Zoom H4 Handy Recorder Review: September 2009

Many uses of the Zoom H4 portable stereo recorder

Zoom H4 Recorder Tools

Here are reviews from actual users about the Zoom H4 Digital Recorder.If you are looking for a portable audio recorder the Zoom H4 is a choice for cheap price and good quality.Try to read articles from people who used it appropriate to use or just to your satisfaction as.Or you already have the Zoom H4 and what you want to tell,we invitation. Thank Blogger for space to write the articles. I think some words are always up for some people.

Zoom H4 Description: Weighing 6.7 ounces | 320 Kbps Two Combination XLR-1/4" Inputs | recorded as WAV or MP3 | USB Connection | 24-bit/96 kHz linear PCM format and MP3 | 128MB SD card Up to 380 minutes/2GB SD memory card Up to 34 hours | 380 minutes of recording in 16-bit mode (CD Quality), and 34 hours in MP3 stereo mode | bundled with Cubase LE - 48-track Digital Audio Workstation software Up to four hours of continuous recording operation from 2 AA batteries

Zoom H4 Handy Recorder

Zoom4 Zooming into Music

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

After waiting two weeks if finally arrived. Most other reviews were pretty accurate. The screen is way too small and hard to read. Sound quality is very good even at the lowest (MP3) level. The case seems a ltttle chicny but ask me in a year how it old up. It has many features I have not yet tried. For an extra C Note maybe the Edirol is a better product. The down side of buying off of the net is not being able to try item out. For now I am satisfied with the Zoom.

The Zoom4 recorder makes magnificent recordings and is a marvelous device. I found learning how to use it efficiently to be rather challenging and the learning curve is rather difficult (as with many new electronics these days). However, once the operating concept is grasped, recording becomes fairly routine, and uploading it to your computer is a snap. I heartily recommend this product!

Highly capable and convenient recorder, somewhat odd interface

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

This the second time I bought this recorder, so I like it well enough (the first been stolen). I do!

the sound capacity and versatility I find it to be in first class. That said, the oddnesses which owns are in his user interface (rather small screen, and a non-intuitive joystick control as a double button and jog wheel combo) and its user manual, which has a lot of references to other sections in each section that you are reading. It's easier if these were clickable hyperlinks, like on a web page, but there clicking on a newspaper .... Manual

Zoom H4 Just what I needed

Monday, September 28, 2009

I was looking for a device that
1) allows me to record a wide range of sounds of high quality and seamless continuity upload them to my computer and
2) serves as the audio interface to Skype, etc to take the burden from my deteriorating internal microphone (what time audible collecting my fans of the computer).

A friend recommended the Zoom H4 Handy Recorder, and I could not be more happy. The interface intuitive, the quality great, and it provides a huge number of options.

Although the display small and a bit behind the times still readable (and backlit). I also ended up spending an extra $10 on a small tripod I was able to mount the recorder next to my computer when I use it as an interface.

Recording and editing simple and fast

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Use the Zoom H4 professional (video production) recordings of off interviews and statements. The operation is simple and easy to properly. There are 4 or recording formats. -quality voice always quick mp3. The audio files can be quickly copy it to your PC, and There can be further processed immediately. The built-in mics are good but thanks XLR and phantom power External condenser mics can also be used. The H4 use has a bit fragile, a fall on a concrete floor it unlikely.

ZOOM H4 Handy Digital Recorder in used

The operation of H4 requires a lot of button presses - competitors as the unit Edirol R-09 Flash Recorder. For example, to connect an Edirol R-09 USB port of a computer, simply connect the USB cable. With the H4, also needed to go to the menu, jog up to USB Press the jog, trot up to Connected to the PC and press the jog. To be fair, the H4 should have different menu choices, because it versatile.

Setting levels with the H4 a big operation. With the Edirol R-09, can set the recording level by pressing the up/down level. With the H4, you select Input Menu, jog to level and select it, press jogging, jogging and level up or down. What can be a pain when you record in the industry and the need to make adjustments quickly. On the other hand, the level H4 provides automatic scanning, which sets the logging level for you. Unlike constant automatic gain control, Simply set the quantity gain needed based on the level of the received signal, then leave the gain alone.

How does sound H4 Using its internal microphone, without processing, the H4 been very good for the price. I recorded an acoustic guitar quite a foot from the microphones. Rendering broad and clear with a little 'high-midrange emphasis. Some quiet background noise was audible during playback, so you do not laugh T use the H4 microphones for studio recording internal critic peaceful means. But the sound certainly usable.

checked the sound of the H4’s mic simulator, which tailors the frequency response of the internal mics to sound like a Shure SM57, Sennheiser MD-421, Neumann U 87, or AKG 414. I thought that the simulation was well done. It's amazing how good those internal mics can sound when tuned like a 414 or U 87!

Being cardioid, the internal mics pick up a lot of handling noise. As long as you don’t make any adjustments or move your fingers while holding the H4, you won’t hear the noise. The H4 can be mounted on a mic stand or tripod, thanks to the supplied strap-on platform with a 1/4-inch 20 threaded insert.

I did an A-B listening test between the H4 mic preamp and a Mackie 1604 VLZ mic preamp. I connected two Neumann KM140 mics first to the H4 mic inputs, then to the Mackie preamps feeding the H4 line inputs. I played an acoustic guitar one foot from the mics. I stopped playing a few times to record the background noise in my quiet studio. To my ears, the Mackie had about 3 dB or 4 dB less hiss and a little more detail than the H4. Also, the H4 mic preamp’s signal had a low-level 700 Hz tone, which I heard with internal or external mics at high gain, with phantom on or off. This tone would be inaudible when recording a rock band at low gain.

Final: The Zoom H4 is more flexible than competing units, but as a consequence, it requires more button pressing to operate. It offers good sound and lots of features at a very low price.

Zoom H4 handy indeed

first the bad :
the switches (side-panel on the right) for "gain lo-med-hi" seem easy to break and are difficult to put in the middle position.the pushwheel (also on the right side-panel) seems fragile too.
i find it very difficult to remove the SD card (it doesn't pop up high enough), so rather than use tweezers i just leave it in there and transfer the files over USB.the usage is awkward at first, you navigate using the center button and the pushwheel, which almost requires two hands.
the center joystick button has two menu-navigation purposes: pushing it in is basically a back/clear button, and pulling it down gives you access to the input menu. the rest of the menu-navigation (and selection) is done by the pushwheel.
maybe this is a good thing because it allows you to still use the joystick to control the music (play/pause/record/ffwd/rew) WHILE you're navigating the menus.
unfortunately, many of the menus don't wrap-around (so if you scroll to the end of a list before deciding you want the first item, then you have to scroll all the way back to the beginning).
the volume wheel controls the 3.5mm "headphone" output, but has no effect on the 3.5mm "line" output; no big deal, you can get around that using a 2-dollar splitter (so two people can listen with headphones, for example).

now the good :
the product does everything it says it does; i find the recording quality excellent considering the size and cost of this thing.
i also use it as a headphone amp for my electric guitar (of the 50 built-in effects, there are at least five that i use frequently).
battery life is good, you'll want rechargeable batteries ofcourse.
once i got used to the user-interface, i found this product very satisfying.
although it could use some design improvements, i consider this almost essential equipment for a musician, and very useful for a bunch of other people, including bootleggers, podcasters, lecturers/students, or anyone who wants decent quality digital recordings for under 300$.
(maybe students recording lectures would be better served by the zoom H2 or other mini-recorders that you can find on www.thomann.de)

i bought this product directly from amazon, free shipping, order tracking, zero problems.
i also bought a sony AA/AAA battery charger with LCD display and discharge function (model BCG-34HRMF4) with which i am VERY pleased.
and a couple of 2 Gig SD cards.
note : i read that the H2 and H4 are not compatible with the 4 Gig SD High-Capacity (SDHC) cards.

i have not tried the zoom H2 yet, but i don't think i'll buy one because for me the H4 is portable enough.
but i don't need to test the H2 to recommend the H4 over it; the H4 is just so much more versatile, can do so much more for musicians, and has better mics anyway.

Zoom H4 Good all around performer

Saturday, September 26, 2009

The Zoom H4 has performed very well for me in recording live music sessions. The quality range of 3 wav levels and 1 mp3 is good. The features are excellent but the controls are very compact and take a good deal of getting used to.

The only downside I feel is the short battery life. Using 2 AA alkaline batteries I can get 2-3 hours of recording time and then the recorder dies while there is still a lot of juice in the batteries for other applications. So I presently have a collection of about 50 AA batteries which are still good for running toys and flashlights but don't have high enough voltage for the H4. This is a small inconvenience - overall the unit is excellent.

Zoom H4 Review

Great handy little device, very easy to use. I just used it this past week for recording audio to the short film I was involved in making. Uploading files into computer took about 20 minutes, but that could be due to the file sizes. I recommend this recorder for anyone interested in audio or wanting to learn more about audio.

The H4 offers high quality recording, and it does not distort with loud noise (drum set, etc). It is very easy just to pick up and record with. You can literally just turn it on, hit record, and go. You don't have to worry about accidentally recording over any saved material or anything. Play back is a breeze too; very self explanitory.

I agree with all of the usual complaints (SD card tough to remove, jog wheel kind of hard to use, and the whole unit feels a little flimsy. I also found out that when using phantom power, you have to power both mic inputs. So you cannot use a dynamic mic and condensor mic at the same time. Not too big of a deal, since the built in mics do a fine enough job.

I have had a terrible time getting Cubase to work right. It was frustrating downloading drivers over and over agian, only to keep getting new error messages. No instructions are included for Cubase, so you pretty much have to figure out how to use it on your own.

Overall, it's a great unit. The short comings do not take away from the fact that this is truly an amazing piece of equipment. Amazon seems to have the best price on it

It is a Mobile Stereo Field Recorder

Friday, September 25, 2009

The Zoom H4 Handy Digital Recorder fits in the palm of the hand and ideal for recording live musical performances, interviews, podcasts, meetings, lectures and seminars. The H4 allows you to record 24-bit/96 kHz digital audio as well as in MP3 format with bitrates up to 320kbps.

The H4 features two studio-electret condenser microphones configured in an X/Y pattern for true stereo recording. It also includes 2 combination XLR-1/4-inch input jacks with phantom power for use with any external microphone of your choice. And the H4 loaded with on-board studio effects such as compression, limiting and modeling MIC. A 1/8-inch headphone jack also provided for monitoring.

The H4 records to be included Secure Digital (SD) media, 512 MB SD card included. With a 16 GB SD memory card, the H4 provides up to 24 hours of stereo WAV file mode 44.1kHz/16-bit (Quality CD), or up to 280 hours in mode stereo MP3. And to move your recordings to a PC or Mac, the H4 includes a USB mass storage interface.

The H4 provides four hours of recordings from 2 AA batteries continuously. A place of enlightenment, 128 x 64 pixel LCD provides the visual interface. An AC adapter, USB cable, windshield cover and adapter included.

Original sound with the H-4

After having read many of the reviews about this little nifty machine I decided to give it a try in a direct-sound production as the main recorder for dialog. In order to be compatible with audio suites we decided to record in the 48 KHz / 24 Bit mode. I know that the machine is not specifically designed for film/TV field recording, but it did its job very well.

Advantages at first sight:
# 1: It does not weigh 8 ½ Kg (about 18.7 lbs.) what a Nagra IV used to.
# 2: No reels, no heavy batteries, no shoulder harness.
# 3: The recording quality and the S/N ratio are far above that of an open-reel machine and equal any DAT or HD-recording system.

So far so good. Since the microphone/gain controls on the H-4 are not accessible during recording, I decided to feed the audio (boom & radio-mikes) through a SHURE FP-33 field mixer and connecting it via two XLR cables to the H-4. Besides, one can NOT hold it in the hand and record through the built-in mikes due to severe noise from handling the machine.

First I had to calibrate the H-4 with the FP-33 to see where my levels were, so I set the IN 1&2 switches both to "L" and then calibrated the 1 KHz tone to -24dB on the H-4. Why so low? The limiter of the SHURE mixer works OK for analog, but clearly overshoots the 0 dB limit of any digital recorder thus causing distortion / clipping.
The dialogues came through crisp and clear, but I still had to watch peaks since the limiter of the H-4 did not catch them accordingly. I still haven't figured out if the built-in limiter only works for the internal mike (MIC) or works as well on the input (IN 1&2).

I live and work in Costa Rica, so sometimes the "Latin Way" interferes with the normal production logistics which I was used to in Germany and the States.
Production forgot to buy batteries, so they gave me a strip of regular Panasonic Blue-Ones. BEWARE! A set of two lasted about 10 minutes, just enough for one scene, without risking the recorder going "off-line" in the middle of a take. We barely made the first morning (exterior shooting), and then got some decent alkaline AAs.

Cons:
1. The more data you have on the SD-card, the longer the machine takes to fire up / load / initiate. I use an 8 GB Transcend card, which lasted me - in a "normal" 16-hour working day - for four (4) whole days and still had about 1.5 Gigs left over.
2. The XLR inputs do not have the usual safety latch. So, if you are moving around, be sure that your cables are always plugged up to the hilt. And, re-check them before you start recording again.
3. The readability of the display is poor in daylight, and so is the status-light of the "Record" button. Is it on? Is it recording? One has to monitor the output of the H-4 directly so one knows at least if the machine is "off".
4. I upgraded the firmware immediately after getting the H-4 to Ver. 2.20. Still it takes up to an hour and a half to download, via USB, about 1.5 Gigs of audio (Vista Ultimate / 2 Gigs of RAM / fast 500 GB HD).
5. The Zoom H-4 has a twisted learning curve. It takes some time to get used to the two kinds/options of menus. But that has been discussed at length in other reviews... (see those).

Overall I am surprised by the excellent quality of the recorded audio. I even did a couple of recordings of a Mariachi band, using the built-in microphones, and at home I was astounded by the crispness and the stereo-field resolution.

So, leave your bulky machines at home, and start using the H-4 for your field recording. ... and you'll save about US$ 750 compared to other digital SD-recorders.
Don't forget the clapper, because otherwise you are going to be in deep trouble trying to sync your audio to your video in post-production.

Great recorder great price

Thursday, September 24, 2009

I bought this recorder to record live classical music with external microphones that require phantom power. While understanding the interface and menu items was a bit embarrassed relatively easy to use. We what really amazing on this recorder the clarity of sound, wide frequency range and the ease transport of audio files to my mac. Some guests may not like some features of this recorder - which is made of plastic, SD card and batteries a little hard to reach, etc.. - But for the money a package of just amazing. I've been really happy with it.

Good product but not compatible with my powered condenser mics

I bought this product from a friends recommendation and reading reviews. It is the only small (hand held) digital stereo field recorder of these types with XLR external mics connections. I bought the unit so I could plug my DPA powered condenser microphones using the XLR connections.

The Zoom comes with phatom power but the DPA's have there own preamp and power supply which is a higher voltage system. I am getting distortion even when the input gain is turned down. The signal coming from the mics is at line level. These powered mics don't seem compatible with the Zoom H4

indeed at hand

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

first the bad :
the switches (side-panel on the right) for "gain lo-med-hi" seem easy to break and are difficult to put in the middle position.
the pushwheel (also on the right side-panel) seems fragile too.
i find it very difficult to remove the SD card (it doesn't pop up high enough), so rather than use tweezers i just leave it in there and transfer the files over USB.
the usage is awkward at first, you navigate using the center button and the pushwheel, which almost requires two hands.
the center joystick button has two menu-navigation purposes: pushing it in is basically a back/clear button, and pulling it down gives you access to the input menu. the rest of the menu-navigation (and selection) is done by the pushwheel.
maybe this is a good thing because it allows you to still use the joystick to control the music (play/pause/record/ffwd/rew) WHILE you're navigating the menus.
unfortunately, many of the menus don't wrap-around (so if you scroll to the end of a list before deciding you want the first item, then you have to scroll all the way back to the beginning).
the volume wheel controls the 3.5mm "headphone" output, but has no effect on the 3.5mm "line" output; no big deal, you can get around that using a 2-dollar splitter (so two people can listen with headphones, for example).

now the good :
the product does everything it says it does; i find the recording quality excellent considering the size and cost of this thing.
i also use it as a headphone amp for my electric guitar (of the 50 built-in effects, there are at least five that i use frequently).
battery life is good, you'll want rechargeable batteries ofcourse.
once i got used to the user-interface, i found this product very satisfying.
although it could use some design improvements, i consider this almost essential equipment for a musician, and very useful for a bunch of other people, including bootleggers, podcasters, lecturers/students, or anyone who wants decent quality digital recordings for under 300$.
(maybe students recording lectures would be better served by the zoom H2 or other mini-recorders that you can find on www.thomann.de)

i bought this product directly from amazon, free shipping, order tracking, zero problems.
i also bought a sony AA/AAA battery charger with LCD display and discharge function (model BCG-34HRMF4) with which i am VERY pleased.
and a couple of 2 Gig SD cards.
note : i read that the H2 and H4 are not compatible with the 4 Gig SD High-Capacity (SDHC) cards.

i have not tried the zoom H2 yet, but i don't think i'll buy one because for me the H4 is portable enough.
but i don't need to test the H2 to recommend the H4 over it; the H4 is just so much more versatile, can do so much more for musicians, and has better mics anyway.

Great Digital Recorder too few tracks

This is a great product. It produces results that rival a recording studio when you use the direct inputs. The microphones do not produce studio quality sound reproduction but if you connect a couple of Shure SM58 microphones you can get close. This recorder is small and easy to use after an hour or so of familiarizing yourself with the manual.

This is a great recorder. A little complicated to use unless you mix sound and effects; I don't use the effects much, the recording quality is great. It is important to know that you can only record 2 mono tracks simultaneously, or 1 stereo track. I wish it had more input tracks for recording, but I knew this going into the purchase so I am very happy with it.

Great recorder for Price

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

I made a lot of research before buying this and then did not surprise me much. Overall I'm very pleased, I got there I was expecting. Sounds good and even if the controls are a bit hard-working, non difficult to use. One thing that everyone should be aware of audio files that are not time and date printed in any way. If you need or want that we should look elsewhere. It annoying, but not a failure for my use. The price goes for the H4, I think it's a really good deal for the quality you get.

Excellent,don't look any further

Mulultiple uses. One of the most flexible digital devices out there. Welcome to the future. SD card makes slot it totally practical and pragmatic.

This is just exactly what i needed, it works very well, and its handy for my daily performance. 5 stars all the way....

Very nice (good sounding mic preamps), and it does the job. And the price is terrific. The only thing I would change is aspects of the interface -- having to toggle the little switch-thingy around to set input levels (for example) is tricky; not being able to set levels for both channels simultaneously, stuff like that. But all things considered I'm very pleased with the product.

Record cleanly, and the built-in directional microphones are surprisingly. I, too, as that is not registered pi something else, if you need to record on the fly during the execution of another function. Understand the different functions and the mode to navigate the menus took a bit of practice, but once you understand it, it's pretty slick. I used to build my background and the library of effects, including gunshots, without distortion. If you need a portable recorder quality for whatever reason, this the final one to get.

Zoom H4-Excellent device

Monday, September 21, 2009

Good:

The small size, high quality sound and different recording formats make this an excellent tool for mobile field recording. The internal stereo microphone produces an image very good audio, XLR inputs and make it usable with any pro audio microphone. I was surprised by all the on-board effects, mixing, a capacity to bounce. I can manually set the gain and input levels to adapt to any environment. The basic registration simple, requires only three steps to "roll tape".

Bad:

This is a device of four-track, but can only record two tracks at a time. The switches are small and the interface takes some 'juggling to get the functionality advanced. Also, if you're not using this device for the cinema, the internal clock does sync with precision clocks DV ... It is evident during the long and requires stretching or shrinking the audio track to match the video track (a simple step, but cumbersome).

Zoom H4 It does the job!

I purchased the Zoom H4 Handy Recorder to use to record voice over for video production. It has work great in this task giving quality voice tracks. I have to explain to the people that I am getting voice track from that it is not a stun gun or tazer then they relax and we have the recording.

As a member of a Choir I have great fun using The Zoom H4.
It creates possibillities to make mp3-files to share with the members, who can't read the notes. Ot also make overall recordings to share with the audience.
Deliverence was quick - impressive!

Excellent recorder

Sunday, September 20, 2009

I love this recorder. This one thing I do not like it locks microphones ( came during the recording, although not happened - yet) and that there are 48V powered microphones with the batteries of the Work It (success, although I do not think) in the directions. The button seems a little failed. Apart from that a great big unit with a good sound.

Love it! Zoom H4 Recorder

Very pleased and happy with this product. My only complaint is that the casing seems a little cheap and not very durable. But the sound quality is excellent and it is very user-friendly. My husband and I are musicians and need to record ourselves several times a week, and this product is perfect for that. I would recommend buying a larger SD card, so you can record for a longer period of time.

I play in a band and record our practices and live performances. The zoom does everything we need to perfect our sound. I did buy the 2 gig memory card, as the one supplied is not big enough. When recording live the placement is everything, so try different positions to get it just right www.theplanbband.com

Good Buy

Saturday, September 19, 2009

The H4 is totally cool, has some live recordings and some samples all came from very good quality. the transfer to my computer is easy and I can cut and paste with my logic.

The only problem I had was updated by the Zoom website. I have a Mac and I could not, have to upgrade my Dell and further than my work on the Mac. I have tried to turn the zoom support, but do not help, they do not even know what I'm talking about, the first time, and when they quit e-mail to me!

Zoom H4 - Get This and Start Playing!

I will not go into details because that much I believe in it and go!
As the recording I do, creativity Spontaneous comes when you do not have a CD burner.

This unit just exactly what I want. To be able to record on the fly a valuable tool for anyone wanting to easily reference material later for reasons of study or songwriting.

Bonus great this unit , He can replace the batteries. Yup, after extensive research, not to mention names, but cost s been a big factor, similar devices have been limited:) about two, this and the other.

What sold me was this one has batteries that can change themselves. The other, you have to return them. No, Memory, Maximum number of paper 2GB.

Abundance for recording Wav to upload your computer. Cubase comes with it, USB cable, windscreen for x / y microphones. Oh, be placed on a tripod too! The downside Small LCD plastic case feels cheap. Solution Easy, buy a lot by chance it!

Overall, what for the price. Further information can visit their website. Much more detail l Really The manual should provide some nice spare time reading, if necessary.

Good piece of digital equipment!

We bought this recorder to move up to the digital age with our Worship Service recording. We use it each week to record our services and quickly get them to the internet. This device is easy to use, full of features and the recording quality is fantastic! Highly recommend!

Seems to do everything as advertised. Only complaint I have is the instructions are not very user-friendly. It took me awhile to figure it out, but seems to work fine now. Of course I'm no technowizard.

Overall, it is what it is for the price. For more info, go to their website. Much greater detail there. Actually, the manual should provide some nice Spare-time reading if need be:) 99 pages.

Fantastic,simple,practical

Friday, September 18, 2009

I own the Zoom H4 for about 2 months and enthusiastic. Even the built-in microphone allows a pretty good recording instrumental and vocal recordings. I feel particularly pleasant, dass as unique equipment my recordings for samples with my choir and instrumental group with my Zoom H4. In approximately 1 (one) minute of the work of a whole chorus hour on the computer and the human being has within very short time a CD into the H4 that one as fast once friends can or is happening in unit. The H4 is quite appealing and we fairly balanced sound of voices.

The price better stand-alone recorder

One can endlessly to discuss technical details and combination products, but it was just had to make one can.

Before we get and bought, we kindly blind test done. Piano, bass, cello and drums, recorded with the Zoom and once with microphones that are twice as expensive as the other semi-pro zoom plus a recorder. Then we have made with 2 monitor speakers to the test. Alternately with an evaluation even in terms of space and transparency. Participating were the 4 musicians plus 2 G plus Evaluation: durchg without mixer with mp3. The sound score was 58 to 42 is the professional equipment.Transparency and the room was 54 to 46 as Zoom!

Everyone agreed:As far as aural precision for the money really is too little.The smear is definitely the mechanics and the display.Go! Use is made of plastic, the recorder zoom times down.The joystick like a leaf in the wind. Even cheapest game consoles are better off.The display has such small letters and symbols, dass man to read them more than advice!

But are the basic settings once programmed, then you need only the relatively large eigendlich recorder button. A small remote control not bad.The connection Is easily via USB to the PC and Mac. It is included in the package, makes the whole more attractive.One last look at the manual. Even tiny writing, the learning curve because there are better. I have pulled down to me by the company's manual zoom and printed via PDF. Thus, We can write many notes in the margin and thus a practical manual.

Good performers throughout

The Zoom H4 very well done recording sessions and live music. The range of quality 1 and 3 levels of WAV and MP3. The features are excellent, but the controls are very compact and take good deal. The only downside that I realized the short battery life with 2 AA alkaline batteries choose take 2-3 hours and then died during the recording still plenty of juice in the batteries of other applications. What I now have a collection of about 50 AA batteries, which are still the construction toys and torches, but not high enough voltage to H4. This small problem - the complexity excellent unit.

Limiting instructions for Zoom H4

Amazing audio interface, it has great possibilities if you can get past the written instructions. The clarity and versatility have given me great potential.
Do not buy the memory that is suggested. You will waste you money and shipping fees.

I am very pleased with my H4. I actualyl use it for memos, then play it into a speech recognition package. The results have been great. The housing is fairly cheap - I agree. Menus are sometimes annoying. I wish I could record mono. The extra inputs are very handy!

I'm very glad it also serves as a card reader!
There are definitely higher quality units out there for portable recorders. However, "for the money" I have been completely satisfied.

Zoom H4 Great and Sweet Product

Thursday, September 17, 2009

I do not want to repeat it others have written. This product is not as ugly and flimsy as other people have written. I do not know what they are looking for. A tank or a tape recorder!

I use it for mobile recordings for my podcast. At least I plan to. But for now I am using it to record my 2 year old. I can place it on a table where he can't see it and it will record him with incredible audio quality.

The built in mics are stellar. You can't beat the price. I was considering higher priced units but this one is absolutely perfect.

Panel LCD a little small, but it works well. Not very difficult to use. Read the manual once or twice. You will need a three pin female XLR to 1 / 4 "XLR cable to connect a microphone with XLR output. The foam windscreen is not included Big for the situation of wind. I made one myself of eco - fur from a fabric store and works great. There need to spend $ 60.00 for a windshield. AA batteries do not last very long in order to keep a lot of extras. I use A / C adapter when possible. You get a lot of money, XLR inputs and 48V and 24V phantom power. I did not use phantom power yet. Somewhere I read the AA batteries can only handle up to 24V phantom power and you need a / c power to 48V. The Numbers don''t know how accurate that. This a great product, but I heard H4n even better if you can spend more money.

Go to Zoom H4n

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Good product, HOWEVER it has serious sync issues.

When trying to sync the audio from the H4 to video, the sound lags after a few minutes and continues to lag more out of sync every few minutes after that. So you have to make several tedious adjustments in post.

A great device for live recording but 2 things. First, there is the new and massively improved Zoom H4n which does so much more and simplifies a lot of the previous complications. Second I noticed as with any other important audio recordings you make, the better the SD card the better sound of the recording and less sound problems with this unit. I suggest using the 2GB SanDisk Ultra II or Extreme III cards in this unit (the difference in sound is amazing) and is the same with the H4n but it has greater capacity and can take a much larger GB card. The extra GB in the H4n alone is worth it especially for using the 96khz 24bit best sound process.

Has all the features I wanted,some complicated user interface

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

I looked at the Edirol, the H4, and another similar device. The H4 had all the features I wanted: built-in microphones, external MIC jack (XLR and 1 / 4 "both), the batteries interchangeable, and, above all, the phantom power.

Phantom power was the clincher for me. The Edirol does not, then using that would take away with her another piece of material. Also worth noting: this true 48-volt phantom power. Very well done. I only have one complaint on the H4, and this UI ridiculous.

The H4 features two modes main players: normal and "studio".

The mode normal fundamental and useful. You can select the bit rate and the recording format. The device can record in either WAV or MP3. Non too complicated.

"Recording studio" bill as a 4-way mode of study track record, but that description misleading. What does it really mean you can establish tracks (or a channel or two) next to tracks already existing, up to a limit of four. The device really had only one or two channels at once. Since the four tracks are just a creation of the software in any case, why arbitrarily limited to only four Maybe four at a time was the PI the device can play simultaneously. I do not know.

Anyway, my point that the mode the recording studio, as he can do a million things with a user interface ridiculously complicated. Simply do not You can use the device in this way, without the manual open in front of you. Also, since you must work with the controls and children with a small screen simply too complicated. These are the characteristics pi suitable for a remedial software on a workstation real. I can not shake the feeling that Samsung has just added this mode so there would be no more stuff right on the outside of the box.

But if you take my advice and just not use the mode the recording studio, is it a beautiful piece of technology.

My first recorder it's working well

Monday, September 14, 2009

This is my first handheld recorder. Been thinking about buying one for a long time. I haven't been using this one for long but it's up until now at least met all my demands.

I was a bit skeptical that the sound would be very good on any recorder in this price range. I'm using it for a songwriting group who meet to share lyrics & melodies of our efforts. We record each effort then make copies to give to everyone to work towards enhancing the song in their own time. We are all very pleased with the sound quality, and so far it has been easy to record and play back. There is a bit of a learning curve on the mixing and production steps after that, but it is do-able. My only disappointment is that the screen is small and the text inside it is waaaaayyyy too small. Why didn't they make that a bit larger? I can work with it under good lighting, but with dim lighting it is almost impossible. I use a magnifying glass for that. Other than that one issue, it was a great purchase. It is VERY portable and produces high quality recordings. I am extremely happy that after researching a lot of similar products, we chose this one.

Zoom H4 Excellent Value!

I am very satisfied with the features and the sound of H4. Convenient to have the stereo pair of microphones ready at the touch of a button even if you need to be very sensitive to movement, vibration and wind noise. The mode 4 track provides some great features like a track, select a tuner and effects, although not can record more of 2 tracks at once. The effects of profits are actually available in both 2 track or 4 mode track-simulator microphone limiter menu entry.

Gain settings are a bit clunky (three medium-low and high settings), but in reality very nice not to think too much about setting the gain.

The recorder has the ability to record in surround sound and can record a voice from across the room. It is not the easiest to operate, but includes a detailed manual. Small enough to fit in your pocket but not so discreet looking if you are trying to hide it from the conversation. I saw it online for $100 more and checked Amazon.com and bought it. It was a wise purchase.

Finally, the battery life was better than expected and I was pleased come with all necessary accessories (tripod adapter, windscreen, memory card). Cubase was a nice bonus.I can not say I put this head to head with other similar portable recorders, but I like the setup on this microphone and microphones seem to be very sensitive and transparent.

Zoom H4 Great product!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

I bought this recorder for my practice sessions and the quality and ease of use makes this product worth the buy!

After shopping around a lot and get other opinions, I went with the H4. So far I have only used for the live recording of evidence and fantastic! I thought that I would need to use my own condenser microphone instead of built-in microphones on the H4, but holy crap these condenser microphones great work. It super lightweight and easy to use. I can not wait to use it to record live shows and even some 4 recording track. Buy it! Not regret it.

Zoom H4 is a Great portable recorder!

As soon as I received the Zoom H4, I read the quick start instructions and started recording. All you have to do push record and start recording. Great sound! If you want to achieve in his life many, many features will it take a bit. Instructions are well written, but can be a little complicated. But for those who use it since simple.

I am a guitarist and singer and concert with my band about 4 times a month. I record every time we play and found some really good recordings. The fine built in microphone of the sound, but I especially like the function of external mic input. I get better sound with a pair of condenser microphones. Has XLR, so 1 / 4 "input. It also has phantom power. I'm stoked with my H4.

I am amazed at the quality of the recordings and the relative ease of use. Once you get it straight that the jog dial is on the side and not the front things are pretty clear.

Zoom H4 Exactly what it is

Saturday, September 12, 2009

H4 has a great feature. It simulates studio microphones. I can use it to record my tracks. It has replaced my RE-20 as my portable studio mic.

There are some complaints about the complexity that should be taken as valid if you're not used to working with pro audio equipment. If it is not surprising that you have to press the record button twice, then ignore those complaints. I agree that the design of interface does not the best, but internally consistent I once had familiarity with it, I felt much better.

My favorite feature surprise that if you are using as an audio interface powered via USB.

Battery life rather short, so invest in quality rechargeable.

Great portable recorder for the price

I am so pleasantly surprised. I recorded an 18 piece big band with extraordinary results.Some tracks sound like pro recordings.

I made a lot of research before buying this and then did not surprise me much. Overall I'm very pleased, I got there I was expecting. Sounds good and even if the controls are a bit hard-working, non difficult to use. One thing that everyone should be aware of audio files that are not time and date printed in any way. If you need or want that we should look elsewhere. It 's annoying, but not a failure for my use. The price goes for the H4, I think it's a really good deal for the quality you get.

Zoom H4 Excellent Recorder device

Friday, September 11, 2009

I love this recorder. The only things that I do not like there some blocks for the microphones (which might come off during recording, although not happened - yet) and that does not work on 48V powered microphones with batteries ( need to enter the draft, although I do not think it says in the directions ). The menu button also seems a bit 'flimsy. Other than that, a formidable machine, with great sound.

The Good:
The small size, high quality sound and different recording formats make this an excellent tool for mobile field recording. The internal microphone produces an image very good audio, XLR inputs and make it usable with any pro audio microphone. I was surprised by all the on-board effects, mixing, a capacity to bounce. can manually set the gain and input levels to adapt to any environment. The basic registration simple, requires only three steps to "roll tape.

The Bad:
This is a device of four-track, but can only record two tracks at a time. The switches are small and the interface takes some 'juggling to get the functionality advanced. Also, if you're not using this device for the cinema, the internal clock does sync with precision clocks DV ... It is evident during the long and requires stretching or shrinking the audio track to match the video track (a simple step, but cumbersome).

Very convenient recorder

The H4 is totally cool, did few live recordings and some rehearsals all came out great with good quality. the transfer to my computer is easy and i can cut and paste with my Logic.

The only problem i had was to upgrade thru the Zoom web site. I have a Mac and i couldn't do it, had to upgrade on my Dell and than continue my work on the Mac. I was trying to contact the Zoom support but no help, they didn't even know what i was talking about, the first time, and than they stopped emailing me!

I bought a Zoom H4 to replace an old cassette deck awkwardly at our church. It does everything the old cassette recorder has done, and much more. Very semple to use, record in many format, trasfer easy to computer for editing or copiing file audio. The quality sound surprisingly good for a small device, and also through the construction of the recording microphones do not evil. The only reason for not giving five stars that the construction of plastic a bit cheap and the included audio CD with the software was defective and can not be installed. Overall, a very nifty little device.

Zoom H4 Digital Audio Recorder, Great Sound Quality

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Lightweight and easy to use handheld devices for recording live music. Easy to transfer files to your computer. SD a little difficult to remove, and the unit probably would not be good to do in case of fall, but for the quality Registration and price it a great recorder.

I bought this for my son for 10 years an inspired musician. Sits in his room and makes recordings of all time. Now he can his friends also have to register with him as they learn to back each other with different tracks. We were also able to record the songs that we hear in jams or festivals that he does not know, can go home and learn them. Great inspiration for its continued development as a musician.

Good Purchase

I bought this to record music in our church, why I wanted the ability convert audio into MP3 files. So far I have only used the built-in microphone, and I'm pleased with the results. My next recording will try to use external microphones ... I suspect that will improve the quality even more.

Many of the reviews commented on the buttons being "cheap" or misplaced, etc. I personally do not believe that the position button bad and I had to admit that the main button on the navigation menu on the front, probably could be better ... in reality non cos evil. I also read the reviews about the usabilit "of the device ... I've never used a recording device like this before, and I was able to understand it without reading the manual ... no was difficult.

For a novice user, this machine is doing exactly what I was hoping it was. I'm glad!

Zoom H4 Recorder

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

I have found the Zoom H4 recorder easy to use, and the recorded sound to be excellent.

As a musician, I found this recorder on hand from a recorder very beautiful, with resources for the recording. It 's also has many resources that are found in recording studios know that can use to make high-quality stereo and 4 track recordings. It 's very important that you read every word of the instruction manual to understand sometimes this device and make good use of all its resources. The quality recordings I've done so far excellent.

My finace had been researching & fantasizing about a Marantz field recorder for a while... so when Christmas came I had that in mind. That price range drove me to check out the Zoom instead, which seemed to delight him just as much. After about a month, he's happy and constantly surprised by that little machine's capabilities. So far so good.

Zoom H4 is Handy,FANTASTIC - CLEAR

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

In the words of our sound dude- "This is NPR clear" - in reference to the absolute background silence & perfectly clear voice clarity on the radio station NPR!
Easy to use, and reliable.

After reading all the reviews on this, we decided to go ahead and register for the H4. We are not experts recorder but found the easy to use zoom.

Read the installation program "fast" and you know enough to record. Take 10 minutes with the manual and you can record well. Take another 10 minutes and you can get what you've recorded off the SD card. Zoom reaches a record of high quality Without additional microphones and bulk. The buttons are easy to use and the screen large considering the size of the recorder.

The only thing we did find irritating When you remove the SD card power is interrupted for the recorder and the audio settings must be reset (takes about 10 seconds). I would recommend this to anyone who has the need a GOOD digital recorder.

Zoom H4 Recorder - I like it

I just wanted something small and portable, which I would be able to learn and use without putting my fist through the wall trying to make it work. This small digital recorder has his job in a big way. Using now the construction of microphones, recording great. Using the Autogain,

recording sounded much better. Bottom Line, if you read the manual for the action you want to adopt should be almost a breeze. I gets used to make navigating the small screen and men .... I like it.

I wanted a portable MP3 recorder with excellent quality audio, facilit use, and a lot of recording time. this.

I used to create a series of recordings of our tests. Even with the built-in mics, I love the clarity and range (the bass response killer).

As always, read the manual to get the most from your device.

Zoom H4 Excellent for the price

Monday, September 7, 2009

I still learning using this, but from what I used for the measure pending. I've used it for practice and a show and it turned out great both times. I have not used the inputs yet, but if they are as good as the microphones then it is going really something. I would recommend this recorder to whom in a band, or like to do the live recording of music.

The Zoom H4 digital recorder an excellent product. I used to record audio podcasts. In addition to this I used option 4 track as a scratch pad for my audio recording studio. To price this large. The on-board microphone great work.

This a recorder very good for the price. However, I had a 1 / 8 inch stereo mic / line input and balanced XLR outputs. Battery life should be at least double what now, and as others have said, the screen should be more great. That said, the quality of sound are better than I expected.

Zoom H4 Perfect Recorder

This recorder ideal compact. I am using for my practice piano, and the quality sound excellent. I must say that the worst thing what revealed I hear all my mistakes!

After making a recording of a band in the rate of 95Khz, I think the quality registration wonderful. I do not mind the small screen, battery life, or the apparent fragilit 's unit. You have to get a small case to carry him for protection. However, I think the designers probably did not have to record a band, find traces of a long recording, etc. I can not wait to fast forward feature here so I think it will difficult to find places for registration. Compare this with a tape, where easy to find places to register with the fast forward and reverse.

I recorded a time of some pieces of music, but I have no idea how to separate out how to discard the empty sections, what to do with it on your computer. Life short and spend a lot of precious time with a device like this for a geek who loves to push the button and the computer, it makes little sense to me. I really want to push the record button just once in a long session of music and sort it out later. It is distracting to play music and operate a recording device between the selections.

Zoom H4 Good For the Money!

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Great recordings, many off accessories, but the writing on the screen was too small and very difficult to see. I had to sell. It 's shame because I would have liked.

I love it 4 in order to use it 4. (Registration or off the mixing board or connect my condenser mics anyway.) I did not like the sound of the built-in particular the microphone, but otherwise, it makes excellent recordings of reference. I also used to record sounds strange that I bump into 4 making my own drum.

This product does exactly what I want with one exception: it has rechargeable batteries. It takes two AA batteries and eats them really. Other than that it's terrific. I would suggest taking a little time to get to know that before you record something really important, as the position so that it collects it you want, etc. The protective foam microphone also a bonus. I bought this device to record ambient / ambient sounds and conversations. I have not yet used to record the music (I * think * that has a kind of multi-function track). For my purposes, with the exception of batteries quite perfect.

Great Tool For music composers (Zoom H4)

Easy to use. Great sound quality. Great conception.

First of all I give you all a look @ my back round as a musician.I played with Al Green, Tyrone Davis, Jackie Wilson and the group Mrs. Emotions.I have also played with jazz greats as Von Freeman and his son Chico Freeman.I have recorded at home for about 4 years.I really like the unit for the 4 tracks alone.When composition is pu really get on it is able to duplicate more than 4 tracks, I also discovered that pu also go where it says wav track to record another song and another if the cursor down to where it says no data. have not used the other stereo recording a lot, but I did test to see if they also work.I found out must use the right of the SD Card for the unit of work.I would give the unit 4.

I suppose this is a product that can be improved in many area:
1. User interface - not easy at all for a techie
2. Background noise can be cancelled (microphone seems okay to capture the show)
3. The recording part from other media should be improved. (Should have a linein for microphone for computer synthesized music)

Zoom H4 Handy Recorder - Detail

Saturday, September 5, 2009

The Zoom H4 is more than a handheld recorder - it's a simple way to record high quality audio. It's a full function stereo recorder capable of a wide range of recording rates, from low grade MP3 to 24bit/96K wav files. It also can be used as a portable 4 track recorder AND a USB interface.

The built-in microphones & two combo jacks connect your favorite microphones or instruments -- including condensers with 24. With a 2GB SD memory card, the H4 provides up to 380 minutes of recording in 16-bit mode (CD Quality), and 34 hours in MP3 stereo mode. And to move your recordings to a PC or Mac, the H4 includes a USB mass-storage interface. Records 24-bit/96KHz digital audio as well as MP3s, with bitrates up to 320 Kbps Two combination XLR-1/4 input jacks with phantom power Onboard studio effects compression, limiting and mic modeling 1/8 headphone jack provided for monitoring Includes 128MB SD card Up to 380 minutes recording time with 2GB SD memory card Up to 34 hours recording in MP3 stereo mode.

Combination high-impedance phone inputs for vocals, guitars, bass or keyboards Built-in guitar amp modeling equipment to the Zoom G2 Records directly to your computer as a USB audio interface Comes bundled with Cubase LE - 48-track Digital Audio Workstation software Up to four hours of continuous recording operation from 2 AA batteries

True stereo imaging:

Stereo recording is often accomplished by using two microphones in a V-shaped set up that faces the performer. While this method will result in good stereo separation, responsiveness for the area directly in front of the mics will be low, causing problems with depth perception and imaging. The Zoom H4 uses an X/Y configuration where the two microphones point inward at a crossing angle. This allows the recorder to cover a wide area, and at the same time capture sound sources in the center with perfect clarity and definition. Phase differences between left and right channels are also eliminated because sound is picked up simultaneously by both microphones.

24-bit/96 kHz linear PCM format and MP3 recording:

The H4 allows 24-bit/96 kHz linear PCM recording in WAV format, resulting in excellent transparency and definition that exceeds the sound quality of CDs. This is great for capturing the nuances of an acoustic instrument while preserving the ambience of the recording location. Or record directly as MP3 files for longer recordings that still provide excellent sound quality.

Secure Digital (SD) Media

The H4 records on Secure Digital (SD) Media cards. These widely available cards boast an amazing amount of recording time in a small package. And unlike tape or disc media, mechanical vibrations do not affect recording quality. With a 2GB SD memory card, the H4 can provide up to 190 minutes of stereo WAV file recording in 44.1 kHz/16-bit mode or as many as 34 hours when recording at 128 kbps in MP3 stereo mode.

Combination XLR-1/4" Inputs

The H4, with its two phantom powered XLR-1/4" input jacks that support direct connection of external microphones, is the solution to an infinite number of recording situations. You can also use the H4's Hi-Z rated phone inputs for direct connection of guitars, bass, or any other line-input device.

Product Features

Metronome: 5 sounds (Beat: 0/4 - 8/4, 6/8, Tempo: 40.0 - 250.0BPM)
A/D Conversion: 24bit, 128times oversampling
D/A Conversion: 24bit, 128times oversampling
Signal Processing: 32bit
Recording Media: SD memory card (16MB-2GB)

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