Zoom H5 Reviews

Fantastic H5

I am working with this in the last 4 years. Its a work of art!

Great recorder with implemented audio bug...

Let's get straight to the point Plus: The sound is great if you use it for field recordings. There are lots of internal settings including a metronome, markers The software part of the product seems really solid, lot's of settings to choose from. Cons: The phantom power with the batteries just doesn't work on my device, it just restarts. I don't know if I had faulty one but beware. There is a strange wobble sound when you try to use it as an audio interface, you can hear it when plucking the first string on guitar. Some of the Zoom guys got back to me and said that it's actually true, it's on all H5 devices, so beware of that too. Here is the message: "We can confirm that this is a limitation of the H5 while using it as an audio interface. When using the H5 as an Audio Interface, the audio quality is not as good as standalone. Specifically, there is a "warble" which can be noticeable. You should not experience this when recording to the SD card" The SD card sounds fine, so if you're using it for that I guess that's ok.

Liked the looks, controls, but grew out of it like it was H1n due to middling quality built in

Liked the looks, controls, feeling when handling, but grew out of rather quick as if it was H1n due to middling quality built in microphones which arent plenty sensitive for a good and quietish recording sources and not so quiet pre-amps. Plastic display is made out of very soft plastic, scratched it with my fingernail during unboxing and this is coming from a guy who babies his gadgets. Id recommend either cheaper H1n for a beginner since its much cheaper and youd have less expectations plus due to its price and size one could keep it as backup recorder once you grow out of it OR simply buy more expensive recorder with better mics and better preamps in the first place and skip H5 altogether.

Excellent quality, very reliable

Have enjoyed using my H5 for a couple of years now. Has never let me down. Slightly marked down for handling just as I find it a bit finnicky sometimes using the dials/navigating the digital menu. But overall, top quality product delivering superior quality audio.

professionality in pocket size

i use the Zoom H5 mainly to record and evaluate practice sessions in multitrack mode : L+R for ambient sound +1 for the instrument through an Audix Fireball-V. works great on a Rycote mount on a mike stand and the remote control pad from the optional accessories set.

Awesome for loud bands

I use this thing with my stoner/psych metal band. We're still experimenting how to get the best quality but honestly it sounds awesome as-is. Very life-like ADC and DAC. The mics' low-end could be just a bit better though, but easily fixed in editing.

The capsules can handle a lot of loudness, the interface is intuitive, love this thing. I had it clip on me once on a drum peak but you honestly can't even really tell. The XLR inputs on bottom do not lock, so can be a little loose depending on the cable.

Right now we are experimenting to get full recordings with this up to release quality and it has the potential. We are drums, guitar, bass.

Getting the low-end centered using the bass DI and just mixing it in until it sounds center. I'm thinking of also using a kick mic to fill it out. The cymbals sound really good and the 4x12 guitar cab very direct. The room itself is not ideal for recording but surprisingly good. I've recorded in much worse spaces for student projects.

If you really want you can even apply effects on this thing and edit on the go. Seems like the ultimate all-rounder but not seeing a lot of reports for band recording.

It records with really good quality. Really versatile sound editing features. The surface "peels" over time in a strange way, which is surprising. Only wired remote control available. I would be very happy for wireless remote control.

Great handyrecorder for begginers

I've been recording with my H5 for almost a year and to this day I consider it as a great investment in my craft. I use it for field recordings and even music paired with other mics can be very powerful. The 2 inputs are amazing as you can in the future upgrade to better mics or use other cool equipment like hydrophones and electromagnetic recorders.

A great Portable Audio Recorder for the PRICE

The Zoom H5 is a versatile and reliable portable digital recorder that is well deserving of recognition for its outstanding features and capabilities. I have had the pleasure of using this device for a number of different projects and I have always been impressed by its performance.

One of the things I appreciate most about the Zoom H5 is its interchangeable microphone system. The device comes with a XYH-5 X/Y microphone capsule, but it also allows you to use other capsules, such as the MSH-5 mid-side microphone capsule. This feature provides a lot of flexibility for capturing different types of sound sources and allows for a more dynamic and nuanced recording.

Another aspect that I love about the Zoom H5 is its compact and portable design. The device is small enough to fit in a pocket, making it easy to take with you on the go. This is great for field recording and live events, as it allows you to have a high-quality recording device with you at all times.

The Zoom H5 also comes with a wide range of features that can help you enhance your recording. The device has a built-in speaker and a headphone output, which makes it easy to listen to your recordings.

In terms of sound quality, the Zoom H5 does not disappoint. The device features 24-bit/96kHz audio resolution, which delivers a high level of audio quality and precision. The interchangeable microphone system also allows for a lot of flexibility in terms of capturing different types of sound sources.

Overall, the Zoom H5 is an outstanding portable digital recorder that stands out in the market for its great balance between flexibility, portability and features. If you're looking for a digital recorder that can help you take your recordings to the next level, I highly recommend the Zoom H5.

Very good digital recorder

It's a great way to get started in recording and it has the qualities and features one would expect for its price. It's not top quality in audio and structure quality but it is very sturdy and versatile

Faultless

A brilliant recorder with some great features. Lightweight and reliable. A constant part of my small videography kit.

Only up to 48kHz with ASIO

Although this little recorder is a dream come true as it is so much more than a tiny recorder, I'm afraid I would like to see a version 2 of it that can handle 96kHz with ASIO drivers. Although it can playback and record 96kHz as standalone, when you use it as an audio interface it will only go up to 48kHz.

Gute Wahl

Das Gerät schafft es einfach alle suditiven Momente einzufangen.

Delivers Big Time!

Excellent piece of kit that I use with my Rode Procaster. The built-in mic is surprisingly effective also. Does exactly what I need for podcasting, field recording and connecting an XLR mic. Highly recommend.

Absolute disaster not received item

I have been waiting for days and not received item, so far refund has been asked for and not completed. Do not waste your time and money on these people. Worst service ever, DHL are equally bad

Couldn't be more satisfied.

I bought it to record acoustic guitar, became my audio interface when away or DAWless, field, podcast (especially my wife started her poscast with it) and voice recorder. It even spoiled me to the level i talk to my friends through it.

Solid recorder for hobbyist and professional

the recorder is great on studios and recordings. the sound is very clear and is reproducing the sound very accurately. Also, its not very widely advertised, but this recorder is also working as an audio interface on pcs and macs. so that was a bit of a surprise to me (in a good way!)

Great field recorder

For a hobbyist like me, it's a great field recorder. I use it within a backpack to record my motorcycle and the XY capsule does a good job.

I've also successfully used it with a Sennheiser E906 to record guitar amplifiers.

Great battery life even using 48V with 2x AA Ni-mH batteries (in my case, rechargeable Eneloops).

It's feature packed, but the features aren't that useful in my opinion. The compressor, limiter and low cut-off are near useless, even more-so if you intend to do some basic post-production.

Handy recorder for interviews and field recording

I'm not a professional sound recordist or musician. I use my audio recorders for conducting interviews and stereo field recordings of soundscapes.

I can compare to my other recorders. I own a Sony PCM-D100 which is better built and much quieter and more sensitive but it costs more than twice as much. The zoom H5 has the advantage of varied microphone options and two xlr inputs.

In terms of build quality the recorder is good, not as good as the sony, but it also doesn't pick up as much handling noise.

Great features- interchangeable microphones, multiple inputs.

In terms of noise floor- it definitely has some hiss at higher gain settings. I will use it primarily for interviews and location recordings and have found that a conservative use of the noise filter in my DAW will sort out most of the problems.

I already have one of the Zoom F1 recorders and several of the mics, so this fits perfectly in the ecosystem and gives me lots of options.

Overall for the price and features it's great

Used for vox pops and off-site interviews for a small radio station.

Excellent sound quality, all of our staff love using it. Easy to extract audio to a PC for post-production work.