Zoom H4n Handy Portable Digital Recorder Review
The Zoom H4n handy portable digital recorder is a highly versatile and robustly-built audio recorder. It features the ability to record up to 4 channels of sound inputs from internal and external microphones, resulting in professional sound quality recordings.
Zoom H4n Handy Portable Digital Recorder Review – Features at a glance
- Size: 6.2″ x 2.8″ x 1.4″
- Weight: 0.62 lbs
- 4 channels of inputs from external and internal microphones
- easily-readable LCD screen
- supports up to 32GB of SD/SDHC cards
- high-quality PCM (WAV) recording, or MP3 recording for longer recording times
- robust rubber body
- up to 10 hours of battery life in “Stamina” mode, 4 hours in normal mode
The following video highlights the main features of the Zoom H4n portable digital recorder:
Click here to view more product features.
Zoom H4n Handy Portable Digital Recorder Review – Professional style recording
An audio recorder is nothing if it can’t capture and reproduce the sound accurately without distortions and unwanted noise. Happily, the Zoom H4n handy recorder is definitely one of the best when it comes to great, professional quality and clean audio recordings. With the built-in mixer, you can combine up to four channels of inputs from the built-in mics, external mics or other types of direct inputs and enrich the recordings.
The Zoom H4n handy portable digital recorder has garnered over 100 positive reviews on Amazon.com, and the majority of them praise the superior sound quality of the recordings. Here’s a snippet of just one such testimonial by an IT professional, or as he terms himself, an “amateur”, non-professional, non-audio engineer:
“…The sound quality of the on board mics is nothing short of brilliant and the fact that you can augment them with studio quality XLR or 1/4″ connected mics which might need 48V phantom power, without the need for additional mixers, makes this a product of choice for the mobile user…With full 24 bit recording and great mics, it is a delight in sound quality…[continued]”
Zoom H4n Handy Recorder Review – Highly versatile
As evidenced by the testimonial above (and many others), the Zoom recorder H4n is not just for professionals. With its intuitive interface, you will rarely have to look up the documentation. Combined with the ultra-portability and robust body, the Zoom H4n handy recorder is an extremely versatile device that can be used in a wide range of situations, not just for professional studio recordings.
Here’s a testimonial from someone using the device in a couple of interesting ways and being very pleased by the results:
“…My first time using the H4N to get on board sound in a race car I set the recording volume on the H4N to the absolute minimum as the car I was recording was significantly louder than a modern NASCAR car. That turned out to be way too low, but because I used the best sound quality…I was able to pull up the sound in Adobe Soundbooth…the audio recovered from that “messed up” recording far surpassed the audio from a GoPro or DSLR. That alone proved to me this was a great purchase…Going from recording the race cars…I went to the other end of the spectrum and with the recording volume all the way up used it to finally get some good recordings of my cats purring…[continued]”
Zoom H4n Handy Portable Digital Recorder Review – Bottomline
If you need professional quality recording in a portable device, the Zoom H4n recorder is highly recommended. With its ability to record and easily mix four channels of sounds from the built-in or external mics, you can be assured of a highly enriched sound recording. Even if you are not a professional studio recorder, the versatility and ease of use of the Zoom H4n handy portable digital recorder makes it a great choice for your mobile recording needs.
Zoom H4n review – Best price
Amazon.com is the place to go if you are looking for the best deal on the Zoom H4n handy portable digital recorder. It’s currently available for less than $300 with free shipping. That’s a savings worth over $300 off its list price! Be sure to take up the offer quickly, as such offers don’t usually last long.
Think that’s too expensive? We leave you with this snippet of customer testimonial from Amazon.com, which we wholeheartedly agree with.
“…Needless to say, if you need a recorder for any reason, even if it’s just for a school project, or for recreation, don’t buy the cheapest recorder you can find. Spend a little extra money and get the H4n, it’s seriously worth the extra cash for something that will last you much longer. It’s simply the best value for a handheld recorder on the market right now…[continued]”
Filed under: Zoom H4n Handy Portable Digital Recorder.