Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
zoom h2
- Thread starter SiReZ
- Start date
I have a Zoom H4n. It's great for recording whatever you like, choirs, rock bands, birds, kids, whatever.
I use it for recording rehearsals, gig and as a demo scratchpad, as it has a Multitrack (4 tracks) mode, so you would be able to do overdubbing on it.
I think its great. Pretty much every review or comment has been positive about it. It's not as versatile as PC-based, but you can take it anywhere, it takes no time to set up and is not that expensive.
If you want, you can always output the files for subsequent editing on a PC.
It's not as easy to do pinpoint editing of sound or mixing as on a PC, and you don't have as much as a visual interface as with a PC either, BUT, the H4n can double as an audio interface to PC and has Cubase lite bundled with it so you can go that route without too much difficulty with it if you want.
Hope that helps.
I use it for recording rehearsals, gig and as a demo scratchpad, as it has a Multitrack (4 tracks) mode, so you would be able to do overdubbing on it.
I think its great. Pretty much every review or comment has been positive about it. It's not as versatile as PC-based, but you can take it anywhere, it takes no time to set up and is not that expensive.
If you want, you can always output the files for subsequent editing on a PC.
It's not as easy to do pinpoint editing of sound or mixing as on a PC, and you don't have as much as a visual interface as with a PC either, BUT, the H4n can double as an audio interface to PC and has Cubase lite bundled with it so you can go that route without too much difficulty with it if you want.
Hope that helps.
I've got and H2 an love it. It's great for recording shows or jams.
Cheapest and most versatile way would be s cheap adapter for the Mic in on a computer and freeware or cheap multi track DAW solution (like Reaper or some such)
Cheapest and most versatile way would be s cheap adapter for the Mic in on a computer and freeware or cheap multi track DAW solution (like Reaper or some such)
Sorry if this is a bit off the thread's intended topic....
What's the bass response like on the H2 in everyone's experience?
The reason I ask is that we recorded our practice for the 1st time with our singer's new H2, and I feel like my tone as recorded is much more bright/middy than I hear it. Am I just not hearing my sound right? Amp is a combo 2x10 on the floor and I'm usually fairly close to it if directionality is coming into play (I'm not too educated on that kind of stuff).
Thanks!!
What's the bass response like on the H2 in everyone's experience?
The reason I ask is that we recorded our practice for the 1st time with our singer's new H2, and I feel like my tone as recorded is much more bright/middy than I hear it. Am I just not hearing my sound right? Amp is a combo 2x10 on the floor and I'm usually fairly close to it if directionality is coming into play (I'm not too educated on that kind of stuff).
Thanks!!
I've actually always thought my raw H2 wave files were a bit boomy, to be honest. Are you recording to to WAV files or compressed mp3 files?
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,613
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
I found getting a $30 tripod at Target helped me record better live takes because I could control placement of the H2 mics much better.
No problems to report with bass tone on the H2. I think the user interface is a little clunky, i.e. modal interface with multiple levels, but hey, it's light, small, and cheap.
No problems to report with bass tone on the H2. I think the user interface is a little clunky, i.e. modal interface with multiple levels, but hey, it's light, small, and cheap.
She was recording to WAV for the song I'm referencing. Also without realizing the layout of the unit (she had just gotten it) she had the unit turned sideways i.e. front of the unit to the left and rear of the unit to the right.
If the recordings are typically boomy, then I'm way into the treble range and can't hear it standing there.... good to know.
I just got one of these, mostly based on positive reviews here. I am very impressed with the sound quality, same with the other guys in the band. I would say the bass response is surprisingly good. I have been recording to MP3 format so can't comment on the WAV sound quality.
I was also considering a PC interface, but ended up with this. In the end it works better for what I wanted, is very ultra portable, and easy to use.
I was also considering a PC interface, but ended up with this. In the end it works better for what I wanted, is very ultra portable, and easy to use.
I am using the H2 for about 18 months, and it is capable of recording anything from heavy metal gigs to classical concerts, rehearsals and jazz in a decent way. Especially if you just need to get an idea in the rehearsal room on tape, this is the way to go.
It's been my experience (and I've had an H2 that get's a LOT of use for quite a while) that those things are pretty darn accurate to reality in WAV. mode. As you use mp3 mode, you'll start to notice a little loss of top end as you drop the bitrate. IF you start using all the on-board software like compression, auto gain, whatever, all kinds of stuff I hear as negative starts to happen but, from a bass players standpoint, if it sounded boomy or thin, it was boomy or thin.
Unless of course, you had a placement issue like it got stuck into a corner or too close to the PA horns. Any decent Mic is gonna be a little twitchy in that regard.
IMHO
Unless of course, you had a placement issue like it got stuck into a corner or too close to the PA horns. Any decent Mic is gonna be a little twitchy in that regard.
IMHO
^^^^This!^^^^
Record in Wav only and convert when you get it to your computer if you choose to. Also, placement is key! Too close or too far away will result in iffy recordings.
Record in Wav only and convert when you get it to your computer if you choose to. Also, placement is key! Too close or too far away will result in iffy recordings.
I just got the H2, and I think it is a very useful, and good quality piece of equipment. In particular, we use it for recording practices, then emailing the files around. I see the note about recording in WAV, and I have to ask, what kind of software, if any, do you use to convert to MP3? I've been recording 128 bit MP3 just for the simplicity of direct transfer, followed by email to my mates.
My drummer has an H2, and I just got an H4n - fantastic little devices! Zoom has really done a good job with these products.
If you're finding that your recording is very boomy, keep in mind that the room and/or the mic placement will have an effect on your recordings. If you can't get past an excessively boomy room, try using one of the roll-off filters.
If you're finding that your recording is very boomy, keep in mind that the room and/or the mic placement will have an effect on your recordings. If you can't get past an excessively boomy room, try using one of the roll-off filters.
^That.
Although, IMHO almost anything is better than the internal software. It's pretty obvious to me that Zoom sunk all the money into the mic caps and did their "value engineering" on the case and software.
Which is fine by me.
Thanks for the answers, and sorry for the minor threadjack! I'll look into Audacity, as I'm curious what the wav files sound like now that I've had a bit of success recording straight to MP3.
I also agree with the statements above regarding mic placement. HUGE difference in the amount of what instrument you will pick up. I'm going to use it in a microphone stand next practice and see how that plays.
I also agree with the statements above regarding mic placement. HUGE difference in the amount of what instrument you will pick up. I'm going to use it in a microphone stand next practice and see how that plays.
I've been using the H2 for about a year and I like it. It sounds very good, and is easy to use. However, I must caution you concerning two issues I've had to work around.
1. Recording in mp3 mode created digital artifacts ("chirping" sounds) that were totally unacceptable to me. Luckily, I don't need to use the mp3 mode, so I just avoid it. I record in cd quality and it sounds great and gives me plenty of recording length.
2. The recording level adjustment is not analog! This means that you can not avoid digital clipping when recording loud sounds unless you can physically distance the device from the sound source. Again, this is bothersome, but I have been able to work around it. I set the H2 as far from the drums as I can in our small rehearsal room, and everything is fine. Of course, it is easy to imagine situations where moving the device would not be possible. After I had been using mine for some time I learned about a competitors model (I've forgotten which one, maybe Tascam?) that allows more precise analog recording level adjustments. Maybe someone who knows more about this issue could chime in?
In summary, the H2 is awesome sounding, but has SERIOUS limitations. If those limitations aren't a problem for you I would say go ahead and get one.
1. Recording in mp3 mode created digital artifacts ("chirping" sounds) that were totally unacceptable to me. Luckily, I don't need to use the mp3 mode, so I just avoid it. I record in cd quality and it sounds great and gives me plenty of recording length.
2. The recording level adjustment is not analog! This means that you can not avoid digital clipping when recording loud sounds unless you can physically distance the device from the sound source. Again, this is bothersome, but I have been able to work around it. I set the H2 as far from the drums as I can in our small rehearsal room, and everything is fine. Of course, it is easy to imagine situations where moving the device would not be possible. After I had been using mine for some time I learned about a competitors model (I've forgotten which one, maybe Tascam?) that allows more precise analog recording level adjustments. Maybe someone who knows more about this issue could chime in?
In summary, the H2 is awesome sounding, but has SERIOUS limitations. If those limitations aren't a problem for you I would say go ahead and get one.
I've been using my H2 for about a year & love it. We record practice/jams every week. I echo what everybody else says about placement....it's crucial. I'm pretty happy with my bass tone on it, and we only record in .wav format. I've never been too thrilled with the MP3 format on the unit.
Convenient, cheap, & easy.
And as a side note, their customer service/tech support is awesome. I just had a problem upgrading the operating system on it from 1.30 to 1.70 & the response from Samson was quick, friendly & accurate.
I love my H2!
Convenient, cheap, & easy.
And as a side note, their customer service/tech support is awesome. I just had a problem upgrading the operating system on it from 1.30 to 1.70 & the response from Samson was quick, friendly & accurate.
I love my H2!
Once I realized how worthless the auto gain and compression was on the H2, I found out that it has a pretty darn good S/N ratio.
You can set that thing quiet then put it in Audacity or similar and bring it up an easy 12- 18db or so without getting any audible background noise. You're right though, you clip the input and it sounds BAD and there's nothing you can do to get rid of it.
