H2 Zoom Review

Posted on 13. Jul, 2010 by Raquel in Review, Technology, Zoom H2

Zoom H2

The H2 & H4 Zoom (H4N ($299), H1 ($99),  Q3 ($249) are new) have been around for ages, but after using my MD player since the late 90s, I finally broke down and bought one. My main intention/reason for buying one was to use in my trumpet lessons with students and to record my band and trumpet ensemble rehearsals, etc. It is an attractive tool for any music educator and/or performer.

The H2 Zoom ($124.78) is smaller and cheaper than the H4 ($299). It is basically a digital field recorder using 4 encapsulated microphones. It is also by no means the only (or the best) recorder, but because of its price and ease of use I think it is a great choice for student to professional use. Here is a great list of other digital recorders: Click here

Here’s a robust list of the H2’s features:

• W-XY mic patterns with 4 mic capsules and signal processing allows Front 90° cardioid, Rear 120° cardioid and 360° polar patterns
• Built-in USB 2.0 interface
• 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)
• 512MB SD memory card included
• Accommodates up to 16GB SDHC 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
• Adjustable metronome with pre record count in
• Wind screen, mic clip adapter, desk mount, AC wall plug, earbuds, USB cable, and stereo Y cable included

I thought the recorder had a flimsy feel, it felt like it was made from cheap materials. It is roughly 4.25″ H x 2.5″W x 1.2″ D. The H2 button layout is clear and straightforward. I am not a fan of the feel of the buttons, but although they are a bit squishy, they still seem to be responsive. Only time will tell how the buttons will keep. The H2 has a small backlit 128×64 LCD screen that displays the current settings, options, and modes. The screen could be a tad bigger considering all that it displays and all that you will be doing with it.

The Zoom H2 comes with lots of very handy accessories:

• a pouch that actually fits the device
• a pair of earbuds
• a 512 mb secured digital media card
• a USB cable
• a 1/8 minijack to stereo RCA interconnect cable
• a windscreen
• a desktop stand
• a mic stand adapter
• an AC adapter
• an owner’s manual

H2 Zoom goodies

Ease of Use

If you are familiar with the typical file/menu computer interface and have used a recording device before, the Zoom H2 is easy to use. I felt it was similar to my minidisk recorder. I did read the 1-page “Zoom H2 Simple Recording Guide” instead of the 91 page manual. I felt it covered the basics and I was able to get started pretty quickly. Honestly, despite the enormous amount of things the H2 can do, I feel I will only use the basic functions.

Recording

The sound reproduction on the H2 is simply amazing.  The H2 also runs on two AA batteries that promise 4 hours of continuous recording time.  When available the H2 can also be powered by an AC wall plug.  The Zoom H2′s most unique feature is its ability to record in 4 different mic patterns.  In addition to its four mics, there is an external stereo mic input (using this disables the built-in mics), and a line in for devices with line-level output like a CD player. Output options are both USB and line out to headphones or other monitoring options.

The mic choices are:

• Front 90° (sounds within a 90-degree angle of the front of the unit are recorded in stereo);
• Surround 2-channel (sounds at the front and rear of the unit are recorded in 2 channels);
• Surround 4-channel (stereo sounds from the front and rear of the unit are recorded in 4 channels); and
• Rear 120° (sounds within a 120-degree angle of the rear of the unit are recorded in stereo).

Storage and Connectivity

The Zoom H2 has a mini USB port and 1/8 mini jacks for headphones/line out, external mic in, and line in. The H2 can be plugged into your computer’s USB port and serve as both mountable storage for file transfer and as a two-channel audio interface – functioning as a USB mic! Just plug in the USB cable and select either “Storage” or “Audio I/F”. It can record in either WAV or MP3 files. WAV resolution is from 44.1kHz/16 bit to 96kHz/24 bit. MP3s can be from 48k to 320kbps or variable bit rate. The maximum file size is limited to 2GB. With a slot in the bottom of the unit, *the H2 can accommodate up to a 32GB SDHC card, allowing up to 50 hours of total recording time using the 16bit/44.1kHz WAV format. At 128kbps MP3, you get an amazing 555 hours of stereo recording.(*according to Zoom product page).

Extra Features

The H2 has a couple of benefits for players: a five-sound metronome with pre-count, adjustable from 40-250 BPM, as well as a built-in chromatic, guitar, and bass tuner. The built-in tuner allows you to quickly check the pitch of a vocalist or tune an instrument. The onboard metronome can also serve as a click-track during recording.

Conclusion

The Zoom H2 truly is a handy and easy-to-use device that makes great recordings. It is a great bargain with its near studio mic quality, vast amounts of features and options (also a con), and its lightweight portability aspects. Despite the cheap toy quality of the casing materials, small screen interface, and plethora of options that can be daunting to a novice,  I give it 5 out of 5 stars!