Zoom is at it again with a new addition to its popular line of Handy recorders. Taking design inspiration from the H5, the new H5studio Handy Recorder is designed to provide studio-quality sound anywhere you go.
The Zoom H5studio sports large-diameter 19.4mm XY stereo mics. These capsules are the largest ever put into a portable recorder, and combined with the dual A/D converters, you get rich, high-fidelity sound with a superwide frequency response and dynamic range. The mic’s 123 dB of dynamic range breaks the record for the widest ever provided by built-in mics for field recorders, and it means you capture bigger, clearer audio than ever before.
These mics can handle up to an impressive 140 dB max SPL before distortion, enabling you to capture very loud sounds. Two XLR-1/4” TRS inputs are provided and deliver professional-grade, noise-free audio via the ultralow-noise preamps (-127 dBu EIN) which are borrowed from Zoom’s flagship F-series devices. The combo inputs are locking and support both +48V phantom power for condenser mics and +4 dBu line-level input for pro gear. A 3.5mm stereo input with plug-in power is ideal for connecting to lavalier microphones.
With 32-bit float processing, you can capture pristine audio in any setting without fear of degraded or distorted sound. Dedicated gain knobs let you fine tune levels on the fly, which saves you loads of time in postproduction.
The H5studio can record up to six tracks (four inputs plus a stereo mix) in 32-bit float or traditional 16- or 24-bit audio. The H5studio supports sample rates up to 192 kHz, ensuring professional audio quality for major projects. When working in 16- or 24-bit modes, the device sports a look-ahead hybrid limiter system that safeguards your recordings by utilizing a 1ms delay to anticipate potential clipping and prevent distortion before it hits your track.
The XY mics feature Zoom’s new 3.0 capsule system, which is detachable. This allows you to pick the right mic for your recording applications, such as optional shotgun, XLR I/O, and wireless modules (extra modules sold separately).
In addition to a standard headphone output, the H5studio features a 3.5mm stereo line output to send audio directly to a camera. With the USB connection, you can engage in 4-in/2-out USB audio interface duties with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices. You can also livestream while recording a backup on the SD card.
The H5studio supports a range of optional addons from Zoom. The TCA-1 timecode adapter is an optional accessory that lets you generate timecode, output timecode to a camera, or jam to a timecode clock. If using either the TCA-1 or the BTA-1 Bluetooth adapter (both sold separately), you can receive wireless timecode from the ATOMOS UltraSync BLUE. With the Zoom Handy Control & Sync app for iOS, you can remotely manage multiple Zoom recorders, including controlling functions, syncing timecodes, and more.
Finally, the H5studio offers a wide range of useful features, including: Monaural mode for recording interviews, narration, and vocals; a low-cut filter to suppress low-end noise such as vibration and AC noises; a normalizing function with audio exporting in 24-bit WAV; microSDHC/SDXC cards as recording media (up to 2 TB, sold separately); operation on just four AA batteries for up to 15 hours of recording; USB power; variable speed playback (0.5 to 1.5x) and A-B repeat playback; and recording start tone function for aligning audio with camera video.
For more information about the new Zoom H5studio, including additional features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out the detailed product page. Or drop us a line below, and we’ll do our best to answer all your comments and questions.
2 Comments
Does the H5studio support overdub, punch-in, and mixdown functions?
According to Zoom, the H5Studio does not feature any overdubbing or punch-in recording functions. However, it does have an export function that will sum all channels to a stereo mixdown.