The Zoom H2essential is a compact recorder that will cover a range of recording applications and features three integrated microphones as well as nine selectable modes including stereo, surround, and M/S recording. The device can thus be used flexibly for numerous recording situations, from recording solo artists and entire ensembles to two voice actors. The Zoom H2essential also functions as an audio interface for streaming applications and video conferencing, and thanks to its 32-bit float converter technology, no levelling is required, enabling fast and reliable recordings. These features make the Zoom H2essential a versatile all-rounder that can handle practically any recording scenario.
The buttons on the Zoom H2essential's user interface allow the selection of microphones and the modes that should be used for recording, and the H2essential provides two microphones with a cardioid polar pattern - one facing backwards and one facing frontwards - as well as a bidirectional microphone on the lateral axis. In addition to a stereo width of 90° and 120°, a hyper cardioid can be selected to enable mono recording. The front panel also offers access to a mixer for adjusting the level of the individual microphone signals. A transport section enables navigation during playback, which is visualised via a waveform display, and the user can also plug in headphones to monitor the recordings. In addition to the three microphones, recordings can also be captured via the 3.5mm jack input.
The Zoom H2essential offers a perfect solution for all musicians and content creators who want to record audio quickly and flexibly. The user-friendly interface allows the optimum settings for successful recordings to be easily selected, and thanks to the 32-bit float technology, there is no need for precise levelling, meaning that recordings can be created quickly and reliably – which is particularly useful when conducting spontaneous interviews. Optional SDXC cards with a capacity of up to 1TB are supported as storage media, allowing numerous recordings to be made over several days without having to change the memory card. The Zoom H1 XLR also comes with an aid for blind and visually impaired users: When the user navigates the menu, acoustic instructions are provided via the integrated loudspeaker or the headphone output.
Founded in 1983, the Japanese company Zoom manufactures a variety of audio equipment, including a range of portable "handy" recorders as well as multi-effects processors, effects pedals, drum machines, and samplers. Over the past thirty years, the company has built a reputation for producing innovative yet affordable products based on original microchip designs. Since the Zoom-9002 (an ultra-compact multi-effects processor that can be attached to a guitar strap) was introduced in 1990, Zoom has become one of the leaders in digital audio processing.
In order to keep recordings organised, markers for reference points can be set during the recording process using a correspondingly labelled button below the display. This makes it easy to locate specific passages afterwards, and it is also feasible to quickly check recordings via the internal speakers. The LO CUT button can be used to activate a low-cut filter for removing unwanted bass noise from the recording, in addition to which the 32-bit float technology facilitates the adjustment of the volume after the recording, so that fine-tuning prior to recording is no longer required. The power supply can also be handled flexibly – either by means of two AA batteries or by connecting an optionally available power bank to the USB-C port.