I had an opportunity to give this unit a half dozen field tests for shows and during the shows, made changes to the settings to understand the machine better. I can now give a report.
What I Like:
--Full Size VU Meters for All Channels. Unlike the Tascam DR-2D, the Zoom H6 shows every channel in the screen. VUs are not terribly accurate.
--Fully Functioning 6 Channel Unit. I got the optional XLR Head which gives more precise volume metering than the X-Y Head with the TRS input, and is slightly smaller.
--Easy to Operate. Turn it on, "arm" the channels, and press record is all you really have to do. You can adjust the gain on the fly if you want. This is not a complicated unit, so if you don't like to read manuals, this machine will be perfect for you.
--Analog Style Gain Knobs. No gain switch like other machines, this one has actual gain knobs.
--Gator Box Makes a Custom Box for the Unit. Gator Box makes a dedicated case for the Zoom H6 which holds the unit, both heads, batteries, SD Cards, the Manual, the optional XLR head, and a pile of cables. Its about twice the size of the stock case, but the stock case will not accommodate the extra head and cables.
--Stereo Setting. Two of the channels can be married together to make a stereo recording. Perfect for an audience capture.
--Most Functions are on One Side. Other than the gain knobs, the power, hold, and headphone plug are all on the same side, which make using the thing, in the dark or inside a bag, fairly straightforward.
--Battery Life is About 6 Hours, Enough for Any Show.
What I Dislike
--Size. This is a bit of a beast. I've stealthed this unit, but not in a pocket. You'll need a bag, fanny pack, or a large cargo pocket to operate.
--Weight. This unit is heavy.
--XLR Inputs. This really adds to the bulk, because you'll need to have some one make up cables for you which are right angle XLR or quarter inch phono plugs. Would have preferred TRS inputs.
--No Line Inputs. This is a PITA. Personally, I think the preamps are crap, so I would really like to bypass them, but you can't.
--Hot Preamps. The preamps really boost the signal. I have no way of measuring it but if the Pad Switch is any indicator, the unit boosts the gain by at least 20-30 db. So without the Pads on, I was between 1-2 on the gain knobs, and the slightest movement of them boosted the gain considerably.
--Use the Pad Switch. As a consequence for most of my stuff, I had to use the -20db Pad Switches and at that point, the volume setting on the unit, using Schoeps > NBox was between 5-7. 7 was pretty hot and 5 was awfully low. But its somewhere in there. For wireless feeds, no pad is necessary, for soundboards, I which are usually pretty hot, I would want to use the pad.
--Improper Volume Settings Made Weird Recordings. I had to try a number of settings before the Schoeps with an NBox sounded decent, and many of the settings resulted in a muffled and distant sounding tape.
--VUs Are Not Terribly Accurate. When I was recording and the VUs said -12db without the pad switch, it was really more like -16, which threw me off. With the Pad Switch engaged, the VUs are a little better, but the unit likes to clip, so -6 is about as hot as I would go.
--No Digital in or Out.
--Hold Switch Does Not Lock Volumes. Bring some tape for the gain knobs. Given the fact that they are super sensitive, and the slightest movement of them causes huge jumps in volume, perhaps its a good thing the hold switch does not lock those knobs. I don't know, you be the judge there.
Best Application and Use for Unit
This would be a nice unit to use to capture a stereo audience recording plus wireless or soundboard feeds, and you don't have to bring in two recorders, nor time align the files. If you are just making audience tapes, pass on this one and go for a Sony M-10, unless you like the option of making multi-channels later.
