Question on Zoom H2 Settings to Record Band

[Bussman]

Just got a Zoom H2 recorder and will be using tonight for the first time, to record a band rehearsal. We're a fairly loud rock band (PA, 2 guitars, drums, bass, keys). The room is a large rectangular basement rec room, center of the room is maybe 15-20 ft in front of the band.

I'd just use the default settings with mic gain on L...but am still concerned about the loud volume causing distortion, clipping etc.

Looking for advice on settings to use, especially:

Recording mode....plan to use .wav --- 16 or 24bit?
ACG / Comp- should I use it?
other settings for loud band?

Thanks in advance for input!

Bussman

 

[Bassamatic]

My H2 works great. Unless you are REALLY loud, the mid setting should be OK for 20 feet away. Remember that you can also fine adjust the mic level inside each major level.

If you set the level too low, you will not get enough dynamic range. The meter should go to 80-90% when recording.

Use ONLY the peak limiter for super peaks. The recording LED on the front will flash if you hit the limiter, so you know to lower the mic level. It can flash once in a while, but too often and you will hear it working.

Do a sound check and plug in your GOOD headphones to check the sound or play it through your PA. Try different placements. Keep your levels down.

Use fresh alkaline batteries each session or use the AC adapter.

For rehearsals, MP3 at 192 kHz is more than good enough, unless you need .wav for your editor. Recording inside like that you are NOT going to get CD quality no matter what you do, so don't waste the memory on WAV.

This is a GREAT tool - I use it to record everything.

Have fun!

 

[Steve]

I would err on the side of low gain.
You can bring the gain up a huge amount in external software without getting noise. +24db is no problem.

The auto comp has an audible pump to it that I hate. I don't use it.

If your ears and stereo are real sensitive, you may hear a little loss of top end with their mp3 compression algorithm. It's nothing you can't get back easily with software and pretty much a non-issue for basement tapes.

I think Zoom put the bulk of the cost into the mic capsules which sound really good but I've found that most of the on board processing can be done better, faster, easier with external software like audacity or reaper.

 

[Bussman]

Thanks for great advice and tips Steve and Gio S. Seems like .mp3 mode will be fine, and either L or M on the level. Will try both and watch the meter. Also try a few combinations.

Bussman

 

[dasruckus]

While using the H2 from 5 feet away on the Low mic Setting it can distort horribly. What you have to do is turn down the recording volume to about 70 if it's a really loud band, since you are about 20 feet away try it at 80. Just experiment a little bit.

It really blows when you have a good session and the recording is just a bunch of scratches.

 

[Pruitt]

I usually use the Limit 1 setting when recording live with my H2 in a small room. I also usually enable the Lo Cut feature, as the H2 tends to be a bit boomy to me. I normally record in 44100/16bit Wav mode. I have a 4gb card in mine and that gives me over 6 hours of recording time. More then enough for any rehearsal or show I've ever recorded, and I've used this thing a lot! lol...

Have fun with it!!