[Kelly Bucheger]

Just for your info,
Just bought a Zoom H4 and it is not recognized by MAC computers when you want to transfer files. Problem raised on different discussion forums. Wait and see ... I do not want to buy a separated SD card reader just to transfer my recorded files.

I've never had any problems transferring files from my H4 to my Mac. I do it a couple of times a week, with impunity....

 

[CherylH]

MAUDIO MicroTrack

We've had this recorder for almost a year. It is easy to use, small and has amazing sound. My husband says there is a newer version that is even better (of course)... then he says something about volts phantom power and external mikes. That is when I just say yes dear, nice dear, very interesting.

But on the recording side for even our older one, that has less phantom power, is amazing. My husband took it, unbeknownst to me, into a very large venue, tucked away in his leather jacket inside pocket. He recorded at " medium" quality (not CD or studio quality which is available) so he could turn it on and record 4-6 hours. (Because he knew I would have a fit if I'd known about it.) When he 'fessed up, and played it back it was absolutely amazing. I can't imagine what it would have sounded like if optimal conditions were in place.

 

[marc]

Kelly,
I think the problem occured only with MAC OSX10.5 (Leopard).

But ... one aday after I contacted Zoom, they released today a new firmeware version (2.10) which has fixed the problem (available on their www site)

I have rarely seen such a good support.

 

[GaithersburgReeds]

The Zoom attaches to a camera tripod, but mic stands are defiitely more plentiful at gigs, so that would be nice.

Just bought the H2. It came with a mic stand adapter and little table-top tripod stand. I've only tried some quick recordings of my sax quartet and so far I'm pretty impressed with it.

 

[FrankB]

I'm currently eyeing up the H2, so any impressions (pro or con) of that are very useful to me! Thanks!

 

[Doug-AK]

I'm still looking but am leaning towards the new M-Audio Microtrack II. It will ship later this month. I want a device for recording. Don't want extra bells and whistles, just a good recorder. My thinking is that if a company puts all of it's product costs into creating just a recorder, it will be a better recorder than a product with lots of bells and whistles.

 

[Keith Ridenhour]

I picked up an H2

I can record and play back but when I connected the H2 to my computer via the USB cable the computer doesn't recognize the H2? Any tips? I went to new hardware on the control panels but that didn't work either. K

 

[saxmanglen]

keith,

You probably need the software installed on your computer.

Check here:

http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/download/software/h2.php

Edit: looks like the unit has to be set as a storage device so your computer will identify it. Page 71 of the owners manuel explains it. Manual can be found here: http://www.zoom.co.jp/archive/English_Manual/E_H2.pdf

 

[Keith Ridenhour]

I figured out how to dump the info. I had to turn off record and then it goes automatically to being able to dump into the computer. Now I need to get the best settings that won't create too big of an Mp3 file. Thanks Glen, I will read the manual in more detail.K

 

[saxmanglen]

Let us know how you get along with the H2. I'm really eyeing the H4 and so's a buddy of mine.

 

[Keith Ridenhour]

I'll fool around with it over the weekend but I;d like to record a lesson I'm giving tomorrow night. I'll need to adjust the settings so the 30 minutes won't be too large of a file. K

 

[AirForceSax]

I just recorded part of our last concert at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio and the sound quality from my Zoom H4 was fantastic. The EQ from the PA could have had a little more low end and it shows in the recording, but I can fatten it up with some post recording tweaking. Also, I've noticed that you get a little more hiss when recording from batteries as opposed to the wall wart. Overall it's a pretty good recording, but I only got about half the show because I forgot to switch to mp3 recording and left it in .wav format which ate up my 2GB card after about 50 minutes. Oh well, better luck getting the full show in the future. Also, as a very amateur guitarist I like the fact that I can listen to the built in metronome, plug into the 1/4" combo plug, set up some amp modelling and then lay down a chord progression on one track and then come back and record some sax improv over it with the built in mics modeling SM57s...all in a small portable unit. Once I really get this thing and all the features figured out I'll post a recording.

 

[Keith Ridenhour]

I've got the small default card that came with my H2. Would a camera store have upgrades that are compatible? K

 

[saxmanglen]

Keith the maufacture says the H2 can take up to a 4GB SD card. The 2GB cards are pretty cheap at Tiger Direct anymore.

Edit: WOW, I see a two pack available there for $34!

 

[Keith Ridenhour]

Got it Glen, thanks again. I did an AB last night as I taught a lesson using my shure 58 and goldwave vrs the HR and the HR is much warmer and "alive" tone than what I ususaly use. K

 

[Selmer Player 88]

Out of your selections I'd say the Edirol is your best bet. It's a better brand, better quality, and there's absolutely no reason why you would ever need stereo mic-ing on a portable recorder - it's just a useless feature intended to mislead consumers into thinking the product is better. There's also other similar products in the same price range that are pretty good - M-Audio makes a half decent one.

I'd say the best feature out of all of these is the hide-ability factor when it comes to going to live gigs..... just beware ;-)

 

[Keith Ridenhour]

I recorded a Jazz Workshop I help teach over the weekend. The H2 recording quality is very very good. My only gripe is that when I tryed to dump it into the computer the file size was too big to open . (even at Mp3 48 setting) Also, it seems impossible to fast forward through it just trying to listen to a solo here or there. More manuel required. K

 

[Lenny]

Do you guys use the mic modeling for the H4 when recording the sax? Does it make any difference?

Also someone mentioned the ability to use 4 mics with the H4. I thought i could do that when I bought it - i.e. use the 2 internals and add 2 XLR mics at the same time, but i don't see any way to do that.

Can you use external mics through XLR inputs on the H2 also (with 48V phantom?)

One odd thing - I import my H4 files into Amadeus and the levels always seem a little low though they look fine on the H4 . Is this just an Amadeus issue? I record Wave files by the way.

Lenny

 

[Morry]

Here's a recent club recording of our band with the H4:

www.horndogsband.com/mp3/onas071207/SoulVac.mp3
www.horndogsband.com/mp3/onas071207/YoungMan.mp3
www.horndogsband.com/mp3/onas071207/CoolHang.mp3
www.horndogsband.com/mp3/onas071207/CantSee.mp3
www.horndogsband.com/mp3/onas071207/OnlyOil.mp3

 

[Bub99]

Here is a review of several of these portable recorders. This is an old review and is slanted toward the core-sound recorder, a professional quality digital recorder, but it does give a comparison of some of the fundamental issues with the various units.

Here is a review of the Edirol R-09 on Amazon - compare with the Micro Trak unit.

Important issues to consider and review:

• User interface - can you find the buttons, knobs to do a simple recording process or are do you have to traverse the menu trees?

• Battery type and life - standard cells are good, odd-sized batteries bad. Can you record while recharging? Can you record on aux power?

• Noise: Is it noisier on power supply? What is the noise inherent in the internal mic' pre's?

• Leveling: Does it have an internal overload indicator? Limiter? Do I want one?

• Inputs: XLR (H4) or line in? Digital input (Microtrak)?

• Outputs: Digital (Edirol, MT, H4?).

• Internal Mic' pattern: Omni? Directional?.

• Data download: USB data dump? Do I have to remove a flash card?

• Software upgradable?

------
For acoustic recordings I have the Edirol R-09 and two Audio-Technica AT3032 omni condensers to use with one of these (Jecklin disc). The built in mics aren't too bad and it is possible to fashion a Jecklin-like acoustic baffle to mount to the recorder, Sony, Zoom, whichever. The Jecklin gives realistic stereo separation for reproduction through stereo speakers.

The Cadillac (Porsche?) of these portable stereo units has to be the Sony PCM-D1 ($2k list, titanium case, analog meters), though Sony recently released this ($500 - aluminum body) which has some intersting features. Most of the others are plastic (core-sound is metal).