Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

I am the editor of two small weekly newspapers. Covering government meetings and doing personal interviews requires a high-quality audio recorder that does not fail unexpectedly. We liked the H2 Zoom so much we purchased a second so all our reporters would have access to this device when attending meetings, etc. The Zoom allows you to customize recording and playback settings to fit a variety of situations and environments, resulting in crisp and clear audio while eliminating ambient noise.

There is plenty of storage on the card that comes with the Zoom; I have never suddenly found the memory full in the middle of a recording, as I did with previous audio recorders.

The plug-and-play feature is fantastic for us Mac users. We had a hard time finding Mac-compatible recorders that didn't require installing software, but the Zoom fits the bill perfectly. Playback and storage on the computer is a cinch because files will automatically load to iTunes.

Finally, the Zoom's affordability was the clincher. Being able to create such high quality audio without paying a fortune is fantastic for a small, owner-operated business like ours.

The one thing I noticed is that leaving the batteries in the device when not in use seems to drain them more quickly. I don't know what would cause this phantom draw, but I remove the batteries when not using the recorder, and they seem to last a great deal longer.

As long as the H2 Zoom continues to be available, I will never buy anything else.

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

We use this recorder for audio interviews/voice overs and it works great. The quality of the sound is fantastic in addition to the actual recorder being small and light (thus super portable). Once you understand the menu, it's very easy to use too.

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

it's ok, but it just has a mini audio input, the same as my dslr i bought this to complement. the mini input is an iffy connection, prone to noise and unreliability. the h4n recorder had balanced xlr inputs and makes more sense, though it's almost 2.5x the price.

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

This review is about2 products that need each other.

Are you a Videographer?
HDSLR shooter?

Use Zoom to record live enents coming straight from a DJ's mixer or sound room? STOP!

You need to buy what I just bought from B&H that is extremely vital. The zoom Line inputs are way too sensitive! Anything can ruin your sound.

Item: SES-MKP-25 Professional Stereo RCA Volume Control by Sescom B&H# SES-MKP-25 (audio signal attenuator)

I shoot weddings and I refuse to get audio from the camera's mic. My clients get very hi-end audio from me. it simply re-creates the reception event when you have CLEAN stereo sound coming straight from the DJ's mixer. unfortunately, 99.9999999% of all DJs will screw up the audio levels from the middle to end of the party letting the input signals get extremely high and i had to STOP this problem.

If you use a digital LINE IN recorder such as the Zoom H2, H2N and H4, you cannot afford to record a reception or any live performance that need audio from a mixer without this product!!

I made a test myself letting the mixer go nuts with unacceptable audio levels with this device between the mixer and the Zoom. No matter what I did, the distortion was GONE! Then I tried without. BAD DAY! USELESS AUDIO! it doesn't matter what levels you set it to since the audio signal coming from the DJ is his and there's nothing you can do. Distortion will come even if you set the recording levels to almost zero. This attenuator will give you the power to ease up on the input and the sound will be perfect.

Buy this with your eyes closed. You cannot go wrong with it!

What I do: I'm a professional videographer and Audio for Video Specialist for 20 years.

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

I am a novice at digital recorders. I want to make better videos and this was the way to get great audio. The first time I used the Zoom H2 I had only glanced at a few pages of the manuel, and I was able to use the recorder no problem. Overall, great product, makes great voice recordings, perhaps it could be tougher in design but for the money I am impressed.

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

I am a violinist and I use the H2 to record practice sessions and rehearsals that I can easily play back to myself or my group. It has everything I need in a recorder.

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

The Zoom H2 Recorder is an amazing device. If you are looking for a portable recorder, this is it. The device is intuitive and the playback is amazing.

I originally purchased the Zoom H2 for interviews paired with my D5100. The difference is night and day compared to my on camera mic. I am now using it for podcasting and live music since the device works so well.

The build quality feels poor, plain and simple. I feel like if I were to drop the device, it would explode. It is made of cheap feeling plastic but records phenomenally, hence the 5 stars.

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

This is without a doubt an excellent recorder.

I bought from B&H 1, then ordered 5 more total of 6!

According to most users, they use this for recording musical instruments and live band rehearsals, etc.

I use this for VIDEO such as weddings, performances, etc using all jacks: the built-in mic, lavs and LINE-IN inputs.

My use is critical as there are NO second takes.

These are my uses: Multi-track recording using the Zoom H2 and H4 in combination with my Sony and Sennheiser lavaliere systems. In post, all tracks are synced on the timeline. Everything sounds scarely hi-end; choirs, singers, readers, priest, groom, church audience sound like a professionally recorded Hollywood production. (yes, I charge thousands extra for that wedding special audio)

1- Church Orchestra + Organ + choir (built-in mic)

2- Singers, readers (I install the unit on the podium using a dynamic lavaliere mic, same for the singer)

3- groom and priest I get the audio from my lavs directly on the camera's XLR inputs. Since I can only have 2 XLRs to be recorded directly on camera footage, I need all those external recorders which dramatically up scaled the level of my production.

The problem I'm having is that via LINE IN seems to be very sensitive. As the DJ increases the audio signal later on the party it distorts the sound. My recording levels are correct but the signal coming in is too hot. well...It's HIS mixer and i have to pray that he won't get too excited later on and blow my audio...

Now, I know that it is sensitive because I use an alternative option using a Sony UWP-V6 lavaliere system that also features LINE-IN and the sound does NOT distort even though the signal is a bit hot. I prefer using the Zoom as it provides me a STEREO sound while the other (safer) one is MONO.

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

I Brought the H2 for my Nikon d3100 to spruce up the audio and it drops into the editing time line with ease. The extras saved me a lot of money. Now I record the Church services on Sunday to play back during the Week.

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

I use this for recording band practice. Very easy to use, I was recording in 2 minutes, and I am no techno-geek.Sound quality is great, and it easily handled the very high db's we were generating (ham fisted drummer!). The case feels a little light so I bought the $10 silicone jacket, which is very nice. I had (have) a Tascam DR-03 and found that to be a real pain to use so I bailed on it. At BH's price of [$] I'd recommend it to a friend in a second.

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

This is used in a variety of ways and was purchased as audio backup for videotaping. It is high quality. The membrane switches in front could be improved and the menu is a bit cumbersome, but overall a good product.

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

I use this as a idea capture device with our 4 piece acoustic group, a whistle, guitar, autoharp and lever harp. I bought a second H2 recently and have been recording four channels from my mixer (mike and line on three instruments, 2 mikes on the whistle)with them as a cheap field studio when we practice at different places and are throwing ideas around. I then just hook the recorders up to the interface for my DAW with the same 1/8" to mono Y cable I use to plug into the mixer with. Voila, 4 separate editable channels at once on the cheap, once you get them lined up.

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

Great buy! Easy to use, good sound quality for the price you pay. I used it to record myself playing guitar and also to record a jam session and the results were outstanding.

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

For taping interviews for KWAR Wartburg Colleges radio station and use in radio classes

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

I recall how I lamented the absence of high-quality digital personal recorders--and then suddenly the H2 appeared and seemed to take market share by storm. I was initially thrilled by the audio quality and all of the flexibility and features, including MP3 capability and 4 onboard mics. But during the first 6 months the little clip holding the cover for the SD card broke off, necessitating a sticky-tape fix. Then I began to lose patience with the tiny window as well as the numerous menu controls available only through a multi-operative touch-skin control and sub-menu. And I was still consulting the instruction menu. In short, this lightweight little thing is an over-achiever guaranteed to make a sensational first impression. But after that initial infatuation I needed something that was: 1. built more solid; 2. simpler to operate. Result: I moved up to the Sony PCM D-50. In comparing the audio quality between the two units, I honestly can't say the Sony is dramatically superior--certainly not proportionate to its higher price. But it's a metal tank compared to the plastic H2, built to last a life-time, and what it lacks in small features (e.g. no MP3's) contributes to its simplicity and, moreover, can easily be compensated for in post-recording editing / production. The H2 purports to be a complete DAW, with onboard editing capabilities. But you'd have to have munchkin fingers and Job-like patience to use it that way. Zoom found a waiting market as well as a way to satisfy its demands with the right price. But it's clear they cut corners. In retrospect, I'd say the unit is an instantly impressive performer and, though "fair-priced," is far from the screaming value many have called it.

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

There a lot of power thrown into this little mic. I gave it 4 stars only because the GAIN control is either AUTO or uses a L/M/H switch, would've liked a dial or +/- buttons.

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

Using this for podcasting both with a lapel mic and using the built-in microphones. The quality of sound is amazing, I only wish my real voice sounded this good. Comes with numerous handy attachments, and a very nice instruction guide for someone like me who didn't know the first thing about recording. The screen could be larger to see, but I knew this when purchasing. Only negative for me, is that when you attach external mic, the built in mics shut off. It would be nice to override that feature if you wanted it.

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

My new H2 is easy to use and produces very clear, crisp sound. I am recording my book, read by the author, for mass distribution through MP3 and CD recordings. This sound is good quality with no extraneous sounds. I am very pleased with the results. For such a low price I could not have found anything better.

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

I purchased this field recorder for use on a movie musical I will be making. It will be used both for the vocal and instrumental music recorded in pre-production and the 2-system sound recorded during production (For those who don't know, 2-system sound means I will be recording video with a camcorder and audio on a separate device).

Because I am using the device for 2 very different tasks, I require it to be rather versatile. Some of my requirements include:
- Clear audio when used with an external microphone.
- Substantial battery life to accommodate a day of shooting.
- Portable size, shape and weight to reduce strain on audio technician.
- Low cost (I'm on a very small budget)
- Versatility of recording methods to accommodate different scenes and microphones for different shots.

We have not yet finished writing the music, but I have been performing tests with this recorder to make sure that it will be able to handle all the tasks I will soon be giving it. It has handled everything I've thrown at it with ease. The audio it records is excellent, it is very light, small, and easy to carry, and can record with built in microphone or using a mic in or line in, and has gain and recording level settings for all recording modes.

I can't say enough about how great this field recorder is. It is perfect for what I'll be using it for. I can't wait to make this movie, and am very happy that this technology is enabling me to make it that much more professional and high quality.

Comments about Zoom H2 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder:

Bought one to record sound during high school marching band performances. Mix the audio with video using DualEyes. Wow! What a sound improvement. My son found it handy to record guitar, keyboards, drums, etc which he then mixes to record his own music! Not exactly pro quality but actually quite good. So, I am buying a second one for him.