do u have to be right on top of someone to use these? I have to record vocal and solo piano recitals in a very high tech acoustical space at a college. The room sound is great but I can't use the on camera mic. They are also picky about the look of "things" probably mic stands as the mic's are hung from the ceiling in this space.

No you don't have to be on-top of the subject (but as always, the closer your mic is the better the potential results......this is the golden rule!!!!). My Zoom H2 has worked well in the M, i.e mid-attenuation mode (L, M or H switch on the side) and with the digital amplifier just left at 100 in the menu, always!....or it introduces some horrible quality - see the Zoom forum). It is remarkably sensitive and used correctly can give pretty decent results. Used correctly would mean up close and personal of course!

This was for capturing music (classical guitar) in a cathedral about 20 feet away. This was as close as they would let me go - and it was hidden in a candle stand 6 ft up and surrounded by flowers as they did not want anything in front of the guy or visible. It gave me good ambient sound but no way as good as if I could have got it (or a better mic) closer. It gave much better sound than the shotguns we had on the cameras at about 30-40 feet away, especially for ambience.