Zoom H2
 

I received my H2 this week ,what a great piece of Tech. Records simple and playback is great . Very user friendly
Mike Long

Mike,

I picked mine up on Sunday from B&H. Very nice.
I just made a little web page that has photos comparing the size of the H2, H4, and an iPod nano with a Micromemo attached.

http://www.zenreich.com/ZenWeb/audio/recorders.htm

Here's a quick photo comparing the size of the H2 and H4

How does it sound? Does it have the sync problems that the H4 has?

Joe

Does it work as an external audio interface too like the H4 did? As the H4 was the cheapest-greatest audio I/O in my book.

Thanks,
T

It sounds just as good if not better than the H4 does.

As for sync issues. You will always ahve sync issues with any recorder, especially in this price class. The reason being each unit and camera have different internal clocks that operate at different rates. Even expensive units have drift issues as well.

The ONLY way to guarentee perfect sync is to use the recorder and camera as a slave unit.

Another way to guarentee better sync is to at least record at the same rate as what your video is being recorded at 16/48 WAV. Recording at a lower bitrate (like MP3) and try to convert in post will not work well either. Again the reason being that your software will approximate the proper speed and length of your audio.

BTW, I just formatted and used without issue a Transcend 8GB SDHC card that I received from Newegg.

Zoom H2
 

I recorded a live concert last nite ,fantastic ,I was standing in crowd and used the REAR mic set up ,picked up band only with a little crowd noise. just a practice session . I think its what i need
Mike

Is the H2 suitable only as a voice recorder? I'm curious because there are no published specs regarding frequency response, distortion, or dynamic range.

Sounds great. It does have exactly the same synch issues, i.e., it the clock runs about 0.01% fast, yielding an audio track that lags the cam's video track by 10-12 frames per hour.

It's definitely a music recorder. But you're right--even the owners manual specs page does not go into fidelity numbers.

I used the H2 as a back up device while filming a jazz quartet from NYC. Two of the professional musicians were amazed at the fidelity listening via $150 earphones. I am pleased with its simplicity of operation. For what it is worth.
Jon

Minor Zoom H2 quibbles
 

I am very impressed with the Zoom H2. I have two minor gripes.

The 'mic active' LEDs double as overload indicators. They would be more useful if the 'mic active' LED for the front mic was located on the rear of the unit, and vice versa.

I purchased a 4 SDHC Gigabyte card for my unit. I ran a test at 96 kHz and 24 bit depth. After 1 hour, 2 minutes and 8 seconds, the recorder starts a second file. Unfortunately, this takes several seconds to accomplish.

That is precisely right if you're recording in four track mode, Bob. The maximum file size the H2 will create is 2 gigaybytes (actually 2.147 billion bytes). That number divided by 96K, divided by 3 (24 bits = 3 bytes), divided by 2 (laying down two stereo tracks) is exactly 1 hour, 2 minutes and 8 seconds.

But if we don't shoot higher than the 48Khz, 16 bit single stereo track of most camcorders we'll get two uninterrupted sessions of over six hours each on that 4 gig card! (With the power adapter, of course).

My gripe is that the H2 doesn't actually upload at USB 2.0 rates, at least with the SDHC card. Good thing the card came with a mini card reader that does transfer at USB 2.0 rates.

2 gigabytes
 

I was not using four track mode. I was only using the front mikes to create one stereo pair. But when I multiply 96000 x 24 x 3600 x 2 / 8, I get 2 gigabytes (for one stereo pair).

It occurs to me that Zoom could use the mic LEDs as is to indicate the pairs in use, but flash BOTH mic LEDs for overloads. That would probably only require a software upgrade, and it would be more useful than the current scheme.

oops, you're right, I forgot to allow for left and right.

Any thoughts on whether the the Zoom H2 would be better for recording pipe organ music, or a choir or other similar concert than a Rode Stereo Video mic with a Vx2000? Syncing won't be an issue

Thanks

Curt

The Zoom H2 would be the easy choice for a pipe organ or a choir if they were to be placed reasonably close to the source. The spatial texture of those sources really matters, and a stereo mic will capture that better. As the distance increases to (and beyond) the point where the left and right qualities of the source are lost, then the stereo pickup will accentuate echoes and side noise. Then I'd tend to favor the VideoMic. Outdoors in the distant situation I'd go straight to the VideoMic and leave the H2 in the bag. Indoors, I'd listen to both before choosing because the acoustics would color both.

Nice little review of the Zoom H2 at O'Reilly: Zoom H2 Handheld Surround Recorder

I've thoroughly enjoyed using my new H2. I use it mainly as a portable voice mic for voice overs. The internal mics sound quite good and the USB link keeps noise to near zero, even on my laptop. Very impressive sound, especially when hooked directly to USB and run straight into project software. The sound is only slightly less crisp than with my much more expensive diaphram mic. Given the USB hookup, it may have less noise than the traditional mic with a preamp going into a sound card. I can use my laptop in the field or hotel room, put the H2 on its stand in front of the keyboard (using the 90 degree front mic) and make a lot of hay on the fly.

I also use the H2 with AT35 lavalier mics for interviews and am experimenting with using one channel with an AT88W wireless while the other channel using the lavalier. Nothing a few adapters can't fix!

Very light, simple to use, and cheap. I'm very pleased with my $200 investment.

Question for all of the owners. Is this a device that you couple place, let's say 4 to 5 feet from vows and such and expect decent recording, or for vows, would you always have to do a mic/line in? The reason I ask is, I could see a situation where I wouldn't be able to get a mic on a speaker, a minister etc. Thanks for any information.

I would say no, that you wouldn't get what most of us would call decent vows audio from the H2's internal mics at 4-5 feet in most wedding ceremony venues. Too much airiness and room sound. In a small room with lots of upholstery, carpeting and drapes it would probably be okay. Otherwise, a stand mounted hypercardioid or even a shotgun at that distance would be better.

Actually if I was to use teh H2 for vows at a wedding, then I would use a lav mic (plugged into mic port, with mic power on in menu) and just place the H2 on a grooms or officiants hp (like wireless transmitter) or in the pocket.

At a wedding the H2 would work very well for recording musicians or readings if needed at a ceremony with the built in mics.

I considered that, but dismissed it as too bulky for a dressed-to-kill situation. Doable, though, and yes, some venues would object to setting up a mic on a stand.

Actually it's not much bigger than the Edirol R09. I have used both on a groom or officant.
I have placed in a coat pocket, or even better attached it to the waistband, just like a wireless transmitter.

But that is only an issue if you do a continuous recording. If I should use it to record the audio of scenes in a movie (with a duration of a couple of minutes max) than this would not be a problem, right?

Maybe yes, maybe no. I can't say about the H2 because I don't have one but one of the problems with clocks in inexpensive consumer devices is they're inconsistent and can vary with temperature etc. It would probably be fine but it's impossible to say for certain.

The sync offset on my Zoom H4 is 300ms slower after 1 hr. That's 30ms after 6 mins or 10ms after 2 mins. I don't know what the perceptibility sync offsets on speech are (they're different for leading & trailing situations) but I know 20 ms should be fine. And it would be difficult for thermal drift to cause a problem over such a short timeframe.

Besides, syncing is straight-forward to fix in an audio editor or NLE. I've used Sharp & Sony MDs for 5 years, and now a H4 as well, and it's a minor consideration. Most of my stuff is long-duration: sermons & conference sessions. A few months ago I produced 10 session DVDs. 9 of the 10 were over an hour. All were using a PA feed to Hi-MD as the primary sound source with a Rode SVM on one of the cameras providing ambiance and audience response. The only time I've had to work harder with it was correcting non-linear sync offsets caused by some random miss-tracking on a MD over a 75 min take.

30 ms would be about one frame of video. That wouldn't be perceptible, certainly not to me, except maybe in a side by side comparing situation.

Dan, do you get anywhere near the offset after an hour with the HiMD as you do with the H4? I don't with my Sony HiMD.

Not with the Hi-MD, but the two Sharp MDs I've used (MD-SR50 & MD-SR60) were out about 308ms and 280ms after an hour.

Zoom H2 stereo separation
 

Saturday night I recorded a concert by a local community symphony orchestra. I was seated in the fourth row, and the orchestra was well over 90 degrees in width from there. I recorded half the concert with the front mics and half with the rear mics.

Yesterday, I edited the recording to CD. I have listened to it several ways, including a good pair of headphones and a high end audio system. I am disappointed by the lack of stereo separation. Even with headphones, the stereo separation is minimal.

Other than that, the sound is quite good.

I'm receiving reports that there were (are?) some H2 recorders that only have 3 mics fitted rather than 4, so that the rear channel is recorded mono. Any news of this or just a myth?

Tim Prebble from NZ has a very glowing review of the H2 (with tons of samples) on his awesome blog "The Music of Sound" :
http://substation.co.nz/blog/?p=170

He's an accomplished sound designer for films (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0695670/), so it's interesting to hear his take on it.

Davis, the Sony MZ-NH700 Hi-MD was the device that had the non-linear time change on this occasion. (Normally it's OK.) I presume it was due to mistracking which I've got often on my old Sharp MDs. Or perhaps I pressed Pause by mistake and then released it - it's too long ago now. A H4 would have been faster and a little easier to transfer than my Hi-MD (USB 2.0 through my card reader). I now use the H4 as the main ext. audio device now and the Hi-MD as the 2nd unit. On the big stuff I usually use 2 ext. audio recorders for mixing desk output & for a stereo M/S mic (Sony ECM-939LT) situated near the stage front as well as mics situated on both DV cams (Panasonic NV-GS400s) near the stage: Rode SVM & VM.

I received one of the first units, and I have read quite a bit on the H2.
And that's the first I've heard of it.

Zoom H2 HAS 4 mics
 

I did read (I think maybe on the Zoom H2 and H4 Forum - just Google it) that when the unit was being designed this was one option being considered but it was superceded by the 4 mic design that was then launched and is now out there. Certainly, in 4 channel mode all 4 LCD meter bars move independently!

Got mine a few days ago and I really like it/having lots of fun with it!

Some of the promotional stuff states that but it is out of date and they where launched with 4 mics.

Thanks guys. My H2 arrived today and although rather 'plasticky' looking it sure sounds good. And all for less than the price of a simple, mono Senheisser MKE 300D microphone. I can't get over it. It was only about 3 years ago when the included 512 SD card cost as much as the entire package. Love it. Bye-bye Minidisc.

tom.

I thought that but my old mini disc sounds much better. So hello again MD, bye bye H2.