Zoom H5 4-Track Portable Recorder for Audio for Video, Music, and Podcasting, Stereo Microphones, 2 XLR/TRS Inputs, USB Audio Interface, Battery Powered

Product Information

So if your rowdy guitar player pushes a recording unexpectedly beyond the available headroom and into the unpleasant realms of digital distortion, just grab the back-up copy and use that, or patch the original with it. That is why Zoom have spent a lot of time making sure that this microphone is as energy efficient as possible.

I read manuals before using a product, but I was slightly confused by the multi or stereo recording functionality - however, following the instructions fixed this immediately. PROS (compared to H4N): Lightweight; Very quick start; Menu navigation much quicker; I like the protected potentiometers on the front - much easier to adjust than the side dial; Easy card access - instead of going through battery pack, dedicated slot. All of them remained working and in good condition when I sold them, and this one is the best of the bunch so far. In its simplest form, though, you can set the H5 to record in stereo only and then pipe the result down a cable into your D-SLR’s external audio or mike input, to have all your audio and video pre-synced on the camera. It comes with an improved X/Y stereo microphone in the box that has a pair of high quality capsules set up in a perfectly matched stereo configuration.The H5’s XLR/TRS combo inputs can handle both mic- and line-level signals for microphones, wireless receivers, mixers, keyboards and more. All of this balance revealed itself as a crucial point and is exactly where I decided to bank on it, with tremendous satisfaction! It’s not something I’d want to drop down a flight of stairs, but it does feel like it could stand up to pretty rugged on-the-road use. The best part however is that all of these inputs and outputs can be individually controlled for pan, level and more.

You can use both outputs simultaneously to route audio to your DSLR while monitoring with headphones. Alternatively, the H5 can be used as a stereo or multitrack USB audio interface with up to 24 bit/96kHz. For film work in particular, the addition of the shotgun and ability to record a couple of lavaliers at the same time, all with different levels, will be welcome.Great care has been taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of this article but neither Sound On Sound Limited nor the publishers can be held responsible for its contents. But you can now connect the mini-USB socket direct to your computer and pull the files directly across that way. Even more remarkable, you can use the Zoom as a live USB interface, feeding its four channels in real time to your computer’s preferred recording program.