Zoom H2

Dan Bridges · October 1st, 2007, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Ennis

Dan, do you get anywhere near the offset after an hour with the HiMD as you do with the H4? I don't with my Sony HiMD.

Not with the Hi-MD, but the two Sharp MDs I've used (MD-SR50 & MD-SR60) were out about 308ms and 280ms after an hour.

Bob Huenemann · October 9th, 2007, 09:14 AM

Saturday night I recorded a concert by a local community symphony orchestra. I was seated in the fourth row, and the orchestra was well over 90 degrees in width from there. I recorded half the concert with the front mics and half with the rear mics.

Yesterday, I edited the recording to CD. I have listened to it several ways, including a good pair of headphones and a high end audio system. I am disappointed by the lack of stereo separation. Even with headphones, the stereo separation is minimal.

Other than that, the sound is quite good.

Tom Hardwick · December 6th, 2007, 01:58 PM

I'm receiving reports that there were (are?) some H2 recorders that only have 3 mics fitted rather than 4, so that the rear channel is recorded mono. Any news of this or just a myth?

Ben Syverson · December 6th, 2007, 02:17 PM

Tim Prebble from NZ has a very glowing review of the H2 (with tons of samples) on his awesome blog "The Music of Sound" :
http://substation.co.nz/blog/?p=170

He's an accomplished sound designer for films (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0695670/), so it's interesting to hear his take on it.

Dan Bridges · December 6th, 2007, 02:53 PM

Davis, the Sony MZ-NH700 Hi-MD was the device that had the non-linear time change on this occasion. (Normally it's OK.) I presume it was due to mistracking which I've got often on my old Sharp MDs. Or perhaps I pressed Pause by mistake and then released it - it's too long ago now. A H4 would have been faster and a little easier to transfer than my Hi-MD (USB 2.0 through my card reader). I now use the H4 as the main ext. audio device now and the Hi-MD as the 2nd unit. On the big stuff I usually use 2 ext. audio recorders for mixing desk output & for a stereo M/S mic (Sony ECM-939LT) situated near the stage front as well as mics situated on both DV cams (Panasonic NV-GS400s) near the stage: Rode SVM & VM.

Michael Liebergot · December 6th, 2007, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Hardwick

I'm receiving reports that there were (are?) some H2 recorders that only have 3 mics fitted rather than 4, so that the rear channel is recorded mono. Any news of this or just a myth?

I received one of the first units, and I have read quite a bit on the H2.
And that's the first I've heard of it.

Andy Wilkinson · December 6th, 2007, 05:04 PM

I did read (I think maybe on the Zoom H2 and H4 Forum - just Google it) that when the unit was being designed this was one option being considered but it was superceded by the 4 mic design that was then launched and is now out there. Certainly, in 4 channel mode all 4 LCD meter bars move independently!

Got mine a few days ago and I really like it/having lots of fun with it!

Jimmy Tuffrey · December 7th, 2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Hardwick

I'm receiving reports that there were (are?) some H2 recorders that only have 3 mics fitted rather than 4, so that the rear channel is recorded mono. Any news of this or just a myth?

Some of the promotional stuff states that but it is out of date and they where launched with 4 mics.

Tom Hardwick · December 7th, 2007, 04:15 PM

Thanks guys. My H2 arrived today and although rather 'plasticky' looking it sure sounds good. And all for less than the price of a simple, mono Senheisser MKE 300D microphone. I can't get over it. It was only about 3 years ago when the included 512 SD card cost as much as the entire package. Love it. Bye-bye Minidisc.

tom.

Jimmy Tuffrey · December 7th, 2007, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Hardwick

Bye-bye Minidisc.

tom.

I thought that but my old mini disc sounds much better. So hello again MD, bye bye H2.

Tom Hardwick · December 8th, 2007, 05:57 AM

Nothing wrong with the Minidisc apart from the real-time it takes to feed the (long) wedding speeches into my computer. And it's not really bye-bye as the Minidisc recorder is far slimmer and more groom-pocketable than the H2 ever will be.

tom.

October 9th, 2007, 09:14 AM	#32
Bob Huenemann New Boot Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hollister, CA Posts: 8	Zoom H2 stereo separation Saturday night I recorded a concert by a local community symphony orchestra. I was seated in the fourth row, and the orchestra was well over 90 degrees in width from there. I recorded half the concert with the front mics and half with the rear mics. Yesterday, I edited the recording to CD. I have listened to it several ways, including a good pair of headphones and a high end audio system. I am disappointed by the lack of stereo separation. Even with headphones, the stereo separation is minimal. Other than that, the sound is quite good.

December 6th, 2007, 05:04 PM	#37
Andy Wilkinson Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 2,853	Zoom H2 HAS 4 mics I did read (I think maybe on the Zoom H2 and H4 Forum - just Google it) that when the unit was being designed this was one option being considered but it was superceded by the 4 mic design that was then launched and is now out there. Certainly, in 4 channel mode all 4 LCD meter bars move independently! Got mine a few days ago and I really like it/having lots of fun with it! __________________ Andy K Wilkinson - https://www.shootingimage.co.uk Cambridge (UK) Corporate Video Production

December 6th, 2007, 01:58 PM	#33
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	I'm receiving reports that there were (are?) some H2 recorders that only have 3 mics fitted rather than 4, so that the rear channel is recorded mono. Any news of this or just a myth?

December 6th, 2007, 02:17 PM	#34
Ben Syverson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: chicago Posts: 434	Tim Prebble from NZ has a very glowing review of the H2 (with tons of samples) on his awesome blog "The Music of Sound" : http://substation.co.nz/blog/?p=170 He's an accomplished sound designer for films (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0695670/), so it's interesting to hear his take on it.

December 6th, 2007, 02:53 PM	#35
Dan Bridges Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 39	Davis, the Sony MZ-NH700 Hi-MD was the device that had the non-linear time change on this occasion. (Normally it's OK.) I presume it was due to mistracking which I've got often on my old Sharp MDs. Or perhaps I pressed Pause by mistake and then released it - it's too long ago now. A H4 would have been faster and a little easier to transfer than my Hi-MD (USB 2.0 through my card reader). I now use the H4 as the main ext. audio device now and the Hi-MD as the 2nd unit. On the big stuff I usually use 2 ext. audio recorders for mixing desk output & for a stereo M/S mic (Sony ECM-939LT) situated near the stage front as well as mics situated on both DV cams (Panasonic NV-GS400s) near the stage: Rode SVM & VM.

December 7th, 2007, 04:15 PM	#39
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Thanks guys. My H2 arrived today and although rather 'plasticky' looking it sure sounds good. And all for less than the price of a simple, mono Senheisser MKE 300D microphone. I can't get over it. It was only about 3 years ago when the included 512 SD card cost as much as the entire package. Love it. Bye-bye Minidisc. tom.

December 8th, 2007, 05:57 AM	#41
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	Nothing wrong with the Minidisc apart from the real-time it takes to feed the (long) wedding speeches into my computer. And it's not really bye-bye as the Minidisc recorder is far slimmer and more groom-pocketable than the H2 ever will be. tom.