Zoom h1 essential

[AndyTravis]

Band has just bought one of these, our old h4n died on its bum last rehearsal.

 

We bought this based on “new model, simple, easy to use” etc.

 

So this has the much lorded “32 bit float”

so can apparently auto adjust to volumes.

 

Hand on heart… it’s crap.

 

It distorts like a bugger and the “normalise” function which apparently sorts it - 

 

1. takes ages to process

2. makes sod all difference to distortion 

3. seems to make everything sound worse

 

It’s a fiddly little thing to use, feels really cheap and has endless little menus and is hateful to use.

 

I want to give it another go with the Lo Cut engaged…but I’m not overly hopeful…seems they’ve overcomplicated something that didn’t need it.

 

 

 

If that doesn’t improve things…It’s going back, 60 day returns at thomann.

 

Will get the old version which is similarly priced as a bundle with a case etc and has a manual input sensitivity option.

 

So if you’re looking at these to record a band - avoid them.

Edited December 7, 2024 by AndyTravis

[colleya]

I've got an old h5 kicking around in the 'might come in useful' cupboard if you want an extended borrow?

[AndyTravis]

3 minutes ago, colleya said:

I've got an old h5 kicking around in the 'might come in useful' cupboard if you want an extended borrow?

We need a full time recorder - we use it for all sorts, in all honesty - I’m shocked my H4n lasted as long as it did.

 

Will see what the singer who ordered it (using band funds) wants to do next.

 

Thank you for the offer though xxx

 

Annoyingly, the previous model h1n has manual input sensitivity…

 

Still on sale - so may just exchange.

 

Its the classic “using the latest technology to solve a problem that didn’t exist” - hateful almost AI decision making - and a proper balls up from zoom.

Edited December 7, 2024 by AndyTravis

[neepheid]

Thanks for the advance info about new Zoom stuff - I've got an H2n that I've had for yonks.  So "handy" (heh, see what I did there?) for recording rehearsals when jamming out songs so we can remember what the bloody hell we did!

[AndyTravis]

Just now, neepheid said:

Thanks for the advance info about new Zoom stuff - I've got an H2n that I've had for yonks.  So "handy" (heh, see what I did there?) for recording rehearsals when jamming out songs so we can remember what the bloody hell we did!

If I can find an “as new” h4n I’ll be pushing for that - I still can’t understand why what look like the same mic capsules cannot cope with the same SPL.

 

We rehearse in our own space with settings marked at the same volumes - Drummer uses a Roland TD50kv for rehearsal to keep volume down…

 

But it’s almost like it tries to record at near peak input sensitivity and then tries to backtrack with internal software - which isn’t up to the job.

 

would love to get the old one fixed…but it’s properly had its day.

[neepheid]

Who signs off on this shyte?  I'm with you - like your old H4n, my H2n can be set to manual gain and I put the wheel at minimum and it'll handle a band in a room going full chat with acoustic drums and everything.

[neepheid]

Also, the H2n can still be bought new in a couple of places - Amazon and Musicstore/DV247, although I get the feeling it's on the way out so if you wanted to pounce on one, best do it soon!

[AndyTravis]

I’ve fixed the old one!

 

used a brand new memory card and got some contact cleaner under the switches…

 

Basically good as new!

 

well, I need to get some superglue into the casing crack…but that’s easily done 

[neepheid]

Awesome news!

[AndyTravis]

[neepheid]

Good old Super 10 to the rescue!  It ain't called "magic spray" in my house for nothing...

Edited December 8, 2024 by neepheid

[dave_bass5]

This is interesting as I have the H4 Essentials and I can put it clipped to the drum kit and get a clean recording (once it's in my DAW). I think the mic's are rated a bit higher than the H1 as far as levels go, but ive been really impressed with how clean it can record. I also use it to send a feed to our desk for my IEM's. 

At rehearsals I just put it on a chair in the room facing the PA and get decent recordings. Never had any distortion. 

It takes one button to start recording and the same button to stop. Neve need to touch the menus. Much easier than the older H4n Pro. 

I had the H4n Pro pro while and liked it, but the Essential is cleaner (I read about the Pro's clipping at low recording levels, and heard it for myself). 

Edited December 20, 2024 by dave_bass5

[vbance]

On 08/12/2024 at 11:19, neepheid said:

Who signs off on this shyte?  I'm with you - like your old H4n, my H2n can be set to manual gain and I put the wheel at minimum and it'll handle a band in a room going full chat with acoustic drums and everything.

I've been tempted to get something to record rehearsals and gigs with for a long while and just gambled 99 quid getting the H2n after reading this. I'll have a play with it this Friday at practice with the manual gain set to zero and I'll try the 2ch setting as the band will be set up all around the zoom. I just wondered if you have the lo cut on or off when you record with yours?

I usually record with my iPhone so hopefully this will be an improvement.

[neepheid]

4 minutes ago, vbance said:

I've been tempted to get something to record rehearsals and gigs with for a long while and just gambled 99 quid getting the H2n after reading this. I'll have a play with it this Friday at practice with the manual gain set to zero and I'll try the 2ch setting as the band will be set up all around the zoom. I just wondered if you have the lo cut on or off when you record with yours?

I usually record with my iPhone so hopefully this will be an improvement.

 

I use mine in MS (mid/side) mode, max separation (+6/150 degrees), low cut off, auto gain off.

[vbance]

39 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

I use mine in MS (mid/side) mode, max separation (+6/150 degrees), low cut off, auto gain off.

When we have a break I'll try your settings also. Where do you position your zoom in respect of the band. I guess the drums would be behind the mic or do you have the band set as if on stage and pop the mic facing you all?

[neepheid]

1 hour ago, vbance said:

When we have a break I'll try your settings also. Where do you position your zoom in respect of the band. I guess the drums would be behind the mic or do you have the band set as if on stage and pop the mic facing you all?

 

We usually play sorta in a semi circle, drummer in the middle and the Zoom is in the middle, facing the drummer, at the opposite side of the room.

 

Experiment and find out what works best for you - the room you're in might be a factor also. The guiding principle for me was to try to put some physical distance between the drums and the Zoom.

 

Just remember to check the manual gain wheel before you start that it's at minimum, if your drummer is anything like mine

[Happy Jack]

@Silvia Bluejay and I are Zoom afficianados. It started with my first-ever Handy recorder, the original H4 from nearly 20 years ago. I liked everything about it except that it was possible to think you'd set it running and then find (after the gig) that actually it was on stand-by. So I sold that and bought the original H2 from 15 years ago - I still have it and it still works perfectly. It remains completely idiot-proof, simplest device I've ever used.

 

I was so impressed that I later upgraded to the H4n Pro which became my frontline recorder for years, Silvie bought herself an H1n, and when we started getting seriously into band videos we bought Q4n HD units.

 

I liked the 32-bit Float thing so much that I took a long hard look at the new H4n Essentials but the reviews all agreed that it was a significant step down from the previous model apart from the Float technology. However, the arrival of the new model meant that dealers were selling off their old stock at silly cheap prices ... so I bought another H4n Pro. 🤣

 

Roll forward a few months and we were commissioned to do a bunch of pro-style video shoots of Tribute singers (a Michael Jackson, an Elvis, and a Whitney Houston) and it quickly became obvious that we really did need that 32-bit Float technology to cope with other people's PA's and their settings (at live shows) over which we had no influence at all.

 

So I bought the F3. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zoom-F3-220GL-MultiTrack-Recorder/dp/B0BB8ST1HC

 

It's a one-trick pony (arguably) but it's a great trick and it does it so well. Rather than replacing my H4n Pro units this complements them. It's built like a tank (more like Radial gear than typical Zoom), dead easy to use, can be controlled remotely by Bluetooth from an App (very convenient when playing festivals and such), and it's tiny.

 

But it ain't cheap. 

 

[Silvia Bluejay]

Quote

we bought Q4n HD units

It's actually Q2n 4Ks, but Jack isn't good with numbers...

[Woodinblack]

Certainly looking to get a new Q2n 4k, my q2n has died a death after falling onto concrete, and the power socket (why does anyone use USB-mini for power??) had long since needed coaxing (ie, lead bent a certain way to apply pressure).

[neepheid]

4 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

Certainly looking to get a new Q2n 4k, my q2n has died a death after falling onto concrete, and the power socket (why does anyone use USB-mini for power??) had long since needed coaxing (ie, lead bent a certain way to apply pressure).

 

That's micro USB, and yes, the worst of the bunch.  Mini USB is pretty robust in my experience, but way too chonky for people's tastes at the time when micro USB became prevalent.  Why did it take them so long to come up with USB-C?

[Woodinblack]

1 hour ago, neepheid said:

 

That's micro USB, and yes, the worst of the bunch.  Mini USB is pretty robust in my experience, but way too chonky for people's tastes at the time when micro USB became prevalent.  Why did it take them so long to come up with USB-C?

 

Yes, sorry, I meant micro. The worst of all possible ways of charging. Always the first thing to go because it is surface mounted onto a PCB via 5 very small solder areas.

And TBH, although I love zoom products, but when you have a Q2n camera, and a Q2n external power booster, why do you have to connect a usb between the two anyway? You physically bolt them together, would a couple of terminals between the two been too much work?

[Happy Jack]

On 07/01/2025 at 13:06, Woodinblack said:

... would a couple of terminals between the two been too much work?

 

価格を抑えて構築しました。

Edited Wednesday at 14:37 by Happy Jack

[Woodinblack]

31 minutes ago, Happy Jack said:

 

価格を抑えて構築しました。

 

I would think it would have been cheaper than having the USB output and a regulator in there.