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

Product Information

This was presumably measured without any external microphones connected to the devices. Bear in mind that connecting two microphones to the H5, or four to the H6, will lower the battery life, especially if you are using phantom power. On the other hand, the four built-in XLR inputs on the Zoom H6 gives you the ability to plug in four microphones, thus making it perfect for podcasts, recording demos, band recording, etc. Battery Life

X/Y recording allows you to cover a wide area yet still capture sound sources in the center with clarity and definition, making it ideal for all types of live stereo recording. The XYH-5 X/Y microphone capsule included with the H5 provides two matched unidirectional condenser microphones set at a 90 degree angle. HD livestreams require a lot of bandwidth, and the last thing you want is a lagging signal. A streaming encoder solves this issue by compressing your audio and video into a size that's more manageable for your computer.

Recording Times & File Formats

The internal mic quality is still disappointing (not a significant improvement over H4). You gotta turn the nob to around 8 most of the time to get a decent sound but taht introduces an awful hiss. Also, I find the high frequencies quite harsh, almost distorted even in medium gain settings.

The Line Out lets you send audio from the Zoom H5 to the input of a camera or other device without needing an attenuator cable. There’s also a separate headphone output, and you can use both outputs at the same time to route audio to your DSLR while monitoring with headphones. 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. Set up your camera either at eye level or at a slight downward angle (from the top of your computer monitor, for instance). Upward angles tend to be unflattering, so use a tripod to raise your camera’s height if your desk is too low. You can change the speed or pitch of recordings in the Zoom itself; there’s a metronome and even a built-in guitar/bass tuner. USB connection We bought this audio device for our NGO to capture audio on the go for our videos, interviews, podcasts and also in a booth to record voice over using XLR inputs. And for this price we just could not find anything that would match zoom h5 in its usability, audio quality and portability. As of right now you probably won't find anything better!

Zoom H5 Handy Recorder Features:

Multichannel and stereo USB audio interface for PC, Mac and iPad (requires optional camera connection kit)