- 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)
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.
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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!
Read Best Reviews of Zoom H2 Handy Portable Stereo Recorder Here
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.
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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.
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!
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