Zoom H4 / H5 Portable Recorders

**rkwestcoast** · 11-09-2015, 04:38 PM

Does anyone have experience with either the Zoom H4 or H5 portable recorders? (sorry, just realised that I should have posted this in the recording section!)

Am planning to buy a recorder to use for the following:

Recording practise / rehearsals

Recording our own gigs

Recording demo tracks / musical ideas

Thanks

**Woody Sound** · 11-09-2015, 04:58 PM

I have an older H4N that I use to record my big band rehearsals. Nothing fancy, I like it. Have made some nice recordings of classical performances too.

**rkwestcoast** · 11-09-2015, 05:16 PM

Thanks Woody Sound.............is the sound quality as good as people claim?

**Top of the Arch!** · 11-09-2015, 05:57 PM

Im not a recording kind of guy but I know it does a super job of recording. I was amazed at the sound quality you got from such a small recorder. A while back I got together with a couple of guys I hadnt played with in years and the other guitar player recorded some of what we did with his H4 and the next day, he sent a recording of our sound check that blew me away. Again, Ive heard better but for what it is ,I was quite impressed. Ive kept that recording as I thought it was quite a feat to have that quality sound for cheap dough. Bob

**feet** · 11-09-2015, 09:10 PM

no personal experience with those units, but they should work fine for that purpose, provided you are fine with making "live", one take recordings and sketches. not sure if they can be used like an interface the way the roland can, but they are more affordable. and they should power a mic or two to give you some more options.

**la7cea** · 11-10-2015, 01:52 AM

Hi,

I own the H5 and the sound quality is pretty good.
However.. It might be a good idea to borrow one so you can test out the things you
intend to use it for.
The reason for that is that even if a feature is listed in the spec the nature of these
small boxes with few buttons could mean a "workflow" that is not so userfriendly or logical.

**rkwestcoast** · 11-10-2015, 01:39 PM

Thanks for the replies & advice - much appreciated

**docdosco** · 11-10-2015, 04:35 PM

I am looking at the Zoom H6, the expensive model.... w/ heavy duty XLRs and some other neat features. Black Friday is coming up. There should be deals....

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
· Modular Mic and Input System
· Includes XY Microphone Module
· Includes Mid-Side Microphone Module
· Four XLR/TRS Inputs
· Record up to 6 Simultaneous Channels
· Record up to 24-bit/96kHz Audio
· Doubles as USB Audio Interface
· Uses SDXC Memory Cards
· Optional Shotgun Mic and XLR/TRS Inputs
· Optional Hot Shoe Mount

Doc Dosco
The Peerless guy : )
Doc Dosco -- Jazz Guitar

**feet** · 11-10-2015, 10:18 PM

i have a buddy who's quite enamored with his h6. huge step up from the older h4ns and it has the mics and the nifty touch screen. a good bit smaller and cheaper than the roland r26, too (which is also a very solid choice).

**docdosco** · 11-11-2015, 05:38 PM

If anyone sees a smokin' Black Friday deal on an H6, please be so kind to post it. They sell street price at $399, but I have seen a few for less. $299 or less would be nice for a new one....

Doc Dosco

**Jonathan0996** · 11-11-2015, 07:54 PM

If you've got an Iphone or Ipad you've already got a portable recorder. Zoom makes a nice mic that plugs into those devices. Just an alternative you might consider. They sell for around $100.00

Zoom H4 / H5 Portable Recorders-zoom-iq7-jpg

Zoom H4 / H5 Portable Recorders-zoom-iq7-jpg

**m_d** · 11-12-2015, 04:59 AM

Originally Posted by Jonathan0996

If you've got an Iphone or Ipad you've already got a portable recorder. Zoom makes a nice mic that plugs into those devices. Just an alternative you might consider. They sell for around $100.00

Zoom H4 / H5 Portable Recorders-zoom-iq7-jpg

How are those working on Apple devices? Sony's STM-10 mic didn't cut it on my Xperia Z3C phone - great sound quality in certain settings, but not powerful enough for low to moderate volumes (e.g. my typical guitar practice sessions). I ended up getting a Zoom H1, only $100 and perfect for my needs. Incredible sound quality for the price. Used to have an H4n before that and my Android phone recording experiments, and haven't missed the H4n, it was more than what I needed and too bulky.

**Jonathan0996** · 11-12-2015, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by m_d

How are those working on Apple devices?

I like mine. I have the earlier version, the IQ6, which I believe they still sell. Small, easy to set up, has a level control. Works for me.

**ah.clem** · 11-13-2015, 12:34 AM

I tried to post this last night but the app failed again. In any case, I have the H4n and it sounds great to me, either recording to the internal card or to my DAW.

**wildschwein** · 11-13-2015, 03:40 AM

I have used the H4n for a couple of years. I take it with me most places and use it as a field recorder for building up my random files for sound design and avante garde music projects; but also just to record musical ideas with quickly. It's an amazing little device in terms of sound quality. I find that many of the recordings made on the H4n that I have used in my sound design and Sci-fi Rock music projects have far too much clarity -- I end up having to filter these files heavily with EQ in order for them to sit realistically in the mix. I haven't really used it to record bands but if you put it in the sweet spot it will do it I'm sure. As a personal recorder it's incredible, and it has a whole other use value as an interface and also as a portable 4 track recorder.

**Herbie** · 11-13-2015, 04:06 AM

I have had a H4n for five years or so. I record almost every rehearsal and gig. Very handy gadget.

Quality of its sound is good but quality of the recording depends on the placing of the recorder, naturally.

Only bothering thing is that it is very sensitive for wind. Or not even wind, even slightest whisper of the air makes it PFFFFHHHFF! So make sure You'll get a dead kitten with it at least outdoors.

Once I recorded our gig in a garden party. When I edited the recording I noticed an extremely strong peak in the middle of the sound. I listened it and got very puzzled. What on earth could make such violent sound in the middle of our lounge type afternoon jazz.

It took some minutes to realise that it was a sound of a bumble bee that had flew around the recorder! Very BZZZZ!

**wildschwein** · 11-13-2015, 05:49 AM

Originally Posted by Herbie

I have had a H4n for five years or so. I record almost every rehearsal and gig. Very handy gadget.

Quality of its sound is good but quality of the recording depends on the placing of the recorder, naturally.

Only bothering thing is that it is very sensitive for wind. Or not even wind, even slightest whisper of the air makes it PFFFFHHHFF! So make sure You'll get a dead kitten with it at least outdoors.

Once I recorded our gig in a garden party. When I edited the recording I noticed an extremely strong peak in the middle of the sound. I listened it and got very puzzled. What on earth could make such violent sound in the middle of our lounge type afternoon jazz.

It took some minutes to realise that it was a sound of a bumble bee that had flew around the recorder! Very BZZZZ!

Yes it picks up the top end content really well. The wind sound is easily controlled with the provided wind sheath -- you see similar things on TV boom mics -- stops that plosive sound. I have recorded a lot of ocean and sea bird noises in the presence of pretty intense coastal winds and got good results.