Zoom H1 vs Zoom H4N (Which one?)

K

killjon

Member
I am sorry if this has been addressed already, but I have been looking around for the past 2 days about the Zoom H1. I am in need of an external recording system for my 7D due to the fact of the AGC on the camera.
I'm a one man crew and I plan on just using the on-board mic without any assistance of a designated sound man. So i'm deciding on whether or not I should purchase the Zoom H1 or the Zoom H4N for only the on-board mic.
From the videos that are posted so far of the Zoom H1 and Zoom H4N, it seems the H4N is a winner when it comes down to audio quality. Also from what I hear, the Zoom H4N has better mic capsules, is this true?
I know for the long run I would need the Zoom H4N for the xlr inputs, but that isn't for a while later for me and if that time ever comes I can sell the Zoom H1 and later upgrade, or just rent the equipment if needed...
Anyways, I just need to know which is better when it comes down to audio quality for interviews and dialogue. I plan on using only the on-board mic, or plug in my Rode VM.

So please tell me what is the better option, and also if there is another device that can beat this two products.. please give me a suggestion. I would greatly appreciate it!
 
I think the H4n is the better value, although it cost three times as much.

H4n has more features, better sound quality, 4CH recording and menu. H1 is pretty bare bones and you will need to spend extra for shock mount and windscreen as these are essential for the H1.

I have an H4n and two H1s, and if I were to buy again, I'd probably just get another H4n.

The only things the H1 has going for it are its lightweight and small size, but that's it.
 
Have you considered a H2? I would personally go for the H4n, as that way you won't have the hassle of upgrading later on. If you have the cash and are planning on getting one later, I don't see why you should have to do without the better recorder.
 
Ah, I see. So it's true that the H4N has better quality.
I thought about the H2 as well, but from what I read it says that the Zoom H1 has the same mics as the Zoom H2 so I was just assuming that audio quality would be pretty similar.. but I am not sure about that.
 
Just throwing it out here, the newest Zoom addition is the R24, 24 tracks, Phantom power, a bunch of XLR ins, and built-in stereo mics. For my last shoot I had three lavaliers and a boom and was using an H4N (which is a great device IMO), but I had to use a separate mixer for the additional signals, not ideal since all the lavs were going into one channel. I just picked up the R24 and am excited to see how it performs on a shoot. Plus it runs on batteries if you want. I also do music so for someone like me it serves multiple purposes. It's super light and portable also.

-Dave
 
Get the H4n.

If you don't want to shell out that much cash, Tascam DR-07 is 99 bucks on amazon. I posted a vid in the gh13 footage section using audio from the tascam. NO xlr inputs though.
 
dcorwin said:
Just throwing it out here, the newest Zoom addition is the R24, 24 tracks, Phantom power, a bunch of XLR ins, and built-in stereo mics. For my last shoot I had three lavaliers and a boom and was using an H4N (which is a great device IMO), but I had to use a separate mixer for the additional signals, not ideal since all the lavs were going into one channel. I just picked up the R24 and am excited to see how it performs on a shoot. Plus it runs on batteries if you want. I also do music so for someone like me it serves multiple purposes. It's super light and portable also.

-Dave
Click to expand...

Wow... This is hands down the winner for me. 8 tracks of isolated audio @ once. Im stunned that it runs on batteries too. Its almost a sound guys dream. Just missing timecode gen/lock. Thanks for the tip. I think i am getting R24 & H1 as backup.
 
The H1 is great for a lightweight run-n-gun solution. The onboard mics are decent and it records clean tracks - even in very quiet environments.

As far the H4n, I'd say to look at the Tascam DR100 too. They're about the same price and you get:

Two OUTPUTs

Line OUT
Heaphone Out

On the H4n and H1 they use 1 port for both. Why is this important? Well, if you want to have a guide track for PluralEyes or for you to visually sync to in post, you'll want a clean audio track. We use the DVcreator Line to Mic cable to take the LINE out of the recorder down -50dB and into the Mic Input of the camera.

With the DR100 you also get a real knob that you can turn to adjust levels - you can control Channel 1 and Channel 2 separately - smoothly, instead of clicking a button to go up and down.

Built-in lithium ion battery, plus AA battery use on the DR100. And you get better limiters on the DR100. I think it's a no brainer to go Tascam, unless you really like the X/Y pattern of the on-board H4n mics and the lighter weight. They're both good units though, you'll be happy with either.
 
I just got my Zoom H1 and I am regretting it a little bit. I have it paired with an older beachtec xlr adapter i already had but i still lack phantom. I think in the end i will use it more for rigging a lav to and turning it into a wireless setup and getting the tascam later to run two mics into.
 
With a bit of searching you might be able to get a used H4 in good working order.
It will take line in XLR from an external preamp. H4n will not
 
Well, I'm looking for a comparison strictly on the ON BOARD mic sounds between the Zoom H1 and H4N.
I haven't seen one convincing video test of the Zoom H1 beating the H4N in sound quality... would any of the Zoom H4N + Zoom H1 users mind creating a comparison vid?
 
They both sound pretty good. If the H4n is 100, the H1 is about 92.

The H1 is a little hollower and tinny, but not disgustingly so. That said, it is still quite deep and rich, especially for the price and the capability to record 48Khz/24-bit audio! I think you don't see a lot of audio comparisons is because for a price of $99, you can buy and test yourself. The quality difference between the two isn't so massive that you'll regret the $99 purchase.

Anyway, I'm speaking as the owner of two H1s and a H4n.
 
... said:
They both sound pretty good. If the H4n is 100, the H1 is about 92.

The H1 is a little hollower and tinny, but not disgustingly so. That said, it is still quite deep and rich, especially for the price and the capability to record 48Khz/24-bit audio! I think you don't see a lot of audio comparisons is because for a price of $99, you can buy and test yourself. The quality difference between the two isn't so massive that you'll regret the $99 purchase.

Anyway, I'm speaking as the owner of two H1s and a H4n.
Click to expand...

I would second that. I am no audiophile, but I can't seem to hear much difference between the H1 and H4N with a rode videoMIC (or lavalier) (I won't be using H4N/H1 mics so I don't care about that)

http://www.danmccomb.com/posts/633/zoom-h1-sound-test-vs-h4n-recorder/

won't the extra $200 better spent on a lens or better lavalier
 
The h1 is pretty bad imhp. The H4n is strange.. you can get lucky or unlucky depending on what batch of preamps they purchased at the factory that day. I have had 2 really bad sounding ones and one good one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top