After the success of Zoom H4 Recorder and it’s 1.20 version Zoom has announced the H2 Handy Recorder which prototype was showed in Winter NAMM ‘07. The prototype was a non-working version but the listed features looked like the H2 handy Recorder will be a very good gadget.
The Zoom H2 Handy Recorder features 3 integrated mic capsules (allowing front 120-degree cardioid, front-90 super cardioid, rear 120-degree cardioid, rear 90-degree super cardioid and 360-degree polar software switchable patterns), 96, 44.1 and 48 KHz WAV and 320kbps VBR MP3 recording formats, USB port (to transfer data or to use it as USB mic), power stereo mic input, timestamp function and true 5.1 surround sound recording.
The Zoom H2 Handy Recorder doesn’t feature XLR inputs as H4 Handy Recorder but it’s half of its size and its price is also lower, $199.
- From Mac Music
- Official site
So last night I ordered an H4 … and discover this today, of course
Actually, the cognitive dissonance isn’t so bad; this one is a) not yet available, and won’t be until after some of the events for which I intend to use the H4 and b) is quite different in its recording capabilities, anyhow.
I certainly would like to get one of these, too — at least, if the quality and usability of the H4 is as good as I currently expect (based on mixed reviews).
Interesting times: for about $500 street price, it’ll be possible to buy a pocketable recording setup that will not only do X-Y and M-S recording, but takes AA batteries (cheap and convenient), and if one of the recorders breaks / fizzles / gets dropped off a ledge, you’re still able to get a (hopefully) very decent recording with the other.
The H2 is also much nicer looking than the H4, in my book. In fact, it looks a lot like a classic large-diaphragm microphone.
Thanks for your info. Tell us if you have any problem or any good feature not shown here.