Olympus LS-100 review and test against Zoom H4N

[@blackclavish]

the Olympus, by far, still sounds a lot better.

[@yavamaystudio8045]

Zoom is made from shitty plastic and doesn't record 8 tracks. Zoom, don't have 24 volt phantom power for studio mic, also limiter working so quickly, it's lowering dynamic. Hiss on Rode mic is bigger at 11 dB is a lot different, so. Screen without colour. You don't pay more 100 bucks for nothing. For me Zoom is a class lower, but is ok for that money. One touch stop and start record and some bucks is changed after 1.25 update system

[@gost]

While I am agree with the author in any aspect, I must admit that LS-100 shines in guitar test. The sound is more natural.

[@granaff]

The price of the ls-100 has come down so I'm interested in buying it now. This is excellent and wonderfully in-dept and thorough review. Thank you for taking the time to do it!

[@LeoMahoney70]

Update: The Olympus update wokrs great- what you hear is what gets recorded- no delay

[@meedily]

This is a fantastic video review. Not too much talking, but enough valuable information to actually make it informative. Please make more! :)

[@RockdriguezM]

Best review ever ! You can't miss a single second. You Rock mate!

[@starskeymaid]

Micheal and others, Thank you for this review....really helped guide me to how to spend my limited resources for now. I was going to go with Olympus but now will look more at Zoom and it's lower cost freeing some funds for mics etc. If you get more chances to review for us laymen...educational by the way! PLEASE DO!

[@LeoMahoney70]

Thanks for letting me know the firmware update came out, the headset monitoring was useless, I hope it work- Thanks.

[@pavelfajtfree]

Very good review! Thank you. I am using Zoom H4N 3 years?..with no wish to get better quality. It is small, portable and good enough. Probably still the most useful pocket recorder. Concerning my opinion.. the 2AA batteries makes big advantage compare to the acu of Olympus.

[@djraztah2462]

I always watch Olympus products, they do have some quality features into their products.

[@dickdrewes4084]

I just bought a H4N and when I see how miniscule the differences are between these two recorders and compare that to the huge difference in price (In Switzerland the H4N was CHF 274 while the LS-100 is CHF 499) I'm really glad I made the choice I did :)

[@0815DST]

Wow, this realy was one of the best and enormous tests about a device I've ever seen :) Good graphics an test processes.

[@bovinelife]

Excellent review - can you confirm that when using the Olympus, and using one channel for XLR, with for example, the rode you used, if it only monitors in one ear?

[@slapman6619]

I can't believe it can be this good

[@TerenceKearns]

Excellent Excellent review. I learnt a few things about my H4n - like not to rely on the limiter. Thanks very much. Definitely subscribing to your channel.

[@geraldprost9254]

I love the thoroughness that you approach all your work. Gerry in Calgary

[@thelegendaryblind]

Thanks alot man. Really, this is the best audio comparison I have ever watched. Dude, you made my day and this's a big honor of me likeing your great comparison. I'm so proud by a gifted guy like you in the Internet world. Peace, and wish you all a nice life.

[@musicforindies]

thanks - great test!!! you mentioned 6 hours with the NTG2 and H4n (phantom power ON) was the battery "ON" in the NTG2? I imagine it would have been so the H4n would have not supplied Phantom in that instance if it sees it is being supplied externally.

[@ginob615]

I was really hoping you would have tested the limiters with the drum kit you had in the background. If you have a link of that, I'd love to listen. Very thorough review, thank you.

[@ramonacordova4564]

THANK YOU SO MUCH for this!

[@eyevincast5440]

Wait Olympus has a tuner built into it?

[@jamesclark131]

I heard that on a later fermwhere update sence your video they fixed the monitoring issues.

[@oshalkovsky]

Спасибо за лучший обзор из тех что я видел и слышал.

[@ratsausage]

I would like to buy this but the headphone output being too low means it won't be suitable for my usage. How could Olympus mess this up?

[@francorossini8536]

I don't understand: with Olympus is possible to record 4 channel mode like with Tascam D-40? I have to record my voice over an instrumental mp3 track without using my notebook (karaoke purpose). Is possible record music from my mp3 player inserting the 3.5mm Male Stereo Jack to Jack Audio Cable into MIC socket and at same time recording my voice with internal/external microphone? If no what is the best recorder for do this? thanks

[@MetalAlive]

How long will olympus last using both xlr chanels?

[@generalcontrol]

I've never used it in such scenario.

[@MetalAlive]

@@generalcontrol it should be two time less ? or phantom power doesn't working like that?

[@OlympusAudio]

This was a very comprehensive review. Thank you so much for reviewing the LS-100.

[@Anabolic-Squad]

you're the best man. Can you do a similar review for H5 against olympus ls-100? they say the preamps were improved alot.

[@generalcontrol]

I don't have an H5 lying around. But I had once rented it for a 4 track job and did some quick home tests against LS-100. They're comparable in terms of noise performance. Indeed, a step ahead from H4N.

[@Anabolic-Squad]

@@generalcontrol .. I researched a bit deeper and found tascam 70DR to be performing slighting better than olympus in terms of noise floor, while being cheaper. Obviously its not as portable as olympus, but i dont mind that. What do u think?

[@generalcontrol]

@@Anabolic-Squad I have no experience with this one.

[@Anabolic-Squad]

@@generalcontrol appreciate ur replies mate .. much thanks

[@Geeklapeeno]

Hi, sorry, I mean the softer you used to compare the frequency responses, etc. (see 9:15 for example) Thanks

[@DudeMeToo]

The best video review of the Olympus LS-100 to date. Great Review video. Thx!

[@ItisImarko]

Question: What model of field recorder would you recommend with "lowest base nose, preamp,.." or signal to noise ratio because i will use to record nature sounds and piano. I would like to stay under 1000€ range and i will use se Sennheiser ME microphone.

[@NekaSadhu]

awesome Comparision . thanks a lot

[@WarrioRAbsolutE]

Great review! Can you make one with sony pcm-d50 vs edirol r-09hr? And is it easy to tell which one is better for metal band recording & which one to record operatic voice? I would be gladful if you answer me, because I am very much confuse & I need one for both uses. Thank you!

[@terratec1001]

Great review. Loved the guitar demo :)

[@proteas1992]

The best review ever seen. EXCELLENT work.

[@Trikarteros]

That is a Review with a capital R! Well done, keep it up!

[@arfurlife]

absolutely superb work guys, you are genuine heros. Thankyou a hundred times.

[@mariocomeq1961]

I'd like too know your opinion about H4n using it to regestering lessons in high school at distance fromm 4 - 6 meters from the teacher without using an extra mic?. Thanks.

[@generalcontrol]

MARIO COMEQ Any recorder will record lots of echo and room noise from 5 meters. The quality in this situation is not about particular brand or model - they all will fail to deliver good audio from such distance - it's about placing mic as close to subject as possible. The cheapest recorder placed at 1m will beat the crap out of a pro recorder placed at 5m. It has nothing to do with build quality or price tag. It's physics.

[@UlarisBadler]

Amazing Review! Thank you very much!

[@AidynUrazbayev]

Cheers, mate! An excellent review. Keep up the good work!

[@erwinvierstraete4413]

Super good review.

[@defakosgr]

THE BEST REVIEW EVER!!! Thanks!

[@larbueno]

Very, very nice review! Thorough and objective.

[@metoosiam]

Mr. Zuzin: your review is great! I am a amateur pianist. I play on an acoustic piano and Ifrequently learn new classical music which I would like to record. Which one you think would be a better buy for my needs? I intend to record and make CD's for my grandson to listen to when I am gone! Thank you very much, Sara Hagen

[@generalcontrol]

H4N is rather outdated, I suggest you taking a look at H5 and H6 in Zoom's product line. They are better quality-wise.

[@pszmd1]

Phenomenal review! Thanks for this great service!

[@rh666]

Man, this review helps a lot. After comparison, I decided to buy H4N from zoom.

[@musicforindies]

Stamina mode? if not that's incredible and a first for phantom and the H4n.

[@guidelineuk]

Great review the olympus is updated so go on the website and check it out:0)

[@jiajunyang1573]

Best portable recorder review I have ever seen..

[@WarrioRAbsolutE]

OK dude, your review was great & I thought you were a professional reviewer! That's why I asked you, as far as I know professional reviewers don't buy gadgets, they are given to them to review them. Anyways thanx...

[@reevrob]

This is the best review for both units. Great job, man! I hope companies will send you equipment for review. Btw, no offense...but your accent reminds me of Sasha Baron Cohen's Borat. Please forgive me. :)

[@metoosiam]

Thank you Michael for your prompt answer. I will follow through your suggestion. All the best, Sarah Hagen

[@dtlastraightahead2133]

solid review no mercy love it!!

[@saddam08]

Hi! I am just wondering to buy LS-100 or Zoom H5/6.. Which has better mics?

[@generalcontrol]

+Bartosz Sałdan I haven't touched H5 but played with H6. Its mics are better than LS100.

[@saddam08]

+generalcontrol Better you mean less noisy? I have to record my girlfriends clarinet, so it has to be as good as possible;) Thanks for answer!

[@generalcontrol]

+Bartosz Sałdan H6 mics are a bit bigger, they sound richer and have more natural frequency response to my ear. And the noise levels are excellent, too.

[@crokinoledk]

хорошая, профессиональная работа! Keep going. Greetings from Poland.

[@ferkancaba]

which one would you buy to record opera kind of music ?

[@generalcontrol]

Olympus is less noisy. Also check out newer Zooms, namely H5 or H6, H4n is rather outdated.

[@oliviersavignac5141]

great job !

[@DeadlyAviator]

Backlight can be kept on permanently with the ls 100

[@Deebz270]

Отличный обзор! Спаси́бо Товарищ! (...from the UK :) )

[@jon123423]

Olympus is expensive, difficult to use and batteries it takes is not readily available from any corner shops. Zoom is cheap, plastiky , external mic pre-amps are lousy. So avoid both.

[@generalcontrol]

The NLE is Sony Vegas.

[@generalcontrol]

Phantom power tests were performed without battery in the mic.

[@Geeklapeeno]

Hi, very good review! What software you use to make comparisons, btw?

[@GulbisGuntars]

fantastic review... thanks

[@vazquezvill]

So interesting video, many thanks :)

[@ZouanKourtis]

Great test

[@MichaelReganMusic]

So helpful. Thanks a lot. Olympus it is, I think!

[@ErrigalCam]

Great Review, Thanks !

[@TheCameraManReviews]

To me the Olympus sounds more rich.

[@junichikawai3108]

What is the pin microphone used in this video?

[@MartiansChronicle]

What software were you using for the analysis? When comparing the the noise levels of the two devices, at what dB difference would say that the noise doesn't matter and at what dB difference would you say it does matter?

[@generalcontrol]

I have neither of these two. As soon as I get rich enough so I can afford buying random gear just to make a review on demand I probably will ;)

[@FilmMakerJose]

Best review

[@fieldhouse1312]

Gr8 Work bro !!

[@TheJolop3]

good review.

[@andrewlinesjah4538]

14 January 2019 HELP ME ! I require a audio recording device for recording minutes of meetings ? YOUR RECOMMENDATION PLEASE , And how much should I spend ?

[@generalcontrol]

A $100 Zoom H1 will do the job just as good as any more expensive device. The quality in your scenario is not about the price, it's about placing the mic as close to the speaker as possible.

[@andrewlinesjah4538]

It would likely be 2 to 4 to 6 feet away on a table to record minutes in a meeting Your advice ?

[@generalcontrol]

@@andrewlinesjah4538 $100 mic at 2ft is better than $1000 mic at 6ft. That's it.

[@andrewlinesjah4538]

okay so for a device that i would put down on the table Would anyone work ?

[@generalcontrol]

@@andrewlinesjah4538 Absolutley. Any $100 recorder is more than enough. You'd rather get yourself a mini tabletop tripod and shock mount that will fit your device or else it will record annoying rumble every time someone touches the table. This is another reason why a smaller, H1 size device will do better. Search ebay for "Zoom H1 shock mount". You don't the the biggies from this video to record a table talk - these are overkill.

[@jmd62800]

Very good...i like that !

[@DirectingSven]

Way more hiss on zoom!

[@generalcontrol]

That's Sound Forge.

[@SlowDeathMusic]

Россия =) Спасибо за обзор!

[@MrHamit64]

Hmmmmmmmmm who knows how these tests will go with the new H4N Pro

[@terratec1001]

3.5mm NOT 3.5 inches LOL

[@zoobiewa]

Ahha. So with two extra double A batteries the h4n completely smears the Olympus. That's horrible. Poor olympus. H4N bootup does suck, though. Although the Olympus looks so excessively annoying to setup. Wow. This review... although I'm only 4:30 into it, completely trashes the Olympus. What a confusing machine. Anyway, amazing review. Thank you. I only wish my h4n had a better door. Haha.

[@yavamaystudio8045]

Zoom is made from shitty plastic and doesn't record 8 tracks. Zoom, don't have 24 volt phantom power for studio mic, also limiter working so quickly, it's lowering dynamic. Hiss on Rode mic is bigger at 11 dB is a lot different, you forgot to say about 140 Db Spl instead 120 Db, and 20 - 44 000 Hz Olympus frequency response..... Zoom that is mooore weaker ha ha, so. Screen without colour. You don't pay more 100 bucks for nothing. For me Zoom is a class lower, but is ok for that money. One touch stop and start record and some bucks is changed after 1.25 update system. Your job is not right.

[@bassoonreeds]

А теперь тоже и на Русском...

[@oguzkaanigdes8507]

burda niye türk yok amk

[@yijunniu7266]

Best portable recorder review I have ever seen..

[@MrMrpicsareus]

brilliant review, thank you.