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Zoom H2 Handy Portable Stereo Recorder | 
| Brand: Zoom
Category: Musical Instruments
Buy New: See price in cart
New (46) Used (2) Refurbished (2) from $157.00
Rating:  222 reviews
Sales Rank: 2
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 10.5 x 6.5 x 3.6
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
MPN: H2
Model: ZOO H2
UPC: 884354007478
EAN: 0884354007478
ASIN: B000VBH2IG
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| 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) |
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| Accessories:
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
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
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
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90 Pattern
Record from the front at 90 | 
120 Pattern
Record from the front at 120 | Record your band rehearsals in 360 brilliant stereo.
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90 Pattern
Record from the front at 90 |
| Customer Reviews: Read 217 more reviews...
 Zoom H2 December 2, 2008
I have used this recorder for our church choir and for my own solo singing with guitar. It produces high quality recordings with very little effort. It provides several options for stereo and surround sound recording. If you have recorded originally in 4 channel surround sound, you can easily convert that to stereo. The front and rear microphones give options for recording everything from a single singer with a guitar to an entire band. If you want to hear samples of recording, check out myspace.com/paulmcfarland
I believe every song except for Treadmill was recorded on the H2.
 Near Perfect Field/Practice/Live Music Recorder December 1, 2008
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 (if Amazon would let you!).
Great Recorder December 1, 2008
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!
Compact Digital All-in-one Recorder November 30, 2008
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.
Works for Me! November 29, 2008
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.
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