Using Zoom H2n for Ambience Recordings?

Q

qwerty123

Well-known member
I'm eyeing the H2n for use mainly as a way to build up my collection of stereo ambience tracks for my sound library for post work. Does anyone have experience with this? How's the quality?

Of course, I'm not expecting to miraculously be able to cleanly record quiet ambiences or get great clarity and depth.

Also, does anyone have experience with a wind-jammer for it? There's Rycote, which costs $60 and then B&H also sells the recorder with a k-tec muff (which looks a little less protectice?) for about $20 or so more.
 
Of course, I'm not expecting to miraculously be able to cleanly record quiet ambiences or get great clarity and depth.
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Forgive me asking, but what kind of ambience are you then looking to record? How loud? How close? What is your budget?

For louder things, the Zoom can be very quick to set up, is economical, and can give usable results. The internal mics are actually among the better for recorders at this price point, and I've used the original H2 for some time and was very happy with it for the price. Sometimes quick and decent is better then complicated but great, as you can always carry the zoom with you and get a lot of sounds quickly.

Another option is to get a stereo mic, or two smaller mics in a stereo setting, into a Sony M10 or DR100mkII. This is still compact, more flexible, can give better result, but possibly x3 in price.

I don't have any experience with a windjammer, but have heard that It's quite sensitive, so it's probably a must outdoors.
 
The Zoom should be fine. But, an intermediate step between the Zoom and something much more expensive would be to use more expensive external mikes. I actually just recorded a classical concert with a Zoom H1, with 3 external condensers going into a board, and then into the mini-in on the Zoom. No problem.

As to a windjammer, try GigWigs. This lady (I think she's a lady!) custom makes them for most of the small recorder models from various manufacturers, including Zoom. I have one for my H1 and for my shotgun, and she does a great job and they are inexpensive compared to what else is out there. If you have a foamie that came with your H2, you then would have lots of choices-- no screen, foam only, windsock only, or foam and windsock together. My H1 GigWig fits over the foam, and my shotgun GigWig fits over its foam cover, albeit it's a rather tight squeeze.

Anyway, here is a link:

http://stores.ebay.com/GIGWIG-WINDSCREENS

GJ
 
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The H2n and similar are well suited for FX collection. You should be fine. If you want to step it up later you can get a pair of mics and a portable preamp like the MixPre and go line in to the h4n and have a very nice small FX rig.
 
Yeah, I'm going to be using the dr-680 plus mixer/pre-amp for higher quality recording when it's appropriate. I want the h2n as a portable little guy that I can take with me wherever, and record in a relatively light, inconspicuous way.
 
I bought one just for that, and I was surprised by the quality of the build in mics - expected much less quality.
The mid-side and even 4 channel recording is an other plus.

Got me a dead kitten from Rode - works quite well.

Frank
 
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