2 will do normalization, but I haven't tried it.) I record at very low volume and have experienced no peaking or blur.
It's a real advantage to record to the digital memory chip and download digitally via USB to my PC. No more digital-analog-digital mess. The most striking thing about the sound in how great the piano sounds and overall balance. I'd always struggled with a weak, bodiless keyboard sound and now have a rich, full sound with good dynamics. Amazing for a recorder of this size! Cymbals have some ring, the drums a real presence, and the bass has nice body. I like the folders for organization. I haven't figured out how to put in useful track marks. I record WAV files at 48kHz/24 bit (about 4 hours recording time with 4 GB disc) and its way better than the 1kHz default setting. The buttons and menus are much nicer than that Sony mini-disc clutter. The switches work well and, unlike some others, I like the record mode stand-by before recording. Unfortunately you have to go out of record mode to get in and out of stand-by. For simplicity, recording quality, portability, and price, this is a steal.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Amazing quality in portable form-factor!
Comment: The fellow who does corporate video and audio at work purchased an H2 recently. We have been using it instead of the bulky gear that he was using (this unit is about the size of normal microphone.) He highly recommended it.
My wife and I purchased one for some audio projects we are working on. We are astounded with the sound quality! To my ear, it sounds like the sort of quality we have gotten when renting studio time -- and we own if for the cost of a few hours!
If you are looking for a high-quality, portable recording unit this is an excellent choice.
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Editorial Reviews:
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It's a simple idea: provide brilliant stereo recording in an easy-to-use, ultra-portable device. The H2 is the only portable recorder with 3 mic capsules onboard for mid-side recording. A directional mic is in the center (mid) and two directional mics (side) are positioned left and right. The audio is decoded instantly, bringing these three signals together for unparalleled stereo imaging. One button recording, gain controls on the side and an intuitive user interface mean you can always capture the moment. Set your levels, push record and go. The H2 records on Secure Digital (SD) media and a 512MB SD card is included. With a 4GB SD memory card, the H2 provides up to 2 hours recording at 96kHz, 6 hours at 44.1kHz, or up to a staggering 138 hours in MP3. Play your recordings on your home audio system with its 1/8" stereo output or listen to your masterpiece with headphones. Or, use the H2's USB interface to move your recordings to your Mac or PC to listen, edit and share. 512MB SD memory card included; Accommodates up to 4GB SD optional memory cards Auto Gain Control (AGC) for pristine recordings Auto Start function means you're always ready to record Low-cut filter eliminates wind noise On-board chromatic Guitar/Bass tuner Two standard alkaline AA batteries will give you 4 hours of continuous operation and a backlit display means it's always easy to use in any situation Pocketable - Weighs only 4 ounces
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