Zoom H2n 4-channel Handy Recorder Reviews

These things are awesome!! I also have the H2 that has served me faithfully for well over 15 years and thousands of hours of recordings.
The H2n IS more sensitive, but the onboard speaker is a joke!
But, for overall ease of use, and the quality of the recordings, these things would be almost impossible to beat!!!!
And, although I have used Cubase for years, the free download of Wavelab Cast makes this an unbelievable deal.
10 stars!

Not only does the Zoom H2n work great for field recordings, but it also works amazingly well for recordings right off of the soundboard using a RCA out using line in. I do this regularly when I perform out. I also use it for digitizing records off of my stereo receiver. Highly recommended! You won't be disappointed.

So glad I got this little mic. It is small and easy to carry with you. Sits upright on its on- No stand needed! Have recorded guitar parts, vocals, dobro, bass guitar with this thing and it sounds good! Noise floor is not super low, but for a cheap, small, battery powered, multi-mic unit it is as low as I suppose one should expect. Recorded parts are definitely usable.
I think the hidden gem in this mic is really it's flexibility. If I wanna go out in the woods and play just my guitar and capture nature sounds I can do that on battery power with nothing else needed. Or I can hook it up to my pc and it serves as an all-in-one usb microphone/interface for my DAW. Also, i can record into a DAW on my Android phone with this as a usb mic or use it for my video mic while recording video on my phone! And the phone will power it! Crazy cool!
Again this mic really does sound good to me. The noise floor just shows up a bit much on finger picked acoustic guitars and such, but still usable. Im just used to my studio mics and preamps that have a lower noise floor. Again, very glad I got this mic! The fact that I can multitrack quality recordings with just this and my phone is sooo cool! Also, I do recommend the accessories for this mic. The windscreen, stand adapter, tripod, and such come in very handy.

The H2N offers an array of different stereo recording capabilities for capturing a band practice, an acoustic guitar idea, a duo or trio, a surround-sound field recording, boasts an insane battery life and level setting that no iPhone can touch. I've used mine for deep-woods foul weather field recording, used it in conjunction with a lav mic, used in a portable booth for voiceover work and positioned to record three and four amp band practices with drums. In each setting it does an amazing job. My favorite "duh" feature is simply that you can't overwrite what you recorded - it always starts a new file, and the USB hookup to retrieve files couldn't be easier. I'd recommend purchasing the extras package so you get a case and a VERY handy tripod with extendable legs. Unless you need multitrack, this is the portable recording device you want, your iPhone is for calls and email!

I used the N2n to record lectures. I also used the H2n on top of my camera for videos. I used it to record 2 lavalier mics for an interview, while the remaining 2 channels served as a "room" mic. The vertical design is less obtrusive than other models. The navigation is easy, and the battery life is strong. I have had 2 units and it will be a sad day if this model is abandoned or not updated. The mid-side field offers a unique stereo field that very few other setups allow. The only problem that I can think of is that files NOT recorded on the unit cannot be played back. Meaning, this unit cannot be used as a playback device. If you want playback functionality, a Tascam unit would be better. All told, this is probably the best game in town.

zoom h2n is a very dependable recorder i only used in xy stereo mode. in my opinion h2n is a very under-rated device. 5 mics & ability to record quad. h2n never failed to record excellent 2 track. very clear signal. zoom knows how to design pre-amps.

So far I am pleased with the zoom H2n recorder. It is easy to use and gives me the recording quality I want. As a musician, I record all my practice sessions and when I listen to the play backs because of the clarity of sound I receive a true picture of what was played.

I keep the zoom in my saxophone case so I never miss the opportunity to record one of my Jazz concerts. The zoom H2n is a companion instrument every musician should have..

This thing has served me well ever since I got it. The four different mic modes are useful for recording different types of sounds in pretty much any direction it's coming from. The actual hardware captures practically every detail of what I'm recording and the wave files export well with minimal loss.

Using the MA-2 Mic Clip Adapter, we set this tiny recorder up in the middle of our band practice on a short mic stand and use 2 Channel surround mode. The results are amazing, especially when compared to using our phones before. We mix down the captured WAV or MP3 files using Audacity and now have recordings of each song from practices that we use to review and improve.

I installed a 32GB SD card and we have over 230hrs of recording capacity using 320kbps MP3 so we don't have any concerns about running out of space.

I would certainly recommend this recorder along with the Mic Clip Adapter for band practice.

I do a lot of outdoor video both with a video cameras and drones. Bought this unit to record ambient sound. Perfect! Great recordings both omni and uni directional. Obviously super small solution. Just too simple to set and record.

As always, nothing but the best! Service, Products, Sales Engineers, Price, Availability, Quality................

For the TLDR review : I wanted to buy one versatile and portable microphone that I could use for a lot of things, and this is working out great for all of them.

Long version: I do a lot of online chatting, amateur level music recording, et cetera. I wanted a better multi-channel microphone for a while, but I decided to get this instead of something like a Yeti because I also wanted the ability to leave the room with all the computer fan noise and go record somewhere else in the house, or even out of the house.

I was looking at both the Tascam and Zoom H series for options, and settled on this is a relatively low-cost option with lots of features.

Pros -
Easy to record with both as a USB mic and as a portable.
Great sound quality for the price.
Very sensitive.
Love the multi-directional options.
Fantastic stereo pickup.
Very light and portable.

Cons -
The high sensitivity means that it picks up a lot of background noise and hum.
Doesn't seem to have the best bass pickup, but for something that size that isn't surprising. Nothing that a little EQ won't fix.
It's light because it's mainly plastic, so I don't know how sturdy I trust it to be. (And I suspect that some of the background hum is just because it has a plastic body isn't very well magnetically shielded, since a good deal of it seems to be in the 50-60 hz range. But since we're still in the pandemic, I haven't left the house to see how it works outdoors away from electrical currents. So I could be wrong about that.)
The user interface isn't the most intuitive when using it as a stand-alone mic. Recording is easy, but doing playback and recording other tracks on top of each other, as well as just finding the tracks to play back takes a little bit of a learning curve. Which is understandable, since there's only space for a handful of buttons on the machine.

All in all, great and versatile little mic for the price with amazing stereo pickup capabilities. Definitely happy with my purchase. I probably would have gotten a higher end Tascam or a Zoom h5 or h6 or a pair of mics if I was planning on doing more professional recording, but for light all-purpose usage it fits my needs exactly. Even after turning off the AC and any nearby fans, I do still need to filter out a little bit of low-end noise, but that's the only issue I've had so far with it.

This little thing is incredible. It's so easy to use and returns incredibly accurate recordings that require a lot less tinkering via EQ and other effects. I'm simply recording and posting a lot more music after switching to this mic bc the process is so much easier / more satisfying.

A couple of tips: get a camera stand for it, and make sure you get the gain right or the noise floor can be a bit loud / noticeable.

Enjoy!

Purchased around 3 months ago .At first appeared solid but light. Had to learn how to use control, then i recorded music and vocals WOW what a surprise not like any other recorder i used before very true quality sound ,excellent recording quality you know what you really sound like,some how with the directional mikes you get very little if any white noise or extra noise .Battery life is superb , i really love this little guy use it a lot, holds hours and hours of recording.One more thing if you get high quality head phones you can hear conversations clearly from 20 to 30 FT. away ! the mic is that strong.

I purchased this recorder to record my show band rehearsals. As a musician, I work with two Big Bands as well as my own show band. Although the H2N has a bit of a learning curve in the beginning, It's recordings are excellent. Very clear and precise. I'me extremely happy with this recorder and I would definitely recommend this to anyone that need a portable recorder.

Aaron recommended this unit for what I was doing. As usual it fit like a glove. The recorder is great and does everything I need. Thanks Sweetwater!

I am very pleased with the acquisition of this handy recording tool.
My first location recording using the Zoom H2n was accomplished on a Samick 6 foot grand piano.
I used a boom mic stand with a short goose neck and an On-Stage Stands MA-125 5/8"-27 Female to 1/4"-20 Microphone Stand Camera Adapter. This allowed me to center the H2n under the open piano lid with a slight forward tilt angle over the soundboard. I had the H2n mics set for mid side recording at 44.1/24bit. The program was scheduled for a 2 hour set of classical and popular traditional songs. As I had access to AC power on the stage I opted to use the accessories kit usb power adapter. The unit and stand were unobtrusive to the performer and audience. I sound checked and set the input manually. I used no limiter or compression settings. Once engaged to record, I let the unit capture the entire performance non-stop. Opening the file in my DAW revealed ideal levels. Playback of the performance was deep, clear and lush. I needed no EQ adjustments at all. The stereo field was natural and robust.
I am very happy with this unit. Thank you Sweetwater.
~RG

I bought this recorder with the intent of using it for character work for my audiobooks, but it's useful for so much more beyond that! Great for field recording, 1 on 1 interviews, and incredibly easy to use. I definitely recommend it--the price can't be beat for the quality it delivers.

Upgraded from the h2. Glad I did. Sounds great, easy to use. Yuval and Sweetwater are Great....

I got this mic to record nature ambience and sound effects. The different stereo mic combinations make it a powerful tool and the image it can give you is very natural. It also does great recording just about anything including acoustic and vocals. The noise floor is very low. It might creep in with all 5 mics on when recording a quiet source from afar, but it is easy to fix with a de-noising program. For the price, I do not think it can be beat. I simply love this thing!

Bought this because I want to travel with a recorder and podcast on the road,, don't need mic inputs,, recorded a live band using the recording gain controls it worked great with no distortion,, interviewed a few band members sitting across the stage while some other band members warmed up,, this thing pick up the vocals of the interview and instruments of band members warming up with depth and clarity,, heard everything clearly,, Zoom makes top notch equipment,, nice and small, well built,, easy to use. I like the 4 channel recording. A must have if you don't need mic inputs. Sweet water has great customer service.

This is my 2nd H2n as I thought I lost mine after a gig. Well, I didn't, but now I have 2! I love this recording device. The sound it reproduces is simply amazing without any special tweaking. The different mic settings give you lots of flexibility.

Have had this little unit now for a month and I am exceedingly happy. You really can load it up with tunes. It's really an easy set up too . made of really tough plastic. Controls are easy as well. We use this for practice to try an get the right sound. Awesome!

Have had this little unit now for a month and I am exceedingly happy. You really can load it up with tunes. It's really an easy set up too . made of really tough plastic. Controls are easy as well.

I received this and within a week I used it twice to record my son's high school jazz band. One setting was at an outside venue (box lunch revue - entertaining a lunch crowd) and the other was a performance in the cafeteria (relaxed setting). Neither had good acoustics or a quiet background noise level. I placed the Zoom close to the band, used the MS setting and set the R and L mics to 100% (150 deg). With this positioning and the automatic level setting, I got a very clear recording with an excellent stereo sound with minimal background noise. For this use I needed something I could just set and forget. I can't wait to use this for other recording where the XY or surround setting would be appropriate. Great product and great advice from Sweetwater.

PS - the Accessory pack is well worth the investment

i have the original zoom which recently went kaput but gave me many years of service. when i heard the first recording on the h2n, which was a live show we did using the surround mics, couldn't believe the quality and balance. it sounds like radio-ready recording with no EQing needed what-so-ever. i record a show, edit out banter, burn some cds, sell at next show. that easy. i love doing business with sweetwater. everyone i've spoken with by phone or email respond immediately. i dig that.

The sound quality is amazing. Looking forward to exploring the different sound-gathering capabilities in different settings. Also, super impressed with the folks at sweetwater. i'll be buying from these guys again.

easy to use great sound quality

The Zoom H2n Handy Recorder is fun and easy to use. I have used it 3 times since I made the purchase. I look forward to future uses.

Awesome, I take it everywhere with me. I use it for VO, Lectures, etc.
I Love Love Love the M/S Mics!
It turns on quick, which is amazing.
Easy to use record button.
Convenient Gain dial.
And it is great that you can change the modes with a dial rather then searching through menus, Unlike the H4n... I do love the H4n, Now waiting for my H6.

Only part I don't like... In 4 channel mode, you need to pick a setting for the M/S configuration.

Great for when your on the go or just need to document a rehersal/practice/lecture
It's a very handy (no pun intended) tool to have in your gig bag.
Easy to opperate and I love that you can mess with the mic settings.
Go from wige to narrow even as an after thought. Very well thought out peice of gear.

WOW is right ! !
Where was this handy-dandy little monster 20 years ago??
Love it.... records just FINE.... well worth the money... saves setting up all the mikes and wiring to just record your band (IF the guitar player will turn down... :P ). Actually, makes a VERY good demo of your band once you do a couple of "balancing" recordings.
I actually bought it for "GHOST" EVP's... recorded 7 days in a row, 2-Channel Surround-Sound @ 320 kbps on 32 Gig SD card...with room for ANOTHER 80 hours of recording. Love the fact that you can see where the sound is coming from (to debunk "people" noises.
Ghost hunting or music.... GREAT product for the money spent.

Just what I needed for critiquing my musical performance. I now have a teacher at my disposal whenever I need it. It has many more features than I will ever use, however, and it would be nice if there were a stripped down version that would still record as well as this model.

My old ZOOM H2 was always standard equipment around here (since 2007) for everything from recording meetings & presentations to capturing musical inspirations as they happened. The new H2n is even better and easier to use, with all of it's refinements. It has amazing battery life and longer recording time options, better mics, more options like a tuner, better controls, bigger display, all in a more attractively designed package. I'm handing off the H2 to a co-worker and stoked at my amazing upgrade. Highly recommended and used just about every day. Great Sweetwater service makes it all so easy.

This is the best portable recorder I have found along with the H4N it's big brother. The H2N is so small and easy to use and very easy to understand the the menu and controls. Charlie Davis is the best audio sales rep that I have ever had with EXCELLENT SERVICE AND EXPERTISE on any audio gear you may need. You can't go wrong with Sweetwater and Charlie Davis on your team. Please keep up the great work Charlie Davis. I will be buying from Sweetwater and Charlie again and again. The audio from the H2N is awesome and can't be beat. The free candy is nice too.
Thank You Sweetwater.

It's a fun piece!! I haven't got much chance to use it yet, but it's all a matter of time. BTW, another use I have for it is to use it as a standalone ambient mic in an acoustic space/room where I then run it into my Pro Tools system along with other mics! With the options for surround 2 and 4, midside and X/Y it should come in real handy, hence the name I gave it...

so, it's a really nice toy!!

I was skeptical when I ordered the Zoom H2n but I am blown away at the versatility it provides for my program. The sound quality is excellent. I am most enamored with the ability to set up multiple recording stations to provide my students with instant feedback on playing tests and aural evaluations. I slip one of these units in my pocket whenever we go to a live performance and I can record instantly with no setup. Indispensable educational tool....Look out, the cassette player has been replaced.

This recorder is amazing. The recordings are clear and never have any distortion. It is a perfect fit for my needs.
The customer service at Sweetwater was just as impressive as the product. I really felt like they cared about me and my needs.

Purchased this recorder to record sermons live. It has been more than adequate...it actually was better than expected. It's so easy to take out the memory card and transfer files into the Mac. After a litte editing in audacity and a simple upload our sermons are ready for listening on our website or in our podcast. I would recommend this for any church on budget that wants quality recording at a low price. Also found that the optimal mic gain for preaching is about 7.

We used the Zoom to record the Peru Circus Festival band during a circus performance in the Circus Building with excellent results. What a wonderful reproduction of the sounds of a great band.

Nifty recorder. Especially like the multiple pickup pattern settings. Has good frequency response characterists as well.

After spending a little bit of time with the manual, I discovered just how versatile this little device is! The sound quality is great and it's really handy. As a performer, I have found it handy to record rehearsals for critique and to capture songs to share with others for rehearsal. If I wanted to take the time to position everything carefully, I'm sure it would do a decent job of recording demos too.

The H2n is my first purchase of a recording device since the 2 button cassette tape recorders! I am obviously a novice and have a great deal to learn but my initial experimenting with this product has me very pleased. I have heard great reviews from musician friends on the H2n and thus far fulll agree with their recommendations to start my recording attempts with this unit. In addition, my decision to purchase from Sweetwater was guided by their recommendations. I am very satisfied with the fast, professional "good old time service" I have experienced with Sweetwater and look forward to my first visit to their store in the near future. Thank you!

this h2n zoom is easy to operate and has great recording level capabilities. try a zoom you won't be disappointed.

i just purchased the h2n and i really like it.
sounds great and boots up much faster than the h2.

In my opinion there is only one con to the H2n... I think it is a little plasticky. I would like some more heavy duty construction. I always worry about it getting crushed in my gear bag, even with the case in the accessory pack. But that is definitely my only complaint, except for that in a perfect world it would sound as good as a $1000 condenser mic. But that is not what it was designed for and it can do things that $1000 mic can't.
For field recording this thing is spectacular. For recording things like voiceovers it is great. If you want to capture an impromptu session of guitar and or vocal inspiration on your front porch, it excels. If you want to capture a demo of your song with no hassle, excellence. For YouTube videos, totally tubular. If you are travelling and still want to feel like you can get some usable material into your DAW without hauling a case full gear, SHWING! I understand that video pros really like this thing's versatility as well.
The 2GB SD card holds plenty of sound. The level meters work very well. I try not to use the compressors or limiters but I like having them if necessary. The low cut is great. Line out for headphones is fabulous.
Love the different stereo modes for recording close(XY) and bigger stuff(Mid-Side) or whatever you want is cool. I'm not sure what the surround mode is good for but if you love to experiment with acoustic environments you will dig it.
I bought a 1/8 trs male to male cable and plug it into my line in on my MacBook for my DAW. I like this better because then I can record in 96kHz whereas the usb connection only allows 44kHz. Just the way I like to do it. Of course most people wouldn't want to use this for their DAW but I do sometimes. I also bought a 1/4 trs Y adapter to plug it into my interface or any number of other things. I bought a usb extension cord to allow me to plug it in for longer distances which is nice because the power adapter in the accessory pack connects to the usb
It's not a studio mic for recording pristine warm tracks.... but if you need to you can get a very good sound from this fella. For example, I find that I can get some very nice classical guitar recordings or vocal recordings from this guy. They are not as good as a very nice condenser but they are clean and functional. Good enough to put in a mix if absolutely necessary. Don't buy it for that though because you could get a better sounding studio mic and I wouldn't feel good recommending it for that purpose.
The real reason to buy this thing is for making workable recordings in any situation. If you need to capture sound on the fly in unexpected places and situations then this guy is a very flexible tool that you will be happy with.

Easy to use, very high quality what else can you ask for? I use it for a podcast that is often done via phone and it handles the live voice and the phone voice very well, the stereo choices are great too.

So far I have used it for lectures and it picks up everything loud and clear. When I go back and listen to my recordings it feels like I'm still in the classroom with my professor speaking. I'm also a videographer so I plan on using this for interviews, voice overs, and recording some sound or vocals for different types of videos even though I already have a Rode Videomic & a Rode NT1-A. Also, I have been producing and recording music since I was 15 years old so I can get some use out of it for live sound recording for interludes for albums or for just picking up a sound to possibly use in a beat. I would suggest getting a windscreen in windy conditions.

We purchased this item to help with recording meetings so the audio could be used with separate software to transcribe minutes. This unit is very easy to use and very compact. The only issue I have is that the playback speaker on the unit muffles the sound when trying to hear the playback on the recorder itself. Once I transferred the audio to my computer, the audio was very clear and it worked like a charm. This unit has improved our transcripts since we started using this device. I would recommend it to anyone looking to record meetings.

Only reason I did not give it a full 5 stars is the battery-only power option (unless I'm missing something) when recording remotely (vs via buss directly into whatever you're recording to). But, that said, the battery life usually does better than I expect once it drops a bar or two on the battery meter, so maybe this isn't really an issue. It certainly doesn't kill batteries like my other recorder (a 4K Q2n Zoom, which is a great recorder but which I cannot rely on with battery power for more than several minutes, so it has to be on plug-in power always).

The audio quality is great, I LOVE using the MS and the 2-channel surround functions, they really capture the 3-D space you're in well.

Just what I needed, thanks

Way better than shure mv88 and mv88+
As iphone mic and can also be used as an mixer interface when using line in on the zoom .
Must have the... apple usb adapter
No software to download , no vidio cynk problems , get a 10 - 15 foot usb cable and be far enough from the phone to see the stage and get the great zoom sound with the great iphone vidio.
I bought a laptop power brick so I can be completely mobile .
Best iphone interface ..
Will not be iffy just works.....

I have a h2 and h2n
Best large diaphragm sounding mic and
Best interface for iphone

I had the shure mv88+kit
Nothing but trouble and the iPhone mic sounded better .and no way to use mixer , it's a week thing .

Nothing else was available because of the pandemic .

So I tried my 16 year old h2 into my iPhone 6 and it was fantastic as a Mic and interface from mixer
And no drivers no software to download
So I bought the h2n cause my h2 is strong but old ..
Use as external mic usb to lightning or mixer interface into the line in on the h2 or h2n then lightning into iphone.
Have to get the apple usb adapter 29$
No vidio cynk don't have to go into computer , works for igtv , no sizing issues for vidio
Sound is beautiful..

So far I have spent about 3 hours playing with it. It took me about 1 hour to figure out how to playback what I recorded. It has lots of features and I believe it will work good for my application which is recording lectures with questions from the students. I believe the mic will handle this well. So far I am pleased.

My band records every practice and show. Up until our last show we used my H4. The recording of our last show has a 20 second glitch about 35 minutes into the recording. The glitch might be cause by the H4 (which was dropped 3 feet as we were setting up for the gig) or the SD card or something else. That said, in case the H4 was dying, I wanted try an upgrade for my H4. Sweetwater had an H2n demo so I bought it.
Once I got the H2n, I did a side by side comparison recording by recording William Bell's, The 3 of Me played through my studio's playback system (Eris 5 speakers). I chose that recording due to it's great sound quality. Results; In spacial recording mode, The H2n blows the H4 out of the water.
That said there are things the I don't about the H2n. Foremost, the SD card, door. It's hard to open, it's made of flexible plastic, which I expect break off in about 6 months. 2) the power on button LED is brighter and more prominent than the record led. So it would easy to think the recorder was in record mode when it was in ready to record mode.
Things I like, ( beside the sound quality) it's menus are more intuitive than the H4.

Very impressed with the sound quality for a reasonable price.Just needed a simple way to capture great live music at a small local venue this recorder does that.Zoom has recorders with more inputs and features that I'm sure are great too,but I am not a sound guy or recording engineer, I set the auto gain on the unit selected XY mic configuration found a spot roughly in center of the PA speakers,pressed record and forgot about it for a couple hours, got very usable stereo recording of some great local musicians.No sound check,no plugging in multiple inputs, no hassle,just what I needed.If you need to record rehersals or practice sessions with virtually no setup but still have a good stereo record of your music you won't go wrong with this recorder.

This recorder is exactly what I was looking for. Packed full of options. I bought the hairy windscreen to better protect against wind noise. The hairy windscreen is a major improvement over the included foam windscreen included in the accessory package.

The battery cover is very thin plastic and appears it would be easily broken if dropped, but so far I'm happy with the recorder.

I bought this to record practices and play them back to see if what we thought sounded good "in the moment" actually sounded good in review. I've since found I can record shows, my own songs ideas, notes, riffs - all KINDS of stuff. This has become a majorly handy tool for working on songs, reviewing playing, improving playing, working out harmonies. I can't imagine how much stuff I missed in the past because I didn't have this to record with. Simple to use, and never leaves my gig bag.

Got the Zoom to make recordings of a family wedding, and the quality was amazing! It did great in noisy environments and places where I couldn't get close enough.

I'm new to audio, though, and the device has maybe too advanced for me. I hope to become more familiar and grow into it.

I bought the H2n to record meetings and I've had it a month. I've tried a bunch of different note taking and recording software and hardware. They all work for a little while but they just weren't up to commercial use (and I didn't have a handheld recorder).

On a whim I set up the H2n on a table in front of my band and pressed record. The recorder was no more than 8 feet away and I fully expected it to get overwhelmed by the volume. We're a country band and we were playing a church picnic but we're still loud from 8 feet away.

After the gig I uploaded the wav files and was impressed. Other than some background noise the recording was very good. Next time I will pick a different mic mode, record at a higher mic gain, and put a soundproof panel behind the H2n so I won't get all of the background noise. I think that will give me enough quality to be able to clean up in my DAW. I still haven't used it for a meeting...

This item records better than my guitar sounded in the first place. It is amazing. However it is not user friendly and the purchaser must sit down and read the manual a few times and then get as much information on the Net. But once you get through the initial bewilderment, it is quite a useful tool that performs quite well.

As soon as I saw a *portable* M–S recorder, then saw it was made by Zoom, I checked the weight, and ordered immediately. It arrived this morning; I was using it 15 minutes out of the box.

Why so excited about M–S? No less than Deutsche Grammophon use this technique to record full orchestras. And while the little Zoom won't be asked to do any time soon, it is sensational to have this option in one's pocket.

And the width of the sound stage is very adjustable. So, in my main intended use (V/O, and recording audio for video, two performers on stage) setting the angle narrower than the zero point yield extremely realistic sound. Theoretically and to my ears, this just seems like a great way to record. And there are many other ways to use this device too.

Setup is a breeze. And its recording is near instant. Assuming you have set up the preferred recording mode, turning it on puts it in preview mode so levels can be checked—and then a one-button press.

And I particularly like the micro-SD/SD/SDHC slot options too, as a photographer videographer with hundreds of GB of this format memory hanging around.

I like its light weight, and the little rubber isolating feet, and a camera-sized tripod mount.

I'm impressed.

Incredible sound.
Esay to use.
Cheap materials.
Just take good care of it and be careful.

excellent unit. i'm happily experimenting with recording our band, various settings and placings.
cannot believe how crystal the vocals are coming out.
and jared, the dood that helped me is the MAN!! I made a mistake in the ordering process after the order went in.
somehow he corrected and deleted it.
and... followed up to make sure everything was cool.

My older than dirt H4 stopped performing on the batteries and I had been using it to record 23 hours of lectures every three weeks for the Ayurvedic Academy where I teach. I bought the H2 with the budget I was given. It is much less expensive than the H4 and for what we were are doing it was huge overkill. The H2 rocks, It is sensitive and the patterns can be adjusted to fit any situation. I also use it to pick up ambient sound for background fill on other projects I do. It is great for recording music and it links up to my Canon video rigs. My buddy FLASH uses his for prodution capture and interviews. Great Tool!

Great little recorder for capturing rehearsals. With a 32GB card added, I can record something like 15 hours in four channel raw. So, just fire it up, then download the tracks to the computer and chop them up with your favorite program. Can't wait to try it at a gig!

I borrowed an H2 off a friend and used it to record rather volumey rock rehearsals and also commit some material to memory.
By the time I came to purchase one for myself, the H2n had been born, and everytrhing that I found lacking in the H2 had been rectified with style.
Especially the navigation around files and settings ... much easier!
The auto gain, compressions, low cut ... and general sound quality are all very impressive.
The only con is remembering to activate the hold when in playback, because (and this will prove to be a pro one day, I believe) its very easy to trigger recording ... In fact, that is one of the great improvements on the H2.
Nice ergonomic design, and a descent amount of battery life ... and its black!
Not bad at all.

I've used a Tascam DR-07 for music field recordings for several years but needed to replace it due to a broken volume switch. I went with the Zoom H2n over the DR-07 MkII on my Sweetwater Rep's recommendation. He felt the Zoom's recording quality was better and so far I definitely agree with him. I'm impressed with the quality of the recordings I've done so far; with the Zoom my fiddle sounds much fuller than it did with the Tascam. I think the Tascam's interface is a little more user-friendly; on the Zoom some things take a couple extra steps, for instance in uploading files via USB, the Tascam mounts automatically when connected to a Mac while the Zoom requires going into its menu and changing a setting. And like other reviewers, I wish Zoom hadn't used so much plastic in the H2n's construction (although I think the Tascam has at least as much), but these are minor issues. I think this is a great little recorder for the price.

I used the H2n for the first time today with my Middle School Band and I am amazed by the recording quality. I have a 72 piece band in a very small rehearsal space and I set the level at 4 and used the side mics set to 120 degrees. The recording was great.

My only complaint is with the built in speakers. To truly hear the recording quality you need to plug in a head set or external speakers.

Well worth the money,

Unbelieveable sound for such a small unit. This should be in the hands of any band or musician who wants a clear representation of how they actually sound! My only complaint is not with the H2N, but the Wavelab LE7 software that comes with it. I am certain that it is an excellant recording tool, but it would benifit from including a tutorial to explain how to use the software. I have searched on youtube without much sucess. The recorder itself is a wonderful product!

It is unbelieveable that you can get such a quality recording from something as small as this unit is! It is very user friendly. My only real complaint is not with the recorder, but the software that comes with it. They give you a basic version of wavelab 7, which I am certain is a very useful editing tool, except for the fact that I have no idea how to use it. The company could benifit by including a tutorial that explains what you are supposed to do. I have even checked youtube, with no real help. The recorder in itself should be in the hands of any band who wants to hear how a practice session actually sounds, or any musican who needs to hear how they would sound playing out in the public's eye.

Excellent design, functionality, and user friendly.

This little guy has been a pleasant surprise! First off, the sound quality from this recorder is AMAZING - I couldn't believe the clarity when I ported the files over to my workstation. I work as an audio editor and voiceover guy and have heard lots of "portable" audio sent over by clients and friends - mostly from inferior devices. This blows them all away. I understand there are more expensive professional recorders out there, but for the money I don't think you can go wrong with the H2N.

Audio is clear and crisp with no dropouts or weird artifacts. The menu system - while at times a bit vague - is pretty easy to navigate and get things done. Make sure to get a decent-sized SD card to hold all the audio you'll be gathering.

Also, even though it's extra, I highly recommend picking up the ZOOM H2N Accessory Pack here at Sweetwater - it's got a lot of things you'll find yourself wanting (though I still think ZOOM should make it part of the H2N package instead of selling it separately).

The only thing that's a little frustrating is navigating the folders to find audio I previously recorded - sometimes I have to listen to each file in my workstation to find out where I put it - but that could just be my own inexperience with the device. It's probably be best to download all of your recorded audio at the end of the day and make sure the files are renamed and filed in a way that's easiest for you.

All in all, I love this thing!

This is a great Recorder! It does everything I need it to do and stuff I have not figured out yet! The recording and playback is easy. The different configurations of the mics are perfect and suit many different situations. The only reason I did not give it a 5 star rating is because I wish ZOOM would make the casing in something more than plastic and it would be better if the items in the "Optional Accessory Pack" were included. Overall I am very pleased with the unit and the 3 easy payments were a great help as well! Thanks SWEETWATER!

It does just what says and that is what I was looking for. Very pleased, the price was right.

I have purchased one unit for my own use & three additional units for 3 sons & they are such a good & practical unit. I recommend highly. I use to record my brass quintet, practice etc. & transfer to computer, burn to disc. I previously purchased the larger units for the music faculty.

I primarily use handy recorders as line in to record right off a sound console. However I soon discovered that the h2n can record 4 tracks Ther'e are 2 mic arrays built in, an x y and a mid side. The recorder can record stereo lin in and Mid side at the same time. It can also record x y and mid side 4or 4 tracks. The only problem is adjusting the record level.

Works well easy to use.

this thing really records to a very high quality ,its very easy to use and i do love it!! BUT,i have to agree with what other people have posted about the little play-f fwd switch on the side its too easy to be half way through the f fwd process then by accident skip to another format or reset all together..i think individual play = f fwd-skip buttons would have corrected this issue.great gadget but needs a fine tune on this small negative aspect..

easy to use and crystal clear recordings

Although I am still learning how to use the Zoom H2n It seems to be much user friendly than my older Zoom. I like it's quick turn-on to record and easy control features. I am a little weary of too many functions on one switch but it seems to work well.

Great sound, love all the recording modes and both the display and record button are vastly improved. The variable record gain is also really welcomed. Recorded a couple demos with this model, Really love it. I just gave it 4 stars cause I don't really know what would constitute a "WOW" rating!

I bought this recorder for my husband's Christmas present after a few dropped "hints." He had used another model at church and was impressed. He seems very pleased with the added features and says it will help in the production of his weekly radio show. Good quality recording sound. Lots of features that he's still getting familiar with.

The H2n, with the choice of microphones, is a very useful tool for music educators. I use it in rehearsal to evaluate the progress of the group and in performances to "archive" what the group did. Easy to use.

I tried to NOT buy another zoom because the old H2 was so clumsy to operate. But I took a chance on the H2n and very glad I did. It has fixed the virtually illegible display and has a much improved set of controls to get through menus. Also software that actually works if you want to do more work on your files with your computer. The H2n is the same basic capability executed much better.

This recorder is really all it says it is in the info about it. It records audio perfectly. I use it for nature recording, my own voice and other voices. I'm totally pleased with it.

When I get a new toy I will see how long it takes to use the functions without reading the manual, to see how thought out the design is. Is it intuitive? Yes. It picks up sound very well and the mic options are really nice and easy to use. Turn the dial located on top and the LED shows what configuration is picked so its easy to see what way to point it. I like that file transfers are plug and play with the PC I use. I dont need software. The file format options are plenty and it starts fast from off. The playback speaker is clear, not super loud but good enough. The following is fine with me but just to mention...Its a tad bulky, not slim but fits in your hand. On the flipside its light. I dont expect it to be made from metal. Some say it feels cheap. If you need a metal reinforced recorder then look beyond the $200 range. If you are afraid it will get smashed in a gear bag then dont sit on it. Overall I would buy it again and the extras kit is worth the money too.

I am not a professional AT ALL! But this recorder is just great and exactly what I needed for recording practices...vocal and instrumental sound great!

I have only used this once, but the sound quality was great and the interface was smooth and easy. I am excited to try this recorder for field recordings.

Put the H2n into action on short notice to record an important gig. The menu structure is easy to learn and the unit worked as expected. I chose X-Y stereo and a high res .wav setting. Based on ease of use and versatility I would give it at least 4 stars. My only issue is that the actual sound quality of the recording is not that good. it is "stereo":and I think it is somewhat better than you get on a smart phone, but not great. Previously I had used a friends Tascam hand held recorder, and the sound quality was much better, but I think it was a much more pricey unit. For the price and ease of use the unit is perfect for meetings, voice stuff ... even rehearsals. If you want archival recordings of performances be prepared to spend more money. .

Loved this recorder for several years. Great for mic recording AND line in recording. Then the SD card slot malfunctioned. Prongs bent out-a-whack. The ONLY way that could happen is by POOR DESIGN QUALITY. UGH! I hate that! Basically a useless device now. :(

I'm not sure if anyone else has had this experience, but I have noticed that the plastic casing on the unit is rather creaky. I'll be carrying the h2n, recording something on the go or following something that's making a sound I want to capture- and when I listen back I can hear the tiniest little creaks in the plastic casing amplified to an unbelievable level. It's obviously not an issue for just setting the unit down and recording a song, but for any kind of on-the-go action recording (hey, I really had to get the sound of that angry bear chasing me down), look elsewhere.

Wonderful sounding device. Easy to use. But... too much plastic. Zoom can do better. For the ease of use and great sound, it should be sturdier. I would pay more if were housed in a metal(ish) case.

This item was the first recorder purchased ,worked well as far as capturing live music and voice .The big problem very very fragile.dropped once the cover came off they are nothing but very plastic like covers that are hiding the tiny mics that inventualy came off! .Good for moderate to light use definitely not for serious users.Extremly fragile.

I need to say I've had an H2 for a long time and found it impressive. Bought the H2n because I wanted the larger and easier to read screen, remote control and the speaker.

On the H2n, I find the play switch is touchy. It has too many functions done with one switch and as such can be confusing as to which way the switch must move to create a wanted operation. The speaker is barely understandable with my poor hearing. I have yet to use the remote control in a real operation. Just tried it once for familiarity.

I would revert to my H2 but it suddenly quit working within days after my H2n arrived. Go figure!

I got this to record a three piece theatre group backstage as I was filling in for the guitar player. It was a quiet stage volume. The sound from this was excellent. You need to set it down in one spot and forget it. Holding creates lots of noise. Easy to use. I played back to listen thru headphones. I didn"t like the fast forward rewind on this as ,play,fast forward, rewind and skip to next track are all the same button. So listening to a track at 55 minutes and accidentally skipping to the next track and having to skip back then fast forward to the spot you were at got to be a pain.
When I first got it I saw what people meant by cheap plastic feel but I got used to it and it just helps me be more careful with it. It"s not as bad as they make it out to be. Overall really decent sound quality, ease of operation, and looks pretty cool.

I've worked with this recorder now for a couple weeks. First of all Sweetwater did everything right in fulfilling my order. Received it very fast. It was well packaged. The recorder is a fine instrument. My only concern relates to the volume of recording. I have it at maximum. The gain is at maximum. Yet when listening to the recording the volume is very low. I can hardly hear it. When I record using a sound board input the volume is much better. Since that is what I bought it for I am satisfied.

I have an older model (H1) that I like better. My complaint is the record button is too easy to push. It's right under my fingers...Otherwise it's great, I use it for rehearsals and Jam sessions.

Be sure to purchase the accessory kit. I use mine for songwriting and recording ideas. I also use it for rehearsal and live performance. The remote in the accessory kit is great, I find the toggle and file access a bit daunting however if you load the software and access through PC/Mac it is easy and more transparent.

records well, easy to use, wished it were better constructed for the money, (less plastic), wished there were more troubleshooting faq's. Liked the file conversion feature.

The operating system is great which makes using it a breeze. Mic position options are great. Has plenty of features that make it a good recorder. Very handy field recorder.
Good quality sound, however, I expected a little more fullness and richness. It lacks a bit at picking up low frequencies. The battery door is not very good, it no longer stays in place, and for no reason as the door is intact. If you remove batteries it feels very light.

I recommend getting the accessory kit.

Finally took a hammer to it. Approximately 25% of the time when I've recorded a full rehearsal or show and later tried dividing the tracks up "invalid file" appears and my recordings are gone forever. Like playing Russian Roulette. Piece of crap

This is my second review. I wrote a review in September. I am quite upset. I just tried to use the pitch control. The manual says the pitch is adjustable for plus or minus 6 semitones. I entered the KEY CONTROL mode as stated and find the pitch only goes to plus 6 semitones and will not go to minus 6 semitones. It is "stuck" at plus 6 semitones and stays there no matter which controls I try, to get it to respond. Worse yet is the next new recording plays back far above the correct key it was recorded in. What gives? Also the orientation of the SD cards is opposite between the H2 and H2n; by that I mean if the screens of both machines are toward the user, the SD card goes in one way in the H2 and must be turned over to go into the H2n while both units are still oriented with screens toward the user. I think that's what caused the failure of my H2 as while working with both units to become familiar with the H2n, I probably tried to push an SD card into the H2 with the wrong side up.

As I wrote in the previous review, my H2 quit working shortly after the H2n arrived. How I wish that H2 was still working.