Customer Video Review Length:: 6:37 Mins

I am extremely impressed with the Zoom H2N. I have owned other Zoom audio recorders: H1, H2, H4, H4N. I’ve also owned Tascam DR-05, DR-08, Sony PCM-M10, Edirol R44, and Fostex FR-2 LE audio recorders. I am both a musician and videographer and for the price of the H2N, it is BY FAR the most versatile audio utility device I have ever owned (until the next latest and greatest technology comes out).

As a videographer/Indie filmmaker, I got the H2N because:

*It has 20hrs of battery life – longest of all Zoom recorders to date.
*The user interface is well designed and easy to adjust during shooting. I love the analog gain wheel.
*It has a REMOTE port (remote comes with accessory pack).
*Internal mics & preamp are super crisp, amazing quality up to 96kHz/24bit Wave. Great for room tone or foley.
*Doubles as USB microphone for Skype, iChat, Logic Pro, Garageband, etc. I’ll use to record voice over for my videos.
**The H2N can record both external mic input AND onboard mics at the same time in multitrack mode. Similar to Zoom H4N.

If you already own an H4N, you might still want the H2N to add to your gear. It’s a different type of tool. If you absolutely need XLR inputs for everything you do, then don’t bother getting the H2N. BUT if there are times when you only need to capture ambient audio, or only use a 3.5mm wireless lav or 3.5mm stereo Rode mic, then I strongly recommend the H2N. It’s a better tool for those types of situations.

As a musician, I got the H2N because:
*I wanted to record my band rehearsals and some of my gigs. Put this in the middle of the room, picks up the whole band.
*Has built in Tuner, Metronome, slow playback with pitch control — so I can learn bass lines by slowing down music.
*I use it for Logic Pro 9 to record vocals. Also makes a great mic for quick demos.
*The Zoom can convert files in the recorder. Converts 4 track to stereo, Wave to MP3, etc.

The few negatives:
-The mics are too sensitive to wind. I don’t understand why they couldn’t build a windscreen INTO the mic frame.
-The tripod mount is plastic and will wear out over time.
-It’s a little too thick to actually put in your pocket. Definitely less portable than the older H2.

If you are a musician, indie filmmaker, or event videographer and you want better audio for your projects, GET THE ZOOM H2N. You also definitely need the purchase the Accessory Pack.

The sound quality is EXCELLENT with all of the XY and MS Mic settings.

The display is good, Navigation is fairly logical, and it has lots of excellent software features for editing/manipulating/converting the audio, right inside the H2n unit (without external computer).

It is very fast/easy to turn on and start a new recording. You will never miss that special musical performance, baby’s first words, bird call, etc.
Time/date stamping makes it easy to match up sound recordings with photos/movies, taken at the same day/time.

The H2n would be worth the price if you only used it as a high quality electret condenser studio mic/USB to computer interface, for recording with Logic Audio or Garage Band. Add the 2/4 channel SD card recording capability, and it is an amazing value!

My only (small) gripe is with the Jog wheel.
When you press it down to select something, it has to be centered (not tilted in either direction) or you can not push it down. This makes it more difficult to use than it needs to be. Might become easier with use/practice.
Owners manual is ok, but could be a little better, with a some more information about, and recommendations for how to use, the many features.

Recorded some live performances (including my own) at the local Coffee shop, last night.
Vocals, acoustic/electric guitars, Saxophones, piano, all sounded superb when played back through my Mackie HR824’s back in the studio. Not a hint of noise or distortion.

Very glad I purchased the H2n, it is the best portable/field recorder I have had the pleasure to use (and I have used quite a few in the last 40 years).

Edit #1:
I have had this for 3 months, and have mostly gotten used to the jog wheal.
It is a bit easy to accidentally press/move it, so use the Power ON/OFF/LOCK slider to keep that from being a problem, if you are going to put it in your pocket or otherwise be handling it, during use.

The internal mics are very sensitive, with the gain turned up.
I have recorded acoustic piano, quiet ambient sounds like crickets/birds, as well as acoustic jazz, acoustic guitar, spoken word and other low volume sources (sometimes from across the room), with excellent S/N and sound quality.
I have also recorded moderately loud performances up close, with equally good results.
After many fine recordings made, in a variety of situations, with my H2n, I could not be more pleased with the ease of use and high quality results.
I am a recording eng., electronic tech and musician with 30 years experience.
The quality of the sound captured is phenomenal. At the current price, this is an amazing value.

Don’t forget to buy a windscreen for use in breezy outdoor conditions.
The large foam one at radio shack for a few dollars, or the Rode Dead Kitten Windscreen available on Amazon, better sound quality but 10X more expensive.
Rode Dead Kitten Windscreen
Rode Dead Kitten Windscreen

Or this one from Zoom, that is half the price of the Rode:
Zoom H4n Furryhead Windscreen Black

and another more powerful one from Zoom for a few buck more:
Zoom H4n Furryhead Extreme Foam Core Windscreen Black
Zoom H4n Furryhead Extreme Foam Core Windscreen Black

Edit #2:
I have purchased the Sewell USB SoundBox 7.1 USB for listening to the 4channel recordings on my Apple MacMini or MacBook computer.
Sewell USB SoundBox 7.1 USB Sound Card

It is the same unit as the Vantec USB External 7.1 Channel Audio Adapter:
Vantec USB External 7.1 Channel Audio Adapter (Black)

This device, (which is the size of a deck of cards and runs off of USB power) gives me better sound quality than the computers built in hardware.
It also allows me to assign each of the H2n 4 channels (after transfer to computer) to a separate analog output so I can use two stereo amps with 4 speakers, to listen in Quad, surround sound.
I am currently using Logic Audio software for editing and playback because it’s good, and it supports multi channel output for playback.

Happy Trails…
Dave

I primarily use the H2n to capture my band’s rehearsals and live performances. It’s also a highly useful sketchpad for capturing ideas with a minimum of setup and fuss, particularly when compared to a computer based recording system.

Until recently I owned a Zoom Q3 (their handheld recorder with audio/video) which was either stolen or lost, and I replaced it with the H2n. Without getting into a lot of comparisons between the two, I can safely say that the H2n captures a deeper and wider sound field due to the additional mics and their orientation within the unit (Mid-Side and XY). The clear, detailed quality of the mics is about the same and I wouldn’t be surprised if they are exactly the same in each device.

From here on, I’ll talk only about the H2n. If you’re not familiar with Mid-Side and XY mic patterns, I suggest a visit to the Zoom website where you can find detailed information on the patterns and features of the H2n.

There is a 4 channel surround mode which records in both MS and XY (the front and rear mics) and allows mixing of the two stereo tracks after recording. This is a great feature! You can adjust the width and depth independently by changing the level of each set of stereo tracks. This means you can dial in a more pinpointed sound when needed or capture a larger sound source like a band with very good results. The 2 channel surround mode records all 4 mics to a stereo track without the option of mixing the MS and XY mics separately after recording. This is handy when you don’t want to mess around with mixing later, but still want a deep, wide recording. The other two modes are MS or XY only. All mic patterns are selected by rotating a dial on top of the unit. In all modes except XY, you can adjust the level of the MS mics before recording, which is another handy feature when you already have a good idea of how wide and deep you’d like the recording to sound.

The submenu implementation and access to features is well thought-out and about what you’d expect for a device with few controls. There are a few features that require digging deeper into submenu pages, but they seem to be placed by order of priority to how often most users would need access. The metronome and tuner are welcome features that both work quite well and they’re surprisingly adjustable for such a compact device.

There are a few mostly minor drawbacks worth mentioning in the design of the H2n. First, when recording a fairly loud source like a band, the mic gain can’t be set low enough to avoid harsh digital clipping when the band reaches louder moments. There are user selectable limiters built into the unit that would prevent the sound of clipping, but they shouldn’t be needed since other Zoom handhelds can be set below input clipping. By definition, the sound of a recording that doesn’t require limiting is always going to be more dynamic than what a limiter can achieve. It might be possible that software update can remedy this issue.

The other problem might be particular to my H2n, but the Play knob/button (it can be pushed in or slid up and down) usually gets stuck in the up position unless I’m very careful to apply minimal pressure, and I’m not applying much. When selecting options in menus, this makes the cursor scroll past the intended selection unless I catch it in time. While mine is still under warranty, I’m planning to return it for another unit that hopefully won’t have the same stuck button syndrome.

One final drawback is the tiny mic adjustment wheel, which requires use of fingernail to rotate into the desired position, and because of its stiffness, it usually stops midway between positions, so you have to be ensure that the arrow is pointing directly at what you intend. I appreciate that Zoom built the dial flat into the top surface of the H2n, which prevents the pattern from being changed accidentally, but they could have made it loose when rotating the dial between positions with a stiff detent at each position.

Otherwise, this is a great sounding recording with a wealth of highly useful features and user adjustable options. I wish it included the power adapter, remote, tripod and mic stand mounts, case and windscreen, but it is understandable that this would raise the price of the H2n by , and not everyone might want the optional trinkets. I went ahead and bought all the goodies separately and they’re well worth the price for how I use the H2n.

A recommended buy for musicians in particular and field recordists in general!