Topic: Zoom H4

[mandoman]

Check out this new portable recording device announced at NAMM:

http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=1901&brandID=4
and
http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?SKU=ZH4XXXXXX

This thing looks sweet. Built in mics, plus 2 neutrik mic pre's with 48v phantom power.
Doubles as both a portable recorder AND usb audio interface. Does 24/96khz and
records to Secure Digital. Operates on 2 AA batteries for up to 4 hours recording
time. Also includes built in guitar effects and can run as a four track.

Only downside is, you know the mic pres are going to suck and it only supports
up to 1gb SD cards. But otherwise, this is going to give the Edirol and Microcrap units
some serious competition.

I've been thinking that a combo portable stand alone recorder AND USB audio interface
was a good idea - really happy to see someone build something along those lines.

Street price ~$300. No date for availability announced - I'd expect at least 6 months though (it is NAMM afterall).

Can't wait to check it out!
Mandoman

[lokie]

Street price ~$300. No date for availability announced - I'd expect at least 6 months though (it is NAMM afterall).

6 months! anybody heard anything else?

[bconnolly]

The page says it can do multi-track recording... are there two other inputs on it?  I'm not clear on how it would handle multi-tracking.

[randelph]

damn, it does look amazing.  for me the questions would be the quality of the built-in mics and the preamps of course.  the website says it records to 2gb sd cards.

any more infor on this?  release date?

randelph

[lokie]

any more infor on this?  release date?

I called several online retailers and the most common answer (besides "I don't know") was late September/early October.

I'm not sure I can put off my purchase that long so I might get the Edirol. But it sure looks interesting!

[eric.B]

Check out this new portable recording device announced at NAMM:

http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=1901&brandID=4
and
http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?SKU=ZH4XXXXXX

This thing looks sweet. Built in mics, plus 2 neutrik mic pre's with 48v phantom power.
Doubles as both a portable recorder AND usb audio interface. Does 24/96khz and
records to Secure Digital. Operates on 2 AA batteries for up to 4 hours recording
time. Also includes built in guitar effects and can run as a four track.

Only downside is, you know the mic pres are going to suck and it only supports
up to 1gb SD cards. But otherwise, this is going to give the Edirol and Microcrap units
some serious competition.

I've been thinking that a combo portable stand alone recorder AND USB audio interface
was a good idea - really happy to see someone build something along those lines.

Street price ~$300. No date for availability announced - I'd expect at least 6 months though (it is NAMM afterall).

Can't wait to check it out!
Mandoman

on the weblink..

The H4 records on to Secure Digital (SD) media, a 128MB SD card is included with the unit. With a 2GB SD memory card, the H4 provides up to 380 minutes of recording in 16-bit mode (CD Quality), and 34 hours in MP3 stereo mode. And to move your recordings to a PC or Mac, the H4 includes a USB mass-storage

[vegas06]

I just pre- ordered a Samson H4 from sweetwater.com yesterday, and was told that the estimated ETA on them was sometime in early September.
I am looking forward to testing it against my Edirol R-09 and Microtrack (which if the H4 has pass through available, will be gone).

I really like the dual xlr/1/4 trs inputs with 48v phantom power and the layout.  The new pictures of the actual unit on the Samson website. makes it look a bit like the Sony PCM-D1, only a hell of a lot cheaper.

[rdvdijk]

Did some Photoshop-skewing on that slanted picture, the side controls are:

- line output
- phones
- phones level
- power on/off
- usb

Roel

[vegas06]

Did some Photoshop-skewing on that slanted picture, the side controls are:

- line output
- phones
- phones level
- power on/off
- usb

Roel

I am wondering if there is a hold switch somewhere on the unit?  Maybe it's on the other side of the unit ot the back.

[Colin Liston]

Damn, that thing looks like the Sony for about $1500 less.  Can the mics detach?

[vegas06]

Damn, that thing looks like the Sony for about $1500 less.  Can the mics detach?

No the mics are built in, and not removable.
I am also curious as to how well the built in pre amps work, if I am just using the built in mic, or my matched pair of Rode NT5 mics?

[mmmatt]

The page says it can do multi-track recording... are there two other inputs on it?  I'm not clear on how it would handle multi-tracking.

I'm curious about this as well.  Also, if 2GB cards are the largest it will take, then it is almost useless for 4 track.  2 GB will get you about 1.5 hrs in 16/44  about 15 min in 24/96.  If it will take a 4 gb card however it would be sweet for 16 bit 4 track.

Matt

[mmmatt]

The page says it can do multi-track recording... are there two other inputs on it?  I'm not clear on how it would handle multi-tracking.

I contacted samsom about this and the rep told me this is a 2 track recorder with 2 tracks of overdub.  I'm trying to get a manual or atleast answers to weather or not it has digi in, max card size, and some basic specs that may indicate the quality of the pre's.

Matt

[halleyscomet8]

maybe multitrack through built in mics+ xlr in's? looks pretty cool

[mmmatt]

 the rep told me this is a 2 track recorder with 2 tracks of overdub.