Zoom H5 Portable Digital Recorder

Main Features

• Interchangeable input capsules provide recording flexibility
• Integrated shockmount for reduced handling noise
• 2 mic/line inputs with XLR/TRS combo connectors for connecting studio mics
• Analog-style gain controls for easy adjustment of levels
• Auto-record, Pre-record and Backup-record functions mean that you'll never miss that perfect take
• Loop Back operation for combining live audio input with computer playback
• Large backlit LCD display lets you easily monitor your levels

The Zoom H5 Portable Recorder lets you create professional 24-bit/96kHz recordings anywhere your creativity takes you and provides four tracks of simultaneous recording.


The H5 provides four tracks of simultaneous recording and, like the flagship H6, it can use all Zoom interchangeable input capsules, allowing you to choose the best microphone for every recording situation. The flexible and powerful H5 provides everything you need to create multitrack recordings, audio for video, and state-of-the-art podcasting, broadcasting and electronic news gathering.

X/Y recording allows you to cover a wide area yet still capture sound sources in the centre with clarity and definition, making it ideal for all types of live stereo recording. The XYH-5 X/Y microphone capsule included with the H5 provides two matched unidirectional condenser microphones set at a 90 degree angle. These are housed within an advanced shock mount that employs rugged external mic wires and rubberised material to isolate the unit from the H5 body and thus minimise vibration and handling noise. The design of the XYH-5 also allows the H5 to handle louder sounds than any other Handy Recorder model: 140 dB SPL, to be precise—equivalent to the sound of a jet aircraft from less than 200 feet away - enabling you to capture sounds louder, closer, and cleaner than you ever could before.

Interchangeable capsules that can be swapped out as easily as the lenses of a camera. The H5's modular design means that you can always use the best microphone for every recording environment.

'Mid-Side' recording is a whole new level of precision in your ability to shape sound. The MSH-6 Capsule contains dual mic elements - a forward-facing, unidirectional mic (the 'Mid') and a side-facing, bi-directional mic (the 'Side'). Together with the H5's onboard MS decoder, they capture a fully mono-compatible stereo image that can actually be adjusted after recording – ideal for film, video, and television projects.

The optional SGH-6 Shotgun Capsule adds a professional-quality, highly directional microphone to the H6, creating an ideal audio setup for film, video, live theatre, and ENG (electronic news gathering) applications. Three elements combined with digital signal processing inside the SGH-6 give you the highly directional pickup power of a conventional shotgun mic in a unit only half the size – ideal for recording dialogue and narration with no intrusive mic in the scene.

Plugging in the optional EXH-6 Dual XLR/TRS Combo Capsule gives you two more inputs. This allows you to connect up to four discrete signals from external microphones, instruments, mixers, or portable music players to fully realise your audio vision. It's all the power of a professional recording studio, right in the palm of your hand.

The XYH-6 capsule adds two matched high-quality unidirectional microphones to your H6 or H5. This kind of microphone is most sensitive to signal coming from directly in front, and less sensitive to signal coming from behind or from the sides - in technical terms, they are said to utilise a cardioid polar pattern. These mics have the largest diaphragm size (0.579-inch = 14.6mm) of any ever available on a portable recorder.

In addition to standard transport controls (stop, play/pause, record, rewind and fast-forward), the front panel of the H5 offers dedicated record arming buttons for each track, which double as mute switches during playback. A Hold switch disables all front panel buttons to prevent accidental operation during recording. The H5 can be attached to a camera strap or, with the use of our optional Hot Shoe mount, mounted directly to a DSLR or camcorder.

The H5 also provides everything you need to connect with the outside world. Dual combo XLR/TRS inputs that can handle both mic- and line-level signals allow you to connect external microphones and line-level devices like mixers, portable music players, effects processors and electronic keyboards—even electric guitars or basses equipped with active electronics. Each H5 input has its own dedicated gain control knob, located beneath a protective bar that prevents accidental movement during handling. The supplied XYH-5 X/Y capsule also provides a secondary input for connecting stereo mic- or line-level signal via a 1/8-inch mini phone jack. The H5 supports a +4 dB (professional) input level and utilises the same high-quality preamps as our flagship H6, ensuring great-sounding recordings in all sonic environments.

There are lots of output options as well. A dedicated Line Out with adjustable volume allows you to send a stereo audio output from the H5 to the mic input of a video camera or other device without the need for an attenuator cable. In addition, there's a separate headphone output with a dedicated volume control. You can use both outputs simultaneously to route audio to your DSLR while monitoring over headphones. There's also a built-in speaker for fast access playback, and a USB port which allows the H5 to be used as an audio interface for your computer or iPad.

Just 2 AA batteries—either alkaline or rechargeable NiMH—are required for power. When using alkaline batteries, the H5 will operate for more than 15 hours, even while recording continuously. You can also use an optional AC adapter to power the H5 without batteries. The H5 records directly to SD and SDHC cards up to 32 gigabytes. Maximum recording time is dependent upon the card size and file type: for example, a 2GB SD card can hold approximately fourteen hours of stereo 320kbps MP3 files, three hours of stereo 16-bit / 44.1 kHz WAV files, or an hour of stereo 24-bit / 96kHz WAV files.

The H5 can operate in two different modes—choose stereo for two-track stereo recording, or multitrack for four-track recording (in either stereo pairs or individual mono tracks)—and it captures audio in the two most commonly used file formats: WAV and MP3.

The WAV files recorded by the H5 can be 16- or 24-bit, with sampling rates of 44.1, 48, or 96kHz*. They are automatically time-stamped and thus Broadcast Wave Format (BWF) compliant, allowing for precise synchronisation in video post-production. MP3 files, while slightly lower in fidelity, are much smaller than WAV files and are thus easier to email and post on social networking sites—allowing you to quickly and easily share your creations around the world. * 96kHz sampling rate available in stereo mode only

The H5's onboard effects allow you to add polish to your recordings. Compression and limiting compensate for fluctuations in input level, while a low-cut filter helps eliminate wind noise, blowing, and other kinds of low frequency rumble. There's even an onboard metronome and chromatic/guitar/bass tuner.

But the list of H5 features doesn't end there. There's playback looping, pitch change and variable playback speed (without pitch change) to help with phrase training. A pre-record function that keeps the H5 continuously recording in the background, keeping the previous two seconds before you hit RECORD.

There's an Auto-Record function that allows recording to begin automatically when a certain level of sound is detected and an equivalent Auto-Stop function that ends recording when the sound drops below a user-designated level, either immediately or up to 5 seconds later. And then there's Backup-Record—the ultimate safety net.* It enables the H5 to automatically record a duplicate set of stereo tracks with 12dB less input gain. Even if your original track is distorted, chances are the Backup version will be fine! * 44.1 and 48kHz WAV files only.

You can even use your H5 as an audio interface, complete with a Loop Back function that makes it easy to add narration to music playback. Simply connect the H5 to your computer or iPad** via USB, launch your favourite DAW or use the included Cubase LE or WaveLab LE software, and start creating a masterpiece. ** Apple Camera Connection Kit required.

The H5 is perfect for use on a video or DSLR camera. The remarkable depth and clarity of sound achieved by the stereo mic design brings additional realism and depth to HD video. By attaching the H5 to a DSLR video camera with an optional hot shoe mount (HS-1), you can create a professional video system with high-quality sound.

Features at a glance:
• Uses a system of interchangeable input capsules that can be swapped out as easily as the lens of a camera
• Includes detachable X/Y capsule (XYH-5) with extended signal capacity and shock mounted mics for reduced handling noise
• Compatible with all Zoom input capsules
• Four-track simultaneous recording
• Large backlit LCD display
• Records directly to SD and SDHC cards up to 32GB
• Up to 24-bit/96kHz audio in BWF-compliant WAV or a variety of MP3 formats
• Two mic/line inputs with XLR/TRS combo connectors each with selectable phantom power and -20dB pad
• Analog-style gain controls for each input
• Protective 'roll-bar' type covers prevent accidental movement of gain controls
• Plug-in power (2.5 volts)
• Built-in effects, including low-cut filtering, compression and limiting
• Chromatic tuner and metronome
• Auto-record, Pre-record and Backup-record functions mean that you'll never miss that perfect take
• MS decoding
• Multitrack to stereo internal mixdown
• Normalise, Divide and Trim editing
• Voice memo and up to 99 marks per recording
• A/B loop playback
• Variable playback speed and variable pitch without affecting playback speed
• Multichannel and stereo USB audio interface for PC/Mac/iPad with loop back function
• Mountable to DSLR or camcorder with optional HS-1 Hot Shoe Mount adapter
• Uses two standard AA alkaline or NiMH rechargeable batteries
• Over 15 hours of operation with alkaline batteries


Specifications:

Simultaneous Rec Tracks: 6
Simultaneous Play Tracks: 1
A/D Resolution: 24-bit/96kHz
Built-in Mic(s): 1
Audio Interface: Yes (via USB)
Analog Input Types: XLR/TRS Combo
Analog Inputs: 2
Analog Output Types: 1/8-inch
Analog Outputs: 1
Headphone Output type: 1/8-inch
Headphone Outputs: 1
Built-in Speaker: Yes
Memory (removable): SD card (16MB to 2GB), SDHC card (4 GB to 32GB)
USB: USB 2.0
Power Supply: AA battery, AC, USB bus power
Max Battery Life: Over 15 hours
Height: 7.77 inches
Width: 5.21 inches
Depth: 1.66 inches
Weight: 0.59 lbs.