Zoom H2: What's the catch?

noisetonepause · Post by **noisetonepause** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 7:18 pm

I bought a Zoom H2 today for 1700,- DKK (~170 GBP).

It's a two track recorder with a built-in condenser mic. It records to SD cards, works as a mass storage device and as a USB audio interface.... it runs for a few hours off two AA batteries.

And it's awesome? Just putting it on its little tripod on the dining table pointing vaguely at my acoustic gets a perfectly usable acoustic guitar sound - in stereo..

I've recorded some train and street sounds with it as well. It's maybe not exactly like being there when you listen back on headphones, but I've got some good samples of doors slamming and cars going by to feed the sampler with.. and the thing fits in the palm of my hand.

Should I expect this to blow up tomorrow or what? It seems to good to be true.

dcease · Post by **dcease** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 7:49 pm

i've been considering getting one, nice to hear real review, does it seem sturdy?

noisetonepause · Post by **noisetonepause** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 7:58 pm

dcease wrote:i've been considering getting one, nice to hear real review, does it seem sturdy?

It's not very heavy and made of plastic. I don't know if sturdy is the word I'd use, but there doesn't seem to be an awful lot that could go wrong with it... The buttons on the front are all behind one piece of plastic or rubber. I don't think dirt can get into them at all... The display is behind some very thick plastic too, it seems.

I don't think it'll handle being dropped too well, but that's probably just cos of its weight. I really have no idea, though I don't think it has moving parts, except for the volume sliders... but my guess is that it's quite resilient to general wear and tear.

So err... I guess?

I can definitely see myself bringing it most places, just keeping it in my laptop bag in this small nylon pouch that came with it..

Sales Dude McBoob · Post by **Sales Dude McBoob** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:05 pm

I know the H4 can be used as an audio interface, but I wasn't aware that the H2 could be used as one too. Can you verify this?

This copy from Zoom's website is confusing:
"..use the H2's USB interface to move your recordings to your Mac or PC to listen, edit and share."

The H4 comes with Cubase LE, did your H2 come with it as well?

I'm currently writing a portable recorder's buyer's guide. As far as I can tell there is no catch with the H2. It's the cheapest of the prosumer audio nerd ilk, and it seems to have everything you'd need except XLR inputs. Have you tried using the front and rear mics for 360 degree recording yet?

dcease · Post by **dcease** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:09 pm

noisetonepause wrote:but my guess is that it's quite resilient to general wear and tear...

general wear and tear does not describe me

noisetonepause wrote: just keeping it in my laptop bag in this small nylon pouch that came with it..

nice that it came with a little bag

for that price, if i could get a year out of it. i'd say money well spent. thank you, kind sir!

blinkeye · Post by **blinkeye** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:17 pm

it's my favorite gadget. can be used as a usb interface or a usb mic. i use the front and rear mics for 360 degree recording all the time. sounds amazing.

noisetonepause · Post by **noisetonepause** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:23 pm

Sales Dude McBoob wrote:I know the H4 can be used as an audio interface, but I wasn't aware that the H2 could be used as one too. Can you verify this?

I just did it, so yes, verified... and no, it didn't come with Cubase... but I consider that a feature

It also works as a mass storage device, obviously. Anecdotally, without having done any tests, I'd say it's a little slower than e.g. copying data to my 1st gen iPod Shuffle, but I might be imagining it. A 270 MB WAV took a little over 5 minutes. This is with an iBook G4.

Have you tried using the front and rear mics for 360 degree recording yet?

I just might do that now...

globalgoon · Post by **globalgoon** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:33 pm

does it work as an mp3 player as well?

blinkeye · Post by **blinkeye** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:38 pm

yeah, it records and plays mp3s

globalgoon wrote:does it work as an mp3 player as well?

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:40 pm

globalgoon wrote:does it work as an mp3 player as well?

Sort off.. You might need to recode some mp3 files.
Its hardly worth it. I used it as an mp3 player and ran thru 8 batteries in a weekend.
If you want an mp3 player. Get a Zen from creative. Cheap, small and does what it should do.

The H2 kicks ass. I'm using it for a recording project as we speak.
It shows up as an interface on my mac, but I have yet to get sound out of it. Probably should RTFM...
The thing has more options and prefs then my damn computer...

creature · Post by **creature** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 9:05 pm

I have the Zoom H4 and absolutely love it. What you get for the price is amazing. The GUI is a bit weird and the device looks a little ugly, but who gives a f*ck. The results I have had from is have sounded very good indeed.

Steve

Sales Dude McBoob · Post by **Sales Dude McBoob** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 9:23 pm

hoffman2k wrote: It shows up as an interface on my mac, but I have yet to get sound out of it. Probably should RTFM...

What's he doing wrong, Paws?

Are you all 100% positive that the H2 can be used as an audio interface? I'm unconvinced.

greta · Post by **greta** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 9:43 pm

Cool!! the h2 is on my wishlist, this thread has just moved it up a couple of places.

noisetonepause · Post by **noisetonepause** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:23 pm

Sales Dude McBoob wrote:
hoffman2k wrote: It shows up as an interface on my mac, but I have yet to get sound out of it. Probably should RTFM...
What's he doing wrong, Paws?

Are you all 100% positive that the H2 can be used as an audio interface? I'm unconvinced.

Well, I say again: I just did it.

I selected USB from the main menu on it, then Audio I/F, then 'Connect'. It then shows up in System Preferences and in Live - and sound comes out of it..

Mine's got firmware v1.20, which is the latest.

noisetonepause · Post by **noisetonepause** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:25 pm

The USB Audio I/F has its own settings, you access them by pressing Menu after Connecting as described above.

There's an entry labelled 'Input'. Mine is set to On.