Freesound Forums

I am about to order one of the two. I don't care about the price (100$, is not a big difference for me), and i would like to know your opinions about them.

Do you think that the XLR inputs in H2 offers much better qualiry than the quality in recordings in the H2?

Is that W,X,Y a really interesting thing for field recordings and you think i ll miss it if i go with the H4?

Please let me know your experiences about them...

Thank you in advance.

Depends what you need the unit for, I guess

It's still too early to talk about the two units' differences, H2 has been available for just a short while now (couple days), so you'll probably have to wait a bit to read some proper user reviews. H4 has got plenty good sides, but a few bad ones too - mainly the low frequency rhythmic noise when battery operated, no battery meter, and no time record on file.

www.2090.org/zoom/bbs/viewforum.php?f=15 - that's the Zoom H2&H4 forum you should check out, you'll most likely find the first usable information there.

Hope it helps

I need it for field recordings like the ones you have uploaded here.
Thanx for the link, it really helps. I am still thinking of these 2 xlr inputs as a good idea, but i would like to read some reviews and have some opinions.
Do you have the H4?

aesqe
Depends what you need the unit for, I guess

It's still too early to talk about the two units' differences, H2 has been available for just a short while now (couple days), so you'll probably have to wait a bit to read some proper user reviews. H4 has got plenty good sides, but a few bad ones too - mainly the low frequency rhythmic noise when battery operated, no battery meter, and no time record on file.

www.2090.org/zoom/bbs/viewforum.php?f=15 - that's the Zoom H2&H4 forum you should check out, you'll most likely find the first usable information there.

Hope it helps

I borrowed the H4 from a friend in order to do some field recording. Here is what I learned:
The menus are hard to learn and not very simple, and although there are many quick setup buttons it takes a while to get going and to understand what you are doing. There is no battery meter but the batteries seem to have a pretty long life, and when you can use ordinary batteries you dont have to load them anywhere, it's just to pop in a new pair of fresh batteries.

The XLR input with 48V phantom pover was handy with my condenser microphone that needs phantom, but i would have liked the ability to record both the internal microphone and xlr-input at once, that didn't seem possible now. Maybe some future software upgrade might do it.

I used mainly the H4 internal microphone and might upload a sample of it if you like.

It's very handy, but setting it up is a little bit complicated, especially if you're in a hurry and don't have the time to read the manual, and when recording, it doesn't start recording emmediately but goes inte some kind of pause-mode and the you have to press the record button again to record. Missed some good takes due to that.

my 2 cents

ljudman
I borrowed the H4 from a friend in order to do some field recording. Here is what I learned:
The menus are hard to learn and not very simple, and although there are many quick setup buttons it takes a while to get going and to understand what you are doing. There is no battery meter but the batteries seem to have a pretty long life, and when you can use ordinary batteries you dont have to load them anywhere, it's just to pop in a new pair of fresh batteries.

The XLR input with 48V phantom pover was handy with my condenser microphone that needs phantom, but i would have liked the ability to record both the internal microphone and xlr-input at once, that didn't seem possible now. Maybe some future software upgrade might do it.

I used mainly the H4 internal microphone and might upload a sample of it if you like.

It's very handy, but setting it up is a little bit complicated, especially if you're in a hurry and don't have the time to read the manual, and when recording, it doesn't start recording emmediately but goes inte some kind of pause-mode and the you have to press the record button again to record. Missed some good takes due to that.

my 2 cents

thanx for the reply, its true that sometime i ll need it with instant access. so this might be a problem...i guess i ll go with the H2.
Do you know (or anybody else ) any on line shopes that they ship to europe?
i tried thomann but the price is pretty expensive....

thanx

About the menus on H4: it's true that they are a bit complicated, especially when you try to record in the four track mode, but yes, after some time you get used to it. I find the combination of the main center button and the scroll/push button on the side especially annoying.

As far as XLR mics+internal combo goes, I unfortunately don't see it happening, with H2 being released for surround recording purposes. I'm not sure if it's even possible hardware-wise :/ I've tried using my SE3's with H4 and the sound is almost as good as with Tascam HD-P2 (a bit weaker, tho).

H4's internal microphones are more directional than omni, as far as I can tell. It's great for recording, for example, raindrops falling on different types of material in one rain-recording session In some cases, I've liked the sound of H4's mics better than the sound I got using SE Electronics SE3's hock:

Anyways, if you get yourself an external battery pack for it (read this: http://www.bradlinder.net/2007/07/building-external-battery-pack-for.html), I wholeheartedly recommend the H4. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with its sound quality, the batteries last long enough even with phantom power on (stick with Duracell), the casing is OK and quite durable, and it's almost a perfect pocket solution for field recording.

I'd suggest you wait a week or two to read the H2 reviews, but if you can't wait, it seems as a great choice too and I'm sure you won't regret buying it.

aesqe
About the menus on H4: it's true that they are a bit complicated, especially when you try to record in the four track mode, but yes, after some time you get used to it. I find the combination of the main center button and the scroll/push button on the side especially annoying.

As far as XLR mics+internal combo goes, I unfortunately don't see it happening, with H2 being released for surround recording purposes. I'm not sure if it's even possible hardware-wise :/ I've tried using my SE3's with H4 and the sound is almost as good as with Tascam HD-P2 (a bit weaker, tho).

H4's internal microphones are more directional than omni, as far as I can tell. It's great for recording, for example, raindrops falling on different types of material in one rain-recording session In some cases, I've liked the sound of H4's mics better than the sound I got using SE Electronics SE3's hock:

Anyways, if you get yourself an external battery pack for it (read this: http://www.bradlinder.net/2007/07/building-external-battery-pack-for.html), I wholeheartedly recommend the H4. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with its sound quality, the batteries last long enough even with phantom power on (stick with Duracell), the casing is OK and quite durable, and it's almost a perfect pocket solution for field recording.

I'd suggest you wait a week or two to read the H2 reviews, but if you can't wait, it seems as a great choice too and I'm sure you won't regret buying it.

Ok! Thanx for your detailed reply. I am about to buy it. I saw you live in Europe as well. do you know any retailers in Europe? Where did you get yours?

I live in Croatia, there's just one shop that sells the H4's and they sell them in-store only. H2 won't be available that soon, I believe :/
I think you best take a look at the distributors page on Zoom's site (http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/contact/03.php) and find out who's the distributor for your country. Good luck

I've used DAT recorders and digital card recorders (heavy ones) in the field, and I love the H4. I never use the 4-track. I memorized the buttons for 2-track recording, playback and download to my computer in nothing flat. I've made lots of samples with it and couldn't be happier. I did buy the 2-GB card, but I usually am home the same day to download the few files I've recorded. The H4 is great.

I've had a Zoom H4 for a couple of months now and I am totally and helplessly in love with it!

highly recommended!!

Finally, we get to read a professional review of Zoom H2: http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2007/09/13/review-zoom-h2-surround-recorder.html

I've also used Zoom H4 for a couple of months and really...... its great. I have used it when I was in process of Web Site Design for a local company in LA of American Freight I am loving Zoon H4 since than.

Regards,
Komail Noori

crk365
I've had a Zoom H4 for a couple of months now and I am totally and helplessly in love with it!

get the H2 instead

If that doesnt help, be sure to visit www.Redmelody.com