Handy H2 Recorder Review and Tips

The Zoom H2 Handy Recorder is no doubt one of the most popular digital recorders on the market today. With a very nice price tag, easy to use interface, high-quality stereo microphones, SDHC slot, and the ZOOM name backing it all up it's no wonder that almost every musician I talk to these days ends up mentioning the Zoom H2 or H4. 

If your looking for in-depth product descriptions, just hop over to  the zoom website and you can get filled in on all that, basically it is up to par with every other recorder out there in the price range if not more so. I've compared it to the Tascam recorder portable DR-07 and to me this is the superior unit, hands down. It is easier to use, better sounding and seems far sturdier to me. The multi-directional microphones (one on each side) make recording a whole room far easier than anything else I've ever used and the ability to grab drums on one side (with remarkable bass capture!) and a screaming guitar on the other side make it worth it's weight in gold when you are recording practice sessions with the band. 

I used the unit mainly to capture band practices and some solo guitar arrangements but ended up upgrading to the Zoom h4n handy recorder for the solo stuff because frankly it does the best job for the money out there (save for *maybe* the Sony PCM D-50). But, the H2 is definitely the best tool I've used for capturing band practices and working out song ideas with one or more people. It also did an excellent job picking up live shows and even a symphony concert I was at.

What I would like to talk a little bit about though is the benefit of moving to different areas to record different parts of a tune. A friend of mine got me thinking about this when he recorded a video using his h2 handy recorder where he played his classical guitar in many different environments including his car, a concrete hallway and on the john! :) I've been experimenting a lot with this concept recently and although it's definitely not a new concept I think people have become too dependent on post-production editing to go after the tones and timbres they are looking for. I feel that the sound is much more organic if you can capture it in real-time and you avoid that over processed sound that seems to be in every cookie cutter rock song on the radio these days. 

Anyways, check out my friends video, he recorded this around his university campus and house and I think it's pretty cool! 

If you're interested in more information on Zoom products or digital recorders in general please check out  Portable Digital Recorders Site which has all kinds of reviews, great information on home recording and keeps an eye on the latest deals around the web for digital recorders. Cheers and happy recording!