Zoom H2n

If you need ample possibilities, spacial sound and ease of use - this thing is unbeatable. At 96kHz / 24 bits it sounds crisp and clear, relatively low noise, and gives a great sense of space. It doesn't provide the strongest, or widest stereo effect (though You can play around with the settings and effectively widen the soundstage both while recording or in post) but it does give a realistic sense of 3 dimensional space. Perfect for cityscapes, parking lots, noisy clanky environments, afterwards when you listen back to the recordings, it really feels as if you're transported back to that space, the simpler, stereo 2 channel handhelds don't qite deliver the same effect. It also does well in nature, though you will need a windscreen, as without it it's going to be unusable, unless there is nearly zero wind. Out of all modes, at this point I like the 2 channel surround the best, as you can adjust the stereo imaging, and it's a bit less cumbersome than having multiple files and a slightly odd format in the end. Tried recording guitar and drums with it as well, works great, though it really shone with wind instruments, namely alto sax. Also has an extremely handy limiter and compressor built in. I only wish you could manually adjust the compression and limiter levels, as there are only three options on each one, but the options at hand are good enough, especially the limiter. Oh and there's a low cut as well, very handy. Overall, very happy with this, stellar quality for the price, loads of options, do recommend.

Brought to record from mixer and occasionally use as audio interface.
As for using with "rec out" everything works fine, just have to adjust levels on my zoom h2n. Unpleasant surprise was that it splits files to 1 hour duration so you have to concat them manually after recording. Lucky splits are made with no gap so it's not a big problem.
Audio interface. Have not tested it yet because MINI USB out and no wire in package. Seriously mini b usb! I lost last cable of this type in 2007.
As for sound quality it's perfect for my unprofessional ear.
Speaking about materials knobs and handling it'a also a bit disappointing. You buy a professional device but in low price category but get something that left much to be desired even for domestic equipment standards.

This is a versatile little device with good sound quality given its price. I bought it to record band practices, but I've actually found a ton of other uses for it, using it to record gigs, as a field recorder, and even to record a drum kit for demo tracks.

Build quality is decent. It's all plastic apart from the grill, but it's acceptable. The important controls are available as buttons or dials, so it's very easy to use. Lights on the top indicate when its clipping, so you don't have to be constantly looking at the screen.

There is the option of Mid-Side(MS) on one side or XY on the other. MS lets you set the stereo width while recording, or even better, set it to RAW mode and fine tune the width later on your computer using a MS VST plugin. You can also choose 4-channel mode which records both MS and XY simultaneously to two separate stereo tracks (albeit with a shared preamp gain). When recording band practice I set it to 4-ch mode and place it in the middle of the room. Then when I get home I can balance the four channels on my computer.

There's a line in (it takes the place of the XY mics), you can monitor the recording with headphones, there are some basic compressor/limiter/filters, it has a tripod mount - the list goes on. This thing is amazingly good value.

The only downsides I've found are that it could do with an input pad as it's too sensitive for loud environments; I'd prefer the record light on the top; and the internal clock is poor, so you may have to spend a bit of time stretching and syncing if you are using it to record audio for a video or to be used in a multitrack mix with other audio.

The plastic case is a little cheap feeling, but that's literally the only complaint. The Mid / Side and X / Y sound quality is genuinely amazing. I read reviews saying how good this unit was, but after taking delivery it really is hard to overstate just how impressive the sound reproduction is. The capsules are obviously very good quality, and with so many possible configurations, including the astonishing spatial settings, I have to wonder how on earth they've managed to squeeze so much in. One minor gripe would be the accessories kit costing so much extra for what could've very easily been included; with the USB cable, carry-case and pop-shield being the only things which are noticeable by their absence. Other than that this is both a must-have gadget for the budding field-recordist, and a really useful songwriting and rehearsal room recorder for bands and solo artists alike. But it's the ability to use it as an audio input and output device via USB which really makes this a serious contender for 'the only mic you'll need award' among Podcasters and YouTubers, looking for a detailed professional stereo sound indoors and outside. Simply put, get one. You'll love it.

The Zoom H2N is packed with features, compact, well built and has great battery life.

2 AA batteries powers this 4 condenser mic portable field microphone. Small enough to fit in a big pocket or with personal belongings in a bag, it ships with USB and zip up carry case. The 4 different mic settings are easily selected with a dial at the top, a flashing light indicates if the signal is clipping. Dynamics such as limiting and compression and high pass filters can be easily applied if the gain, controlled by a dial on the side, is not enough. A wide range of resolution recordings can be selected via the menus which are not immediately intuitive to navigate however with a little reading all becomes clear.

Getting started straight out of the box is simple with an on switch on the side and a big red record button and red light indicating record is selected. Again, the menu is not immediately intuitive when wanting to navigate the dynamics and similarly i needed to read the manual to access the folder menu and playback functions however the plug and play (it can be used as a session mic as well) option and USB folder menu make this device great value for money and extremely versatile.

I use the Zoom for 2 purposes:

- recording guitar and bass at home directly from my amp
- recording our band

Warning: I did not have any experience concerning recording music before, so this review might be helpful for you if you are a beginner too and are looking for equipment with easy and beginner friendly handling. I am someone who does not like too Play around with technical devices and many Options, I just want the thing to work and to record my stuff in the most convenient way.

Home recording works really good. Recording guitar seems to be easier than recording bass. Perfect for saving your song ideas for later. Sounds great and works much better for me than recording with a PC. Turn on your amp, press recording button, play your riffs, that's how I like it!

Band recordings sound very good as well, especially at lower volumes. Had some problems recording a very loud and muddy sounding stoner band, no problems at all recording a rock/pop cover band playing at lower volumes. I had some problems with muddy recordings, but i think that was because the band sound was quite muddy too. Hi Hat tends too be too loud, but we still need to experience with the perfect recording Position. Sound quality of bass guitar and bass drum could be better, but both are audible. Overall perfect for holding on to your song ideas, but of course not good enough for professional recordings.

Handling: Deleting data directly from the H2n can be annoying, because you have to open some menues. Some sort of erase button would be good. I did not use a lot of the functions like bass cut/boost etc., I just used Stereo and Surround and the Gain buttun to regulate the Signal strength. So the H2n has a lot of functions, but if you don't want to use them you don't have to and get a good Sound anyway. Some buttons seem to be a bit shaky, but no problems up to now. Recommended!

I buy this to mainly do real world sampling and field recordings. I used to record on an iPhone 6s and its noise level is high, it also clips. This recorder is totally different. Sounds are more crispier, the pre-amp is clean. Most importantly, my favorite part of this recorder is its 4 types of recording. I recently just went to a concert and I recorded live with 4 channels' mics, and it sounds really like real life. Comparing this recorder to the H4n Pro, I love its small form-factor, its portability and its available mic options. For the price, I don't see anywhere else on the market that offers portable recorder with such compact and thoughtful specs.

On the down side, its build quality does not feel sturdy enough. The bottom part of mic is made out of plastic. Buttons and dials are plastic too. Guess this is the divining line of Pro products and Consumer products. It would be perfect if they offer metal build on the whole thing.

Another thing, during recording, one cannot switch the mic type seamlessly. Doing so will automatically stop the recording.

All in all, I would recommend the H2n to anyone trying to get into recording. It has great function at a great price.