Handy Recorder App

[Sabina Kehler]

The ultra-compact H1 Handy Recorder, introduced in 2010, with its integrated X/Y stereo microphone, enabled digital audio recording at up to 24 bit/96 kHz in WAV (linear PCM) or MP3 format, and finally made the breakthrough into the mass market, enabling anyone to record perfect sound for their videos. The affordable entry-level recorder offered professional recording technology in a mini format for the first time at a sensational price. With a recording time of up to 10 hours with just one AAA battery and convenient one-button operation, the H1 was also suitable for novice audiophiles. The two high-quality microphone capsules in X/Y arrangement ensured high-quality recordings with perfect stereo imaging. The integrated low-cut filter prevented low-frequency noise such as the clattering of a chair or footsteps from ruining the recording, and the time stamp function made it easier to keep track of recorded audio files.

This system of interchangeable microphone capsules is still unique today and can be found in our current Handy Recorders, the H5 Handy Recorder, the H6 Black Handy Recorder, the H8 Handy Recorder as well as in our F1-LP Field Recorder, F1-SP Field Recorder and F8n Pro Field Recorder. In addition to the X/Y stereo microphone capsules XYH-5 (supplied with the H5 Handy Recorder), XYH-6 (supplied with the H6 Black Handy Recorder) and XYH-8 (supplied with the H8 Handy Recorder), shotgun microphones are also available in mono and stereo versions. The SGH-6 mono directional microphone is perfect for cinematographers, while the SSH-6 stereo directional microphone, just like the MSH-6 M/S stereo microphone capsule, offers the possibility to change the recording angle at will. The EXH-6 capsule adds two more XLR/jack inputs to the recorder. The new microphone capsule system 2.0 for the H8 Handy Recorder also offers the VRH-8 Ambisonic microphone capsule, the XAH-8 X/Y and A/B combination stereo microphone capsule, as well as the EXH-8 capsule, which provides four additional XLR/jack inputs for the H8 Handy Recorder.

Creators have found the H4n to be the most trustworthy field recorder available. Used by videographers, musicians, bloggers, ghost-hunters, podcasters, educators, and journalists everywhere, the ultra-portable H4n's 4 tracks of high quality audio make it an essential audio companion for everyone.

Punch-in features and onboard effects such as compression, limiting, reverb, and guitar and bass amp modeling enable you to quickly and easily turn your musical ideas into full-fledged productions. You can even convert your finished song to an MP3 file for emailing and posting to your favorite social site.

Capture the sound of concerts, rehearsals, meetings, or lectures. The H4n's built-in X/Y microphone allows you to record natural-sounding stereo with a strong center image, and the angle of its two matched unidirectional mic elements can easily be changed from 90 degrees for a tightly focused stereo image to 120 degrees for a wider image. (US Patent 8184815).

Pre-Record (for STEREO/4CH mode)
The H4n's Pre-record function ensures that you'll never miss the start of a great take. It automatically keeps the H4n silently but continuously recording in the background, all the time, keeping the previous two seconds* of audio whenever you hit RECORD.

Auto Record (for STEREO/4CH mode)
When enabled, Auto Record sets the H4n to automatically starts recording at a level of sound. An equivalent Stop function can be used to end recording as soon as incoming signal drops below a certain threshold.

Effects can make all the difference. They make your recordings sound professional and polished, and can be used both to enhance audio and to compensate for acoustic problems in the recording environment.

The H4n offers a variety of effects, ranging from compression and limiting to reverb, delay, echo, and a low-cut filter for the elimination of wind noise, pops and other kinds of unwanted low frequency noise. There's also an onboard metronome and tuner, along with dozens of effects crafted especially for guitar and bass, such as amp models. In addition, playback can be looped and the playback speed varied without pitch change (or vice versa), making the H4n perfect for phrase training.

Audio recorded with the H4n is stored in your choice of WAV or MP3 format. WAV files are uncompressed and full fidelity, and thus provide optimum quality. The H4n provides support for 16 and 24-bit WAV audio at sampling rates of 44.1, 48, or 96 kHz. In addition, H4n WAV files are automatically time-stamped, making them Broadcast Wave Format (BWF) compliant, allowing precise synchronization in post-production.

Depending on the context in which you would like to make a recording, there are four modes accessible via the dial atop the microphone that modify the gain and direction in which audio is received. In short: if you want to record one person talking on the screen-side of the mic, use XY. If you want to record something in the front of the mic, use MS.

To record press the record button on the bottom of the device to start and press it again to stop. You can also adjust the gain on the fly and add marks to the recording by pressing the play button on the top right of the device.

The recorder has built in speakers so you can listen to what you recorded. To start listening press the play button on the right side of the device. To jump to the next track or mark, flick the play button up or down. The volume controls are on the left side of the device. Press the play button again to pause the recording. To return to recording mode hold down the home button on the very top right of the device.

You need to press the menu button on the top right of the recorder and press the play button down to navigate down the menus. Scroll down to USB and press the play button to select. If you select the wrong menu, press the home button to go back a step.

Metronome: You can navigate the metronome menus to change a lot of settings. If you want to disable the metronome, do so with the click menu and turn it to off. Here you can also adjust the sound of the metronome, the tempo, time signature, and volume level.

The land on which we gather is the unceded territory of the Awaswas-speaking Uypi Tribe. The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, comprised of the descendants of indigenous people taken to missions Santa Cruz and San Juan Bautista during Spanish colonization of the Central Coast, is today working hard to restore traditional stewardship practices on these lands and heal from historical trauma.

Once the box arrived, I took a quick spin through the manual and fired up the recorder. It runs on just two AA batteries, though you have the option of 9V DC power from the supplied transformer, and records onto SD cards. A 128MB card is supplied, but you can now get 2GB cards fairly cheaply. Two batteries will give you about four hours' recording time, so a cheap 'Dirty Dozen' will give you a full 24 hours' recording. However, there's no meter to show you how much power remains, which is a pity. Two cardioid mics, in a sort of X-Y configuration, are located at the top, protected by a little cage-like structure, on top of which sits the supplied foam windshield: a welcome addition that you will definitely need outdoors. The two jack/XLR inputs at the bottom can serve either as mic inputs with phantom power, as line inputs, or as high-impedance inputs for connecting electric guitars and the like.

The four buttons also come into play when using the Zoom in multitracking mode. Yes, you heard me right: the H4 also has the power to be a four-track in your pocket! Furthermore, two effects units are built-in, and cover a large range of preset effects, from mic and amp simulators, through the usual modulation, reverb and delay effects, to compression and limiting. This makes the H4 much more than a recorder, and it will no doubt prove a hit with people or bands looking for a songwriting sketchpad.

The Zoom H4 includes two jack/XLR combi sockets that are capable of providing 48V phantom power.Photo: Mike CameronOn the way there I got going with a few ambience recordings on the Mean Streets and in the crew car, generally filling up the SD card with quick and dirty tests of how the unit held up. One of the things I wanted to test straight away was the inevitable handling noise that any recorder with onboard mics will have. Given that the H4 is built from plastic, I had expected plenty of handling noise, but I was actually pleasantly surprised at its performance. While it certainly is susceptible to the fumble test, the intensity of the noise was quite adequate. Recording-wise, it did a great job in handling jackhammers at five paces, so I'm sure it will be equally at home getting quick and dirty recordings of your band's gig!

The fidelity of the mics was very impressive for a unit in this very low price range. Obviously, the quality was not comparable with the kind of German engineering I would be comfortable with for a big recording session, and I found them lacking in what some people call 'body'. Also, understandably, the very edges of the low-frequency range were a little lost in translation, but for the 279 asking price (even lower on the high street), it was perfectly acceptable. I'd be confident of being able to capture samples of a quality that could be used in post-production, or as sound effects in music. While it would be possible to get better quality (and I would prefer the option of doing so for critical sounds at the forefront of a mix) the H4's cost and convenience more than make up for it.

Setting levels for a line-level signal was, again, a slight fiddle, but it worked fine, and the ability to record at line levels could prove very useful for feeding a live desk mix from your gig through the unit to review your performance, or even for making rough podcast files ready to upload to a band web site. It's a shame, however, that you can't use the multitrack function with four separate live inputs, as that would enable you to use a line from the live desk and the mics on the front simultaneously, to add a bit of 'life'. Perhaps a future update will make that a prospect.

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