I'm a complete technophobe and can't get get this to simply playback a recording it seems you can only do this through an output device i e headphones,stereo, computer or ipod is this true? only got it yesterday
They didn't want to waste money and space on a relatively useless loudspeaker, not when they're providing a pair of top-quality stereo mics, which, according to a tests I ran, can hear frequencies up to at least 50KHz.
A tip: if you're running on battery power be aware that using the 4-channel mode will run through the batteries like nobody's business, so use the mains adaptor on those occasions if you can. The mp3 modes are a lot easier on the batteries.
belkin makes a small, 1/8 plug stereo speaker that simply plugs in ...uses small batteries....good for on the go if you don't have portable computer speakers and overcomes the problem of no built in speaker...but plug in and/or self powered decent computer speakers are the best bet
A related question: is recording in mp3 mode good enough just for practice/learning purposes? so far I've been recording in wav, then converting to mp3 in order to email - didn't think just to record as mp3s...
Of course mp3 is good enough for practice/learning. At most bit rates it's better than the cassette tapes that people have used for decades (and some still do). At the highest bit rates, you need good equipment and good ears to tell mp3 and wav apart.
Sue, it depends on what level of mp3 you use. The standard kbps rate often used for sending mp3 music recordings over the internet is 128, which is ok for pop music and voice, but it's not so good that you can't clearly tell the difference between it and an original. This is due to the compression used that strips high frequencies (usually 16KHz and above) and generally does a bit more messing around, enough to affect the perceived quality on even half-decent playback. Go up to 160 and you've got a more acceptable quality. From 192 up the maximum of 320 most people would be very hard pushed to tell the difference from the original. At these higher kbps rates much more of the high frequency stuff is preserved. I'd go for 192kbps as your personal standard - it gives an optimum balance between file size and quality.
If you're recording for CD purposes you wouldn't be using mp3 - you'd be using the wav format at 1411kbps.
There is a lossless format (i.e. nothing whatsoever is lost on compression or decompression from wav) that is very useful for archiving wav recordings - you can expect the file size to be reduced to 33% to 66% of the original wav. It is called FLAC and all the associated software is free. Wav files convert to flac very quickly, and the original wav is retrieved even quicker. Flac files play quite happily on the VLC media player and on their native Foobar2000 player (also freeware). You can download FLAC from sourceforge.net.
I use the Zoom 2 in conjunction with a free software package called AUDACITY downloadable fromthe internet. I transfer the recorded files (mainly my accordion lessons) in MP3 format onto my computer and then open them in Audacity and save them as AUDACITY files. You can then do amazing things with them like:-
delete all the rubbish you dont want
extract bits you do want eg a tune being demonstrated by the teacher
slow down the tune
sped it up
repeat all or sections as many times as you want
insert silence between repeats
and much much much more.
Help with Zoom H2
Help with Zoom H2
I'm a complete technophobe and can't get get this to simply playback a recording it seems you can only do this through an output device i e headphones,stereo, computer or ipod is this true? only got it yesterday
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by doire
Re: Help with Zoom H2
Yes. I run mine through a Bose Wave radio and it sounds great. It has no internal speaker.
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by Steve L
Re: Help with Zoom H2
They didn't want to waste money and space on a relatively useless loudspeaker, not when they're providing a pair of top-quality stereo mics, which, according to a tests I ran, can hear frequencies up to at least 50KHz.
A tip: if you're running on battery power be aware that using the 4-channel mode will run through the batteries like nobody's business, so use the mains adaptor on those occasions if you can. The mp3 modes are a lot easier on the batteries.
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Help with Zoom H2
You could use PC speakers plugged into its 1/8" stereo output. Maybe not HiFi but likely to be every bit as good as you need and pretty portable
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by greg sheils
Re: Help with Zoom H2
belkin makes a small, 1/8 plug stereo speaker that simply plugs in ...uses small batteries....good for on the go if you don't have portable computer speakers and overcomes the problem of no built in speaker...but plug in and/or self powered decent computer speakers are the best bet
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by skin&bow
Re: Help with Zoom H2
We use a Zoom H2 in the studio for demos,and we just take a line out to the mixer and listen to it through the speakers.
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by dafydd
Re: Help with Zoom H2
A related question: is recording in mp3 mode good enough just for practice/learning purposes? so far I've been recording in wav, then converting to mp3 in order to email - didn't think just to record as mp3s...
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by suesinger
Re: Help with Zoom H2
Of course mp3 is good enough for practice/learning. At most bit rates it's better than the cassette tapes that people have used for decades (and some still do). At the highest bit rates, you need good equipment and good ears to tell mp3 and wav apart.
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by GaryAMartin
Re: Help with Zoom H2
Sue, it depends on what level of mp3 you use. The standard kbps rate often used for sending mp3 music recordings over the internet is 128, which is ok for pop music and voice, but it's not so good that you can't clearly tell the difference between it and an original. This is due to the compression used that strips high frequencies (usually 16KHz and above) and generally does a bit more messing around, enough to affect the perceived quality on even half-decent playback. Go up to 160 and you've got a more acceptable quality. From 192 up the maximum of 320 most people would be very hard pushed to tell the difference from the original. At these higher kbps rates much more of the high frequency stuff is preserved. I'd go for 192kbps as your personal standard - it gives an optimum balance between file size and quality.
If you're recording for CD purposes you wouldn't be using mp3 - you'd be using the wav format at 1411kbps.
There is a lossless format (i.e. nothing whatsoever is lost on compression or decompression from wav) that is very useful for archiving wav recordings - you can expect the file size to be reduced to 33% to 66% of the original wav. It is called FLAC and all the associated software is free. Wav files convert to flac very quickly, and the original wav is retrieved even quicker. Flac files play quite happily on the VLC media player and on their native Foobar2000 player (also freeware). You can download FLAC from sourceforge.net.
# Posted on March 3rd 2009 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Help with Zoom H2
But if, as you say, all you want to use if for is to learn a tune, you could go as low as 64 kbps and do just fine.
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by GaryAMartin
Re: Help with Zoom H2
Yes, just rough recording to learn/practise/analyse a song/arrangement.
Cheers both.
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by suesinger
Re: Help with Zoom H2
I use the Zoom 2 in conjunction with a free software package called AUDACITY downloadable fromthe internet. I transfer the recorded files (mainly my accordion lessons) in MP3 format onto my computer and then open them in Audacity and save them as AUDACITY files. You can then do amazing things with them like:-
delete all the rubbish you dont want
extract bits you do want eg a tune being demonstrated by the teacher
slow down the tune
sped it up
repeat all or sections as many times as you want
insert silence between repeats
and much much much more.
# Posted on March 4th 2009 by Pat Duff