Zoom h4n, Zoom h2, or Zoom Q3?

[mjbindy]

Hey

I was thinking of purchasing the H4n for the multi-track capability. Record one track, then lay down another track on top... for duo, trio recordings (when I can't find duo, trio partners). I assume the H4n does this? So, this may be a consideration for the future for you.

[aNovitiate]

I'm a H2 user, with a Sony Handycam, and I'll move soon to the Q3 hd... I'll tell you whant I'll have it (I hope before Xmas, some waiting time for shipping in Europe)

Do yourself a favor and do your (Google) homework, first on that new Q3HD. Someone did a nice comparison and posted samples for comparison ... the Q3HD video is "not ready for prime time" ... rather horrid. Hopefully, they'll get it 'right'' for the Q4. Samson/Zoom seems like a nice upright company.

[Fran Guidry]

All three can be found on Portable Recorder Reviews & Ratings.

Thanks for that, banl - VERY helpful.

Those sound samples indicated a bass boominess in the much advocated Zoom H2, compared to the Sony PCM M10 and other more expensive alternatives.

Since the PCM-M10 has omni mics it can't generate proximity effect bass boost. Of course, it can't capture a stereo (solid) image either, its recordings are two channel mono.

Fran

[alexphyd]

Ok guys,

I bought an Olympus ls-11:) The remote control does not work and had to return it to be checked,
Apart from this, all seems to work just fine. I can definitely say that the sound quality is VERY good, and that it is also very easy to use (much easier than the H4 a friend of mine has)! One downside is that the AC adapter is optional and must be bought separately (40 euros). It turned out to be roughly 30 euros more expensive than the H4n, but listening to the sound samples and what I saw of the H4 I tried, I think I got the right recorder for me.

Hopefully I will also get back the remote control soon:)

BTW from a distance of 1-2 meters the screen can be still seen reasonably ok, and it is also possible to separate a single file into several ones, so one can easily let the recorder go and do post-editing.

Connecting the recorder via the usb cable to a linux debian Lenny system, the recorder was immediately recognized and mounted, and could download the tracks straightaway (linux compatibility is something I tend to appreciate, even though nowadays it is pretty common:)

Will keep u posted:)

Cheers and thanks to you all for your comments/help!

Alex

[Vadim Nikitin]

I am looking really hard at the Sony PCM-M10.
Started first looking at the Zoom models - then spied the Tascam models - then the Sony (it has a remote control).

Tascam DR-100 has remote control (wired or IR in one interesting device: IR device can be put into container with IR receiver and decoder to wire).

I've compared Tascam DR-100 and ZOOM Q3 - very difficult to compare - sound is very good, sensitivity is equal. To my taste DR-100 a little bit more natural to my ears, but Q3 - little bit more interesting then my ears hear.

[Masa]

I needed a recorder to listen to my playing CG objectively for further practice, and just bought a Zoom H2 in the last weekend. Conversations in this thread and many product reviews in Youtube were very helpful for my choice. Although I have used the product for only a couple of days, I am very satisfied with it so far.

My primary needs for a recorder were simple; to record sound of my play while practicing, and to listen to the recordings in decent sound quality for evaluation of my plays. There could be many products in the market to satisfy my needs though, here is my rationale behind my choice.

1. The H2 is widely used by many musicians and plentiful information is there in internet (e.g. http://www.2090.org/zoom/bbs/viewforum.php?f=15)
2. Good cost performance with decent sound quality and reasonable price
3. The display faces to me at upright position, so I can check the recorder status and the level meter while recording my play.
4. The auto recording function (i.e. Auto Start/Stop by sound level and with pre-record) allows me to record my play repeatedly without manipulate any control buttons. The function creates recording files at every interval. It makes me easy to select a file of the best play.
5. Allow to record front and back at upright position. It could be useful while taking a lesson with placing the H2 between my instructor and me.

masa

[Valéry Sauvage]

I made a try with the Q3HD. Not so bad as some said... And if we have to wait for the perfect device, we will still be waiting in 2 or 3 centuries... I'll try the Q4hd later

Sound recording is clearer than the H2 (H2 cut high frequencies, so less harmonics and more fondamentals in the result, more mellow with the H2 but less faithfull...)

viewtopic.php?f=48&t=55162#p601542

[rojarosguitar]

I needed a recorder to listen to my playing CG objectively for further practice, and just bought a Zoom H2 in the last weekend. Conversations in this thread and many product reviews in Youtube were very helpful for my choice. Although I have used the product for only a couple of days, I am very satisfied with it so far.

My primary needs for a recorder were simple; to record sound of my play while practicing, and to listen to the recordings in decent sound quality for evaluation of my plays. There could be many products in the market to satisfy my needs though, here is my rationale behind my choice.

1. The H2 is widely used by many musicians and plentiful information is there in internet (e.g. http://www.2090.org/zoom/bbs/viewforum.php?f=15)
2. Good cost performance with decent sound quality and reasonable price
3. The display faces to me at upright position, so I can check the recorder status and the level meter while recording my play.
4. The auto recording function (i.e. Auto Start/Stop by sound level and with pre-record) allows me to record my play repeatedly without manipulate any control buttons. The function creates recording files at every interval. It makes me easy to select a file of the best play.
5. Allow to record front and back at upright position. It could be useful while taking a lesson with placing the H2 between my instructor and me.

masa

I fully agree, as I have expressed in different threads already.
Of course the H2 is not the device to produce state of the art guitar recordings (though we can sometimes hear recordings on CD's that are worse than that), but it suits exactly the purpose you've described with a minimum of hassle.

Wishe you many great recordings

best

Robert

[alexphyd]

As an update, the remote controller of the Olympus still does not work: it is a separate device made in China and probably by a different company. As a result I had to give back the Olympus AND the controller for a thorough check, in the hope that they can fix them one way or another:(

[Dragonbones]

Stupid newbee question: do the Zooms function as external mikes to feed into a consumer-level videocamera (assuming the latter is a model with a mike input)?

Let's say I'm getting an inexpensive handheld camcorder which I'll tripod-mount to video myself for the Delcamp online course, and want to add an external mike on the camera or on a 2nd tripod or clipped to my music stand so that I get somewhat better sound quality. I'm not looking for pro results, but don't want the bottom-end sound of the camcorder's own mike. I want the sound to be integral to the digital file that the video is recorded on (i.e. I don't want to hassle with any remixing of video and audio tracks later).

Given the above, and a fairly limited budget (US$1200 total for BOTH the video camera and the mike or Zoom), should I be considering the Zoom as the external mike, or is this thing a different kind of animal?

[alexphyd]

I may be wrong, but I think in other posts it was mentioned that this is definitely possible. I also believe that my Olympus can do that:)

Cheers,

Ale

ps:
BTW the remote controller of the Olympus works:) and it is very easy to use! I have also bought a tripod and so far all seems ok:)

[dmcharg]

For pure simplicity the Zoom Q3 wins hands down so i would give some serious consideration to how much you plan to use this setup and what you intend to use it for. Provided the Zoom has some form of audio/line out and your video camera has a line in then your good to go. If your going to go down the route of a video camera i think you might be better just buying a decent condensor mic rather than using a Zoom as the mic. For $1200 you should be able to get a very nice setup but seriously the Zoom Q3 will give you very good quality at a price that it is really hard to beat. If your just looking to record your playing for the delcamp online course and get a good sound quality then the Zoom Q3 would be my suggestion. I am no audio expert by any means but when you start talking external mics etc i think you also need to start thinking about the acoustics of the room etc you are recording in and very quickly you end up spending lots of time trying to get better recordings and less time actually playing the guitar. I don't record video but i do record audio using the Edirol R09HR and i have tried other setups with external mics/preamps etc and sure they are better but its not a wow difference unless you pay very very close attention to mic placement, room acoustics etc etc and its much more hassle. Hope this helps.

[Dragonbones]

The videocamera has to be a handycam type, as it will in the long run get a lot of use for vids of our baby. I looked for info on whether the Zoom can plug in as a mike but after 5 days of sleep deprivation I'm having trouble focusing. Maybe just a decent condensor mike, then.

[Gaius46]

I just bought an H4N both to record my classical guitar practices as well as my bass practices and my band's rehearsals. I went with the H4N primarily because the multi-track capability would make it easier to get decent
recordings of my band. I could go, for example, feed the PA into 2 tracks and use the other two for drums and
un-miked instrument amps. It turns out that just using the built in mics, with some careful thought to placement, yielded perfectly usable recordings for the purpose of critiquing band performance. Good enough to let someone I don't know listen to? Nope. But certainly good enough for internal use.

It makes really good quality recordings of my classical guitar playing - probably good enough for external consumption. I'm thinking though it's probably overkill for recording and critiquing solo instrument practices.

And I'm finding it dead easy to use. Spent about 20 minutes with the manual and was up and recording.

Sal

[gregvet]

I just bought an H4N both to record my classical guitar practices as well as my bass practices and my band's rehearsals. I went with the H4N primarily because the multi-track capability would make it easier to get decent
recordings of my band. I could go, for example, feed the PA into 2 tracks and use the other two for drums and
un-miked instrument amps. It turns out that just using the built in mics, with some careful thought to placement, yielded perfectly usable recordings for the purpose of critiquing band performance. Good enough to let someone I don't know listen to? Nope. But certainly good enough for internal use.

It makes really good quality recordings of my classical guitar playing - probably good enough for external consumption. I'm thinking though it's probably overkill for recording and critiquing solo instrument practices.

And I'm finding it dead easy to use. Spent about 20 minutes with the manual and was up and recording.

Sal

Make sure you get the latest updates for the H4N. The new updates allows individual recording levels for the XLR/RCA mic inputs plus fixes glitches with past updates.