Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Which Zoom to buy? Q2 HD, Q3 HD, H2, H2n

I haven't caught much talk here on the forums about all the options that Zoom has these days. Maybe I missed it? I used a borrowed H2 for the past five years, now it's time to buy one of my own.

What would you recommend? Is the Zoom H4n the new H2?

Now that there are HD options for video, does that make the audio-only versions obsolete? Can you separate the audio from the video? I'm usually more interested in the audio recording of my piano, rather than the seeing myself play, does that make the H4n the way to go?

Thanks!

Have you considered other brands? Sony makes some wonderful recorders. I recently replaced my failing Zoom4 with a Tascam DR-05. Although it is one of Tascam's low end models I find it comparable to the older Zoom in performance and superior in build quality with a solid look and feel which compares quite favorably against the Zoom's rather flimsy feel and rather homely appearance. I cannot speak to its durablity compared to the Zoom. The Zoom lasted me about five years of modest usage before it failed.

I think any of the Zooms, Tascams or Sonys will yield acceptable recordings. Even the lowest priced Zoom H1 (at amazon for under $70) has basically the same audio specs as the more expensive models.

I don't know about Sony products but I use the Zoom Q3, the model preceding the Zoom Q3 HD.
Yes the audio-only function is very clear. If you don't plan to use video much, I think you will save money by not buying the HD.
Then again, if you want to "Invest Once, Invest Well", why not go for the latest product on the market, if you can afford it imo.

Last week for the very first time, I used the audio and video function combined to record a jazz concert. I was standing at the back of the seats about 20 metres (22 yards) from the stage, and was surprised at how acceptable the quality was. Here is an example, I can hear all the instruments even after I compressed it to a mp4 file for you-tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJRbTKqr98Y

Forgive me for being off topic, but I can't believe you have this recording of "Hurricane" Andrew Speight! I saw him play in a small bar in SF many years ago. He was quite gracious with his time, chatting about his music at the bar. And then he blew the doors off of the place. I bought his CD that night, but lost it before I could rip it. It is not available on iTunes, Spotify, etc. and his website doesn't work. I'll bet it was a really good show...

I have the H4, Q3, and Q3HD. I like the Q3HD is significantly better than the Q3, and not just for the improved picture quality. But I like the audio on the H4 somewhat better than the audio on the Q3 (the difference is slight), and I find it easier to edit the audio when it's off the H4 rather than the Q3HD.

I looked at the Zooms, ending up buying a used Sony for $30 (list is $50 new). It is more than enough for my amateur needs. I like connecting it directly to the digital, so mic placement and mics become irrelevant. I used a splitter so I can hear when I record.

That's interesting Monica, I haven't used the H4. Which is cheaper ?

So they call him Hurricane ? I didn't know that ! I call him Charlie Speight.
Yes he is the nicest dude and I will always remember the concert. He is so generous that the cost was zero ! I'm not surprised he doesn't have a working web-site as he is so humble.
I love his trading bars with the drummer at the end of his uptempo The End of a Love Affair.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=__S1UNZX4MM&feature=relmfu

Thanks for the comments.

I had always been happy with the H2 and had followed a lot of commentary here on the forum when the Q3 came out, but then hadn't seen much on it since then.

I'll probably look into getting my own H2(n) or perhaps the Q3 HD.

Thanks!

I recently acquired a Q2HD, the newer model priced below the older Q3HD. Primarily I wanted good (stereo) sound, but was not averse to having some video recording facilities. Send me a PM if you want a sample of a recording made with it.

P.

Pretty sure it's the H4N. But then again you don't get the video with it.

I didn't realize there was a Q2HD model. It will be interesting to see some videos made with it and compare to the Q3.

Google Zoom H2 vs Zoom H4.

This article is good:

In all, both the H2 and H4 are excellent recorders, chock full of features and priced at a very nice level. With care, both should last quite awhile. The H2 typically sells for about $200 and the H3 for $300. If you want to record your gigs and practices, the H2 is a no-brainer choice. If you envision more recording needs – song writing on the road, for example – the H4 will easily do that, plus record your gigs as you go.

Read more: http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazi...4_Two_Handy_Recorders.aspx#ixzz29PeQNNN6