Zoom H5 Handy Recorder

Recording four tracks at once, the Zoom H5 handy recorder pairs two XLR/TRS combo inputs with the XYH-5 X/Y mic capsule, which handles up to 140 dB SPL.

The XYH-5’s unidirectional mics sit in a shock mount, and the mount and the H5’s rubberized housing keep handling noise down. The capsule also has a 3.5 mm mic/line input, and it swaps for Zoom’s other capsules for the H5, such as the MSH-6 mid-side, SGH-6 shotgun, SSH-6 stereo shotgun, and EXH-6 dual XLR/TRS capsules.

Each combo input takes mic or line level, with its own gain knob, selectable phantom power, and a -20 dB pad. A line out with its own volume control feeds a camera while the separate headphone output monitors, and compression, limiting, and a low-cut filter keep levels and rumble under control.

Pre-Record saves two seconds of audio before recording starts, Auto-Record starts and stops at set levels, and Backup-Record writes a second pair of L/R tracks 12 dB lower (44.1 kHz and 48 kHz WAV only). The H5 records WAV at up to 24-bit/96 kHz or MP3 to SD and SDHC cards up to 32 GB and runs about 10 hours on two AA batteries. It also works as a USB audio interface for a computer, or for an iPad in stereo mode.

Features

• XYH-5 X/Y mic capsule in a shock mount, 140 dB SPL maximum
• Two XLR/TRS combo mic/line inputs
• Gain knob, phantom power, and -20 dB pad on each input
• Takes Zoom’s interchangeable mic capsules
• Four tracks at once, plus Backup-Record
• Pre-Record and Auto-Record
• Line out with volume control and a separate headphone output
• WAV at up to 24-bit/96 kHz or MP3, to SD and SDHC cards up to 32 GB
• USB audio interface
• About 10 hours on two AA batteries