Zoom H4--more competition for MD

[A440]

Here's yet another digital recording device. Records to SD Flash, takes built-in mics or external XLR (professional mics) with phantom (not plug-in) power, and records to stereo or four-track. Drag and drop, of course.

$299 list price, plus you'd obviously need a 2GB SD card for about $60.

http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp...AffiliateID=615

It looks vaguely like some el cheapo knockoff of Sony's super-expensive recorder with the built-in mics.

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/...;source=froogle

It seems too new for any extensive reviews. Personally, I don't see the need for built-in mics--adding bulk, limiting flexibility--but obviously other people like them. I'll be very curious to see some user reviews of this as it gets around.

Edited October 17, 2006 by A440

[sector001]

definitely rip off of sony.....as for the built in mic, i would prefer them to be flat. rather than sticking out like that.

[reefbeef]

Thanks for post. The link says the zoom recorder records to SD card. I believe these are smaller than compact flash cards.

[raintheory]

Looks interesting...

And yes, SD cards are smaller than CF.

EDIT: It's a shame it's all platic looking... If it looked a bit sturdier I might be tempted, seems you can also use it as a USB Audio Interface, comes bundled with Cubase.

Edited October 17, 2006 by raintheory

[pojam]

I'm at the crossroad between a mz-rh1 or zoom h4.

Lots of people I talked to write off the mini disc as soon as you can say "compressed audio" and "near extinction".

Now I've been telling them that the MD nowaday records PCM, up to 16/44.1!

Also the fact that MD is not going to extinct since Sony is marketing MD now as a field recorder and not personal audio player, but this all goes to deaf ears.

Since the fact that the RH1 is very rare in my country (how ironic that the RH1 is made in Malaysia, it's not selling here) I started looking up the Zoom H4.

First impressions: Stereo Mic, AA Batteries!, 2 XLR/Hi Z input, SD memory card.

Now I want to get a field recorder to record live band performance and maybe some ambience back at my hometown. I have yet to listen to a full band set recording on the H4 (all the recording I heard so far is mainly acoustic instruments - which is not really my thing) but I've heard of a Mogwai concert recorded with the RH10 and the quality impressed me (although the compression is audible - still, can be fixed).

By the fact that I have not acquired either the RH1 or the H4, (putting aside your love to mini disc) which recorder would you guys recommend?

[rayzray]

wouldn't you hear your hands holding the unit; like, motion noise in the recording? it just doesn't look good enough for me.

maybe next year.