One size. Fits all.
It’s our smallest recorder ever. But don’t let its size fool you. The H1 Handy Recorder has our renowned recording technology and studio-quality microphones in our easiest, most portable device ever.
Now Zoom recording technology is available to everyone. And with an infinite variety of applications, you’ll want to take your H1 everywhere. From musical performances, songwriting sessions and rehearsals to seminars, conferences, journalism or capturing audio for video, the H1 gives you clean, clear stereo sound effortlessly.


Zoom H1 Portable Digital Recorder Features:
- Stereo X/Y mic configuration captures perfect stereo images
- Same frequency and SPL handling as popular Zoom H2
- Records Broadcast WAV (BWF) at 96kHz/48kHz/44.1kHz at 16-bit or 24-bit
- Records MP3 from 48 to 320kbps for maximum recording time
- Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port
- Built-in reference speaker
- Includes 2GB microSD memory card and one AA battery
- One AA size battery allows 10 hours operation
- Accommodates up to 32GB microSDHC memory cards
- Track marker function
- Low cut filter
- Built-in tripod mount
- 1/8-inch external mic input
- 1/8-inch stereo line output
- Auto record level
- Optional accessory package (APH-1) includes windscreen, AC adapter (USB type), USB cable, adjustable tripod stand, padded shell case and mic clip adapter
H1 Features at a glance:
The H1 Handy Recorder puts all its functions at your fingertips. No menus! Its backlit display features recording levels, file format, time elapsed, remaining battery life and recording time.
Its intuitive transport puts all the controls on the side with no menus on the screen. A large record button gives you complete control. Playback and pause, marker, forward and rewind buttons are all accessible by your thumb. Volume for playback and monitoring can be adjusted using your index finger.
On the back, you’ll find a single AA battery compartment, a tripod mount, low cut filter, auto level setting and recording format selectable switches. There’s also convenient mount for a strap or lanyard clip.
All the transport controls are on right side of the H1 and you can adjust recording levels on the fly. A 1/8″ stereo line input is located on this side and its USB port is also accessible here as is its power on and hold switch.
On the left side, you can replace your microSD card by folding down the rubberized door. There’s also a 1/8″ stereo line/headphone output with adjustable volume control for monitoring playback. The built-in reference speaker is on the bottom of the unit.
What sets us apart?
Like all Zoom recorders, the H1’s onboard microphones are configured in an X/Y pattern, for stunning stereo imaging. Because both mics are arranged on the same axis, they are equidistant from the sound source for perfect localization and no phase shifting. The result is great stereo recordings with natural depth and accurate imaging.
Under your thumb…
With its newly designed user interface, the H1 is also our easiest recorder to use. All its functions are at your fingertips, such as track marker, auto record, low cut filter, level and volume controls with on-board buttons… No menus required!
Intuitive controls make it easy to capture the audio you need with ease. But we still provide the versatility you’ve come to expect from Zoom. So you get total recording format flexibility from 16-bit/44.1 kHz to 24-bit/96 kHz WAV, or MP3 from 48 kbps to 320 kbps and enough tools onboard to make impeccable recordings.
Secure your digital memories.
The H1 records on microSD cards and comes with a 2GB microSD card. Using a 32GB microSDHC card allows over 50 hours of recording time at 16-bit/44.1 kHz.
MicroSD cards were specifically designed for the ever-evolving mobile technology market. Approximately the size of a fingernail, the microSD card is a significant advance in technology and its size and capacity are a major reason why the H1 is able to deliver so much recording technology in such a small package.
Share the love.
With its Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port, the H1 allows for fast transfer of your audio files to your computer. Listen, edit and share with your fans on your Mac or PC. It also includes a reference speaker to ensure your recordings are being captured as you desire.

Applications:
Musicians – Shorten the Learning Curve.
With stereo recording so precise and so easy, musicians will love the H1. An indispensible part of any serious musician’s arsenal, the H1 makes recording rehearsals and practice sessions easier than ever. And the best part is, because your performance is captured with crystal clear audio, you can really critique your own playing, and get better…
Songwriters – More Hit Wonders.
Isn’t it time you heard your masterpieces in beautiful stereo that rivals a professional recording studio? We know you’re the creative type, not an engineer. That’s why we made the H1 so easy to setup and navigate. So you can keep the inspiration going.
Your most creative ideas can now be recorded and shared with your co-writers anywhere and at anytime the music hits you. Just be sure you have your H1 on at all times!
Bands – On the Road, On the Run.
There are so many applications for your band and the H1. Start with learning new songs. If you’re the guy who teaches the songs, record each part on an H1 and email it to the members of your band. If you’re the one who books the band, you band needs to get heard. And everyone in the group needs to hear their performance to get better. The H1 makes capturing your performance easy, even when you’re cranking out high SPLs.

Video and Film Professionals – Indie Shoots That Don’t Sound Indie.
With DSLR cameras that shoot incredible HD video, the need for a better audio solution has emerged. The H1 will easily mount via hot shoe (HS-1 hot shoe adapter sold separately) on top of a video or DSLR camera. And because it has a standard 1/4-inch mount on the bottom, you can place the H1 anywhere on your rig. Use the stereo output jack to connect directly to the audio input on your camera, or bring the audio into your editing suite using the USB connection. The H1 is the perfect entry point for those getting started with dual source shooting.
Journalism – Scoop Central…
These days, a journalist needs be able to capture broadcast ready interviews whenever or wherever they occur. Imagine being able to spontaneously capture the kind of audio your producer needs and send it remotely via email. That’s what the H1 provides. It’s literally a recording studio in your pocket! And the files are Broadcast Wave Format (BWF) so your producer has time and date stamping as well as any markers you set for total editing ease.
Business – Content Management.
Whether it’s a sales meeting, training conference or a seminar, the ability to capture and distribute the content is a big part of the ROI when you do events. Use the H1 to record your content for your company website or distribute it by email to your peers. Edit and turn it into a podcast. The possibilities are endless. Whatever the use, the H1 is perfect for legal, business and medical field use.

Accessorize the size…
Everything you need to get started recording is included. Your H1 comes with an AA battery for 10 hours of operation and a 2 GB microSD card.
In addition, an H1 accessory package (APH-1) is also available with an array of accessories that make your recordings even more pristine and easier to capture. The accessory kit includes a windscreen, AC adapter (USB type), USB cable, adjustable tripod stand, padded-shell case and a mic clip adapter.
Brilliant Stereo Recording.
Now in your pocket.
Combining powerful recording capability with elegance and simplicity, the H1 Handy Recorder is our smallest, most affordable recorder ever.
$ 98.10
345 of 353 people found the following review helpful
![]() Best Little Recorder that Could *updated*,
This review is from: Zoom H1 Handy Portable Digital Recorder (Electronics)
***UPDATED, IMPORTANT EDIT*** September 2013: Zoom has released a new firmware (v. 2.10) at their Japanese website (which acts as a download center for their US consumers). The update adds USB 3.0 support. Go to zoom.co.jp and click the “downloads” link at the top. Find the link for the H1 under “Recorders.” There’s an updated manual for version 2.0 as well in Acrobat format. Enjoy! On to the (updated) review… Straight to the point: If you’re considering getting a digital recorder and your needs are simple, seriously consider this one. The sound is quite phenomenal for a recorder this size and asking price. (Zoom claims the H1 has the same frequency and SPL handing as their popular H2.) Button/switch placement is intuitive and couldn’t be simpler. Need the lo-cut filter? Slide the switch in the back (and the LCD will tell you it’s on). When you’re ready to record, simply press the big red button on the front. When done recording, press it again. If you want to hear what you’ve just recorded (via the built-in speaker or the line out jack), simply push the play button on the side of the unit. There are several functions that will prove useful including adjusting the input level manually (from 1 to 100; *really* useful for loud situations like a rock concert) and being able to actually monitor audio during recording via the line out jack. The unit records in MP3 and Broadcast WAV formats, in many bit-depths and sample rates. (Max for WAV is 24-bit/96 kHz and 320 kbps for MP3.) Broadcast WAV functions just like any other WAV with the addition of having metadata (like time and date) stamped into the file, which is great for identifying WAVs in audio editors that support the format. The H1 allows you to place markers into WAVs during recording for easy transport/identification during playback in audio editors as well. (The H1 will also jump to these markers while in playback mode should you push the “<<” or “>>” buttons during playback.) I have not tried the newly-added function of being able to use the H1 as a USB audio interface, mostly because I did not get the H1 for that purpose, though it’s very nice to know that such a feature is available to me should I need it. ASIO drivers are available at Zoom’s website. File transfer to your computer is quite fast. (For comparison’s sake, the H1 uses Hi-speed USB 2.0 versus the H2’s Full-speed USB 2.0. In layman’s terms, the H1 is quicker than the H2 file-transfer wise.) The unit is firmware-upgradable and version 2.00 is available at Zoom’s website. (Mine came with version 1.02 initially and now runs 2.00.) When you connect to the computer using a (Mini-B to Standard-A) USB cable using version 2.00 of the firmware, the H1 will ask if you want to use the H1 as a card reader or an audio interface. It will eventually default as a card reader if you do not do anything. Otherwise, you simply choose what you want the H1 to do with the record button. I knew that the H1 was small but I wasn’t exactly prepared for how small. If you were to lay your hand flat, the H1 would fit inside it with room to spare. (I have average-sized hands.) The H1 is so light even with one AA battery that it feels delicate. I wouldn’t suggest banging it around. There’s a connector for a wrist strap at the bottom of the unit (near the speaker) so if you’re concerned about dropping the H1, it might be worth your while to connect a strap. The cover to the microSD card slot can come open with just a nudge which might annoy you while handing the H1. (I should also note the cover is made of a hard plastic but looks like it might come off and break with enough force; just be careful as you open it.) The tripod mounting joint is also made of plastic so you might not want to overtighten when mounting the H1. Like most recorders, the H1’s sensitive mics are prone to handling noise. There doesn’t seem to be any way of recording in mono; it would have to be done post-production. Get the H1 Accessory Pack as well but also get a RedHead windscreen (or similar) to boot; the included windscreen in the Accessory Pack is great for voice/plosives and all but horrible for wind noise (which is not surprising since it’s a foam windscreen). One needs more to baffle the wind only a “dead cat” type windscreen can provide. I know I forgot things but I wanted to make this as concise as possible, pros and cons. It’s simply a great recorder and I was not disappointed. UPDATED EDIT 2010: Since my initial review, two months have passed by, so I thought I’d give my updated thoughts. There are some reports that the H1 is draining batteries faster than normal even while the H1 is off. This is obviously not in every unit as I do not have this issue. (I had mine since official release, which was August 20, 2010.) A quick way to find if you have a defective H1 is…
81 of 82 people found the following review helpful
![]() Zoom quality audio, By
This review is from: Zoom H1 Handy Portable Digital Recorder (Electronics)
I had the Zoom H2 for years and loved it. One day, I plugged in the wrong AC adaptor and fried the unit. ugh!
I was familiar with the H2 and was comfortable with it but its tiny screen was hard for me to read and it took quite a bit of time for me to get used to the interfacing. The H1 is simple and having the controls on the device make it far more user friendly. It is tiny, smaller than I thought, which is great. The sound quality is equal to the Q3, though this tiny unit feels fragile compared to the Q3. The plastic concerns me as I’m not sure it will hold up well. The Q3 feels more solid. I don’t have a professional musician’s ear, but the sound quality seemed to me to equal the recordings I have done with the H2. The “cd quality” sound is what I got when recording guitar, harmonica and vocals. Other reviewers have wisely recommended the protective case and the mics are highly sensitive. The lo-cut feature (just a switch) nicely cuts out background noise. Strangely, the unit is not made well for standing up straight. If you use the H2 platform, for instance, it means laying the H1 on its side. However, for best recording, Zoom recommends aiming the microphones directly towards the subject. The mics appear to have a little “give” to them, as they wiggle slightly, and the plastic dome that covers them does not appear strong. This concerns me. The door that opens for the microcard is very fragile and I thought I broke it the first time I opened it. I plan to leave it alone and not swap cards but transfer songs via interface. Handle with care; or as another reviewer said; put in the card and leave it alone. That is my plan. With these issues addressed, the bottom line is the wonderful Zoom recording quality for a great price, with user friendly controls that can be learned in under 10 minutes. For guitar, piano, vocals, recording bands, bluegrass jams, etc, it seems to sound as nice as the H2 did, without the complex interface. If the unit was just a bit sturdier (like the protection of the mics), it would be a 5 star recorder. The audio sound is 5 star quality. 0
48 of 50 people found the following review helpful
![]() ZOOM H1 Unpacking & Overview,
Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
This review is from: Zoom H1 Handy Portable Digital Recorder (Electronics)
Customer Video Review Length:: 3:39 Mins Video overview of what comes with the Zoom H1, what it looks like, and some if it’s features and characteristics. After further testing I found the audio quality to be incredibly good! 0 |
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