Zoom h2

[wiremando]

I finally got my "Zoom H2" yesterday, and have had the chance to play with it a little. Broughht it up to work last night, just to get a feel of how it would pick up sounds in our large console. I was really impressed, but I am a layman to the recording bit. Still, in the 4 channel surround mode, it recorded voices well and in "perspective" (Voices to the left sounded as such, etc...). It picked up EVERYTHING!!! The hum of the computers' fanss 20' away, and even myself flipping through the pages of the manual were recorded. (Playing with the adjustable gain alleviated most unwanted sounds on the recording though.

I had a few minutes to play with it, this afternoon, as well. I recorded my mando practice session at home, and I can tell this is going to be a GREAT tool!!! I can hear things in my playing, while playing back the recording, that I never noticed while actually playing. I guess because I am just listening, rather than focusing on keeping time, hitting the intended notes, pick direction, etc.

Anyway, I really like the thing.

Just a couple of issues with it, maybe you all can help me with. First there is NO speaker. Not even a little one for the metronome. I have to put in the wired earbuds to hear it, which of course is like being on a short leash.

Second, the metronome only works while recording, or while playing back something previously recorded, or both. I can't just turn on the metronome and play along. I admit it is nice being able to record with the sound of the metronome, helping me keep time, then having the sound of the metronome removed from the recording playback, but having to be in record mode is a pain in the arss, as I haven't figured out how to delete just portions from it yet, only how to reformat the SD card completely, which erases everything. Hopefully, I will be able to figure out how to selectively delete files/folders from it in the near future, and this won't be an issue.

As far as the speaker bit goes, does anyone hear know of a handheld speaker that might easily fit into my mando case, to go along with the H2, or possibly some sort of bluetooth device that would plug into either the line out or USB, that would allow me to have a wireless headset on??

Anyway, this is my initial "take" on the H2. I am sure I will find many ways of using it to help improve my playing as I get to know it better.

In the mean time, if anyone has any work-arounds, for my problems with it, let me know would ya.

Thanks!!

[midmando]

I picked up a small speaker for my daughter's ipod at Toys R Us of all places. #Not great quality, but it works - I've used it a couple times with the H2 just so I wouldn't have to be "plugged in." cost about 20 bucks.

[BluegrassWarehouse]

You can type in "pillow speaker" at amazon.com and several different styles will pop up. The smaller ones should work ok.

Lance

[fatt-dad]

radio shack has two passive speakers that may just work. I have the Zoom H2, but don't care about having the speaker.

f-d

[Walter Newton]

I'd just get a seperate metronome for practice rather than messing with the recorder - loud, easy to use digital models are readily available for under $20.

[kestrel]

"I haven't figured out how to delete just portions from it yet, only how to reformat the SD card completely, which erases everything. Hopefully, I will be able to figure out how to selectively delete files/folders from it in the near future, and this won't be an issue."

From the main screen, push the menu button. This gives you the main menu. Use the Use the button to the right of the red button, to scroll down to FILE. Push the red button (When you're in the MENU, this becomes the same as the SELECT, or ENTER button.) You will see all your files/tracks. Scroll to the one you want to delete, and push the red (SELECT) button. You get another menu. Scroll down to DELETE (The screen advances past DIVIDE.) and push the red button again. You'll now have a choice: YES/NO. Scroll to YES, hit the red button, and voila!, you've deleted only that file. Now push the MENU button however many times it takes to get you back to the main menu, and you're in business.

Hope this helps.

Gene

[fatt-dad]

plug the zoom into the usb port and then use windows explorer to delete any file you want. It shows up as another drive on the explorer and you can delete, copy, drop and drag, etc.

f-d

[steve V. johnson]

There's an article on the H2 and other recorders in the new EQ magazine. #I've posted some more info about the article


Here (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=8;t=50313)

... in the equipment forum.

stv