Topic: Need serious opinions on Zoom H2

[stantheman1976]

I'm going to have $500 from a wedding to invenst in some new equipment soon and I really want a second portable recorder.  I'm looking at either the Zoom H2 because it's relatively cheap and I would have plenty left over for other accessories I need.  So I need some serious opinions from anyone who's used it.  I will use it almost exclusively for recording line out from a mixer.  Occasionally I will hook up a lapel mic with SP-PREAMP unless the internal preamp is sufficient.  I like the idea of the internal mics but they will be a secondary feature that may be used for ambient sound or spontaneous recordings.

So what do you guys think?  I REALLY want the Edirol R-09 but that would blow most of my budget.  Is the Zoom a good compromise for my purposes?

[dennisrtyler]

can't an r9 be had for ~300? that's hardly most of your budget. just saying

[stantheman1976]

If I bought one used, yes.  I want to get whatever I buy new.  I'm also going to use part of the money for another video tripod, batteries, tapes, and such.  I'm getting more serious about my video hobby as a paying deal so I want to get the most I can for what I can spend.

[dennisrtyler]

If I bought one used, yes.  I want to get whatever I buy new.  I'm also going to use part of the money for another video tripod, batteries, tapes, and such.  I'm getting more serious about my video hobby as a paying deal so I want to get the most I can for what I can spend.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Edirol-R-09-Compact-24-Bit-WAV-MP3-Recorder-R09-BLACK_W0QQitemZ120214208712QQihZ002QQcategoryZ41784QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[stantheman1976]

Tempting.  I'm going to think long and hard before I buy either.  Even at less than $300 I'd still have to buy a SD card which would still eat a good part of my budget.  Is the Edirol really that much better for my purposes?

[dennisrtyler]

Tempting.  I'm going to think long and hard before I buy either.  Even at less than $300 I'd still have to buy a SD card which would still eat a good part of my budget.  Is the Edirol really that much better for my purposes?

haven't used either one of them but i think it's safe to say that the r-09 is a higher quality unit. sorry to semi-hijack your thread. just didn't want you to rule out the r-09 thinking it would kill your budget. btw, you gotta buy a card for the h2 as well.

[stantheman1976]

Yea, I know, but at $200 for a new H2 I'd still have half my money left after getting an SD card.

[dennisrtyler]

Yea, I know, but at $200 for a new H2 I'd still have half my money left after getting an SD card.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Zoom-H2-Portable-2-Track-SD-Recorder-With-Free-SD-Card_W0QQitemZ300194191454QQihZ020QQcategoryZ15199QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

how about $175. sounds like you need the extra money for the video stuff. give the h2 a shot. if you don't like it, put it up in the yard. good luck!

[stantheman1976]

I think I'm going to go with that.  It's worth a shot for the price.

[Ozpeter]

The H2 is good at anything you might want to use 2 or 4 internal mics for, apart (apparently) for very loud music, especially if you want to point-and-shoot and fix in a PC afterwards.  It's also perfectly adequate for line-in, except it's over-sensitive and best used with a source whose level can be reduced a little.

It's not good for mic in, for most people.  It's not good if you want to record more than 2Gb (takes 20 secs to start a new file at the split).

http://www.2090.org/zoom/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=9745&start=0 is essential reading (though I say so myself)...

[stantheman1976]

Well I got the money and decide I'd give the H2 a shot.  I found a power seller that had it with a 4GB Transcend card for $199 shipped.  I couldn't pass that deal up.  So I'll see how it works in practical applications.  If it sucks I'll sell or trade here.

[kbergend]

Well I got the money and decide I'd give the H2 a shot.  I found a power seller that had it with a 4GB Transcend card for $199 shipped.  I couldn't pass that deal up.  So I'll see how it works in practical applications.  If it sucks I'll sell or trade here.

Well then, I'm sure we'll all be standing in line!

Seriously, best of luck and I hope it works for you.

[Kevin T]

Well I got the money and decide I'd give the H2 a shot.  I found a power seller that had it with a 4GB Transcend card for $199
Thats $160 more tha I paid  for 4GB SD Way too much
 shipped.  I couldn't pass that deal up.  So I'll see how it works in practical applications.  If it sucks I'll sell or trade here.

[stantheman1976]

The H2 is good at anything you might want to use 2 or 4 internal mics for, apart (apparently) for very loud music, especially if you want to point-and-shoot and fix in a PC afterwards.  It's also perfectly adequate for line-in, except it's over-sensitive and best used with a source whose level can be reduced a little.

It's not good for mic in, for most people.  It's not good if you want to record more than 2Gb (takes 20 secs to start a new file at the split).

http://www.2090.org/zoom/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=9745&start=0 is essential reading (though I say so myself)...

Is there no way to overcome this and make a seemless split yet?

[Kevin T]

start new file between songd or at intermition. Its a Windoz issue