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Zoom H2 Handy Portable Stereo Recorder Description:

The Zoom H2 is a must-have for anybody doing podcasting to almost any type of mobile recording situation.Anaffordable2-track recorder using a 4-mic capsule configuration and digital signal processing, the H2 allows a variety of polar patterns and even supports 5.1 surround sound. Record at 96kHz, 48kHz, 44.1kHz or MP3. Archive files to your computer using the USB port. Use as a USB mic to record your guitar or vocals directly to computer. ATime stampfeature facilitates production. The H2 has an approximate 4-hour running time on 2 AA alkaline batteries. It includes earbuds, stereo adapter cable, mic clip adapter, tripod stand, USB cable, AC adapter and a 512MB SD card. Now the Zoom H2 can accept up to a 16 GB SD cards with the latest firmware installed. Have an older version? Update easily and for free at Zoom’s website, www.zoom.co.jp.Click here for listing of compatible SD cards!Who Needs the H2 Handy Recorder from Zoom? Everyone who craves brilliant stereo recordings.It’s a simple idea: provide brilliant stereo recording in an easy-to-use, ultra-portable device. Now everyone can record pristine audio in an infinite variety of applications. From seminars and conferences, to electronic news gathering (ENG) and podcasting, to musical performances, songwriting sessions and rehearsals, the H2 provides amazing recording quality. And no matter what kind of music you perform or the instrument you play, the H2 can effortlessly record it in high-quality stereo.Zoom H2 FeaturesW-XY mic patterns with 4 mic capsules and signal processing allows Front 90° cardioid, Rear 120° cardioid and 360° polar patternsFinally record 360° sound as 2ch data or 4ch data simultaneouslyBuilt-in USB 2.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2 in Musical Instruments
• Brand: Zoom
• Model: ZOO H2
• Dimensions: 2.50″ h x 1.26″ w x 4.33″ l, .24 pounds

Features

• 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)

Customer Reviews:

As good as the Edirol R-09 for about half the price!
A year ago, I wrote a lengthy comparison of the Edirol R-09 WAVE/MP3 Recorder, Black and the Zoom H4 Handy Recorder + 2GB Accessory Kit (pre-accessory kit). I wanted a high quality, easy to use recorder, so even though the H4 had all of the features of the Edirol and sold for considerably less, I kept the Edirol because it was so much easier to use.

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.

Much better and easier to operate than the Zoom H4
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.

H2: Great little recorder
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.

From the Manufacturer
It’s a simple idea: provide brilliant stereo recording in an easy-to-use, ultra-portable device. Now everyone can record pristine audio in an infinite variety of applications. From seminars and conferences, to electronic news gathering (ENG) and podcasting, to musical performances, songwriting sessions and rehearsals, the H2 provides amazing recording quality. And no matter what kind of music you perform or the instrument you play, the H2 can effortlessly record it in high-quality stereo.

Why Four Mics are Better Than Two

90° Pattern Record from the front at 90°

120° Pattern Record from the front at 120°

The H2 is the only portable recorder with 4 mic capsules on-board for 360° recording. With 4 mic capsules in a W-X/Y configuration, the audio is decoded instantly, bringing these four signals together for unparalleled stereo imaging.

But the H2 doesn’t stop there. For maximum flexibility, you can record from the front of the H2 in a 90° pickup pattern or the rear of the H2 in a 120° pickup pattern at up to 96 kHz/24-bit resolution as a WAV file, or as an MP3 file at bitrates up to 320 kbps. Additionally, you can record in a 360° pickup pattern at up to 48kHz/24-bit resolution which will allow you to convert your recordings to 5.1 Surround.

Push a Button…
That’s all it takes to start recording! The H2 is a remarkably robust device that is incredibly easy to use. 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. It’s that simple. Or use the Auto Start and Auto Gain Control functions to ensure complete capture at the right level. And if you need to fine-tune your levels on the fly, we made it easy with gain control buttons on the front panel.

Play it Back!
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.

The H2 records on Secure Digital (SD) media and a 512MB SD card is included. The unit can accommodate up to a 16GB SD card, allowing up to 24 hours of total recording time using the 16-bit/44.1kHz WAV format. At 128kbps MP3, you get an amazing 280 hours of stereo recording. Store your recordings on a PC or Mac with its USB 2.0 interface. And you can use its time stamping function for reference during production. Or use the H2 as a USB Mic for recording directly to a computer.

What’s Life Without Accessories?
The H2 comes with earbuds, 1/8 inch stereo to RCA cable, mic clip adapter, tripod stand, USB cable, AC adapter and a 512MB SD card.

Ultimate Convenience
The H2 weighs 4 ounces and fits in your pocket for the ultimate in portability and convenience. 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.

Enjoy Your Brilliance
Brilliant stereo recording in a convenient, user-friendly package means there’s never been an easier way to record high quality audio. The H2 gives everyone the power to record anything and share it with anyone, anywhere. You’ll be amazed by your sound.

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 SD 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

H2 Handy Recorder Features at a Glance

The H2 Handy Recorder brings the ultimate in functionality and versatility to portable digital recording. A clear, backlit display features recording levels, time code, file name and remaining battery life. LEDs indicate Front, Rear, 2 Channel or 4 Channel modes and the recording angle: 90°, 120° or 360°. An Active Mic LED is on the front and back of the H2. Transport controls include one button recording, playback and pause, fast forward and rewind. Use the Menu key to enter the control menu and the cursor keys to navigate through the feature sets.

Within the menu, set recording parameters such as direction and polar pattern, activate the Auto Start function and set file format. And you’ll find additional settings like Auto Gain Control to make sure your recordings are always pristine. And you can fine-tune your levels on the fly with the Record Level buttons on the front.

On the left side of the H2 is a 1/8″ Phone/Line Output for monitoring and playback. Playback Volume, Power On and the AC power are located here as well.

On the right side of the H2, you can plug in a powered 1/8″ external stereo mic. Setting levels is easy with a Mic Gain slider for Low/Medium/High gain. You can also digitize analog recordings with the 1/8″ Line In.

Use the USB 2.0 Interface to move your files to a PC or Mac for storage, editing and playback. The time stamp function is great for reference during production. And you can even use the H2 as a USB mic and record directly to your favorite digital audio software.

For brilliant stereo recording, and plenty of extras, there’s never been a simpler or more functional solution than the H2 Handy Recorder from Zoom.

Please note: The Zoom H2 will not mount as a USB Drive on MAC OS X 10.5.0 Leopard unless you update to H2 Firmware version 1.2 or higher.

Choose the Right Polar Pattern for the Best Recording in any Situation

Choose the Right Polar Pattern for the Best Recording in any Situation
90° Pattern Record from the front at 90°	120° Pattern Record from the front at 120°

Record your band rehearsals in 360° brilliant stereo.

90° Pattern Record from the front at 90°