Zoom H1essential 32 Bit Stereo Recorder (any good?)

[@lookingforsounds]

Yeah, I agree. Just releasing a 32bit H1n was lazy. They could have easily used the opportunity to do so much more than they did, even if it meant adding another 40-50 bucks to the price tag, i.e. better mics, overall better build (reduce handling noise), better screen.

[@TheRecordist]

It was right there. But they went with the cheap cash grab. Oh well, perhaps low sales will spur their ideas. Cheers!

[@MHBTeleVision]

In yall opinion, I don't enjoy the handling noise, but if using the xlr and a boom handling noise will be eliminated, correct? The handling noise is terrible

[@TheRecordist]

@@MHBTeleVision hey. Actually, there are no XLR ports on this recorder. Only 3.5mm. Also, a boom pole won’t minimize noise, but a special shockmount might help.

[@jenslempke7883]

For recording the mixchannel out of a mixer live, it's unbeatable with the 32 bit leveling ability. That's what I will use it for.

[@jenslempke7883]

Then get the H2E, lots of additional mic and unit features 👍🏻

[@RubbrDug]

Best and most useful review I could find so far. I love this channel.

[@TheRecordist]

Hey thanks so much! Cheers!

[@CaptainMoto]

Hey John, I was surprised that you never noticed Zoom's HQ which used to be located on the 3rd floor of the Nakatomi Plaza when you visited back in '88.

[@TheRecordist]

Hahahaha. Awesome!

[@daniel635biturbo]

yippee ki-yay

[@SezarNasser]

I watched the H1n review and was looking for this one. You're amazing. I like that you cover basically everything to be covered, and it comes off as sincere. Appreciate your work!

[@TheRecordist]

Hey thanks very much! So appreciated!

[@Average-AL]

I love your humility - "the clearest explanation ever delivered by mankind". So understated and humble :) In my search for my first 32bit field recorder this one is now crossed off the list... no xlr... So I am back at the crossroads of the cheaper and bulkier R4 or the smaller and pricier F3 I guess.

[@TheRecordist]

Hahaha. I just say stuff sometimes. There’s always the H4essential at $200 USD, I think. Have you looked at that?

[@Average-AL]

​@@TheRecordist No I have not looked at that video, but I saw this video and looked at the specs the H4 Ess also tops at 96khz and I agree with you that it might be nice to have the option to record ultrasounds in nature sometime.

[@someoneyoudontknow4319]

Most informative review I can find for the h1 essential for people looking to buy it without knowing anything.

[@TheRecordist]

Thanks very much! Cheers!

[@Therstrium]

"You can do anything with anything." Truest words. Been using an H1n on a wind-screened and hot-shoe shock-mounted on top of my Canon R5 for a long time. When I share videos, I keep hearing from people how clear the sound is. Far from ideal sound setup, but it gets the job done, and sounds nice. I do shoot in situations where things get surprise-loud, so I'm going to pick this one up and give it a try.

[@TheRecordist]

Haha. Roger that! You do what you can and it’s surprising what one can do with a little know-how. Thanks for the comment!

[@griefwells]

your dynamic range tests are amazing. haha

[@TheRecordist]

Hahaha. I couldn’t think of anything and I was trying to get the review out fast. Haha.

[@griefwells]

​@@TheRecordist did the trick! love your channel

[@alinsey5774]

I couldnt stop laughing at those test!

[@jenslempke7883]

My right brainpart tell me "Man! It's a hundred buckaroonies! Get it! It will record the band from aux out perfectly! It's... *drumroll*... 32 bit recording!" My left brainpart say (yes I have two actually, not noticable on a monday morning though...) "Throw in another $75 and get a H2 Essential when it's released in a few weeks. It has better mics, works as an audio interface, have m/s recording, multidirectional mic positioning, bluetooth option, built in mixer and not the noicy plastic issue. So besides the mixing console recorder function, it's also a quite able mic." I'll go with the left, non functional on monday morning one 👌🏻 Thanks for yet another amazing video. I missed your product song though. But probably the noicy plastic and crappy preamps paused your will to spread musical love to this unit 👍🏻

[@TheRecordist]

Hahaha. Potentially great decision! I didn’t know about the H2essential. That’ll be interesting to find out about. And thanks very much! I only do the songs with mics and audio gear that’s made for that type of thing. Haha. Sorry about that!

[@stoyanstefanov7461]

Zoom H1n-VP is now reduced to half price in my country. Nice kit, maybe I'll buy one instead of the Zoom H1essential. Thank you for your honest opinion! You are John McClane!

[@TheRecordist]

Haha. That’s great! Glad I could help! Cheers!

[@henrykg]

Buy H1n. It is worth that price. H1e is not (in my country current price is 2x).

[@dottedrhino]

Not having to set record level and not worrying about clipping and knowing the sound quality will be optimal, is a big plus to me! The downside (not the upside) is that it's cheap. I would have happily spent double for a pair of decent quality mikes.

[@TheRecordist]

Attach a pair of Clippys!

[@Lachlant1984]

I've just been listening to reviews of the new Zoom HX Essential recorders by a totally blind man, and he was very impressed with these recorders and their accessibility features, and I understand that many other blind people are buying these recorders because of the voice guidance functions. I'm also vision impaired and so I can understand how important these functions are for some users.

[@TheRecordist]

That’s fantastic! I agree. I think for those with visual impairments, this is the recorder series to get. I’m very happy to hear from someone who would benefit from such features. Thanks for the comment!

[@Lachlant1984]

@@TheRecordist No worries. I actually don't have a real use for one of these Zoom recorders, but I do use an Olympus voice recorder, a DM-720, which also has talking menus and voice guidance features, actually, I think in my country, the Zoom H1 Essential is cheaper than the DM-720, at least it is from some retailers. It's certainly a very enticing package.

[@TheRecordist]

@@Lachlant1984 roger that!

[@kneepayne]

You're spot on about it being what it is for a cheap mic. And yes, the F3 is an option that scales better than the H1. And I am saying this as someone that has had every H1 (because its handy!).

[@kneepayne]

Late to the party, but the best one I've seen. Still working on my own about the H1e, and appreciate everything you covered.

[@TheRecordist]

Thanks very much! Yes. I have all the H1 versions too. Haha. I guess I’m collecting them now? Hey man, the more reviews out there for people the better! I hope to see yours soon!

[@jmalmsten]

the H4n was my first semipro recorder that I have owned. I dropped that and bent the X/Y mic's. I got it repaired. Soon after that, I dropped it again and bent the mic's. I didn't bother fixing them. I have since sworn to never buy a recorder with unshielded X/Y mic's again. I just do not trust myself with something so fragile. H1n is a great little recorder for me. And now I have upgraded to the M4 (not the assault rifle), which has X/Y in protective cage so I can't bend them, And I get the extra two XLR-combo jacks of the H4n recorder. And 32 bit. No fancy FX or multitrack DAW built in, but I never used those anyways. So I now see they finally got the 32bit H1 released.. I am not mad at myself for not waiting. I see those exposed mics. I know I would bend them accidentally very quickly. That's a me problem. Most people don't have that problem. Most people don't drop their recorders. But I do. I don't trust exposed X/Y mics to survive. Oh, and yes. the M4 has handling noise as well. I got myself a Rycote kit with pistol grip and suspended cradle to handhold it. And a fluffly cover for the mics for wind suppression. It's a bit more expensive. But it works well (some early units seem to have had RF intereference problems that I could not replicate with the one I bought).

[@TheRecordist]

I totally understand. But let me say this: there is no way the H1essential mics will get bent if you drop it. They will shatter into a thousand pieces before bending. It’s all cheap, brittle plastic. I’m glad you enjoy the M4! Thanks for the awesome comment!

[@edfoulks8047]

Thanks for the great review and detailed explanation on 32 bit float! I religiously use the limiter on my H1N and that seems to help prevent distortion...at least it does for me. After watching this, think I'll stick with my H1N and forgo "upgrading" for the time being. 👍

[@TheRecordist]

Good choice! And you’re very welcome!

[@JackFlanders]

Thanks for the 32-Bit explanation. I never knew that different bit rates had maximum db levels.

[@TheRecordist]

No worries, Jack! Cheers!

[@wavetro]

I really wish Tascam (or anyone else) had an equivalent to this product at this price point and form factor. Both the H1essential and the Portacapture X6 meet my needs, but I don't want to give money to Zoom for being lazy. At the same time, I've never used a portable recorder as big as an X6. (I've only used Zoom H2s or smaller) Will probably do the X6 since I also don't need the H1's ultra-portability, but I am gonna miss having that. My H1n and its built-in mics have served me well, but I really need 32-bit AND a manufacturer that actually bothers to upgrade its internals and built-in mics (Tascam) Great video!

[@TheRecordist]

You gotta do what you gotta do! And no worries! Cheers!

[@leonidliberman9133]

Man, Man, You are Great!!! Initially I came here to listen about the recorder, but only for few moments I was in this. Then I started laughing and enjoying Your video up to the end. Big, Big Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@TheRecordist]

Hahaha. Thank you so much! Cheers!

[@jonyjohns]

I bought x1 essential for my daily assembly (just to have it in my backpack), I connect a contact microphone and another SOMA Ether v2 to it, it works great for its price. I use a zoom f3 as my main recorder.

[@TheRecordist]

That’s excellent. That’s exactly what I do. My main recorder is a Sound Devices MixPre 6 II, but I keep the H1 with me at all times.

[@nsontung]

I was planning to buy this one. Luckily, I watched this video. Thank you so much, I will consider buying F3.

[@TheRecordist]

Yes. I think that’s a better recorder - as long as you don’t need the built in mics. Cheers!

[@javadahmadi]

Excellent video. One of the best to define this product. Can you do a review on “comica VM40 Dual-Channel Shotgun Microphone”? It would be awesome as you dive deep to key elements. Thanks

[@TheRecordist]

I can try! Comica offers me products to test here and there but when I respond, the conversation goes cold. I’ll give it a shot!

[@cmd_f5]

Awesome review. I wish Zoom had used some nicer plastic and better pres/mics. 32-bit is awesome, but so is a quiet preamp. lol. I got the H4Essential today and it's a bit better. Thinking of getting a few external XLR capsules to pop on it and go from there for room drum micing or something. One big plus for me is the voice guidance (I'm blind). There's been a few recorders with speech in the past, but not many. The last Zoom recorder I owned was the original H1. Fantastic for the money. The menus were simple enough to memorize and I used it a ton. I'm hoping Zoom really puts some thought into the next line of higher end recorders. They're onto something here but it's a bit rough around the edges yet. cheers

[@TheRecordist]

Hey thanks for the comment! I’m glad you chimed in because it’s good to hear from a blind person’s perspective! That voice guidance was obviously something they did right. I’m so glad it helps you! Thanks for the great comment! Cheers!

[@MattJoyce01]

I think this would be a perfectly reasonable entry level kit for field recording, with an external mic. A good starter drop rig.

[@TheRecordist]

Agreed. It’s a very cheap entry into field recording. It’ll do the job. And you can always use a spare H1 if you ever upgrade.

[@lofidarkambient]

My first recorder was a Zoom H1 and a great little thing. Recently I had to clean the body with Isopropyl alcohol because it had become very sticky due to the deterioration of the coating. Still in use as it is easy to carry around. Then I got a Zoom H3-VR. It is great but I can't go into the menus anymore as the Enter button does not work anymore but I still use it a lot. Then I got the Zoom H4n Pro. Great product but the startup time when using "large" cards like the 16 GB is a huge pain in the butt. It takes almost a minute before it is ready for recording. It seems to be a flaw. So recently I got the Zoom F3, 32-bit float, 192 kHz. Love it and has become my go-to field recorder for sound design. By the way, one drug and alcohol-induced evening an elderly Freemason told me that the story of Zoom goes as far back as the Knights Templar. Now don't go around telling this secret to everybody will you as the Freemason that told me this story was never heard of or seen again. 🤐 Love the way you present your reviews and your channel in general.

[@TheRecordist]

Hahaha. Oh man. I would’ve given up on Zoom after the second purchase. Haha. I’m glad you found the right one though! And thanks very much for the compliment! Cheers!

[@TheRecordist]

Also, I know a thing or two about Freemasons. Haha.

[@robbraden3266]

Nice review. Also have a Sound Devices MixPre but have not used the 32 bit float feature. A cheap 32 bit recorder that can be left unattended will be useful so I just ordered the H1E. Rycote sells a portable recorder shock mount that can be attached to a minitripod/handle and also offers a kit with dead cat to control plosives and wind noise. Oh and just noticed Movo makes one that costs much less.

[@TheRecordist]

Yes. There are all kinds of ways to mount the H1 series. And it’s hard to beat it for a drop rig. Cheap enough!

[@BenjaminKanarek]

Wonderfully illuminating review and tutorial! Thank You!😇

[@TheRecordist]

You’re very welcome! Cheers!

[@leafcatcherstudio]

Thank you for this review. I probably wouldn’t recommend this device for use with the TRS Clippys. The result is too noisy for me, at least when I tested it with my H1n. When plugged into a device with better preamps, the Clippy mics come out sounding noticeably cleaner.

[@TheRecordist]

Of course. You’re absolutely right. But the Clippys beat the onboard fisher price mics by an ocean - comparatively speaking.

[@kevincoffee3238]

Extremely helpful, and educational to boot. How fun! Thanks

[@TheRecordist]

Thanks very much! Cheers!

[@MauroBorsato]

Thanks, as always great review and detailed explanation.

[@TheRecordist]

Thanks very much, Mauro!

[@pandanio]

Just for clarification - the older h1n supports cards bigger than 32gb. I tested myself 128gb and it works just fine. But to make it work, you have to format it as FAT32 (not exfat or ntfs).

[@TheRecordist]

Really? I didn’t know that. I can’t believe it but I didn’t. I never even thought to try. Thanks for this info!

[@pandanio]

@@TheRecordist Is worth noting that startup time with such a big card is significantly longer, about 30s. Also my unit has firmware version 1.21, maybe this feature was added as an upgrade.

[@TheRecordist]

@@pandanio oh that’s terrible. 30 seconds is way too long.

[@mfaddy]

Never come across this guy before but I love how entertaining but informative he is.

[@TheRecordist]

Why thank you kindly, sir! Cheers!

[@dutchbeef8920]

I love your dynamic range man😂

[@TheRecordist]

Hey thanks! Haha.

[@lawrencediggs7957]

Thanks. You saved me some bucks. I think I'll wait to see what their "upgrade models" spec at. The "essential" models seem like a trial run.

[@TheRecordist]

I agree. That’s a good move. Or you could also just grab an H1n if you can find one. That was about as good a recorder at that price point that they’ve ever made.

[@lawrencediggs7957]

@@TheRecordist I checked at the jungle store and there is no price drop...yet. I already have one , but the 1/4 inch tripod thingy broke.

[@Drinkyoghurt]

The problem with 32bit is that you just usually end up clipping the mics. Sure, it's great not having to worry about the levels, but it can cause complacency in microphone setup. The biggest issue with 32-bit is that you can't just expect everyone to be able to handle it. Tascam solves this by having a dual recording mode, so you can record in both 16/24bit and 32-bit float.

[@TheRecordist]

At a 120db SPL, it would be hard to clip the mics - but not impossible. I don’t personally like working in 32 bits. I much prefer setting it properly at the get-go. But maybe that’s just my 30+ years of experience talking. Set in my ways. That’s cool that Tascam can record in both 24 and 32 bits simultaneously. Have they solved their terrible preamp and radio interference issues? I haven’t tested one out in a while.

[@nicolaisvendsen7101]

Great review and explanation of the buttons, given I can't see anything! Now I can press buttons without ruining anything. I come from Olympus and have considered Zoom for a while, especially now that the 3.55MM broke after fifteen years of usage. Unfortunately, newer recorders with voice guidance are discontinued apparently, and Olympus released a newer model which skipped it for some reason, so I might be buying this one because it's so cheap. I'm glad to finally see Zoom incorporate the guidance feature. Wish the preamps were better though as you say. But I guess you can't have everything. At least, this should be plenty useful as a drop rig.

[@TheRecordist]

Hey. You’re right about all of it! I have many visually impaired viewers who have told me they use the voice guidance all the time and it works for them. So it may be the right move for you!

[@vampula12]

Awesome job with this one! But I guess im keeping my h1n, the no gain control thing is a killer for me, so yeah. Just would be happy to have h1n with usb-c, since micro-usb is super crappy when it comes to its rigidity.Thank you!

[@TheRecordist]

Haha. Glad you liked my review! And agreed!

[@Gongtopia]

I'm a big fan of the H1n and use mine a lot. Yeah, it's 'cheap', but I find it useful as a recorder I can bring almost anywhere, like 2 recent trips to Europe, where I had it in my jacket pocket just incase I found some interesting sounds to record. I have both the ZOOM H6 and the TASCAM X8, which are better and more flexible, but for less than $100, the H1n is good for what it does. Now the new H1essential…hmmmm, not the big improvement I had hoped for. I'd gladly pay more for better, less noisy pre-amps, and less handling noise. 32-bit? Nice, but not necessary in a unit like this (I use 32-bit in my X8 a lot, but it's a very different animal). Still, under $100 I'd get one if I didn't already have the H1n. As it is, not a necessary upgrade for me.

[@TheRecordist]

Yep. I totally agree with everything you just said!

[@swayzer9949]

Thank you so much, I enjoyed watching it. The dynamic range test was super entertaining :) However, for the recorder, it's a bit disappointing. Overall, it's a better product, but still not good enough for me to upgrade. Just like you, I really hope they come out with an H1 Pro that is made better and has less noise. I would buy that even if it were a twice the price, since it would be so convenient. Let's see what the future brings…

[@TheRecordist]

Fully agree! Maybe they’ll listen to us recordists! And glad you liked the video! Cheers!

[@samuelkline7110]

Very much enjoy your videos. Very entertaining and informative. Such a rare combination. I would like to record my son's trombone practice so he can hear himself during playback. I was thinking the 32 bit might be the way to go since the trombone has the ability to go from mello to loud in a beat or two.

[@TheRecordist]

Hey thanks so much! Yes. The 32 bits might really come in handy for that application. I agree. Cheers!

[@sr3d-microphones]

The voice feature has a fault in saying the date for the UK style, as it says the year instead of the day when adjusting the days of the week, even after the new firmware update! Not that I would use that feature.

[@TheRecordist]

Haha. Doesn’t surprise me. Zoom just rushed this out, I think.

[@426Studios]

Im a film maker that also cover events. I primarily use H1Essential to record from the mixer so I can get clean audio. I've been using the original H1 and its been many times that I recorded clipped audio because the operator always change their settings so the added 32bit feature is a nice welcome for me. I was thinking maybe Ill get a better one, but then I deliberate 1 more time and realized that its my only use case so I decided to just get the Zoom h1 essential now that my h1 breaks.

[@TheRecordist]

Yes. I agree. That’s a great solution!

[@pathegartyfilmssongs9487]

Hi, very informative and entertaining....I use the H8 for my short films/foley/field/documentary etc. The new essential range does not interest me really as I am not too excited about 32bit and they are NOT backward compatible with older capsules!! What I would love if Zoom added safety tracks on all inputs on the H8.....I can dream I suppose!! Great reviews Thank You.

[@TheRecordist]

I fully agree with you! The H8 doesn’t have safety tracks? Hmm. That could be a firmware update, I think. But Zoom would need to care first. Haha. Thanks for the comment! Cheers!

[@thecharacterofcobh8767]

The xy capsule does have safety tracks. I've once used an xlr splitter cable had one input gained and the other set lower. Worked fine.

[@EmmasNatureEscapes]

I watched your review because I'm looking for a device to record nature sounds like forest, waterfalls, rivers, birds... For video I use a Canon R7 mirrorless camera but for sound I haven't found any decent solution. Internal mics are not very good. Also tried a shoe mount mic (Deity D4 Mini) but I still get a lot of noise. Especially when I record birds I have so much background noise that I cannot use it. I've tried all kinds of settings on my camera but it seems it has bad preamps and the mic is not that great. So after watching many reviews for shoe mount mics I saw a recommendation to get a Recorder and mount it on my camera. To use it as a separate unit doesn't feel like a solution because every time I will have to match the video with the sound and I prefer to have it directly over the video for a more natural feeling. What do you think it would be better, this H1 Essential recorder, the older version H1n or I would get better results with a shoe mount mic with battery power like Sennheiser MKE400 or something from Rode. Now my budget is maximum 200 but I'm planning to invest more in the future.

[@TheRecordist]

Hey there. I understand your issue. The camera has really bad preamps. Most cameras do. A lot of times, even when you have a separate audio recorder, when you pipe it directly into the camera, the result is still going through the bad preamps. There’s no way to bypass this unless you do something else. Pipe out of the H1essential and into your camera but ALSO record on the H1essential. Later in post, replace the camera audio with that of the recorder audio. In Davinci resolve it’s really easy because you can highlight both the video clip and the H1essential’s audio clip and then right click and select SYNC AUDIO BASED ON WAVEFORM. This will sync the recorder audio with the camera audio and replace it. But the H1essential is far from a quiet recorder. Getting quiet preamps is getting into the several hundreds of dollars territory. But it should still be a hell of a lot better than either the camera audio or the camera audio recording the output of the H1essential. I hope you follow me.

[@EmmasNatureEscapes]

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer :) The idea is great, I will try it.

[@northcoaststudios]

....."It measures..." is actually the part I was waiting for. And I would not be angry if we got more "Driving in my car" dynamic range tests. LOL!! That alone was worth the price of admission. However, I did miss "Analysis!" I would agree, sounds more like a board decision to come out with this. An Engineer probably snuck in the metal threads since new tooling was being made for the body. Eehh...yeah.....not sure I "need" that either. I've been considering keeping my H4n Pro in my car for "just in case" moments. It's got slightly better pre-amps too. I pick up movie props at resale places and flea markets. I could pick-up sound effects as well if I unexpectedly come across something, but not if I don't have a recorder of some kind with me. What kind of remote are you using for focus in this video??

[@TheRecordist]

Hahaha. I was in a hurry and needed to test dynamic range. Hahaha. Keeping a recorder with you at all times is always a good decision. You never know! As for remote focus, I’m using the Bluetooth app on my phone that controls the BMPCC4K. I DO have a wireless follow focus as sent to me by The Logician, but I don’t use it for the main body of my videos because it doesn’t fit into my teleprompter properly. One day I’ll get a better teleprompter.

[@northcoaststudios]

@@TheRecordist - Thank you for both responses!

[@rounderone8437]

As I see it, the essential question here is not whether the latest and greatest gear is essential to your kit, but whether it is essential that the manufacturer of the latest and greatest gear responds to essential emails from one of the greatest and most essential audio geeks on KZbin (arguably the best). The answer is clear: It is essential that the manufacturer respond to seriously good influencers, such as TPS. So, as I am miffed at the non-response to you from Zoom (not the most essential company in the biz), I am now going to take my H1N and F3 and put them in a time-out corner for at least 2 weeks as a protest. Essentially, what I am doing is standing in solidarity with you in protest. It is not essential that I use anything from Zoom until their products are essential once more. I rest my case, which I believe to be essential to the solution.

[@TheRecordist]

Essentially, you are correct! Hahaha. That’s ok. Zoom is a massive company and I’m probably emailing the person making minimum wage. Or maybe an intern. One day, they’ll respond to me. One day…

[@One-Eyed-Willly]

How handy is this. I have visual impairments. Could this be an everyday day carry or is this something that you should carry on a case.

[@TheRecordist]

Oh yes. It’s an everyday carry. I have it in a pencil case in my man-bag (murse). Works great!

[@MosEisleySpacePort1138]

Great review! I’m deciding between an H1n for $60 or the H1 Essential for $96. I plan on just basic field recording. Nothing professional. Would 32-bit be something I’d grow into? Which would you get? Thanks!

[@TheRecordist]

Hey there. Honestly, I almost never use 32 bit. Almost. Sometimes when you can’t be sure of levels, 32 bit is a lifesaver. It just gives you unlimited headroom. But generally, I don’t use 32 bit because it’s more work in post. But other than that, it’s the same recorder. Same exact thing. If you just adjust your levels and have no worries if capturing unexpected sudden noises, and you don’t need voice guidance, then the H1n is just fine. I’ve used one for years. And I used the original H1 for many years.

[@MosEisleySpacePort1138]

@@TheRecordist Thanks so much! And thanks for your wonderful explanation of 32-bit!

[@TheRecordist]

@@MosEisleySpacePort1138 thanks! And no worries! Cheers!

[@Hix-Design]

I’d be really interested to hear what it sounds like with a set of 3.5mm Clippys instead of the built in XY mics

[@TheRecordist]

I’d love to show you but I actually don’t own a stereo set of Clippys that terminate as a single 3.5mm. I only have a single Clippy that terminates as a 3.5mm and a pair of XLR terminated Clippys. Sorry about that!

[@the_black_douglas9041]

Nathan, I think you should timestamp the measuring tape stories 😂 Sometimes I’m not into the products but came for the tape story 😂 Also maybe this Christmas maybe do an all time compilation of the tape stories? Anyway…could you please try and review the Rycote SC-08? Maybe compared to the Senny MKH50? There are literally no proper reviews I can find and it’s been out for a bit…which worries me…

[@TheRecordist]

Hahaha. Ok. I’ll try to timestamp the measuring tape stories. Hahaha. I’ll reach out to Rycote and see if they’ll send me an SC-08. Cheers!

[@the_black_douglas9041]

Hahaha! Nice one Nathan, as always 😊 Zoom are kind of idiot geniuses. The handling noise of the H1e reminds me of that awful M2 thing 😫 …which I think was kind of originally aimed at journalists and newsgathering or something, except you can’t actually exist within 10 metres of it lest recordings become unusable from handling noise. The website now shows the M2 on a mic stand with a bloke playing a trumpet at it. But then ZOOM also made the F6 and the F3!! Hey you talking about the sound of Krakatoa reminded me of when I used to live on the water next to mangrove mudflat. At night I would drift off to sleep to the chorus of snapping sounds from the Pistol Shrimp (Alphaeus species) that lived in the mud. I was startled to learn after researching them that this tiny little shrimp’s sound is so powerful that the sonic energy is transmuted into light and heat energy hotter than the sun!! Thankfully this is on a miniscule scale and very fleeting. It is a phenomenon called sonoluminescence. There you go!

[@TheRecordist]

Ahhhh Zoom. What are you even doing sometimes but not every time? And that is the coolest factoid ever! I had no idea about that! Where is this mangrove mudflat? Thanks for this! I friggin’ love facts! They’re where it’s at!

[@the_black_douglas9041]

@@TheRecordist yeah I used to live in a place right on the water called Woy Woy, in Australia. I miss the natural beauty there but other aspects of living there not so much. Let’s just say the local trade in 6 fingered gloves was brisk… *cough* There seems to be a lot more on sonoluminescence on the internet now than last time I looked. You should check it out! There seems to be some research into using sound wave generated sonoluminescence to solve the problem of nuclear fusion (the holy grail of emission free energy generation)

[@DrMartinMusic]

Such a nice and nicely articulated voice/brain!! A joy to hear your thoughts. As an aside, since there was little upgraded on the H1E-should one opt for the Tascam DR-05x as a better basic recorder? Thanks for your expertise.

[@TheRecordist]

Hey there. Thanks very much! I’m not a big fan of the Tascam due to ineffective shielding in many of their recorders. But I honestly don’t have any experience with the DR-05x, so I can’t really advise you. But the 32 bits on the H1e is a nice upgrade if you’re into that sort of thing. Cheers and thanks again!

[@keithmontreuil6726]

So, i’ve bought the h1, h1n, h1essential, as well as currently owning an h5. I am primarily a student and teacher of a highly endangered dialect of Chippewa/Ojibwe and I really need something that is not only small (the h5 is too intimidating for Elders to get comfortable and forget about) but also have bluetooth pairing for audio playback. Someone suggested sony pcm a10, is the sound quality comparable? Is there anything coming out that I should possibly wait for, or do you have other suggestions? Big thanks, your videos are fantastic

[@TheRecordist]

Hey there. Thanks very much! Well, I have never played with the PCM A-10 but I think it only records in MP3. If you’re after quality ahead of quantity, then MP3 is the lowest quality. If you’re after the opposite, then this might be the one. It does have Bluetooth functionality. I’m not aware of any handheld Zoom products that have Bluetooth playback. Unfortunately Zoom has not yet ever returned my emails so I just buy the Zoom products I review. I don’t have any inside scoop on any new products that are going to be released. I wish I did!

[@keithmontreuil6726]

@@TheRecordist ahh I see! Thank you for replying, I’ve been advised by the big giant head (my partner) to just buy a Bluetooth dongle and continue using the H1 essential, gosh she’s smart. Thanks for the heads up about the Sony only recording mp3, I was just about to pull the trigger.

[@TheRecordist]

@@keithmontreuil6726 hey no worries! And yep! She’s smart alright! I didn’t even think of that!

[@Dwoalin]

Seems like any time I need new audio gear I end up here Debating between the H5 or one of the new Essential models for portable voice over work 🤔 Or the F3 for that matter.

[@TheRecordist]

For VO work? The F3. Hands down. Easy choice. You can grow with it. Good preamps. Etc. But you’ll need your own external mic.

[@Dwoalin]

@@TheRecordist Got the mics covered! Thank you, my friend ❤

[@TipRingSleeve]

I bought the H1 and H4 essential to compare. Interestingly, the H4 has features that would have served the H1 well. And there is no overdub on the H4.

[@TheRecordist]

Weird eh? Who makes these decisions?

[@halimrahman]

You've mentioned a link for the manual, but I could not find it in your video's description.

[@TheRecordist]

So sorry. Here you go: zoomcorp.com/media/documents/E_H1essential.pdf

[@halimrahman]

@@TheRecordist brilliant. Thank you for the link.

[@andrewsallee6044]

I wonder what would happen if you painted whatever part of the surface that wouldn't interfere with function with Plasti-Dip or Flex Seal… I've got a cheapy-cheap microphone with worse handling noise than the H1, I'm goint to try it.

[@TheRecordist]

That’s a great idea! Let me know what happens!

[@narrator-timothymckean]

Excellent review. I'm looking for a recorder with XLR and phantom power. You mentioned the F3 (F for Field recorder) at $300. Do you have any idea why the R4 ($200) is so much cheaper, and the P4 ($149) even cheaper than that? What are they skimping on?

[@TheRecordist]

Hey thanks! Well, I don’t have any experience with the R4 and P4 recorders, but my guess is extremely subpar preamps and A/D converters. The F line has the better preamps and converters, so that’s why the price increase. But I may be wrong. Generally though, cheap gear has cheap parts and priced to sell.

[@northcoaststudios]

I'm wondering if I came out with a skeletonized silicon cover for any of the h1's if there would be worthwhile sales??

[@TheRecordist]

I bet there would be, if it worked! That would be an interesting experiment!

[@polwox]

32 bits explained is so useful! Thank you :) Despite of that, I can't avoid thinking of you as the Peter Griffin of reviews, sorry man 😔 hugs and kisses

[@TheRecordist]

Hahaha. Is that on account of me being wicked fat? Hahahahaha. I love Peter Griffin. I’ll take it!

[@rjfotovideo]

Thank you for this good explanation

[@TheRecordist]

Oh you’re very welcome!

[@daniel635biturbo]

I really wonder how camera manufacturers mitigate handling sound ? I've got an old Sony RX100 mkII, and only when I use the electric zoom, I get some internal noise, never noise from hands or tripod. Using the ZOOM h2n, the whole tripod is a mic, could probably hear an ant stumbling on it. I suspect there are some kind of internal noise cancellation tech in my little Sony, It really can't be only the metal body ? Because when using a MI hot shoe mic the handling noise increases.

[@TheRecordist]

Any mic on a camera is the least preferred way of capturing sound. But sometimes you can’t avoid it. There are aftermarket shockmounts that can hold recorders and that may help minimize the handling noise. But nothing is ever 100%.

[@steverolfeca]

Here's an interesting question: Why does the bottom-of-the--line H1 Essential have a Hold button (great feature), when the much more expensive and prosumer-oriented F3 does not?

[@TheRecordist]

That’s a great question! I would assume that the H1 series are “pocket” recorders, while the F3 is a more pro “field” recorder. For example, you could wire up a lav mic on an H1 and hide the recorder on a body and have a recorded version of talent wearing a wire (as opposed to wireless). The F3 is more meant for mounting and stereo external mics. I have no idea. That’s my shot and I took it. Haha.

[@steverolfeca]

@@TheRecordist I brought it up because one of the objections that pro-oriented channels raise about the F3, is that it’s easy to accidentally kill a recording when the F3 is on a film shoot, strapped to a boom or fastened to a camera… That’s a huge no-no with not just the client, but the talent and the rest of the crew dependent on that .WAV file!

[@MrVitni]

You're a fuckin great story teller

[@TheRecordist]

Oh hahaha. Thank you very much!

[@AtomikGeist]

Thanks for the review mate! So what would be your suggestion of a better choice for a small portable recorder? I use them for moto vlogs only.

[@TheRecordist]

Hey. No worries! The Zoom H5 or H6 is a bit more robust in terms of adaptability. Better mics. Better preamps. The ability to use separate mics due to dual XLR inputs. Not terribly expensive. If you were looking for the very best compact portable recorder in the world (that doesn’t have XLR inputs), then I would recommend the Sony D-100. They don’t make them anymore but if you can find one, it’s the best ever made. Hope this helps!

[@SajidMubashir]

Thanks

[@TheRecordist]

Wow! Thank you very much! I really appreciate this! Cheers!

[@RavikantRai21490]

My concern and use case is basically connecting a short shotgun mic (Deity V-mic D4 which does have 3.5mm jack) to this H1 essential and mounting this on camera. I don't think those plastic noises will make it then since I am not using the in-built mic? If it works for that, that's all I need from this.

[@TheRecordist]

Yes. You’re right. This should work just fine. As long as the D4 has a TRS 3.5mm connector, it should work just fine. You can just sync audio with picture in post!

[@RavikantRai21490]

@@TheRecordist Thanks. I hope it doesn't make noise when on a run and gun rig. Provided that the mic itself is of course on a shock mount.

[@contemarcula]

Zoom h4 essential or Zoom h5? I'd use it to record audio from mixer.

[@TheRecordist]

Hey. Well, I have not yet tested the H4essential, but from what I gather, it’s got the same preamps as the H4n. If 32 bit isn’t important to you, I might stay with the H5. But again, I have not had any experience with the H4essential, so I may be wrong.

[@PeetSneekes]

Lovely!

[@TheRecordist]

Thanks!

[@d5kenn]

Please, please tell me you had your car windows down when you made your "shouting dynamic range" segment :D

[@TheRecordist]

Haha. No but I was driving through a busy parking lot during some of that. Haha. Everyone was staring at me. Hahaha.

[@pacovillalta4910]

😂😂😂😂💪👌

[@cThornton00]

So I just want a decent audio recorder for interviewing my family (for fun and preserving their stories) and my D&D group. This will get the job done? I am not recording a podcast or videos. Just trying to document for my kids to review when they want and to review the D&D group sessions

[@TheRecordist]

Yes. This will do the job for sure. But I don’t think you’ll need 32 bits. The Zoom H1n is perfectly fine for your needs. 32 bits just ensures you’ll have to edit the audio in post after the fact.

[@cThornton00]

@@TheRecordistI have decided to take your advice on future proofing, 🤓I ordered the H4Essential since it has XLR ports. Who knows. I may like field audio recording more than I like photography lol

[@dutchbeef8920]

John you changed man, bring back Luke

[@TheRecordist]

I am Luke’s father.

[@adv.rohitl.jbrasdesa2402]

Advice caution the Zoom H6 essential ASIO driver is not compatible with the windows 11 arm64 and the error reported is it required x64 processor.I have been informed that there is no solution for this situation.it cannot be used as a audio interface on windows 11 arm 64.

[@TheRecordist]

Oh wow. Really? I had no idea. That sucks. Is there now some type of firmware update that can be done? Have you messaged Zoom?

[@petercofrancesco9812]

I never could understand why they never isolated the internal mics from the body with a shock mount.

[@TheRecordist]

Agreed! It’s cheap. They made it as cheaply as they could. Still usable, but could be a lot better. Hoping for the Pro version one day!

[@petercofrancesco9812]

@@TheRecordist I never used it hand held so I don't really care beyond design principals. I've used it as a lav mic recorder for wedding, to record room ambient so I can lay down a unifying track for non consecutive b-roll. In theater to capture room applause because sometime where the camera is located isn't ideal for audio.

[@artofbounce]

Hey is it possible to connect hydrophone and contact microphone to zoom h1?

[@TheRecordist]

No. Not usually. The only input on the H1 series of recorders is a small 3.5mm. While it is a stereo input, it’s 3.5mm. Unless of course you have a hydrophone or contact mics that terminate in 3.5mm. I have a set of JRF contact mics that terminate in a 1/4 inch TS connector, and I could use an adapter to plug them into the H1, but a lot of the lows would disappear since it’s unbalanced. In theory, you could make anything work with adapters, but the quality might suffer.

[@stijnmesman9788]

Any recommendation for something better than the Zoom H1n/e that weighs the same and also records directionally? I make amateur videos where I sometimes boom my Zoom H1n above two actors, which is nice because of how lightweight it is. I've also tried with a Zoom H5n or an XLR shotgun mic+cable but they add so much weight! The one benefit I see of the Zoom H1e is that when actors shout it won't clip the microphone

[@TheRecordist]

Hey. As a boom mic, I couldn’t recommend any recorders with built-in mics. The handling noise is insane and the sound quality will suffer. Generally, I’d recommend a single small diaphragm condenser in super or Hypercardioid. Regular cardioid will do too. Then I would recommend a separate recorder. For me, I use an Oktava MK-012 supercardioid for indoor shoots, and a Sennheiser MKH-416 for outdoor. And my recorder is a Sound Devices MixPre 6 II. But that’s a very expensive setup. As far as a recorder goes, the H1n or even H1essential is as good as you’ll get for the price and weight. My own opinions of course.

[@stijnmesman9788]

@@TheRecordist Thanks for the suggestions. The handling noise of the setup I described is a problem although you can get rid of it by adding a shock mount like the rycote portable recorder kit.

[@SleepToTheSounds]

Thankyou very much for the video, im hoping the zoom h2n is not great either, not just me. The preamp is so loud ! I tried so many things, i want to record quiet nature sounds and this just needs to go in the bin for that. Can you point me towards one of your videos with the cheapest route for lowest hiss sound recording nature sounds. Also do they make waterproof ones ? Any advice would be much appreciated

[@TheRecordist]

Hey there. Thanks for the comment! The cheapest low noise recorder is the Zoom F3. But that doesn’t come with internal mics. You need to purchase mics separately. I recommend the Clippy or Pluggy mics. I know of no waterproof ones. Sorry about that. However, most field recordists employ a dry bag to keep their recorders dry in the harshest of environments. Mixed with low-cost Pluggy or Clippy mics, it’s a great solution since the mics can get wet and are easily replaced. I use the Sound Devices MixPre 3 II and the MixPre 6 II along with Clippy or Pluggy mics for omni, or Line Audio CM4 mics for cardioid. The MixPre recorders are among the quietest preamps in the world and they’re excellent recorders with lots of options, but very expensive. The Zoom F6 or F8n are both fantastic recorders with very quiet preamps, but expensive. You may be able to find some of these used. A great all-in-one recorder is the Sony PCM-D100 but they don’t make them anymore and also they’re expensive. Hope this helps in some way!

[@SleepToTheSounds]

@TheRecordist Thankyou so much for the guidance very kind. Just found your videos and loving them already, you speak in a way easy to understand, thankyou ! And thankyou very much for finding the time to not just reply but help even more, very appreciated indeed.

[@TheRecordist]

@@SleepToTheSounds hey no worries! I’m happy to help! If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to hit me up! Cheers!

[@SleepToTheSounds]

@TheRecordist Thankyou so very much !!

[@blinddiecast]

I am a blind user of this recorder, do I need a SD card, to operate this thing? Mine didn’t come with one and it keeps on telling me, no SD card, is there a way to bypass that? Does it have in built in memory?

[@TheRecordist]

Hi there. Great question. Yes, you do need a micro SD card to operate this recorder. It has no internal memory at all. Sorry about that.

[@blinddiecast]

@@TheRecordist dammit that sucks, what’s the best one to get? I’m using it just for fun. Nothing crazy if that makes sense.

[@TheRecordist]

@@blinddiecast hey I totally understand. Here’s a cheap but very good one: amzn.to/3ZPQncQ $12. The size is dependent on what you’ll need. I just gave you a link for a 64 gigabyte one. But you can go lower or higher. Hope this helps!

[@PavelSemin]

Would you still recommend it over the H1n?

[@TheRecordist]

Only if you’re dealing with unpredictable loudness. Otherwise, I’m partial to the H1n.

[@slothsby]

Do you know if I can connect this to my phone and record?

[@TheRecordist]

Yes. There are some ways to do this but first I would need to know the purpose. If you want to use an app on your phone to do the recording and use the H1 as the mic, you would need to plug the USB-C cable into the phone (if lightning or any other port then you’d need an adapter). If you’re looking to record conversations on the phone, there are easier ways. I think there’s an app for that.

[@fabiovillelaoficial]

I usually record band performances with ambient sound with my Samsung S20 FE... OK, it's far from ideal but I've never had problems with loud noise even when I'm next to big speakers that often leave me deaf lol!! When upgrading to the Samsung S23 I noticed that under the same conditions my audio went off at several times, not knowing that it was a problem with that unit purchased or a software or hardware problem with the S23. Would the H1 Essential solve this problem by having 32 floating bits? I have an H1n but I've never tested it by making the same recordings I do with my cell phone.

[@TheRecordist]

Hey there. What do you mean when off at several times? Do you mean cut out? If so, I can confidently say that the H1e doesn’t cut out. The only limit on that 32 bit recorder is the mics themselves. After so many dB they will begin to distort. But it would need to be incredibly loud.

[@fabiovillelaoficial]

@@TheRecordist Hello Recordist, thanks for the response. I uploaded the audio I referenced so you can listen. I myself can't define what kind of "dirt" my S23's audio captured, but I found it very strange. I've never seen that before. If you can listen, it's on my channel where I write @fabiovillelaoficial - I left the video public for you and the title has your channel name as a reference for you. Regarding the issue of the 32 floating ones, does it only work with the internal microphones of the H1n Essencial or by plugging in other microphones as well? I ended up not understanding. If you can answer me, I would appreciate it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJDOkoCFfKySo7M

[@fabiovillelaoficial]

@@TheRecordist Hello Recordist, thanks for the response. I uploaded the audio I referenced so you can listen. I myself can't define what kind of "dirt" my S23's audio captured, but I found it very strange. I've never seen that before. If you can listen, it's on my channel where I write @fabiovillelaoficial - I left the video public for you and the title has your channel name as a reference for you. Regarding the issue of the 32 floating ones, does it only work with the internal microphones of the H1n Essencial or by plugging in other microphones as well? I ended up not understanding. If you can answer me, I would appreciate it.

[@TheRecordist]

@@fabiovillelaoficial That doesn't sound like a sound pressure level issue. It sounds like a bad wire or a cold solder joint. You most definitely wouldn't have that issue with the H1essential. The H1e works with either the built in mics or with external mics that don't require phantom power. An example is a stereo set of Cliippy mics that are terminated in a TRS 3.5mm connector. You can't use them all at the same time. Only the stereo built in mics OR a mono or stereo external mic(s). Hope this helps!

[@fabiovillelaoficial]

I was wondering about using the microphones together... I had in mind that because it was a 2-track recorder I would end up with 2 files coming from two different audio sources, that is, the built-in microphone plus the external microphone... I should consider each channel as each built-in microphone then? I imagined that the h1n's microphone set would record on 1 channel, either stereo or mono, and the P2 input would be for the second channel from an external microphone. Regarding the audio issue, now I need to see if I can eliminate the problem with some audio editing software. I tried with the izotope RX 10 via de-clicking but so far I haven't gotten good results. If you have any suggestions, I would appreciate it.

[@Riq919]

hello guys! should i get essentials or not i need a audio recorder to record the sound of my motorcycle engine.(probably under the seat) i dont need any other features. should i get the h1 essentials for $100 (saw some videos with distortion at high revs under seat) h4 essentials for $200 h6 essentials for $270is the quality way better in the h6?or should i get other brand ? sry im kind new on this

[@TheRecordist]

Hey. The distortion happens because the mics themselves have a max SPL. This will happen with most recorders. To get around this, I would get a 32 bit recorder with XLR inputs and then a couple of dynamic mics like the Shure SM57 and mount them opposite each other. There is no physical way to distort a 57 OR a 32 bit recorder.

[@Riq919]

​@@TheRecordisttheir mic themselves of a h6 , hn4pro and h1 has different quality? btween h6 and hn4pro , there is diferrence in the max spl them? or just diferent number of channels? Because from what i see in the internet he hn4 pro recorder sounds better than the h1 ( for motorcycle engine sound porpuse) thanks my friend

[@TheRecordist]

@@Riq919 hey. The mic quality is better on an H6 than an H1 but the SPL remains limited because they’re condenser mics. Dynamic mics like the 57s are impossible to clip. If loudness and distortion is what you’re worried about, dynamics are what you need.

[@hax007]

How is the sound in mono? On my Zoom M2 handling noises seem to be less obvious in mono.

[@TheRecordist]

The handling noise in mono may be slightly reduced, but then you’ll lose your stereo spread. If mono is what you’re after, then it might help, but not by much. What are you looking to record?

[@Quentyn73]

Does anyone know, if I can connect it to my android phone using USB-C and use it this way?

[@TheRecordist]

Hi there. Yes I think you can, but I haven’t personally tested it. I have tested it on an iPhone and it has worked. It says on their main website that you can do it. If you scroll down you’ll see it under the BEST IN CLASS heading: zoomcorp.com/en/us/handheld-recorders/handheld-recorders/h1essential/

[@Quentyn73]

@@TheRecordist I just tested it on Android 14 on Samsung Galaxy A54 5G and it works perfectly! You just need to select us output on the zoom screen when prompted "USB". Phone also pops up a notification, integration is seamless.

[@OrenArieli]

I hate that this is the lowest cost option for 32bit float with built in mics and mic input. Zoom often gets quite a few things right, but for a company focused 100% on audio (if you forgive their terrible Q-series 'cameras'), they really need to consult with actual users when it comes to design, layout, UI and important features. Then again, I have complaints about Tascam recorders too. Maybe it just me being too picky?

[@TheRecordist]

No way. You’re not being too picky. I totally agree with you. Many companies just make boardroom decisions and put out junk and think they’ll profit as long as they have an excellent marketing campaign. And they’re right. Is audio nerds need to unite! Haha

[@dorian2244]

I record line in from dj console crystal clear

[@TheRecordist]

Awesome!

[@unstopology]

Just another hologram here, you did a satisfactory job on your review. The product is inferior and should be terminated, effective immediately. 👻💻

[@TheRecordist]

Hahahaha. I love it when people play along! Cheers!

[@scottyjamesdio67]

Wahhh. I didn’t get a free toy to play with. 😢

[@TheRecordist]

Hahahaha. Dammit!

[@unleashedjeremyhanson1597]

MY H6 has been a workhorse for me!!

[@TheRecordist]

Excellent!

[@KravKernow]

That was such a great review; thank you. Especially for all the technical information and tests. I finally managed to field test my H1 Essential yesterday. I love my H1n; but it is very nice not having to fiddle around with gain. I shoot on my own in all sorts of conditions, from very noisy outdoors to very quiet indoors places like art galleries. In fairness the H1n did fine; but it's just one less thing to worry about. It was blowing a hoolie here, but just stuck this into FCP, no tweaking at all, left at 0dB. I'm really happy with how this came out in audio terms. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXuVoZ2Fasqcm6M

[@TheRecordist]

That’s sounding great! I think you found your recorder! Cool channel, too! Cheers!

[@KravKernow]

@@TheRecordist Thank you! That's with a Rode Lav 2; so the handling noise isn't really an issue for me. Perhaps the hardest working bit of kit though is that Rycote deadcat. I've literally been stood on a clifftop in a gale; and the wind attenuation is just spectacular. Oh, and just to mention, the new recorder fits in the case for the H1n; and takes the H1n popshield. So for people thinking of upgrading, you can still use bits of your original kit.

[@TheRecordist]

@@KravKernow fantastic!

[@NetvoTV]

Anyone here reading this can sponsor me one hard drive and one Zoom H1Essential or Zoom M3 to help me work on my first book and also level up my KZbin video? I will craft a logo of your needs in return, I tried to seek for logo design work but can't land any, if you can help out, I will be really appreciated, please let me know if it's possible! :-)

[@TheRecordist]

I hope you find someone!

[@glynnetolar4423]

Not does the Zoom do it's usual crap and push plug in power over the line in. If it does, from my point of view, it's useless. At least Tascam allows you to turn that crap off.

[@TheRecordist]

Yes. This seems true, but Tascam’s preamps are even worse, sadly.