Zoom H4N Handy Recorder Review

Nov 30, 2011

If you are looking for a sound recorder with mobility and studio quality, Zoom H4N is a great choice for you. Looking at the design and specifications, Zoom have definitely put the customers first with this model.

The N itself represents the ‘next generation’ of video recorder.

Comes with a great package that enables you to do high quality audio recording with low budget, we are now going to review the Zoom H4N.

We just purchased the new Zoom H4N few days back for a video project. Tested and honestly I am amazed with the performance of this handy recorder. It comes with a package of

a 1GB SD media card
a windscreen
a mic clip adapter
a USB cable
a protective case
a CD-Rom with Cubase LE recording software
a manual book

Zoom H4N is very easy to use and it is a marked improvement on previous Zoom H4 model. It has a larger LCD screen and easier menu options. Not really easy if you are new to audio recording. So do the button, it is larger and easier to use than on the original H4. Just by rotating the audio pickup microphones, you can change the pickup pattern from 90 degree until 120 degree.

“The real sign of an indie project to me is in the sound”. Steve Weiss, product designer, Zacuto USA.

For me, H4N is unique because of several factors:

The Four Channel Capability: Zoom H4N is the only handheld recorder that allows you to record on four channels simultaneously.
You can also use the onboard microphone or external microphones and also direct input. It provides wide variety of sounds better than it’s predecessors. There is also less hiss especially when using the 1/8 inch input instead of the XLR inputs. The Zoom H4N sounds good with a high powered condenser mic or even with the internal mics.
You can also change the pickup pattern of the microphone by rotating the microphone to change from 90 degree to 120 degree
You can also use the USB interface record audio and directly moved to your favorite audio editing software.

The most important quality however is the sound quality and this needs to be your most important consideration in deciding whether to buy the Zoom H4N in the first place. The noise management is still the best of its class.

Conclusion

The H4N is the best value portable recorder over money on the market today. If you need a recorder for special event or interviews, a cheap recorder might not works well as compared to H4N. It is a seriously worth of investment. The Zoom H4n delivers world-class recordings for everyone.

Some of the video made recorded using H4N