H1essential Stereo Handy Recorder (2024 Model, Essential Series) with 32-Bit Float, Accessibility, X/Y Microphones, USB Microphone, Portable, for Musicians, Podcasters, Filmmakers

The delivery was late; the product is good. One needs to buy wind shield (foam and/or dead cat), batteries, memory card and a decent box cover, also earphones, if one has to live check the feed; all of this adds to the cost, but you won’t regret it. This is the best recorder you can get at such price; with 32-bit float you don’t clip any audio, you always have that headroom to adjust. But that doesn’t mean you can stick it to a loud DJ speaker. The microphone captures sound from everywhere around, but dominates whatever is ahead of it, and closer the source, louder the sound of it. So, it’s good for almost everything - room tone, foley, ambience, instrument playing, news-like interview with microphone close to one’s mouth, etc. If one has to jump to professional side, like with dialogue for films, you can capture it as a back up sound, to studio record the dialogues again. If one cannot spend extra on good shotgun microphone, a field recorder, a boom pole, a man to hold that boom and move along the cast, one can use this same product to record the dialogues again in a room with lower noise pollution, for dialogues to be clearer; it just adds a degree of work hours to record and sync, but one can do it, if one has to start with what one has or what one can afford. Also the low reliability of wireless lavalier microphones make it difficult to spend on those; so, this works well as a temporary starting point. One can use the same for voice over/narration for documentaries or YouTube videos, with least worry. This recorder is like ‘add batteries, turn me on, set the date, hit record and you get the best result of all that sounds around’, as simple as that !!

Great little recorder. All my needs are met with just one equipment. Good value for money.

I recently purchased the Zoom H1essential sound recorder from Amazon.in, and I'm quite pleased with my purchase. As expected, Amazon delivered it on time, which is always a great start. At a price of ₹8,689, this portable and handy stereo sound recorder offers excellent value for money. The sound quality is impressive for this price point, and it perfectly serves my purpose. However, it's important to note that the package only includes the Zoom H1essential sound recorder. It does not come with any accessories such as wind screens, cables, or even the necessary AAA batteries, which you will need to purchase separately. For those interested, I've included a photo of the unboxed Zoom H1essential sound recorder alongside its packaging to give you a better idea of what to expect. Overall, I'm satisfied with this purchase and would recommend it to anyone looking for a budget-friendly, high-quality sound recorder.

Vocal quality very good

Though this was the first mic I purchased, I watched a lot of reviews online before buying it. But it performs really well. you do have to get a dead cat, if you want good motorcycling audio, but you're done. Just choose between stereo or mono and you're good to go. It's not studio level, obviously, but it performs much better than what I expected considering the price I paid. 10/10 woudl recommend this as a first mic.

Wow nice

The product comes bare essentials on how to use & tons of problems. Changed batteries twice because it switches off on its own. Their onion manual doesn’t help you with all the potential issues you will face & although my purchase has replacement option till 31st Jan, unable to do that because I get a message you cannot return it at the moment!! If I knew it has so many difficulties, I wouldn’t have bought it - in this day of ease of use directly out of the box, this is a bit of a dinosaur. I expect eventually it will be replaced by more user friendly product design. Very customer unfriendly product. If you have lot of time and patience, maybe you can try. My experience is rather disappointing.

Why did you pick this product vs others?: The product itself is good. But the Warranty is only valid in Japan and not in India. That should have been mentioned in the product details. So far, I have used it to capture a lot of house object sounds. There is some self-noise, but I usually clean it in post using Izotope RX 11. One of the biggest pluses is the 32-bit recording. I don't have to worry about getting too close to the mic while recording and distorting the sound. You don't wanna get too close, otherwise there will be plosives. If you play the recorded audio in your editing software/DAW, it will sound distorted since most audio playback devices are still 24-bit. But you can recover the dynamics of the audio file by just turning the gain down.

32bitフロート録音に惹かれて購入しましたが、その期待どおり “録音後の扱いやすさ” が圧倒的に快適です。サウンド編集ソフトでノーマライズや音量増幅を行っても音質劣化がほぼなく、割れやノイズを気にせず録れる安心感があります。録音レベル調整が不要なので、思いついた瞬間にRECを押すだけで確実に記録できるのは大きなメリットです。操作も非常にシンプルで、小型軽量なため取り回しも抜群。バッグの隅に入れて常に持ち歩けるサイズなのに、最大120dBの大音量にも対応し、演奏・ライブ・リハの記録にも十分使えます。USBマイクとしてPCやスマホに接続できるのも便利で、音声収録の幅が大きく広がりました。練習の振り返り、外での環境音収録、インタビューなど、どんな場面でも安定した音を残せる頼もしいレコーダーだと思います。初めてのハンディレコーダーにも、サブ機としても非常に満足度の高い一台です。 注意点は単４電池なところ。

As an avid field recordist and musician, I can confidently say that the Zoom H1 Essential Stereo Handy Recorder is an absolute game-changer. This compact and versatile device has become my go-to tool for capturing high-quality audio in any situation. Right out of the box, the H1 impresses with its sleek and durable design. The rubberized body not only provides a secure grip but also offers exceptional shock resistance, ensuring reliable performance even in challenging environments. The intuitive controls and clear display make operation a breeze, allowing me to focus on capturing the perfect take. What truly sets the H1 apart is its remarkable audio fidelity. The built-in stereo condenser microphones deliver crystal-clear recordings with an impressive frequency response and low noise floor. Whether I'm recording a live performance, interviews, or atmospheric ambiance, the H1 faithfully captures every nuance and detail, ensuring my recordings sound rich and true-to-life. One of the standout features of this recorder is its exceptional battery life. With just two AA batteries, I can easily record for hours on end without worry. This extended battery life has proven invaluable during extended field sessions or long recording sessions without access to power outlets. The included accessories, such as the handy windscreen and mounting clip, further enhance the H1's versatility. The windscreen effectively minimizes unwanted wind noise, while the mounting clip allows me to securely attach the recorder to a mic stand, camera rig, or any other compatible mount. But what truly sets the Zoom H1 Essential Stereo Handy Recorder apart is its remarkable value for money. For its price point, the audio quality, feature set, and build quality are simply unmatched. It's a testament to Zoom's commitment to providing professional-grade recording tools that are accessible to everyone, from seasoned professionals to budding enthusiasts. In conclusion, if you're in the market for a reliable and high-quality portable recorder, look no further than the Zoom H1 Essential Stereo Handy Recorder. Its combination of exceptional audio fidelity, versatility, and affordability make it an indispensable tool for anyone serious about capturing pristine audio recordings on the go.

Zoom H1 essential. Lo è per davvero, nel senso che nella scatola c'è solo lui e un po' di documenti: niente batterie, niente memoria, niente cavetto e alimentatore, niente paravento e altri accessori. L'aspetto è un po' giocattoloso, pesa come una piuma ed è piccolo. Ma quello che interessa è la qualità di registrazione e l'usabilità: in una parola perfetti. Con questo schiacci il tasto rec e non ti devi preoccupare di nulla, fa praticamente tutto lui. Il menù è chiaro, anche se il display è piccolino, i tasti rappresentano tutte le funzioni importanti, a portata di mano. Il trasferimento dei dati via cavo è veloce. Autonomia con 2 batterie alcaline da supermercato, notevole. Nota importante: non c'è il volume di registrazione, con i 32 bit non serve e non è previsto: se c'è bisogno di "amplificare" nel senso di aumentare i db, bisogna farlo via software. E la qualità non ne risente, grazie appunto ai 32 bit. Però è possibile regolare il volume della traccia, quando viene esportata. La qualità di registrazione è assai buona: non ho constatato particolare rumore di fondo registrato. Aggiornamento novembre 2025. È uscito il nuovo firmware 2.0 che aggiunge: la possibilità di fare MP3, il gain di registrazione che si regola con i tasti freccia (indispensabile per evitare il clipping dell'mp3, utile per alzare o abbassare i db senza l'eventuale post editing, con l'uso formato WAV e qualità non distruttiva dei 32 bit), una nuova funzione di riduzione del rumore, ma attivabile solo con WAV. In pratica, la perfezione.

I use this to record my band's live performances. Super easy, great quality sound, batteries last forever, handy tripod mount .... great unit. It is plastic so you need to be careful with it, but the function for the price can't be beat.

I purchased the Zoom H1e to record my electric guitar practice sessions. I’m using the binaural earbuds connected into the Zoom H1e to record under my Boss WAZA AIR headphones. No need to adjust recording levels. No more clipped audio. It’s light weight and sits in a pocket comfortably. It also attaches to my iPhone video cage. It is plastic and doesn’t feel like a quality product (compared to my heavy and solidly constructed Sony PCM D-50 recorder) but it is an entry level recorder. For what it is I’m very happy so far.