Zoom H2

[Obi-Wan zenabI]

I got a Zoom H2 and already recorded a concert with it. I stuck it up on the balcony with the rear mics on the organ pipes and the front catching my choir and the brass ensemble.

It came out really well. There's plenty of page turn noise from the organist and a ton of audience noise, but I'm thoroughly impressed with the thing.

It's a large 1820's congregational curch with an eliptical dome--- great for clarity of spoken word, but not a lot ambience and reverb to the space.

I'm deciding whether to add reverb and to which mics... I was playing with just putting some Kajerhus Classc Reverb "great hall" on the rear mics to fatten up the organ and get a little cathedral sound in. There's plenty of vox and brass in the rear mics, so they get fattened up too.

Adding reverb only to the rear also seems to keep more clarity in the center since the rear mics are spread further.



I got a 4 GB card for it, which gives over 6 hours of 2ch 44.1 or 3 hours of 4 channel. I'm sure MP3 is way more.

The thing did not clip, even sitting five feet in front of a very large pipe organ. Sensitivity set to medium. I pulled back the recording volume to 85 just to be safe since I was not doing a sound check of any sort and I'm not concerned about the noise floor so much-- this was just for fun and for reference.

I ran a few searches and did not find much on the H2, but for me, it's ideal. Anyone have links to recordings so that I can compare with my handiwork?

 

[Dogbreath]

I don't have one but have pondered getting one cuz I've heard and read quite a bit of good about them. And yours is another testament.

How do ya think it'd sound on a 4X12 cab doin metal? I ask cuz my son has been reading about the H2 and the H4.

Anyway,
Merry Christmas man.

 

[Jouni]

This is a H4 recording metal, placed on the floor standing, mics pointing up, two feet from kickdrums, guitar and bass facing drums left and right slightly..

I've been recording rehealsals with it for a year now, it works.

 

[isfahani]

In comparison with the H4 and also with an AT stereo mic into a HiMD minidisc recorder... the H2 is far less clear. But, you get what you pay for.

You will notice that the high end above 16k goes away when you are recording in mp3 mode on the H2, so if you want to make mp3's I'd stick to the lossless format and do it after.

 

[Obi-Wan zenabI]

I'm pretty sure that the H2 is a case of getting what you pay for. My experience with a lot of gear has been getting a little less than what I pay for, at least at new retail prices...

I recorded at 16/44.1. I have not yet tried to record directly to mp3. I want to be able to work with the tracks in my DAW, and MP3 wouldn't cut it.

As a vinyl fan who loves that analog warm bass, I don't consider .WAV recordings that much more "lossless" than MP3. I still hear the digital-ness. But that's an argument for another (probably angrier thread, if I know my analog vs. digital threads! )

Dogbreath: A very happy Christmas to you, too. I think this would sound great on a guitar cab. I'm not promising it'd be as tough as a 57 right on the cone, but it handled a huge three manual pipe organ just fine. I think it would do best in a somewhat treated room, though-- these *are* condensor microphones.

 

[WhiteStrat]

I'm the "keeper" (since I'm the "audio nerd") of an H4 that we use at work to record meetings and conference calls. I've taken it home a few times to record live events where I was also doing FOH. I'm impressed with it.

My boss just pointed out the H2 to me and wondered how that compared, so this is a strangely well-timed thread...

 

[Obi-Wan zenabI]

I haven't played with the H4, but my impression is that it's something to use if you want to multi-track (check me on this one), and definitely the one to get if external mics are going to be a major part of your setup, as it has xlr ins.

For simple concert, interview, or band rehearsal recording, even though it costs less, it seems to me that the H2 is the way to go.

Even 50 or 75 feet from the choir, the hiss/noise was not so bad.

I was hoping to do a rough mix this afternoon in time to give our choir directors a copy, but I don't think I'll have time.

I will certainly get a sample posted when it's ready for you to hear.

 

[WhiteStrat]

I haven't played with the H4, but my impression is that it's something to use if you want to multi-track (check me on this one), and definitely the one to get if external mics are going to be a major part of your setup, as it has xlr ins.

For simple concert, interview, or band rehearsal recording, even though it costs less, it seems to me that the H2 is the way to go.

Even 50 or 75 feet from the choir, the hiss/noise was not so bad.

I was hoping to do a rough mix this afternoon in time to give our choir directors a copy, but I don't think I'll have time.

I will certainly get a sample posted when it's ready for you to hear.

You can multi-track with an H4?

I didn't even read the manual. Just plop it on desks and record meeting & phone calls. But you're right, it does have XLR ins.

Hmmm...

 

[Obi-Wan zenabI]

Here's Bill Richardson endorsing both the H2 and the H4!

H2 on the left. I think that's an H4 on the right...

I finished the mixdown. I have to look into setting up a place to post an MP3. Stay tuned.