The Zoom H2 Handy Recorder is a handheld digital sound-recording device to be used in music studios and similar applications. Its many features and advanced recording capabilities as well as multiple microphones within the unit make it ideal for capturing multiple instruments and sounds at once in a variety of environments.
Choose the Best Format
Because it's a digital recorder, the Zoom H2 can capture audio directly to a multitude of file formats. This is handy later when you import those files to a computer or other editing system to further manipulate. To get the best recording for your needs at the time and to minimize the amount of editing and re-recording you may have to do, start by choosing the proper recording format. If you plan to do any sort of editing and tweaking to the recording, especially mastering for use on a CD or other distribution, your best bet is to record to the WAV format. In terms of the H2's compatible recording formats this is the highest quality and most accessible for high-quality editing and distribution. If you're simply recording some practice sessions for personal listening and not to master to CD and something similar, you can opt for the more standard MP3 format.
Adjust Gain and Volume
Gain is a built-in setting that can be used to add to the recording in certain situations. Improper gain settings can lead to distorted sounds, as the louder parts get clipped off and create unusable noise in the recording. Try to keep the gain set at medium or below. The gain is essentially an artificial amplification to the microphone, which can come in handy at times but often is unnecessary, as anything above a medium setting will produce an unnatural sound instead of the clean recording you're looking for. If you plan on using multiple instruments or are trying to record in any situation louder than a standard single-instrument setting you'll almost certainly want to set the gain to low.
Fine-Tune the Volume
Even with a properly set gain, you need to fine-tune the volume as well. Use the on-screen audio-level meters as you adjust the recording volume, making some sample sounds as you do to simulate what you'll be recording. This will help you set the volume as close to what you'll need as possible without actually recording. You want the volume meters to peak around the +12 dB level mark but no higher, otherwise the audio will clip out and you'll get distorted sound.
Record in 4 Channels
The Zoom H2 supports recording in two- and four-channel formats. Because of the unit's ability to take a four-channel recording and mix it down into a two-channel stereo format directly on the H2 itself, there's no reason not to record in four channels. Even though you'll most likely be interested in mixing down to a two-channel recording in the end for use in standard stereo playback, four-channel recording initially gives you more control in how you adjust various levels within the recording before mixing down.
