Topic: Zoom H1 (announced at Musikmesse)

[sunjan]

This just out:
http://www.delamar.de/hardware/musikmesse-2010-zoom-h1-preiswerter-recorder-fuer-einsteiger-7834/

I only found the description in German yet, run it in google translate for the lowdown...

Most important facts:
Runtime 10 hours on just one AAA battery
24-bit / 96 kHz
X/Y-mics
LoCut-Filter
Line-in
Mic-in

MSRP: 119 EUR
Shipping June 2010

[Ozpeter]

The manufacturer will zoom in on this year's Frankfurt Music Fair, the new ultra-compact pocket recorder Zoom H1. This is for beginners to one, as the manufacturer calls it, is a sensational price thrown on the market. When you zoom H1 Recorder is the little brother of the Zoom H2.

The H1 zoom comes in ultra-compact body proportions as so-called pocket recorder, and therefore provides a professional recording technology. The microphone capsules of the zoom are H1 in X / Y configuration and are placed next to high-quality inputs and outputs, microSD / microSDHC slot Speicherkaten and many other
Features bereit. Features ready.  Holdings is the zoom H1 with a single AAA battery, sufficient for about ten hours of recording.

 Recordings in studio quality, as promised by the manufacturers, which in plain language a resolution of 24-bit and 96 kHz means.  Despite its compact dimensions, it was the manufacturer to integrate the award-winning recording technology of the recorder in the new H4n Zoom Zoom Aufnahmewinzling to H1.

 This ensures a perfect stereo image at all times. A switchable LoCut filter was also integrated. At low volumes, the zoom moves H1 on request with an auto-adjusting the recording level to the body.  The timestamp function in turn ensures that the user in the jungles of the audio files never lose the overview. External audio sources and microphones can be connected as well as headphones and amplifiers.

Despite the positioning of the zoom H1 as a device for recording beginners is the handy device packed with premium features.  Order to increase the maximum recording time to change simply by the classical PCM recording in the space-saving MP3 mode. Thanks to USB 2.0 is also the rapid exchange of data with a PC no problem.  In terms of power, there is the zoom H1 still very modest: With a single AAA battery comes from the mobile recorder for 10 hours.

Packaged with Zoom H1 are a 2-gigabyte microSD card, a windscreen for outdoor shots, one AAA battery and a USB cable.

The H1 zoom was first introduced at the Musikmesse 2010 in Frankfurt and will be sold at a price of 119, - Euro. Delivery of the H1 zoom is expected to be until June 2010. More Informatioenn later.

[flintstone]

LOL!  It looks like a metal detecting wand, like they use at airport security.

119 Euro is about $160 USD.  Let's assume that this is the MSRP.  The Zoom H2 four channel recorder has an MSRP of $179 USD, and can be found for about $140 from many outlets (a 22% discount).  So I'd expect the Zoom H1 two channel recorder to have a street price around $125.

Flintstone

[Ozpeter]

Hmm, that's an interesting design - not too many buttons on the front!  And properly co-incident mics (which however must add to the bulk/thickness).  It looks like a good one for just having in your pocket just in case.  I guess now each manufacturer is looking for a way to distinguish his latest offering from the others in a fairly crowded market.  This one has the air of simplicity with reasonable quality (to be determined...) and low price.

[Ozpeter]

Woah!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g8zsmyJ3Tc indicates that this is not a pocket recorder!  ("Is that a Zoom H1 in your pocket or are you absolutely delighted to see me?").  It's much thicker than the photo in the first post shows, and the controls appear to be mostly  in the ample sides rather than on the front.

For a pic which gives you a better idea of the form factor, and of the R-05, see http://www.slashcam.com/news/single/New-Pocket-Recorder-by-Roland--R-05--and-zoom--H1--8291.html

[aaronji]

Looks like the screen is really small from the video on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g8zsmyJ3Tc); the meters must be tiny.   Make sure you wear your glasses with this thing!  Looks really plastic-y in too...

EDIT:  Scratch that; didn't see Ozpeter's post!

[runonce]

Woah!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g8zsmyJ3Tc indicates that this is not a pocket recorder!  ("Is that a Zoom H1 in your pocket or are you absolutely delighted to see me?").  It's much thicker than the photo in the first post shows, and the controls appear to be mostly  in the ample sides rather than on the front.

For a pic which gives you a better idea of the form factor, and of the R-05, see http://www.slashcam.com/news/single/New-Pocket-Recorder-by-Roland--R-05--and-zoom--H1--8291.html

Interesting the metal "helmet" for the mics...just slots to reveal the capsules...

[Shadow_7]

If they throw a 1/4" thing in there for tripods with a camcorder on top, I could see a lot of interest in that market for this thing.  Amazing battery life for 1x AAA.

[capnhook]

Yep, they done good on this H1, changed the game getting down to one AA ----- st&@lth scores once again (from behind the three-point line this time)   

It will be a 4-point play, if they paint it all black..

[Ozpeter]

st&@lth scores once again

hmmm - it'd be hard to pass it off as a phone or a shaver.  At first I thought it was like the Olympus recorders, till I saw the 3D view and the size of it in the salesman's hand.  I'd say it was designed to have a "look at me" factor, rather than an "I'm not here" factor, though having just the record (record toggle??) button on the front would lend itself to operating it by feel,  unexposed.

[rastasean]

Yep, they done good on this H1, changed the game getting down to one AA ----- st&@lth scores once again (from behind the three-point line this time)   

It will be a 4-point play, if they paint it all black..

you gonna switch to digi yet?

[capnhook]

Yep, they done good on this H1, changed the game getting down to one AA ----- st&@lth scores once again (from behind the three-point line this time)   

It will be a 4-point play, if they paint it all black..

you gonna switch to digi yet?

Gimme SPDIF I/O in something this small and cheep, and I'm in.

[rastasean]

Gimme SPDIF I/O in something this small and cheep, and I'm in.

But your mics are analogue. Switch to digital mics:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/485125-REG/Neumann_KM_184_D_NX_ST_KM_184DSS_Cardioid.html

[sunjan]

119 Euro is about $160 USD.  Let's assume that this is the MSRP.  The Zoom H2 four channel recorder has an MSRP of $179 USD, and can be found for about $140 from many outlets (a 22% discount).  So I'd expect the Zoom H1 two channel recorder to have a street price around $125.

Some Euro sites have this listed now from EUR94:
http://www.rockpalace.com/en/product/Zoom-H1

Due to ship in June...

What really bugs me is that there is no trace of the H1 on the official sites (Zoom as well as Samson). Launched several weeks ago, and not a single mention!
Is this vaporware, or just sloppy and unattentive attitude?

[refrain]

Hello,

I've also found it on thomman music store, 96 euros...
http://www.thomann.de/pt/zoom_h_1.htm

[flintstone]

Samson, the USA distributor of the Zoom H1, has a web page up.
http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=2053&brandID=4

Gizmodo says MSRP in USA is $99, delivery to start in June. 
Looks like a replacement for the venerable H2.

Flintstone

[junkyardt]

the ring on the top of this thing reminds me of the rings that made up the transport machine in the movie 'Contact', like if you drop your mics through it they will blast off to another galaxy.

[nameloc01]

lol.

[sunjan]

Samson, the USA distributor of the Zoom H1, has a web page up.
http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=2053&brandID=4

Gizmodo says MSRP in USA is $99, delivery to start in June. 

Apparently, this was demoed at Summer NAMM last week:
http://www.soundonsound.com/news?NewsID=12945
Initial street price landing at $99 with Sweetwater and the other usual retailers. New shipping date for US: July 30.

[Ozpeter]

It's now scheduled for release on August 20, according to Sweetwater.

[Ozpeter]

First user comment I've seen is at http://www.2090.org/zoom/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=15400 fwiw.

[sunjan]

A few reviews with more photos, sound samples and comparisons:
http://www.joeno1.net/wp/2010/08/26/shopping/zoom-h1-handy-portable-digital-recorder-consumer-review/13770/
http://ryansloan.net/2010/09/02/zoom-h1-review/
http://www.danmccomb.com/posts/633/zoom-h1-sound-test-vs-h4n-recorder/

[SmokinJoe]

I have a Zoom Q3.  It's a Youtube class video camera with Zoom H2/H4n class mics, so the video isn't much better than a typical cell phone or point and shoot digital camera,  but the sound is much better.  On the Q3 it's mic only (no external inputs) and you gain options are switchable High/Low/AGC... no up/down a few dB.

I thought this might be the same, but I can see in the third photo down that there is "input adjust".
http://ryansloan.net/2010/09/02/zoom-h1-review/

[Ozpeter]

There's some YouTube reviews eg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFqIp095GD4&feature=related which has all-H1 sound.  However, YouTube sound itself is I think a bit mangled, so I think you have to be careful not to attribute any shortcomings to the H1 itself (unless proven!).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8F5J7T6e1Y&feature=related starts with camcorder sound then switches to H1 sound - quite a difference!

Also,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrYX1r9gfGY&feature=related has lav mic audio using the H1 - sounds fine to me in noise terms.  Much better than you'd get from the mic preamp of the H2, which is weirdly noisy.

[wipeman]

Some noise tests for this unit posted here:
http://zoomforum.us/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=15488

[Ozpeter]

http://cheesycam.com/zoom-h1-battery-drain/ and a number of other sites are reporting that many users are finding that the H1 drains batteries very quickly when switched off.  Zoom appear to have admitted that there is a faulty batch and purchasers are being asked to return those affected for replacement.  I'd only purchase one of these at the moment from a retailer who undertook to replace it at once if it turned out to have this fault.

[Ozpeter]

I've finally got to the end of the audio review of the H1 posted on the "BlindCoolTech" site, which was mostly recorded on the H1 itself.  There's some interesting audio comparisons with the H2 (subtle differences, and on the basis of this review the H1 is the winner), and more significantly with the Edirol R09HR.  In that comparison, the reviewer (Neal Ewers) uses a pair of DPA mics on the H1's level 1 (of 100) setting, and then on the R09HR's level 1 setting, normalised later.  In this test, under the conditions at the time, the H1's noise performance is remarkable, and blows the R09HR out of the water.  His comment is "wow - that's amazing".

Now he doesn't say what model the DPAs are (they're being worn binaurally), nor does he precisely set out how the tests were done, and I'm not personally familiar with the mics nor the recorders.  But taken at face value, the test certainly shows that the H1 used with high output mics adds no obvious noise of its own, and in that respect it's completely different from the H2, which has a horribly noisy mic input.  Mr Ewers says the "floor noise" of the H1 is "at or below -90dB".

I'd recommend listening to this review even if you're not planning to by an H1, but if you're interested in being amazed at the performance obtainable from probably the cheapest intended-for-music-recording device on the market.  Wow, we've come a long way in a short time!

http://media.libsyn.com/media/bct/bct1502ZoomH1RecorderReview.mp3 is the link.  The comparison with the R09HR is at 27'10" - just  before that is a sample using Sound Professionals in-ears.  Bear in mind that the review is intended to be of particular interest to people with vision impairments.

[dain45yl]

Yep, they done good on this H1, changed the game getting down to one AA ----- st&@lth scores once again (from behind the three-point line this time)       

[pnoman]

I recently bought a Zoom H1 handheld recorder.

It truly offers tremendous value for the money, and I would likely have kept it for this reason (despite the fact that the handling noise is really high and the stand-mount is just made of plastic and the threads may easily be destroyed). However, as it turned out, my sample with serial number 12xxx suffered from a high current drain when switched off. It consumed 47 mA, which means it will drain a normal Alkaline battery in 2-3 days!

Zoom was quick to respond from their Japan support office and apologized for the problem and asked me to return it for another. It is known problem (likely a failing capacitor), but unfortunately all other Zoom H1 on stock at the dealer had serial numbers lower than 20000, and could also have (or develop?) the problem. I decided to stay away from the H1 for this reason unfortunately, for now at least.

I then refocused my efforts toward the H4n (as the H2 is an older product) — but it was not in stock. So instead, after some further deliberation, I ended up with the Roland R-05 (and not the Edirol R-09HR, mainly as the additional features in the R-09HR were not essential to me and the price was higher).

As this thread is about the Zoom, I won't go into any details of the Roland R-05 here, but just refer to another post I made here on the board (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=140726.0) that also has a link to my webpage where a longish Roland R-05 noise test is listed, in case anyone is interested.


-- Per.

[fmaderjr]

In that comparison, the reviewer (Neal Ewers) uses a pair of DPA mics on the H1's level 1 (of 100) setting, and then on the R09HR's level 1 setting, normalised later.  In this test, under the conditions at the time, the H1's noise performance is remarkable, and blows the R09HR out of the water.  His comment is "wow - that's amazing".

I have to agree with that, but this test was recording ambient sounds. It looks like, at least with the proper mics, it is outstanding at doing that. It might be a great low cost recorder for nature recordists.

But as an avid Zoom hater, I do suspect that the HR would blow the Zoom out of the water when recording very loud music. Would like to hear a test on that. The Zoom would lose by default if it is subject to the limitations of the H2 and H4 where the ADC comes before the record level control. This can cause a recording of very loud music to distort even when the meters are peaking under 0 dB.

I would steer anyone who likes to record loud music away from it until the above possible problem has been thoroughly tested and reported on.

[person]

Has anyone tried one of these out in a live situation (rock music, >100db, more specifically)? I could really use one or two of them, but if they're no good at high volumes, then I can't use them. Well, maybe as a line-in bit bucket - not enough affordable bit buckets around nowadays

[soundmanjohn]

I have one of these - or had until a few hours ago because it has the battery-draining problems. However, I must give credit to the Zoom UK people who dealt with my case quickly and efficiently and will be replacing the unit by return of post. They're also adding a free 4 GB memory card as a way of apologizing for the hassle of having to send it back.

For the short period of time that I had it, it worked extremely well, but needs a decent windshield and can't really be hand-held unless you're really very careful as the handling noise is pretty severe.

I'll do some more tests when I get the replacement model.

Regards,

John