Zoom H2 recorder

[Aidan Wilson]

I would personally much prefer the ability to fine-tune the levels for 
each channel, which makes it complicated with this device as there are 
four internal mics and the possibility of four channels (or two stereo 
files).

I'd have thought that for live music, which it seems this device was 
designed for, the user would want to be able to turn down the mic(s) 
that face(s) the drums as they'd normally be considerably louder. The 
only other option after that, if the levels were matched for each mic, 
would be to use an audio editing program to balance the gain, if you 
have one loud speaker, one mumbler and (in my case) your loud self.

This isn't so bad, but to be able to finely adjust the levels 
independently beforehand -  which, mind you, used to be absolutely the 
case with all devices before the iNoun generation (hey, I just spotted a 
snowclone) - is a real bonus.

Then again, it's a trade-off; the H2 is really cheap and if this is the 
most serious problem, then it could easily be ignored.
> The 4 built-in microphones pick up every sound

Another good reason for always opting for a high-quality external 
microphone, which, considering the mic is the first port of call after 
the emission of any noise, deserves a fair amount of consideration.

> And, the recording level for the signal on the SD card is also 
> adjustable, on a gradient scale.
>
Truth be known, I'm not sure what it means when it says 'on the SD 
card', but yes, it does sound promising.

Aidan


Terry J. Klokeid wrote:
> On 20-Jan-08, at 9:57 pm, Aidan Wilson wrote:
>>> I think some manufacturers cheap out on this and offer a switch from 
>>> 'low gain' to 'high gain', which clearly is inadequate.
>
>
>
> The Zoom H2 has a side switch for Low gain, Mid, and High. The 4 
> built-in microphones pick up every sound, so you hafta be careful not 
> to bump, tap, pound, etc the surface it is sitting on.
>
> Aidan, would you consider that side switch for Low/Mid/High gain to be 
> adequate or inadequate?  (It has worked for our team, and we have 4 of 
> these H2s, but we haven't used this gadget in a wide range of 
> circumstances and don't have much expereince with any other sort of 
> digital recorder.)
>
>
>
>

-- 
Aidan Wilson

PARADISEC
0428 458 969
+61 2 9036 9558
aidan at usyd.edu.au