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Portable ZOOM H5 Dark Gray Recorder Review

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Very good

Revainrating 4 out of 5  
Rating 
4.2
Electronics, 📷 Camera & Photo, 📷 Camera & Photo Accessories, 📷 Camera & Photo

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Description of Portable ZOOM H5 Dark Gray Recorder

Outstanding Features of the Portable Recorder ZOOM H5 in Dark Gray

When it comes to recording audio on-the-go, the portable recorder ZOOM H5 in dark gray stands out as an exceptional choice. This versatile device offers a range of features and capabilities that make it a favorite among professionals and enthusiasts alike. In this article, we will explore the characteristics, advantages, and important parameters of this outstanding portable recorder.

1. Impressive Recording Capabilities

The ZOOM H5 boasts a remarkable recording quality that captures every nuance and detail with exceptional clarity. Its advanced microphone system, equipped with interchangeable capsules, allows for versatile recording options to suit different environments and applications. Whether you're capturing interviews, live performances, or field recordings, this portable recorder delivers professional-grade audio results.

2. Comparable Products on the Market

While there are several portable recorders available in the market, the ZOOM H5 stands out due to its unique combination of features, performance, and affordability. Some comparable products, such as the TASCAM DR-40X and Sony PCM-D10, offer similar functionality, but the ZOOM H5 excels in terms of user-friendly interface, expandability options, and overall value for money.

3. Resolving Audio Recording Challenges

One of the primary problems that the ZOOM H5 addresses is the need for reliable and high-quality audio recording in various scenarios. Whether you're a musician, journalist, podcaster, or filmmaker, this portable recorder offers a portable and efficient solution for capturing professional-grade audio, eliminating the need for bulky equipment and complicated setups.

4. Key Parameters and Specifications

Let's take a closer look at some of the key parameters and specifications of the ZOOM H5:

  • Recording Formats: WAV, MP3
  • Supported Bit Rates: 16-bit, 24-bit
  • Maximum Sample Rates: 96kHz
  • Storage: SD/SDHC/SDXC card (up to 128GB)
  • Display: Backlit LCD with easy navigation
  • Connectivity: USB, XLR/TRS combo inputs
  • 5. Ideal for Remote Work and More

    In today's digital age, remote work has become increasingly common, and the ZOOM H5 proves to be an invaluable tool for professionals in various fields. It allows remote workers, podcasters, and content creators to capture high-quality audio from the comfort of their own spaces, ensuring professional sound for virtual meetings, interviews, podcasts, and voice-overs.

    Ultimately, the ZOOM H5 portable recorder in dark gray is a game-changer in the world of audio recording. Its exceptional features, comparable products, problem-solving capabilities, important parameters, and suitability for remote work make it a must-have device for musicians, journalists, podcasters, filmmakers, and anyone seeking to achieve superior audio quality in their recordings.

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    Reviews

    Global ratings 16
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    Type of review

    Revainrating 4 out of 5

    All is well, liked the product, didn't buy it for nothing.

    It has served faithfully for many years, but noisy preamps are really annoying, you constantly have to clean it in post-processing. Well, the truth is, if you write correctly, then this is not a problem until you have to write quiet sounds. I can’t say that it keeps the battery for a long time, but this is more the fault of the batteries that I use with it, otherwise I prefer to power it from the mains via USB. And here a problem arose, once it was dropped to me and the USB connector broke…

    Pros
    • Small, light, easy and convenient to use, it can write to itself at the same time and send a signal per channel via usb to a computer.
    Cons
    • Noisy preamps, loose USB connector, obsolete mini USB-B connector

    Revainrating 4 out of 5

    The product suited me, I will recommend it to my friends.

    The recorder made a double impression. If I had rewinded, I wouldn't have bought it. To record the speaker's voice from a distance of 20-30 cm from the microphone, I set the "recording level" mechanical knob almost to the maximum, which causes noise. Strange, maybe an instance of this.

    Revainrating 4 out of 5

    Satisfied with the product, I recommend it to everyone.

    I bought it at the price of zoom h2n and if it were not for the price of 13k instead of 18,000 at that time I would not have dared. I’m thinking for now which capsule to take for it. 360, a gun or XY from H6 So far, I remembered to throw. below there is a picture there are a few more notes from the margins dated August 2, 2022 I found my video of 2022 reuploaded on youtube. The recorder was sold because it turned out to be redundant for me.

    Pros
    • The sound is better compared to the zoom h2. that through the capsule, that through the buttonholes 3.5 Autonomy - 13 hours keeps exactly (XLR working, but there is nothing to check it yourself) Only 2 batteries (GP 2 700 mAh and Apple battery 1 900) . so Weight - much lighter than the H6 . how much does the weight of the six with a capsule and with 4 AAA? "Eternal" work from a power bank (it's better to insert charged batteries just in case) Comfortable and pleasant to the touch body . as a glove lies in the hands. Screen thank God b / w, does not glare in the sun, on top of the case Separate line out output and headphone output (that's why I didn't take Zoom h4n / pro) - separately 1 wire to the camera and 1 wire to the headphones separately. The protection of the "twists" on the case and the complete capsule is a bomb! You hang a recorder around your neck and nothing changes (I know about Hold)
    Cons
    • I recommend immediately sealing the screen with a protective film => scratches like the back of an iPod Classic. They immediately bought it, immediately pasted it on the screen of the khan. The supplied capsule is "quiet" and only has a 90 degree fixed angle. Plus, I can’t check its “vibration protection” in any way . there are no other capsules, and the zoom h2 is broken The built-in speaker is practically useless outdoors => quiet as flooded water The built-in compressor puts a lot of pressure on the sound. I don’t know anything about the frequency response and other terrible words, but there is a difference “on the ears” with the previous Zoom h2 . The side buttons and latches play and walk like a piece of Chinese => I feel like the old Zoom H4n will look like ebay - the part will break off When working from a power bank, it is better to leave the batteries in the case. Otherwise, during a power surge or discharge of an external battery, you may lose the device. It happened to me and the device "came to life" only after 3 days - I thought I would have to drag it to the service The type of batteries (batteries or alkaline) is better to set immediately

    Revainrating 3 out of 5

    It works, but I don't think I'll be buying it again.

    In general, there are many impressions from the device, but unfortunately, the number of characters is limited. And so I want to tell you that the complete XYH-5 capsule has an imbalance and the sensitivity level of the microphones varies by as much as 5-7 dB (the left channel is written louder), that the battery cover is made of the thinnest plastic and is ready to break at any moment, that the device has the feature of abruptly turning off when (in his opinion) a low level of battery voltage…

    Pros
    • It is worth noting the rather flexible variability of the device. Interchangeable capsules for all occasions, the ability to turn on a compressor or limiter for different recording conditions, etc. allow to greatly expand the scope. It can work in audio interface mode, which is certainly not bad for stimmers, podcasters and other bloggers who want to be famous. From this device, a fairly good replacement for a sound card is obtained. There is even a LoopBack function that allows you to mix a signal from a computer into a voice recording. But all these magical splashes end where the question of the quality of the recorded material becomes. And I will write about it below.
    Cons
    • The first thing I would like to note, having taken the device out of the box, is the very poor quality of the complete XYH-5 capsule. More specifically, the sound it makes. It seems that the device was calculated that the announcer would speak into it like a hand-held microphone, because. recording level is absolutely low. For example, recording the street, with the maximum sensitivity control on the capsule turned out, gives a level of -15 dB. Of course, I understand that the Zoom H5 itself provided for the possibility of processing the recorded file (normalization) and it is possible to extend the level in post-processing on a computer, but noise also creeps in with it. Let's talk about noise separately. - Noises. Yes, they are, and of a fairly high level. Simply because due to the lack of sensitivity on the capsule, you have to twist everything to the maximum. Therefore, if you are going to write something like a conference, a wedding (sound in the registry office) for example, or something where the sound does not go directly into the capsule, then get ready to in post-processing and isolate the signal and clean the noise. By connecting an AKG P420 condenser microphone to the recorder via the XLR ports, the quality is quite decent and the sensitivity is much higher. For this someone will have to use external microphones. - Working hours. Working hours leave much to be desired. About any 15 hours, as they say in advertising, there is no talk even close. In STEREO mode, the life of the device is about 6-7 hours. And this is with batteries Varta High Energy, Duracell Turbo MAX, GP Super, etc. I'm wondering what kind of alkaline batteries were mentioned in advertising brochures, under which the device should work for 15 hours? Moreover, the Zoom H5 considers the battery to be low and turns off (and sometimes without warning), when the voltage on it is 1.25V. Nifiga yourself economically . When setting the type of batteries to Ni-MH in the settings (in the hope that the device will still work, because for Ni-MH the standard voltage is 1.2V), the recorder went out altogether. And how did the manufacturer think to use them?

    Revainrating 2 out of 5

    Low quality, I will not buy this anymore.

    As an audio interface, this device is unacceptable for recording. This is a problem of all Zooms of this model, you can search on foreign forums. Only abroad these Zooms are exchanged for free for other models due to this defect, and we do not even have an official representative office. In short, I sold the device. The new owner uses it when recording a video, it is suitable for these purposes.

    Pros
    • Writes normally in standalone mode.
    Cons
    • In the sound card (audio interface) mode, it writes unacceptably - clicks, noises, different volumes are heard (depending on what is being written). Plus a big delay (latency) in this mode. It's almost impossible to write anything down.

    Revainrating 4 out of 5

    I recommend to buy, the product is of high quality.

    So far, the recorder has left a double impression. On the one hand, excellent sound recording quality, convenient level control. But the built-in microphone lacks sensitivity. This is disappointing. In a quiet room, to record quiet speech, the regulator has to be set to 8-9, a little noise appears on the recording. External microphones are great. I expected better sound quality. Of course, this is not an mp3 player, but with such a path, they could make the sound more decent. Feeling that…

    Pros
    • High build quality. It's nice to hold in your hands. Hard case included. Possibility of use as a sound interface. I like the device as a whole: the screen, ergonomics, features.
    Cons
    • - built-in microphone - sound playback

    Revainrating 4 out of 5

    The product is really good, I'm glad I purchased it.

    The only worthy use is to use it to record a line signal from other equipment, for example, from a mixing console. In extreme cases, this device can be used as a stand-alone device for recording bards by connecting two microphones and forcing the performer to sing louder in them in order to obtain an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio. The line output can be used to send a signal to the effects processor (to create reverb), and the line input on the attachment can be used to return. Thus, we get…

    Pros
    • No constant -72dB noise when recording, unlike most other recorders and audio interfaces. Only the preamps are noisy. It is possible to connect an effects processor thanks to four-channel recording.
    Cons
    • The preamps are not as quiet as expected. In general, they are no better than the previous generation of preamps.

    Revainrating 5 out of 5

    I'm amazed! It was definitely worth the money!

    This device is a smaller version of zoom h6. and unlike his older brother, he reduced in size and is able to write to 4 channels at the same time. otherwise it's the same h6. so: recording on 4 tracks on a stereo capsule and on two computers of the XLR / TRS input (multifile mode). By default, each channel is written to a separate . If you want to record sound from two channels in one stereo, press channel 2 AND HOLD channel L. This way the sound will be recorded from the capsule and from the…

    Pros
    • Recording quality! Assembly. DIMENSIONS.
    Cons
    • Very uncomfortable rain control. Lack of an adapter for the network included.

    Revainrating 5 out of 5

    The quality exceeds all expectations, I recommend to buy.

    It proved to be excellent when working with a buttonhole and simply through the XY-capsule. For interviews or picking up sound from a mixer, a chic option. So far I have used it without bells and whistles, but if anything, they are there (guitar tuner, limiter, compressor, etc.) Some pros: Recording quality Convenience Autonomy (it can work both from batteries and via a USB cable, for example, from a power bank) Interchangeable heads (to the standard one I ordered another stereo gun) Has…

    Revainrating 5 out of 5

    I am amazed at how well made the product is, just magical!

    To support the "gun" Zoom SSH6, you need to ate the firmware to the 2nd version. It's very easy to sew. Download the firmware from the site to the root directory of the memory card and reboot the recorder with the play button pressed. After the firmware, the ability to turn on the tone signal at the start and end of recording will be added to the menu, which is convenient when shooting video for subsequent synchronization of the sound track.

    Pros
    • Sound, workmanship, fit all capsules from Zoom H6, Versatility. 4 channels of recording with analog controls, very convenient. Unlike the flagship H6, the regulators are covered with metal brackets, which protects them from mechanical damage and helps them not to accidentally move to another position. In addition to being powered by AA batteries, it can be powered via USB from any PowerBank for smartphones or any USB port.
    Cons
    • Not cheap. Especially in 2022. Recording on a DSLR camera through a "hot shoe" is not real, the standard mount does not isolate the sound of the camera (stabilization, autofocus motor, etc.). Therefore, you need to think about where your recorder will be fixed when recording from it to the camera. Or just write the sound separately))

    I will add more shortcomings in the "comment" window: There is no 2022-language menu . it seems not important, but damn it! In the yard of the 21st century! The product was bought for money, and not downloaded for free from torrents. What was so difficult? After all, this reflects the approach to the model itself from the developers. And all this zoom consists of such unprincipled moments. Most importantly, that very vaunted quality turned out to be a common marketing ploy! I contacted a Zoom…

    Pros
    • Two AA batteries for power, build quality, appearance
    Cons
    • A global drawback for me - the quality of the recording was not at all excellent! 1. its regular XYH5 microphones . give out a beautiful sound, the tops are detailed, but! The microphones themselves are low sensitive, the signal is weak, and even their own white noise is so loud that all their beautiful "sound" becomes unnecessary! Hissing will not be heard only at low gain and when you speak either loudly or something will make noise in the background! 2. Advertised low-noise preamplifiers. Well, if you compare it with the input of the built-in audio card of a cheap motherboard, then yes, they make noticeably less noise when recording. But if we compare their sensitivity and noise with a $100 audio card, then the Zoom is much more noisy. 3. Screen and menu. Such simple and necessary things as Quickly find out how much memory is left on the card, find out how much time is being recorded and how much time is left for recording, find out the size of already recorded files - this is either unrealistic or through dancing with a tambourine! In the same way, when playing - it is impossible to choose from the list, for example, the longest file! There is no information about the file size anywhere. 4. The card sees only the FAT32 format! Because of this, when recording 24/96000, the continuous recording time is only about 45 minutes or 2GB! Recording a 2-hour concert in one file - well, it won't work! You'll have to glue it in the editor.

    Revainrating 5 out of 5

    A very high-quality product, I take it not for the first time.

    Unexpected ill-conceived fastening - the thread for a standard screw is made not in the form of a metal "glass", but like a nut, in the body. However, it is not very deep. Some screws are slightly longer, and when screwed, they rest against the plastic of the case inside the mount and at some point the bottom breaks out (!) inside. No special effort is required, but you will immediately understand that this has happened. Fortunately, adhesive insulation is laid there and nothing flounders in…

    Pros
    • - Replaceable microphones; - level adjustment protection (frame); - USB connection as a microphone, powered by USB; - and as audio cards.
    Cons
    • - Tripod mount, see comments; - sometimes there are not enough compressor settings, essential for live streams: it can be too quiet and too loud almost at the same time.

    Revainrating 5 out of 5

    Great product, best quality.

    Works great. Of course, in terms of quality, this is not a recording through a card into a computer audio editor, but it copes with its tasks quite well. A kind of fast and miniature assistant. I recommend. With its pros. There are all the necessary settings for the device and recording (and even more). External inputs work quite well. Lightweight, slick. Intuitive. Has some cons Insufficient sensitivity of own microphones. The clumsy bulky full-time foam rubber windscreen does not hold well…

    Very happy with the purchase. You can finally fully stir up sound effects from live sound. Record guitar in an underground tunnel or grotto and still get great reverb. A bunch of possibilities that this little thing solves. I recommend. With its pros. Liked everything) Given that this is my first portable recorder, the impressions are very positive. Everything works as it should, writes great. Lots of settings and options. On the first day I wrote "XY" + connected a dynamic and condenser

    Revainrating 5 out of 5

    I really like the product, it fully meets my expectations.

    Standard audio recording device. With a good external microphone - generally a song. 4 channels of recording for a non-professional - more than enough. Covers all (my) needs for sound recording. Probably, I would like a duplicate slot for a memory card. For parallel recording. But it is, just in case. So far everything seems to be working. 5. Probably, if, in addition to the red LEDs of the channels, we add, for example, green indicators of activity on the channels . Probably.

    Pros
    • Recording quality! Variation of settings. There is an indication of overload indicators. Visible in the dark. Inconspicuous monitor.
    Cons
    • 1. Outdated (10 years ago) USB connector. In 2022 (((. Requires a separate cord. Why? 2. SD, why not MicroSD . It would be better if they made a double MicroSD slot. 3. Still noisy. You have to be very careful with sensitivity. Otherwise, noise appears after 6. 4. The scheme with folders is rather difficult to understand "on the forehead".