Zoom H1 Handy Recorder

Everything was great. Love the recorder, shipping was on time and the follow up thoughtful. If I need something else I'll definitely check with you first.

power punch in a small package

I bought this to record our band practice's. The sound is incredible! I'm a drummer and had it right behind me to record and it sounded awesome!

Great Product

I use the H1 to record song ideas and guitar riffs so I don't forget them. I just put the H1 on the desk about 7 or 8 feet from the amp and press record. Hook up the H1 to a USB cable (you will need a type A to 5 pin mini B cable) and load the file (s) to my laptop. The sound is quite good. This unit is easy to use, will stand on a flat surface, mount on a tripod and sounds great. It's a small price to pay for recording that cool riff that you WILL forget the next day.

Can't go wrong with Zoom H1

Considering price, size, and recording quality, you can't go wrong with the Zoom H1. It comes with a 2MB microSD card which is fine to get you started. I will most likely upgrade the card in the future, which will give it virtually unlimited recording potential for my purposes.

The Search is Over! actually...

For years I've used various kinds of recorders of different brands, (digital/multitrack/cassette) for songwriting and other things, experimenting, and this one is ideal to keep up with me and works spontaneously to my liking, anywhere at anytime baby! High quality recordings and playback. I am happy....

Very handy indeed

PROS: Recording quality and levels are excellent. This is a VERY lightweight unit, easy to toss into a pocket or gig bag. Very easy to pull files from the card and put onto computer. Simple start/stop operation. Direct input plug is great, I plug this into a portable sound system and get no room noise. Output jack allows me to listen to what's being recorded real time, I can double check levels and quality, and later I can directly playback in headphones or speakers. I would post about battery life, but the batteries haven't gone dead yet--4 1.5-2hr. uses.

CONS: Almost no insulation from "body noise" so if you hold it in your hand, every finger twitch is recorded--Don't touch it while recording. Its light weight makes me nervous about durability, although its sound quality is excellent. The display layout is not very intuitive, allow yourself some time to practice recording and playing back your files. Files cannot be named from the unit, that I can see--I have to transfer them to the computer and name them from there.

I would highly recommend the accessory kit. The protective cover would really help (I've had a plug get caught in the microphone assembly) as would the small stand.

Great Recorder

You couldn't ask for a better recorder, especially for $99!!!!! Great buy, you won't regret it. Only reason it didn't get a 5 is the speaker on it really kinda stinks, who cares, your not gonna listen to a recording immediately anyways.

At this price how can you not love it!

Just about all the other reviewers have talked about the cheap feeling build quality but this has not bothered me because it is possible to get fantastic recordings with this little device. I have recorded voice, acoustic guitar with singing and an outdoor performance of a rhythm and blues band with excellent results.
The voice recording was done with a universal shock mount and table top mic stand. The noise floor is very low and the auto level worked great in this setting. 5 stars here, beautiful recording.
I used the shock mount on a on a mic stand for the acoustic guitar with vocals recording and although not as good as what I do in my home studio with 3 mics (the cheapest one more than double the price of the H1) it was a very good recording more than adequate for recording practice sessions or song writing.
For the outdoor concert I was 40 -50 ft. from the stage and I just held the H1 in my hand. I experimented with auto level and low cut and it worked best with both set to off and level at around 75. A very loud squeal made the auto level drop too low and it took too long to recover. Once I got things set the recording was great. The XY Mic configuration seems to improve the stereo imagery and sound was very clear and clean. Being aware of the case transferring the sounds of hand movements (very loud if your skin rubs against the plastic) I made an effort to hold the recorder VERY STILL and it worked fine. The recording was great until the wind picked up and started to gust a little. I did not have a windscreen and this part of the recording is bad due to the mics picking up the wind noise. I am getting a windscreen for future outdoor recordings. Not counting the windy part a great recording 4 stars here.
In my opinion for high quality amateur recordings the Zoom H1 is probably as good as it gets for the price.

An Exceptional Product

I ordered this as possible presents for my sisters. I've got an H4n, so I expected similar quality. No surprises. Audio is first rate. The package is all plastic which I don't like except that it keeps the price & weight down.

I'm likely to keep this unit for myself to use for bar recordings. The mikes on the H4n are pretty vulnerable. I doubt that you could hurt the H1 in normal use. A 300 lb drunk stepping on it would be what it would take to do real damage. It's so light that dropping it is a non-issue.

I still don't completely understand the user interface. It's different from the H4n, but I've been able to do everything by mashing on the buttons w/o reading the manual. I will read the manual, but I wanted to give the human factors a severe test.

If you're considering the H1, the only reason no to get it is you want features in the H4n.

Awesome recording device!

I got it after using it at school. We used this recorder and it sounded better and clearer than having mics and a computer set up. I wish it wasn't as cheap feeling, but it makes up for it in the sound area. I am pretty good with technology, but I was able to take it out and start recording, it was that easy. I would definitely recommend it to anyone that needs a good recorder. It is great for any application.

Zoom H1

I ordered the H1 as soon as I saw it in a guitar mag. Very low price for a recorder. It was on back order from Sweetwater, but being one of the first on the list, I received it within 3 weeks. For the price the H1 is a very good value. Yes, you can get higher quality recorders and as they say, you get what you pay for. For the money, the recording quality is excellent. Its very compact and easy to use. The only negative would be battery life. Very short, so get the accessory pack. Sweetwater kept me informed as to the order status, delivery time and followed up with a call after I received my H1. Excellent customer service all the way!

Zoom H1 - Close to Perfect

I was one of the lucky ones. I pre-ordered the new Zoom H1 on July 20, 2010, about a month before the item was released, so I was fairly high on the list when it was finally released. I also own the Zoom H4n, so I know that Zoom is certainly able to pack lots of high quality audio into a very compact package. I was looking for a high quality recorder in a smaller package than the H4n, so the H1 looked like the perfect solution. I am not disappointed; and considering its size and the price, I don't think there is a better compact recorder on the market at this time. I give the H1 4.5 stars because it does have some drawbacks; however none of them is a showstopper.

When I received my H1, the first thing I noticed was that it had a little bit of a chintzy build quality. When I installed the battery, the battery cover door fits a little loose. This can be problematic during recording at loud volumes or while handling the H1 because the rattling battery cover door can make its way into your recordings. I solved this problem by applying a small piece of adhesive backed foam to the battery door cover. The threaded tripod holder hole is all plastic. I was hoping for a threaded metal insert to prevent stripping of the threads. Just be careful when screwing anything into this 1/4 - 20 hole to avoid cross-threading, and you should be fine Also, don’t tighten anything in this hole too tight.

My H1 weighs in at a mere 2.3 ounces (without battery), which is great because the unit is supposed to be small and lightweight. My first impression of a cheap build quality was reinforced by its very light weight; however, I'm not taking any points off for the light weight. If anything, it may even be a plus.

The Zoom H1 ships with a 2 GB micro SB card. This gives you a respectable 3 hours and 10 minutes recording time in the WAV mode; and a whopping 35 hours of record time in the MP3 mode. Congratulations to Zoom for not shipping the H1 with a token 64 MB card (or smaller) forcing users to purchase a new higher capacity micro SB card for any serious recording. I popped in a Kingston 4 GB micro SD card that I had lying around and I now have more recording capacity than I will likely ever need from this unit.

The sound quality of the H1 is excellent, and it rivals the sound quality of my H4n. So far I have only recorded voice, but it is my intent to record some of my Hammond B-3 playing to see how the stereo mics handle the spatial effects of my Leslie speaker. The input seems a little weak, but it is better than having over-driven microphones. With the auto audio level on, this unit should handle very high sound pressure levels (SPL) making it an excellent choice to take to your next band rehearsal for some practice recordings. With the auto level switch turned off, I find that an input level of 75 to 80 works best for voice. The input can be adjusted from 1- 100 so my ideal input level of 75 to 80 seemed a bit high given the overall scale, but again, not a showstopper. I have every reason to believe that this unit will handle high SPLs without distorting, but a little time with my B-3, and later the band, will be the true test.

The one thing that I really like about this unit is that it is very easy to use. Most of the functions are available with switches or buttons on the side or the back of the unit. There is no need to plow through multiple menu levels like I must do with my Zoom H4n. This makes the H1 ideal for spur of the moment recordings, like that song at your band rehearsal that you just can't seem to master. With the H1, you can take that song home with you and practice it a thousand times until you get it just right. The placement of the single record button on the front of the unit is perfect. This button will start and stop your recordings and there are no other buttons in the area that you can accidentally hit which make this unit ideal for impromptu recordings. This simplicity makes the H1 ideal unit for a news reporter. The screen on the H1 shows exactly the amount of information you will need.

The H1 plugs right into a USB port and I had no problems with my 64 bit Windows 7 computer recognizing the H1 and quickly giving me access to my recorded files just like it were a flash drive. It is so quick and easy to use with the USB drive, that I will rarely need to remove the micro SD card. One little quirk is that the Zoom H1 must be powered down for the computer to recognize it. This is a minor annoyance, but I wish that Zoom had allowed the H1 to be connected to USB port while powered on. There may be a technical reason for designing the H1 this way, but as I said, this is only a minor factor.

I have not tried any external microphone with this unit because I do not have any microphones with a 3.5 mm phone jack. However, the built-in microphones on the H1 are excellent and I doubt if there are many microphones with the smaller phone jack that are as good as the built-in H1 microphones. I do have an XLR – 3.5 mm phone jack adapter so I may try one of my XLR plug microphones through this unit someday.

I have no qualms with the fact that the Zoom H1 produces only WAV and MP3 files. I have an Olympus recorder that records in WMA files, which is nice, but some audio editing programs (i.e. Audacity for one) do not work with WMA files because they have not paid a fortune to Microsoft for licensing agreements. If the Zoom H1 produced WMA files, I'm sure the price of the H1 would be $200 instead of $99.

In short, the Zoom H1 is as close to a perfect recording device that I can imagine. Your needs may be different than mine, but for the price, the features, the recording quality, the size, and the simplicity of use, this is an ideal little unit, and perfect for my needs. Zoom has certainly hit a home-run with this unit and I can fully understand why Zoom is having a difficult time meeting the demand.

I ordered the H1 from Sweetwater and received the usual superb service - very much like the Zoom H1.

Zoom1 Handheld Digital Recorder

I've had mine for about 3 weeks now and am definitely glad I made the purchase! Writing things all the time was getting annoying and when I didn't have anything to write with around then this does the trick. I haven't tried full band recording or anything yet but the brilliance that comes out of such a small device is incredible. Great item in my opinion. I only give the 4 because it is not durable. Don't drop it. And it feels kind of cheap. But as long as you're careful with your belongings it's perfect!

Thrilled with device

I'm rating it as a 4 as I've not had that much opportunity to use it, but I am very pleased with the sound quality of my recordings!!

zoom handy recorder

easy to use and sounds really good especialy with head phones

Zoom H1

This exceeded my expectations. I am now able to make remote, quality, voice and guitar recordings and download them directly into my Mac Garageband program. Didn't like the $25 "kit" of accessories available. I would have liked to pick a couple of things that I actually wanted. The control buttons are too tiny for my liking. Be careful not to have it on record when you plug it into a guitar amp input for playback. I was blown out of the room with a screaming feedback, and it took me a while to figure out that it must be on"play" before plugging in. All in all good value.

Very Handy Indeed!

This will change audio recording the way point-and-shoot cameras changed photography. A good, high-quality live recording wherever and whenever you need it, at the push of a single button.
Yes, the case is plastic. If you throw this thing, it will break. So will just about anything else you own, mics, cameras, phones...
The only drawback I see is that it is very sensitive to noise from handling. You will hear it if you touch it during recording, and you will hear footstep noise & the like if it is on a gorilla pod on a solid surface. I wish the accessory tripod had sound-insulating feet...

good for basic work

Set your expectations accordingly: this is a budget-priced recorder. What I liked most: sound quality (!), especially for simple things like recording practices (esp. vocals) and for close-miked environmental sounds. What I liked least: The plastic casing and overall build quality is not robust. I also didn't care for the built-in leveler, which probably works okay for voice applications but was easy to overload/distort with piano. Also, have a set of small headphones on hand to listen to playback. The internal speaker isn't good for much more than "did I actually record something?" So, overall... nice, but not knock you off your chair awesome. For the price? WAY better sound than you'd get with the built-in mic on your cell phone!

Works great, too bad it's plastic

Easy to use, works wonderfully. My only gripe is that it's all plastic, so an accidental impact can crack the case. But - it's only $100 bucks and fine audio quality, so I'm being very careful with it.

ZOOM H1 HANDY RECORDER

i use the zoom h1 handy recorder to write, record and upload my songs, and to send mp3s to my friends. the sound is great and it's easy to use. my only problem is that the buttons are really tiny and the screen can be a bit hard to read. i use head phones when recording and listening back because, obviously, the speaker is small. however, uploaded songs sound great on the computer [again, better speakers]. it's a great beginning tool for songwriters.

Could be better

I may have made a mistake buying this particular model.
I agree with the other reviews that the sound quality is good (I'll be using it for field recording and, maybe, voice). I expect I'll be taking it with me everywhere I go, capturing a great variety of sounds, and that my ability to record in an assortment of environments will improve with usage (like, how to avoid wind…even with the windscreen it picks up a lot of noise).
I also agree that the body is cheaply made. In itself this wouldn't bother me but the poor build quality introduces a lot of handling noise, especially the looseness of the cover on the battery compartment (the handle in the accessory kit presses against it, so it might be quieter to hold the unit in your hand).
It's not a bad device and I don't regret buying it. I like the simplicity of use. It's great to push one button to record, then when I get home just drag and drop the files onto my computer. It's just a little too fussy to use, to avoid handling noise.

An Exceptional Product (almost)

This is a revision of my initial review 24 hours later.

I ordered this as possible presents for my sisters. I've got an H4n, so I expected similar quality. No surprises. Audio is first rate. The package is all plastic which I don't like except that it keeps the price & weight down.

I'm likely to keep this unit for myself to use for bar recordings. The mikes on the H4n are pretty vulnerable. I doubt that you could hurt the H1 in normal use. A 300 lb drunk stepping on it would be what it would take to do real damage. It's so light that dropping it is a non-issue.

I still don't completely understand the user interface. It's different from the H4n, but I've been able to do everything by mashing on the buttons w/o reading the manual. I will read the manual, but I wanted to give the human factors a severe test.

An update:

99.9% of owners will be unhappy within a short period of time when the plastic thread for the tripod strips out. I hadn't noticed this initially (the H4n has a metal insert). I discovered it this morning when I tried to screw in a small tripod. The mike stand adaptor from my H4n had bunged up the threads on the first insertion.

The electronics are great, but the mechanical design is terrible. The plastic shell is too thin so the unit creaks if you squeeze the case hard. Were it not for the mechanical issues, I'd rate it much higher. Zoom clearly needs to hire a good mechanical engineer and listen to him/her.

The only other flaw I've observed is that it's hard to tell which file you're listening to.

Recommended for recording in close proximities

The other reviews cover the quality and accessories given with this recorder accurately. If you are looking for a recorder to recording in close proximities, such as a small or medium size room, this recorder works wonderfully: You get nice, clean sound.

However, I wanted a new recorder for recording lectures in a large lecture hall on a college campus. I though the these new mics would pick up sound wonderfully; I was wrong. Even with the input level set to 100, the pick up was very weak. My other digital recorder did a much better job of picking up sound. I would recommend this only for recording in a small to medium size room.

Beware

"Terrible product.". This product is made so terribly. Is is not worth 100 dollars at all. The plastic power slider pops out all of the time and I finally lost mine, meaning I can't turn my unit on. I have played about 10 gigs since I lost mine and really wish i had some of those recordings. Please get a Tascam, or save up and get one that will stand the test of time.