Zoom H6 Black

I bought this to simplify recording set-up for small events and choirs.

For a spoken word event with slides, film clips, and music playback, I had the two radio mics for the presenters and a matched stereo pair for the room (no audience participation but we did need their reactions). The combination of operating position and required position for the room mics does not permit using the XY module in my situation. Having a compact recorder like this was much simpler than setting up a laptop with an audio interface, especially as there is only one laptop and it is already doing show control as well as video and audio playback in a very confined operating position.

For smaller choirs with no more than five singers per part, I like to have one mic each for bass/tenor/alto/soprano or maybe one for a solo and re-arrange the others. I didn't buy the XLR module (yet) so I have only four XLR inputs at present.

The set-up was pretty straightforward and the pre-amp quality suits me fine. I am a bit of a Focusrite fanboy but I also just want to be able to get the job done and I had no reason to complain about the quality of the inputs on the Zoom H6. With no laptop to set up or software to configure, I can travel a bit lighter and it's easier to find a comfortable operating position. At the venue, i can be recording pretty soon after arrival; with the recordings in the bag, I can pack down quickly and back to base to fettle the sound into shape. With just a little time in my DAW, I had the sound I wanted.

The machine feels solid to use. Arming tracks, enabling phantom power, and setting up stereo pairs or splitting back to independent mono is simple enough. I am quite used to the convention of having left on an odd channel and right on even. Zoom H6 follows this convention with no workaround, which does limit flexibility slightly but it's common enough that I personally don't find it a problem. Getting a recording underway is also very obvious, as it should be.

All-in-all, I am very happy with this device. It will seem limited for some uses but for the purposes I set out above, I would happily recommend Zoom H6 to other people.

I chose for a very long time from different options of recorders and stopped at Zoom h6. I bought it for recording drums - I was very pleased! Even on the native XYH-6, the capsule records perfectly, there are a lot of control functions. The sound of the drums does not interrupt the recording and does not create a crackle. I'm not even talking about the fact that you can record the entire installation \ or different tools directly (with a large selection of quality \format\ type). There are a lot of videos with a demonstration on the Internet, I can only add from myself that I do not regret the purchase and I am unlikely to regret it!

In general: This is a good portable device for recording podcasts, instruments and low-budget student movies. Personally, I use it for all this. For its price, this is probably the best solution that only an older model, the Zoom H8, can compete with.

Now about the disadvantages:

1 - Naturally a mini usb port for using the recorder as a sound card, for a recorder released in 2020, this is as ridiculous as it is unacceptable.

2 - It is not possible to charge the recorder via this mini usb port, even if batteries are inserted instead of batteries.

3 - The Bluetooth sensor needs to be purchased separately, which is also surprising. Moreover, inside the recorder itself, it is held unreliably and can easily fall out. BUT even with the sensor, you can control the recorder remotely only from devices on the IOS operating system, I don't understand why the developers have deprived people using devices on the Android operating system.

4 - Capsules are not held too securely and not very tightly. If you use the recorder as a microphone in your hands, even with a vibration suspension, the capsule may twitch a little, creating unwanted sounds.

And now about the advantages:

1 - The stability of the work deserves all the praise. The recording was never interrupted, and all files were recorded in perfect order always.

2 - Up to 6 channels and combined XLR/TRS connectors also give a huge field of possibilities.

3 - Analog, real gain adjustment toggle switches. It is much easier, more convenient and more intuitive than adjusting the gain on the touch screen, as it is implemented in the Portacapture X8 recorder.

4 - The battery life of a good manufacturer is really impressive.