By Matthew Jeppsen, May 13, 2008
In the field of wedding and event videography, there exists a strong need for compact and reliable audio recording solutions. Each venue and event has unique audio challenges and limiting factors. The tools necessary to meet these challenges must be compact, reliable, easy to use... and of course affordable. In addition to wireless systems, many videographers utilize standalone Minidisc or iRiver MP3 recorders to capture audio from soloists, readers and soundboard outputs.
Another solution is the Zoom H2 Audio Recorder. This sleek unit offers far more features than the aforementioned tools, and does so in a relatively compact and affordable package. It comes with a 512MB SD card, a mini-to-RCA cable for stereo line sources, earbuds, table stand, mike handle, foam windscreen, A/C adapter, USB cable, extensive operations manual and a drawstring bag. The unit can be powered by AA batterie; expect a maximum runtime of about four hours. The handle and stand simply screw into the 1/4-20 thread on the bottom of the H2 to so you can stand it vertically on a flat surface or handhold the unit. And yes, the battery compartment is accessible even when the unit is mounted on a tripod stand. Dimensions are 2.5"x4.3"x1.3".
The Zoom H2 enables both compressed and uncompressed audio recording in WAV, MP3, or BWF formats. You can record in 16-bit or 24-bit at 44.1, 48 or 96kHz to standard SD media cards at up to 4GB. A 4GB SD card will net you 5+ hours uncompressed WAV record time in 44.1kHz. The included 512MB SD card will hold 3.5 hours of MP3 captures and 48 minutes of 44.1kHz 16-bit WAVs.
In addition to the 1/8 mike and line inputs, the H2 includes a unique onboard microphone for recording in 2-channel stereo or 4-channel surround modes with the built-in four mike capsules. In the former mode the unit records from the front and back of the H2. The latter mode captures front/back stereo sources for later creation of a 5.1 surround mix in your audio mixing program of choice. The hat trick that the H2 delivers is the ability to adjust the balance of each of the four channels afterwards right there on the unit, and even mix it down to a single stereo WAV. The unit can also do stereo WAV to MP3 conversions
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The outside of the unit has a Low/Medium/High Gain toggle, and it offers menu-adjustable AGC, Compressor, and Limiter functions. An indicator on the front lights up red when the unit is on and blinks when levels peak. The front panel houses the membrane buttons for mike modes and menu/playback controls. Controls can be locked with a “Key Hold” setting. A standard USB mini port is used to connect the H2 to Mac and PC computers, and when connected, it can be used as a USB microphone input for your applications. File transfers are simple drag and drop as the SD card mounts like a standard media card/drive and requires no driver installation. The H2 can also be used as a digital audio pass-through device when attached to another device via the 1/8 line out (like a wireless system). One application might be use as a solid-state localized backup in case of wireless interference.
In practical use, the H2 performs very well. There are a few minor issues, however. For one, the device takes between 5-10 seconds to boot. Another annoyance is the fact that if the “Monitor” menu toggle is set to “Off,” the headphone/line out function and front panel levels display are both disabled until you hit REC. There also appears to be no way to record in mono only for storage savings; the “Mono-Mix” setting takes the left channel input and dupes it to both channels in a stereo file. Another concern is the omission of XLR inputs. But I don’t see that as a major issue on a unit this compact — at about half the price of competing solid-state recorders, and double the number of mikes, I can live with 1/8 audio jacks.
Samson Zoom H2 Recorder
$200
DV Score:
Pros:
Affordable, lightweight, has good external controls, uses cheap storage, has excellent onboard mikes and numerous format options.
Cons:
Plastic case, no mono-only recording, pokey boot times, no XLR inputs, and has an insatiable appetite for AA batteries.
Bottom Line:
For double the mikes at half the price, 1/8 jacks are tolerable.
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