Zoom H2
Ordered myself one of these puppies - mostly for recording services at church. It’s crawling its way to me through the postal system now.
Anyone have any experience with these units? The product reviews were universally favourable.
Cool! I think I looked at a previous version of this device with 2 mic’s, or perhaps it was another model completely.
Mike,
I think that would be the H4 (strange naming convention - the H4 has 2 mics, the H2 has 4 mics. The H4 preceded the H2 - strange).
Reviews on the H4 weren’t as favourable: it included all sorts of effects that you really don’t want in your capture device - far better to add them later in your DAW, if desired.
Not that I’ll make use of it but apparently someone has actually worked out how to use the H2 to do real surround sound.
Let us know what you think Bill. I have had the H4 since it came out last year and I love it and use it all the time. I have been toying with getting my wife an H2 so that she can record her rehearsals anytime she wants (she is a conductor and soloist). I also love that H2 recordings can be turned into 5.1 format audio recordings (could be interesting when filming or recording concerts in the round…etc). Plus, they are as cheap as dirt (actually, the last time I bought dirt, it cost me much more than an H2).
So give it a spin and let us know how you feel about it.
Mike
Quote: (DrGuitar @ Nov. 14 2007, 8:55 AM)
Plus, they are as cheap as dirt (actually, the last time I bought dirt, it cost me much more than an H2).
Yeah - I'm taking advantage of the current (highly-inflated) state of the Canadian Dollar to order things from the U.S. - makes the cheap even cheaper!
Hi Gents:
This is a fascinating piece of hardware… I browsed the links looking for a place that sells them…
How are you ordering your unit Bill?
Through a US Retailer?
Or somewhere up here?
What does the H2 run for price?
Three or four of them strategically placed in a room would be interesting to try if the SD Cards can be sync’d up…
With Broadcast Wave Format … ? I would think that is a NO-Issue…
I can see them being used for
what I call “Ghost Tracking”…
Bill…
I ordered mine through amazon.com (NOT amazon.ca) but it is actually coming from one of their associate merchants - electronicadirect. With delivery it worked out to $234 Canadian which I figured was a good deal since a local music shop told me they could get it in for me for $299 Canadian (to which I would have to add 6% GST and 8% PST).
O’Reilly Digital Media have a very extensive review of the unit - Here.
Quote: (BillClarke @ Nov. 14 2007, 7:38 AM)
I think that would be the H4 (strange naming convention - the H4 has 2 mics, the H2 has 4 mics. The H4 preceded the H2 - strange).
Reviews on the H4 weren't as favourable: it included all sorts of effects that you really don't want in your capture device - far better to add them later in your DAW, if desired.
The H4 (Handycorder 4) is a 4 track machine that can also be used to record 2 track. I believe the H2 does 2 tracks only. As far as the effects goes, I rarely use anything but the limiter during 2 track recording. It seems to work quite well when recording live concerts with abrupt loud sections.
I believe that much of the bad press on the H4 was due to the complexity of the unit. The H2 is a much simpler unit and in turn easier to use.
Mike
Hi Again:
Thanks for that reply.
The more I browse and ponder the more fascinating this unit becomes.
Features abound on this thing.
I haven’t seen any specs on it yet…
The converters seem to be built right into this thing…
I’ll follow up on that last link you posted…
This thing is interesting…
to say the least…
Bill…
I’m Back Again:
I followed that last link you posted…
Now…
I’m no technical freak but I don’t seem to be able to find any spec. page to browse…
Has anyone seen anything like that anywhere 
?
Bill…
Oh, sweet GAS… - I want one too! 
BTW, it can record 4 tracks simultaneously - but only using the four(!) built-in mics. Recording a line-in feed along with a stereo signal from one pair of mics is not possible.
If you want to RTFM before forking out cash for this unit, then look http://www.zoom.co.jp/archive/English_Manual/E_H2.pdf.
regards, Nils
I just ordered a new monitor on Amazon.com.
Several times now I’ve looked around for things and Amazon has the “best” price.
I wish I’d had an H2 (or an H4) when I was playing in my old band.
Let us know how it works.
I’m back here again:
I’m somewhat skeptical, by nature.
The more I look at this thing the more I can say that this product/mic, recorder… whatever, makes this thing one of the better pieces of audio hardware ideas/bundles, to come along in some time…
I’ll follow your link Nils, to see what’s in there…
I browsed the forum and read some of the reviews, as well…
I think there should be 1-or-2 of these things available in every tracking studio… I’d sure like to be tracking, again…
Thanks again Bill Clarke, for posting this topic…
Bill…
[EDIT]
I am unable to get your link to open… Nils… But I know where the manual download link, is…
You know me…
Again:
I found the spec. text…
[quote]
sorry…
Gents…
I had to do that…
H2 SPECIFICATIONS
â—Simultaneous Recording Tracks:[Stereo mode] 2, [4ch mode] 4 â—Simultaneous Playback Tracks:[Stereo mode] 2, [4ch mode] 4 â—Locator:Hours/Minutes/Seconds â—File Editing functions:Time Stamp check, Rename, Delete, Size check, Divide, Normalize â—Other functions:MP3 post-encode, A-B repeat, Lo-cut filter, AGC/compressor/limiter, Marker â—Tuner:Chromatic, Guitar, Bass, Open A/D/E/G, DADGAD â—Metronome:5 Sounds(Beat 0/4-8/4, 6/8, Tempo 40.0-250.0BPM) â—A/D Conversion:24bit, 128 times over-sampling â—D/A Conversion:24bit, 128 times over-sampling â—Signal Processing:32bit â—Recording Media:SD memory card(16MB-2GB), SDHC memory card(4GB-8GB) â—Recording Format:[Stereo mode] WAV(Quantization:16/24bit, Sampling frequency:44.1/48/96kHz), MP3(Bitrate:48/56/64/80/96/112/128/160/192/224/256/320kbps/VBR, Sampling frequency:44.1kHz), [4ch mode] WAV(Quantization:16/24bit, Sampling frequency:44.1/48kHz) â—Playback Format:[Stereo mode] WAV(Quantization:16/24bit, Sampling frequency:44.1/48/96kHz), MP3(Bitrate:32/40/48/56/64/80/96/112/128/160/192/224/256/320kbps/VBR, Sampling frequency:44.1/48kHz), [4ch mode] WAV(Quantization:16/24bit, Sampling frequency:44.1/48kHz) â—Display:128x64 pixel, back-lit LCD â—Inputs:[LINE IN] 1/8" stereo phone jack(Input impedance:10kΩ, Input level:-10dBm), [EXT MIC IN] 1/8" stereo phone jack(Plug-in powered:2.5V, Input impedance:20kΩ, Input level:-20/-30/-40dBm), [Built-in stereo mic] W-XY stereo microphone(MIC GAIN:+1.5/+17/+27dB) â—Output:[PHONES/LINE OUT] 1/8" stereo phone jack([LINE] Output load impedance:10kΩ or more, Rated output level:-10dBm / [PHONES] 15mW+15mW, into 32Ω load) â—USB Interface:Mini-B type(USB2.0 Full-Speed compatible), Mass Storage Class operation / Audio Interface operation(16bit, 44.1/48kHz) â—Power Requirements:AA size(LR6) battery x2, or Supplied AC adaptor AD-0006(DC9V/300mA/center minus type) â— Battery Life(with alkaline batteries):4 hours recording, 4.5 hours playback â—Dimensions:63.5(W)x110(D)x32(H)mm â—Weight(without batteries):110g â—Supplied Accessories:SD memory card(512MB), Desktop stand, Mic clip adaptor, Wind screen, Earbuds, USB cable, Stereo Y cable, AC adaptor(AD-0006)
*0dBm=0.775Vrms
Can anyone think of some constraints/limitations that might hinder these mics from directly interfacing into n-Track or any other multi-track editor for that matter ?
Bill…
[EDIT]
Where is Doc J and Learjeff? and there Take, on this thing ?
Well…
Well:
I placed the order with Sweetwater in Fort Wayne, Ind…
$199.97 + $20.00 shipping…
I’m outside the USA…
otherwise free shipping…
He’s saying it’s shipping today…
I should have it sometime next week…
FedeX, to here…
I have a 1 gig. SD Card…
but I should have placed an order for some 4-or-8 gig. cards on the order… and some Nickel Metal Hydride AAA Cells…
It requires two…
Is that impluse buying…
Or
What ?
I’ll have to for-go the heating fuel till next Payday…
Bill…
Wow, Bill - that beats my deal all to heck.
I wouldn’t bother with a memory card larger than 2 Gig - there’s a 2 Gig file size limit anyway so just swap the card out when full. I picked up a two-pack of 2 Gig PNY cards at Best Buy for $39.99 plus tax - they aren’t the newer faster cards but that will only matter when uploading from the card to the PC. The transfer speed within the unit itself isn’t USB2 high speed (480 MB/S) anyway. You’ll want to have one or two cards just for this unit since it has to format them to its specific file structure; it isn’t really practical to swap cards between this unit and your digital camera (for instance). Maybe keep the 512 MB card that comes with the unit for your other uses.
And it comes with an AC Adapter to use until you find a good deal on rechargeables.
A few notes I’ve made in my research on this unit:
Analog recording level control (The switch on the side marked H M L - High, Medium, Low) - Tests have shown that there is no audible difference between the H and M settings, if you raise the level of a low-level recording you made using the M setting by 10dB in the PC later on. Noise levels are identical. The H setting risks overloading and distortion in the analog preamp. Therefore, you should only ever use the M and L settings to record from the built in mics - forget about H. However, the L setting introduces about 6dB more noise than the M setting and should only be used if you are convinced that overload will occur with the M setting.
Digital recording level control (0 - 127) should always be set to 100.
Noise levels when using external mics have been found by most users to be higher than expected.
The USB port on the H2 is USB2 but “full speed” - slow! - rather than “high speed”. You will get a quicker transfer by removing the memory card from the H2 and putting it into a USB2 high-speed card reader instead.
The Line Input impedance is approximately 14K ohms. The inputs saturate at a voltage of about 0.57 V RMS, or -2.7dBu, -2.7dBm, -5dBV
Hi Bill Clarke:
Thanks for the reply.
I never considered myself an impulse buyer… However, I’m snickering at myself for how easy I parted with my loonies this morning…
I had in mind that if I go online I’d find a place that sold them…
Easier said than done…
It seemed that none of the links pointed me to a place that sold them…
So, I went to Sweetwater cause I’m on their mailing list…
Sure enough they were shown there…
$299.00 …
but till tomorrow
$199.97…
Free shipping
to US addresses…
However, I was unable to buy while on-line…
I had to make a call…
They knew who I was on the other end…
but I needed a sales person…
I am unable to tell you how much…
The VISA makes the conversion…
I’ll see when they post the purchase…
Maybe on Monday…
??
The shipping outside the USA (to me) is $20.00
It’s good I didn’t make a Flash-card purchase…
However, I was sure I saw a review that said 8 gig cards would work…
Anyway, It said that Rev. 2 cards are necessary… I think that’s what I saw.
It says that USB Connection to computers will power it as well…
That may be the route I’ll take…
We’ll see…
how much noise the DAW creates…
No Flash Card…
no power supplies…
Well…
Who knows ?
I hear you regarding the File/Format of the Flash Card for the unit…
Anyway, even the Sweetwater reviews are talking them up… I didn’t take the time to make a study of them, though…
It appears that each user has his specific use for them…
AND…
that is a good sign…
At first glance, I think they’ll integrate well with n-Track…
We’ll see…
Bill…
I don’t think it’ll have any trouble integrating into n-track. And, you’re right, the unit can handle 8 Gig Cards but I figure since the maximum filesize is 2 Gigs I might as well stick to that size and swap 'em as needed. Using a larger card and left running the unit will apparently just start a new file when it reaches 2 Gig but it also apparently takes about 20 seconds for it to do that, I can swap cards a lot faster than 20 Seconds. Not that I expect to need to very often - at 44,100 16 bit stereo .wav a 2 Gig file is about 180 minutes - at the outside I might need 90 minutes.
I’ll let you know how or if the PNY cards work once I get my hands on my H2. I can’t wait; I feel like a kid at Xmas.