The Audio Tool Everyone Should Have

The Zoom H1 Essential is a simple and affordable way to level up your audio, which is an essential part of any production. This video dives into everything it can do along with how it compares to the also awesome Zoom F2 recorder.

⏱️Chapter Markers:
0:00 - A Quick Context of Zoom Recorders
1:10 - The H1 Essential
2:01 - Design & Build Quality
3:58 - Mounting Options
5:28 - Monitoring Options & Batteries
6:14 - Audio Recording Performance
8:16 - Built-In Microphones
8:46 - External Mic Options
10:11 - Using It As A USB Mic
11:21 - 32 Bit Float Audio
13:14 - vs. Zoom F2: Which Is Better?
16:21 - Conclusion

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Hi! My name is Tom Buck, a lifelong A/V nerd and former high school Digital Media teacher. I started this channel in 2017 as a project to share my enthusiasm for everything related to audio and video production.

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Episode 420: The Audio Recorder Everyone Should Have

[mcs]

I love my H1n. If you’re a small creator, you’ll never need anything more than what it gives you. Absolute workhorse. My wife and I made a whole meditation channel (that actually makes money) just using that and a keyboard with GarageBand.

I will never sell or get rid of it, even if it breaks. Too much sentimental value.

[MikeMena]

Holy crap. This is perfect. I’ve been doing live concert videos for local bands and recording external “room” audio just on my iPhone (which sounds surprisingly good and never clips). This is perfect and frickin 32bit?!???!?!

[christianpier]

I can totally confirm. Despite the type of production, I always carry at least two different Zoom devices with me, and they have never failed me and always provide great sound quality.

[aTrulyPowerfulSpirit]

One day I decided to experiment with my good old Zoom H1 and I found out it can be powered from a power bank via mini-USB. It also doubles as a sound card. Can also be used as a music player if you don't mind fiddling with file formats / names. I also have two ancient mics from Olympus and Sony for me to use as lav mics or simply try different sound characteristics. Overall this is the single most useful audio tool I have ever acquired.

[CinePals]

As always, I appreciate how thoroughly detailed, clear and personable your videos are. I own two F2-BTs. They’re simple to a fault and I don’t use them anymore because of that. The indicator color is confusing as it looks amber or red if you slightly change the angle you look at it from. I had many instances of recording and hitting stop and it just wouldn’t seem to stop for a while. And I had a shoot once where it seemed to not record anything despite saying it did. After that, I didn’t pick it up again. Currently I go between the Rode Wireless Pro’s and the DJI Mic 2. I like both for different reasons. I know one thing seasoned sound peeps have against them is it’s built in battery versus replaceable, which I completely understand. But it keeps it discrete and light weight and super convenient to recharge (until it can’t anymore I suppose). All that said, the aforementioned recorders from Rode and DJI are considerably more expensive than the H1 Essential, which looks awesome and extremely well priced for what it delivers. It has what the F2 should have had, which is a clearer indication of what’s going on. I’m tempted to grab one. The way I use the Rode and DJI’s is with an “Interview” handheld adapter. And I experience zero hand noise and it’s more comfortable to hold that way as well. Additionally I get a backup recording inside my camera from the receiver which I can’t get with the H1 Essential from what I can tell. But just as a quick pick up, record and transfer, seems pretty darn cool and convenient.

[JakeCuley]

honestly really impressive how good the internal mics sound.

[solomonericfilms]

So I do car videos, and was looking into getting this as my audio clips going straight into the action cams. I appreciate you calling out the "issues" like the plosives and the handling noise of this device, but then providing the positives and quick fixes for it. There are a few other creators that seem to trash this recorder, due to that stuff, when honestly you get so much for the price. On that note, your review helped me make the purchase of the Zoom H1 essentials 👌😊 I saw you dropped a comment on my buddy’s Paul F. channel, but didn't want to comment and take away his YouTube thunder on the Elgato 😂 Great video and thanks for sharing!

[patregan]

Everyone should probably own a Zoom H1. I bought the original (I think!) many years ago on the recommendation of an audio engineer friend who currently works at Bose. He made a good suggestion. It is still probably the nicest sounding mic that I own, and it is a fine audio recorder and even mic-to-USB-audio dingus. I am a little jealous that the new model has 32-bit float!

I think my voice sounds better on the Zoom mic, but I still use my cheapo Deity mini shotgun when recording in my home office. That pair of WIDE mics on the Zoom pick up every little sound and every reverb of my boomy voice in here.

[manjacovus]

Thanks for the terrific video.
I was using audio tape to record programmes off-air from the 1970s on, and my tape machines were getting increasingly sophisticated and expensive (anyone who remembers Nakamichi decks will know what I mean).
But about 10 years ago I discovered the Zoom 1 which immediately gave me hiss-free, digital recording, and nearly 50 hours on an SD card vs max 2 hours on cassette, and for the fraction of the price of a high-end machine. Plus, there were no moving parts to be kept constantly serviced.
But just last year I upgraded to the H1e, and 32-bit floating recording is like the final piece of the jigsaw as I no longer need to worry about setting correct levels, and the H1e takes cards up to at least 1TB instead of 32gb.
I realize my usage is fairly niche, but it's nonetheless a brilliant piece of kit which I'd recommend to any fellow nerd.
Thank you.

[kylemckenna]

These mobile recorders always remind me of movies with journalists traveling to peoples homes to interview them about a local murder lol.

[SirSeabass]

I love the H1. My first year as a videographer I used to boom these up all the time. Then I eventually bought a Rode Video Mic Go, and I would boom that up and run a really long cable to my H1 and then I would run that into my little T3i. Now I had Back up audio. Those were the days.

[vincentpolisi]

I've got the Zoom H8 and previously had the H6 and F1. You can't go wrong with Zoom. They just work.

[Slow-Photography]

this is what I needed to help basically with recording atmos which my current set up can't manage, your video has helped me know that this is the right tool (at the right price!) for me.

[GuilDormeus]

The H4N is so useful!! I have an H4N Pro and I use it as a backup just in case tool if my RCP decided to hit the road and stop working. Sidenote: it’s Crazy how the H4n still works perfectly!

[themichaelbrigden]

Good afternoon from England 🇬🇧!
Thank you so much for your review of this product- you sold it! This is perfect for me as a first field audio recorder (voice) and will supplement my Tascam portacapture X8 great!!
Thank you! 😊

[chrisidoestech]

I have a Zoom F1, pretty happy with it. Planning to buy one of these babies and a Zoom F2 or F3. Amazing devices

[caroled]

I’m still using Zoom h1n for weddings. amazing till now.

[nikstohn]

I always wanted a small field recorder in my tool kit but never got around to choose one. But you instantly sold me on that one, especially with its 32-Bit capabilities and for that price. No-brainer purchase. 😄

[minuterevolutionary]

Useful review, thank you. Quibble about instrument recording: stereo vs mono is situational. A solo performer or a string quartet: stereo, almost definitely. A singer or acoustic instrument for use as a track in a song? Mono will usually be the best choice, as it will be more straightforward to place the element in a stereo mix. Of course, these days, that can all be ignored if you are willing to forego a naturalistic aesthetic... plugins can make a mono signal wide, and a stereo signal varying degrees of mono without losing any channel information. But classical recording technique says combos or solo artists stereo, tracking for a pop recording, mono.

[MatthewWatsonDiscovery]

I also started with the Zoom H4N in 2009 recording students in 2nd language proficiency exams, recording friends piano demo, etc. Still have the original device, plus the H1, the Podtrack P4, and the F2. Now due to the speed and ease of set up, I am using the F2 the most with its worry free 32 bit float. When needed, I put it (the F2) between the camera with a wireless mic receiver for safe redundancy before going into the camera. Zoom has saved me good money these 15 years for my non-profit work, "essentially!" (pun intended)