Zoom recorders?

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sporkles
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Zoom recorders?

Post by sporkles » Wed Sep 26, 2012 4:53 pm

Does anyone have any experience with Zoom's recorders? I've been thinking about the H1, but I would be using it for recording sounds for use in music and film production (think hi quality / low noise). Is any of their recorders better suited for this than others, or is there a different brand that would be better? I'd like to be able to record anything from distant thunder and found sounds (for use in a sampler) to human breath or the sound of clothes when a person moves (for foley effects).

simmerdown
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Re: Zoom recorders?

Post by simmerdown » Wed Sep 26, 2012 5:01 pm

there was just a comprehensive thread about pocket recorders last week or so...

hoffman2k
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Re: Zoom recorders?

Post by hoffman2k » Wed Sep 26, 2012 5:16 pm

Try to look for a good deal on an Olympus LS or in a slightly higher price range: Roland R05 or Tascam DR40(has 2 XLR ins).

I have an H1. Out of the box, it was unusable because it ate the batteries. Even when not in use. So it spent its first few weeks in repair.
I had to tape it, because the battery cover rattles.

The Roland R26 is king (and I hear nice things about the Olympus LS-100). Can record 4 built-in and 2 external mics at once. Great sounding internal mics.
It looks like a brick and feels like it. But you get nice big dials to ride the input gain.
Its the closest you'll get to the type of recorders they use in films.

While at it... Screw the accessory packs.
Get one of the closest fitting models of the Rode dead feline windshields and a rubber band.
And an OP-MSA1 from Roland. 19€ for a stupid Mic mount adapter, but one that can be aimed in all directions and screws on every mic stand.

Don't get me wrong. Zoom makes nice stuff and a lot of people are happy with the H1. But they just don't make this stuff built to last. The H4N feels sturdy, but the rest is flimsy plastic.
The type of recordings you want to make will require specialized mics at some points. So XLR inputs are a must.

sporkles
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Re: Zoom recorders?

Post by sporkles » Wed Sep 26, 2012 6:39 pm

Thanks, h2k - great info!

So, basically any Olympus LS-(X) will be a good investment?

illsub1
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Re: Zoom recorders?

Post by illsub1 » Wed Sep 26, 2012 6:44 pm

H2N FTW sounds great, 5 mice, and inexpensive. What's not to love?

illsub1
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Re: Zoom recorders?

Post by illsub1 » Wed Sep 26, 2012 6:45 pm

EDIT: 5 mics

illsub1
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Re: Zoom recorders?

Post by illsub1 » Wed Sep 26, 2012 7:11 pm

EDIT: 5 mics

hoffman2k
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Re: Zoom recorders?

Post by hoffman2k » Wed Sep 26, 2012 7:12 pm

sporkles wrote:Thanks, h2k - great info!

So, basically any Olympus LS-(X) will be a good investment?
Yeah. They have a nice solid metal build. Nice mics and internal memory.
illsub1 wrote:H2N FTW sounds great, 5 mics, and inexpensive. What's not to love?
It definitely sounds good. I just don't like the build.
Probably worth mentioning I tend to drop things a lot. And I got burned with an H1. Though I had good times with an H2.

Da hand
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Re: Zoom recorders?

Post by Da hand » Wed Sep 26, 2012 10:10 pm

I have the H4N and love it. I use it with the built-in Mics and with a shotgun/boom mic. The mic preamps are quiet so you don't get hiss in your recordings.

memes_33
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Re: Zoom recorders?

Post by memes_33 » Wed Sep 26, 2012 10:58 pm

if you have an iphone or ipad or ipod, check out the tascam im2 or blue mikey. the tascam mics are the same ones they use for their handheld recorders similar to the zoom.
Hip-Hop, Breakbeat, Glitch, IDM, Dub, & Mashups! Go to:
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http://www.soundcloud.com/memes_33

sporkles
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Re: Zoom recorders?

Post by sporkles » Wed Sep 26, 2012 11:14 pm

^ Yeah, I checked out that Tascam mic, and it would be perfect, but now that Apple's shafted the old connector with the new iPhone, it's out of the question, as I'm on a 3GS... :(

memes_33
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Re: Zoom recorders?

Post by memes_33 » Wed Sep 26, 2012 11:48 pm

this and my multiple docks are making my upgrade to iphone 5 a serious consideration rather than a requirement
Hip-Hop, Breakbeat, Glitch, IDM, Dub, & Mashups! Go to:
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littlepig
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Re: Zoom recorders?

Post by littlepig » Thu Sep 27, 2012 7:13 am

I had an H2 a while ago. I thought it was good except:

1. it used batteries quickly
2. some of the switches looked a bit flimsy but I never had a problem with them.

esky
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Re: Zoom recorders?

Post by esky » Thu Sep 27, 2012 7:39 am

I have an H1 and its a good sounding recorder with good features but...broken all the time. Had to send it back for the second time in a short period due to a damaged mic. I going to get something different...bummer...

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