Zoom H2 Handy Portable Stereo Recorder

It's a simple idea: provide brilliant stereo recording in an easy-to-use, ultra-portable device. The H2 is the only portable recorder with 3 mic capsules onboard for mid-side recording. A directional mic is in the center (mid) and two directional mics (side) are positioned left and right. The audio is decoded instantly, bringing these three signals together for unparalleled stereo imaging. One button recording, gain controls on the side and an intuitive user interface mean you can always capture the moment. Set your levels, push record and go. The H2 records on Secure Digital (SD) media and a 512MB SD card is included. With a 4GB SD memory card, the H2 provides up to 2 hours recording at 96kHz, 6 hours at 44.1kHz, or up to a staggering 138 hours in MP3. Play your recordings on your home audio system with its 1/8" stereo output or listen to your masterpiece with headphones. Or, use the H2's USB interface to move your recordings to your Mac or PC to listen, edit and share. 512MB SD memory card included; Accommodates up to 4GB SD optional memory cards Auto Gain Control (AGC) for pristine recordings Auto Start function means you're always ready to record Low-cut filter eliminates wind noise On-board chromatic Guitar/Bass tuner Two standard alkaline AA batteries will give you 4 hours of continuous operation and a backlit display means it's always easy to use in any situation Pocketable - Weighs only 4 ounces

It's a simple idea: provide brilliant stereo recording in an easy-to-use, ultra-portable device. Now everyone can record pristine audio in an infinite variety of applications. From seminars and conferences, to electronic news gathering (ENG) and podcasting, to musical performances, songwriting sessions and rehearsals, the H2 provides amazing recording quality. And no matter what kind of music you perform or the instrument you play, the H2 can effortlessly record it in high-quality stereo.

Why Four Mics are Better Than Two

90° Pattern Record from the front at 90°

120° Pattern Record from the front at 120°

The H2 is the only portable recorder with 4 mic capsules on-board for 360° recording. With 4 mic capsules in a W-X/Y configuration, the audio is decoded instantly, bringing these four signals together for unparalleled stereo imaging.

But the H2 doesn't stop there. For maximum flexibility, you can record from the front of the H2 in a 90° pickup pattern or the rear of the H2 in a 120° pickup pattern at up to 96 kHz/24-bit resolution as a WAV file, or as an MP3 file at bitrates up to 320 kbps. Additionally, you can record in a 360° pickup pattern at up to 48kHz/24-bit resolution which will allow you to convert your recordings to 5.1 Surround.

Push a Button...
That's all it takes to start recording! The H2 is a remarkably robust device that is incredibly easy to use. One button recording, gain controls on the side and an intuitive user interface mean you can always capture the moment. Set your levels, push record and go. It's that simple. Or use the Auto Start and Auto Gain Control functions to ensure complete capture at the right level. And if you need to fine-tune your levels on the fly, we made it easy with gain control buttons on the front panel.

Play it Back!
Play your recordings on your home audio system with its 1/8" stereo output or listen to your masterpiece with headphones. Or, use the H2's USB interface to move your recordings to your Mac or PC to listen, edit and share.

The H2 records on Secure Digital (SD) media and a 512MB SD card is included. The unit can accommodate up to a 16GB SD card, allowing up to 24 hours of total recording time using the 16-bit/44.1kHz WAV format. At 128kbps MP3, you get an amazing 280 hours of stereo recording. Store your recordings on a PC or Mac with its USB 2.0 interface. And you can use its time stamping function for reference during production. Or use the H2 as a USB Mic for recording directly to a computer.

What's Life Without Accessories?
The H2 comes with earbuds, 1/8 inch stereo to RCA cable, mic clip adapter, tripod stand, USB cable, AC adapter and a 512MB SD card.

Ultimate Convenience
The H2 weighs 4 ounces and fits in your pocket for the ultimate in portability and convenience. Two standard alkaline AA batteries will give you 4 hours of continuous operation and a backlit display means it's always easy to use in any situation.

Enjoy Your Brilliance
Brilliant stereo recording in a convenient, user-friendly package means there's never been an easier way to record high quality audio. The H2 gives everyone the power to record anything and share it with anyone, anywhere. You'll be amazed by your sound.

Features:

• W-XY mic patterns with 4 mic capsules and signal processing allows Front 90° cardioid, Rear 120° cardioid and 360° polar patterns
• Built-in USB 2.0 interface
• Records in WAV 96kHz/48kHz/44.1kHz at 16-bit or 24-bit, MP3 to 320kbps and Variable Bit Rate (VBR) data formats
• Time Stamp and Track Marker functions in Broadcast WAV Format (BWF)
• 512MB SD memory card included
• Accommodates up to 16GB SD memory cards
• Auto Gain Control (AGC) for pristine recordings
• Auto Start function means you're always ready to record
• Low-cut filter eliminates wind noise
• On-board chromatic Guitar/Bass tuner

H2 Handy Recorder Features at a Glance

The H2 Handy Recorder brings the ultimate in functionality and versatility to portable digital recording. A clear, backlit display features recording levels, time code, file name and remaining battery life. LEDs indicate Front, Rear, 2 Channel or 4 Channel modes and the recording angle: 90°, 120° or 360°. An Active Mic LED is on the front and back of the H2. Transport controls include one button recording, playback and pause, fast forward and rewind. Use the Menu key to enter the control menu and the cursor keys to navigate through the feature sets.

Within the menu, set recording parameters such as direction and polar pattern, activate the Auto Start function and set file format. And you'll find additional settings like Auto Gain Control to make sure your recordings are always pristine. And you can fine-tune your levels on the fly with the Record Level buttons on the front.

On the left side of the H2 is a 1/8" Phone/Line Output for monitoring and playback. Playback Volume, Power On and the AC power are located here as well.

On the right side of the H2, you can plug in a powered 1/8" external stereo mic. Setting levels is easy with a Mic Gain slider for Low/Medium/High gain. You can also digitize analog recordings with the 1/8" Line In.

Use the USB 2.0 Interface to move your files to a PC or Mac for storage, editing and playback. The time stamp function is great for reference during production. And you can even use the H2 as a USB mic and record directly to your favorite digital audio software.

For brilliant stereo recording, and plenty of extras, there's never been a simpler or more functional solution than the H2 Handy Recorder from Zoom.

Please note: The Zoom H2 will not mount as a USB Drive on MAC OS X 10.5.0 Leopard unless you update to H2 Firmware version 1.2 or higher.

Choose the Right Polar Pattern for the Best Recording in any Situation

Choose the Right Polar Pattern for the Best Recording in any Situation
90° Pattern Record from the front at 90°	120° Pattern Record from the front at 120°

Record your band rehearsals in 360° brilliant stereo.

90° Pattern Record from the front at 90°

Can someone explain to me how to use this an an audio interface on a Mac? I just got this for Xmas, and I can't figure out how to use it as an audio interface, and the manual is no help. I assumed that this would pop up as a sound input device in the sound control panel when I hooked it up to my computer, but no such luck.

I really like this recorder. I needed a small stereo portable recorder that didn't cost an arm and a leg, but also had better quality than those iPod voice recorders. Fortunately I came across the Zoom H2 and have been recording stuff ever since. Being a music major, I'm not sure how I went through the first three years of school without this.

It's especially good for rehearsals especially when I have to memorize music (e.g. Javanese gamelan), or if I want to learn how a particular piece sounds. I've used it to record concert band and orchestra too. And it's also very useful for recording my piano improvisations.

The sound quality is pretty good for a small $200 player. It's probably not professional quality but that's OK for me. I like how there are two different sets of microphones (90-degrees apart, and 120-degrees apart). This is good for recording different-sized groups/instruments/etc and does make a difference. I also like being able to loosely set the gain (only 3 settings but better than the iPod voice recorder) and different file settings.

A feature I didn't know until after I bought it was that it works as an audio interface to my computer. Unfortunately the supplied USB cable is short and thus requires my computer to be fairly near the recorder. If you plan on doing portable studio work with this feature, I recommend buying an extension, so you don't get the fans/hard drive in the recording. But otherwise it's a great little device well worth more than the amount I spent on it.

We purchased the Zoom H2 to record our son's band concerts. It is easy to use, even a parent can do it! Have put a 2 gig SD card in it which gives us over three hours recording. Simple, reliable, easy to operate--highly recommend for the band parent who wants to record their children's music.

I used this baby right out of the box to record our Duo on stage. UPS got it to me about an hour before the gig. I didn't have time to read the directions in detail so I didn't know how to set it up using the output from my mixer; I used the mic stand adapter and hit the record button. WOW is an understatement to describe the recording I got. Unfortunately it also recorded the audience noise so I now know to use the "Line Input" & my mixer output. If you need a great and fool-proof recorder buy this guy.

Zoom H2 Handy Portable Stereo Recorder
Prior to purchasing this product, I consulted with friends in the professional recording business. Their comments caused me to purchase it, even though I have previously spent thousands of dollars on recording equipment. Although the unit cannot fully compete with equipment costing $50,000 such as is used for producing mass-marketed CDs, it does an amazingly good job compared to items costing several hundreds. Its size makes it admirably flexible for use in locations infeasible for setting up more elaborate equipment. Interfacing it with computers for burning CDs of very high amateur quality is very simple--and saves bundles of time. It is truly a real bargain in cost, quality, and ease of application.
Carl H. Berggren, 12-20-2008