Zoom H2n handy recorder

Introducing the Zoom H2n handy recorder

Zoom's H2n begins with a simple idea: provide brilliant stereo recording in an easy-to-use, ultra-portable device.

With this digital audio recorder, everyone can record pristine audio in an infinite variety of applications. From seminars and conferences, to electronic news gathering, interviews and podcasting, to musical performances, songwriting sessions and rehearsals, this device provides amazing recording quality. No matter what kind of recording you want to make, the H2n can effortlessly record it.

This recorder also has many advanced features, such as automatic gain control and onboard MS decoding, and effects like compression, limiting and low cut filtering. You can even use the H2n as a multi-purpose USB microphone, making it one of the most useful portable recorders on the market.

Featuring a multi-purpose design

The H2n recorder comes with five built-in microphones and four different recording modes. Two of the microphones are X/Y, while the rest are Mid-Side. They can be used separately for X/Y or MS stereo recording, or combined to create stunning 2- or 4-channel surround sound!

The X/Y technique provides a great way to cover a wide area, while still capturing sound sources in the centre with clarity and definition, making it perfect for all types of live stereo recording.

Onboard effects

The H2n provides plenty of effects that allow you to add polish to your recordings and compensate for any problems or limitations in your recording environment. There's compression and limiting, which can be used to control level fluctuations, meaning it acts like an automatic volume control. There's the low-cut filter, which removes signal below a designated frequency, eliminating pops, wind noise and other kinds of low frequency rumble. Plus, there's an onboard metronome and chromatic guitar/bass tuner, and playback can be looped without pitch change.

Mid-Side recording

Mid-Side recording is an incredible technique that allows you to adjust the width of the stereo image after it has been recorded, while maintaining perfect mono compatibility, making it extremely useful for film, video and television projects. The H2n's onboard MS decoder allows you to adjust the relative level of the mic elements, either during or after recording. As you increase the level of the side microphones, the perceived stereo width increases as well.

Realistic surround sound

The H2n allows you to combine the signals from both the X/Y and MS microphones in order to create surround sound recordings from all directions. You can use 2 channel mode to create a single stereo file of the combined mics, or 4 channel mode to record the signal from the X/Y mics onto one stereo track and the MS mics onto another. The resulting pair of tracks can then be routed to separate speakers for an immersive listening experience, or they can be blended into a custom stereo track.

Spatial Audio mode

With Firmware v 2.0, the Zoom H2n is perfect for the creation of 360-degree “Spatial Audio” files, the next-generation surround sound format suited for VR. Using this mode, you can create a single four-channel, multi-track WAV file that includes Omni, Left/Right, and Forward/Backward tracks. This file is then ready to be combined with 360-degree VR videos recorded with the Google JUMP compatible camera rig and uploaded to YouTube.

Line In, Line Out and USB

The Line In is a stereo ⅛" mini phone jack that can accept two channels of mic- and/or line-level signals, a condenser microphone requiring Plug-In Power (2.5 volts) which can be connected to the jack, an analog-type Mic Gain dial which allows you to manually set input level, and three Auto Gain presets to choose from to automatically set the optimum recording level.

The Line Out is a stereo ⅛" phone jack with dedicated volume control, which headphones can be connected to for private monitoring of the input or recorded signal. it also has a built-in speaker on the back panel for fast monophonic monitoring without the need to make any connections.

The USB port provides a digital output of the stereo mix and allows data to be sent to and from your computer, where it can be imported into editing software. USB also enables the H2n to be used as a 4-in/2-out audio interface or as a USB microphone.

Pre-record and Auto-record

If you want to capture the perfect interview, or you want to make sure you're recording every moment so nothing unexpected is lost, then the H2n's Pre-record function is the perfect way to keep every bit of audio. This feature allows you to automatically keep the H2n silently but continuously recording in the background the whole time, keeping the previous two seconds you could miss when you hit record.

Auto-Record allows the H2n to automatically start recording when a certain level of sound is detected. As soon as an incoming signal exceeds the Start Level you've set, recording begins. You can also set Auto-record Stop, so the recorder will automatically stop if the sound level drops.