276°
Posted 20 hours ago

Zoom H5 4-Track Portable Recorder for Audio for Video, Music, and Podcasting, Stereo Microphones, 2 XLR/TRS Inputs, USB Audio Interface, Battery Powered

£149.5£299.00Clearance
ZTS2023's avatar
Shared by
ZTS2023
Joined in 2023
82
63

About this deal

It comes with an improved X/Y stereo microphone in the box that has a pair of high quality capsules set up in a perfectly matched stereo configuration.

When it came to the recording side of things, my first question was, “Can it handle line-level inputs? All these dials sit under sturdy steel bumper bars, partly for protection but also for practicality – it’s far easier to smoothly adjust the volume with this arrangement. The gain dials are also easily accessible – the mike capsules have their own controls (the X-Y pair has a single stereo volume dial for the L-R channels), while the separate little gain dials for channels 1 and 2 sit below the display. The design of the XYH-5 mic capsule allows the H5 to handle up to 140 dB SPL — equivalent to the sound of a jet aircraft from less than 200 feet away! Even more remarkable, you can use the Zoom as a live USB interface, feeding its four channels in real time to your computer’s preferred recording program.I’ve used my old Zoom H4 for location recording and it worked well, but I think the H5, like the H6, has taken the versatility to a new level.

The XYH-5 interchangeable capsule is equipped with two unidirectional condenser microphones arranged at a 90° angle. Less obvious is its second microphone, which collects ambient information from either side (hence the name MS, for Mid-Side). It features a system that allows the supplied XY microphone capsule (XYH-5) to be swapped out for another interchangeable Zoom microphone capsule.Note that these are not sensitive enough for direct input of guitar or bass; you’ll need a mixer or effects unit to sufficiently raise their levels.

There is also a new ‘mix-down’ function, where balance and level can be applied to each of the four tracks and a new stereo mix created inside the player itself. I'm afraid Similar units like Tascam won't be a big of a difference in that manner as an alternative. The H5’s XLR/TRS combo inputs can handle both mic- and line-level signals for microphones, wireless receivers, mixers, keyboards and more. Previously Zoom has mentioned a limit of 99 versions of any one track but even that generous limit seems to have been removed here. Zoom’s H4 has been hugely popular, and with the H5 it seems its few shortcomings have been ironed out.There are knobs for the two line inputs on the ‘front’ of the unit, and these are protected by a bar that should stop them being knocked accidentally. If you don't need the extra inputs, I find H6 redundant, because sound quality is very similar if not the same. The appeal of that model was the four-track recording, as it gave me the ability to record a stereo feed from the desk while using the built-in mics to capture some audience and room sound. But you can now connect the mini-USB socket direct to your computer and pull the files directly across that way. This allows users to select the microphone capsule that best suits the situation - making trade-offs a thing of the past.

While we thought the H6 just a bit large for sitting on top of your D-SLR, the H5 is a much more manageable size. External microphone signals are processed by powerful microphone preamplifiers, which offer an equivalent input noise of -120dB, freely selectable phantom power (12, 24, or 48V), and -20dB pad.

I only needed to look at the manual once, to check that the compressor and high-pass filters could be switched on just for the mics. THAT SAID, the recording quality on the H5 is remarkably higher than the previous brothers, the sound is just more naturally "in your face" and easily verges on a studio-like sound.

Asda Great Deal

Free UK shipping. 15 day free returns.
Community Updates
*So you can easily identify outgoing links on our site, we've marked them with an "*" symbol. Links on our site are monetised, but this never affects which deals get posted. Find more info in our FAQs and About Us page.
New Comment