Zoom H1 Handy Recorder Reviewed

With its small build the H1 is a perfect out-of-the-box unit for daily recording and small projects. If you are looking to record live events, office meetings, or family occasions, buy this unit today and enjoy the portability and convenience of the Zoom H1.
 
Most filmmakers say 60% of a film is the music and audio quality. Without realizing it, viewers notice inconsistency in sound more than anything else. Zoom has released three handy recorders in its H series. The Zoom H1 is the smallest of the series but still is a nice little recording device. Since so many people are now shooting with small HD cameras or HDSLRs, this is a great tool to have to increase the quality of your sound. For such a small unit it really can do some impressive recording and will definitely get the job done. Whether you are recording an interview or live music the H1 would be a great tool.

Out of the Box

When you purchase the H1 it is all ready to go, open the box put in the microSD card and start recording. Its as simple as that, plus while you are recording you have the option to cut the low frequencies, control the gain from auto to manual, and decide to record in MP3 or WAV formats. All of these controls are located conveniently on the backside of the H1. It has a sturdy cage on top of the unit to protect the phased microphones as well. On this device, Zoom has also put an 1/8" line-in for microphones or instruments to be inputted, which is not as great as an XLR input but will still get the job done. On the left side of the unit there is another 1/8" jack for headphones and your manual audio level controls. Once the H1 is turned on you are ready to record, but unlike the H4n with the many menu options, the H1 is a one button recording machine. All of your audio files are saved into folders and each recording is saved to a different file. This makes it easy to switch from a WAV format recording to an Mp3 recording.

Great Things Come in Small Packages

The Zoom H1 is about the size of a Snickers Bar (sadly, it's not eatable, of course), but don't be fooled by its size. The Zoom H1 is a power-packed little recording unit that you can take with you anywhere. It is not as solid as the H4n, but for about half the price it is a great buy. With Zoom's H series they are using phased directional microphones to capture more information and a clear stereo sound.

The Audio is Everything

On the Zoom H1, audio files are saved to a microSD card; this is not the most ideal flash recording card but is still effective in capturing information. Since most card readers and computers don't come with a microSD reader there is an SD adapter included. You can also plug the H1 into your computer with the USB 2.0 slot. The H1 can be powered via bus power in the USB 2.0 slot as well. One of the other main features is the ability to switch from Mp3 to WAV formats, which will give you opposing bit rates as well as different formats to manipulate. Both files are compatible with different programs and will operate better in some applications.
It is quite convenient to check back and listen to your recording to see how it sounds with a speaker located at the bottom of the H1. You can also listen to the playback with headphones. The AA battery will provide you with juice for up to 10 hours of recording time. Zoom also sells an AC adapter that allows you to record even longer.
When holding the H1 handy recorder in a quiet room, I found that the audiometers seemed to flutter quite a bit and really reacted to the movement of my hand. One of my favorite features about the device is the tripod mount on the back. This is perfect for attaching to the hot shoe on your HDSLR or onto a tripod. Mounting the unit gives you more control over the direction of your microphones plus reduces noise that would come from hand-held recording.

Comparison

The bigger brother, Zoom's H4n, is not too different from the H1. The body is made of a thicker plastic and its size and weight is double that of the H1. But the cost is also twice as much. The H4n has two XLR inputs on the bottom of the unit, which is a huge selling point for anyone doing recordings from of a soundboard or at a live event. However, for how lightweight and portable it is, the zoom H1 is a great piece of equipment to add to your audio gear bag.

Tech Specs

Recording Media: microSD/SDHC card
Recording Bit Rate: WAV - 16 and 24 bit, MP3 - 48-320kbps
Included with Handy Recorder: AA Battery, 2GB microSD card
Connections: 3.5mm Mic/Line input, 3.5mm Headphone/Line output, USB 2.0 port

Strengths

• Lightweight build
• Phased X&Y directional microphones
• Large recording time

Weaknesses

• No XLR inputs
• MicroSD Card

Summary

With its small build the H1 is a perfect out-of-the-box unit for daily recording and small projects. If you are looking to record live events, office meetings, or family occasions, buy this unit today and enjoy the portability and convenience of the Zoom H1.
Zoom Corporation.
4-4-3 Kanda-surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan
www.zoom.co.jp/
$99
Tyler Faires is a northern California filmmaker pursuing a career in international cinematography.

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