Zoom H8 Handy Recorder

The Zoom H8 portable handheld recorder features three application-driven modes that promptly adjust the color touchscreen for podcasting, music production, or location recording. This device enables the rapid recording of up to eight simultaneous input signals through a workflow that is meticulously tailored to your specific task. Additionally, it supports a variety of capsules (sold separately), allowing for straightforward expansion to 10-input recording, Ambisonics 360-degree audio, and additional functionalities.

The H8, similar to other models in the H-Series such as the H5 and H6, offers versatile handling options; it can be comfortably held in hand, mounted on a microphone stand or tripod, or attached to a camera (with a separate shoe mount available). This recorder is designed to deliver a remarkable range of features within a lightweight framework, making it an ideal choice for podcasters, musicians, sound designers, and content creators alike. Included with the device are the Cubase LE and WaveLab Cast software programs, which provide essential tools for editing, refining, exporting, and uploading your projects.

Equipped with user-friendly tactile controls, extended battery life, and robust audio processing capabilities, the H8 is adept at producing high-quality audio for comprehensive musical compositions, independent films, and panel discussions. It can provide phantom or plug-in power for condenser microphones and is compatible with direct connections from instruments such as guitars, keyboards, or drum machines. Regardless of the audio source, features like selectable auto-recording and pre-recording ensure that you will not miss the beginning of a recording, while stereo safety track recording creates duplicate tracks at a lower level to prevent distortion.

App-Driven Touchscreen

The operation of the H8 is remarkably straightforward and user-friendly, facilitated by the 2.4" color LCD touchscreen and three application-driven modes tailored for podcasting, music, and field recording, all accessible with a simple touch.

• Podcast App: The Podcast app simplifies high-quality podcast production with its four microphone channels and two sound pad channels. Users can utilize 13 pre-loaded sounds or upload their own from an SD card to activate sound effects, music beds, and more through the dedicated Sound Pads.
  
  
• Music App: The Music app allows for the recording of up to 10 input tracks, enabling overdubbing, mixing, and enhancement of recordings with equalization and compression. Essential controls, including audio levels, faders, and metering, are conveniently available at your fingertips. Additionally, users can connect to Zoom’s Guitar Lab via USB to explore a wide range of amplifiers and effects.
  
  
• Field App: Tailored for location sound, sound design, conferences, and similar applications, the Field app provides immediate access to large meters for each track, ensuring recordings do not clip. It also allows for quick adjustments to input type, low-cut filtering, compression, limiting, noise gating, and other critical settings.
  
  

X/Y Stereo Microphone Capsule

Traveling light is made easy with the H8, which comes with a built-in stereo microphone capsule featuring two unidirectional microphones. There is no need to bring external microphones; with just the H8, you are fully equipped to capture speech, practice sessions, concerts, or even loud ambient sounds, reaching levels of up to 136 dB.

Zoom Capsule System 2.0

Zoom's Capsule System 2.0 enables the integration of up to four audio channels into the H8's capsule connection, thereby providing innovative methods to enhance your recording capabilities with the addition of new capsules that are available for separate purchase.

• XAH-8: The XAH-8 capsule provides high-quality stereo recordings through its dual condenser microphones. The capsules can be effortlessly adjusted from a narrow X/Y configuration to a broader AB arrangement, thereby improving the stereo representation of your recordings.
  
  
• VRH-8: The VRH-8 is an Ambisonic microphone capsule that employs four condenser microphones to produce immersive 360-degree audio recordings. It features an integrated accelerometer that guarantees the capsule remains optimally aligned, and the onboard Ambisonic decoder automatically manages the required conversions, thereby streamlining the post-production process.
  
  
• EXH-8: The EXH-8 capsule offers four extra XLR inputs, resulting in a total of ten inputs. Each of these additional inputs is equipped with its own gain control knob and pad switch. Furthermore, you can utilize your preferred condenser microphones by connecting a power source to the EXH-8 capsule to provide phantom power.
  
  

Supports Existing Zoom Mic Capsules

The H8 features a Zoom mic capsule input that is compatible with Zoom's range of interchangeable capsules, which can be replaced with ease, similar to changing camera lenses. Users can select from various options, including shock-mounted X/Y, Mid-Side, and mono or stereo shotgun mic capsules, enabling them to capture music, dialogue, or sound effects without the need for an external microphone setup. Additionally, the EXH-6 combo input capsule allows for the connection of two extra mic or line signals through XLR-1/4" jacks.

Fast, User-Friendly Operability

The front panel of the H8 is designed with ergonomic considerations, featuring the most critical and frequently utilized controls. These include transport buttons for recording, playing/pausing, and stopping, as well as individual record-arm buttons that also function as mute switches during playback. Additionally, it is equipped with large gain knobs and pad switches. To enhance safety, a hold switch is incorporated, which disables all front-panel buttons to avert any unintentional operations while recording.

Instant Access to Gain Adjustments

Each H8 input is equipped with an individual gain control knob. To optimize your recording levels, there is no need for track selection or button activation; simply adjust the dials, which are clearly marked from 0 to 10, whenever gain adjustment is necessary. In cases where your XLR input sources are excessively loud and require a reduction in gain beyond what the preamps offer at the "0" setting, you can utilize four front-panel pad switches to decrease the XLR inputs by 20 dB.

Eight Channels of Microphone/Line Inputs

The H8 is designed with four XLR inputs, two XLR-1/4" combo inputs, and a 3.5mm stereo mini-jack input (located on the XYH-6 capsule), allowing it to support condenser microphones through 12, 24, or 48 VDC phantom power, +4 dB balanced line-level sources, or signals from unbalanced instruments equipped with active electronics. Whether your intention is to record studio condenser microphones, capture feeds from wireless receivers, or utilize a combination of lavalier and shotgun microphones for interviews, the H8's preamps are engineered to provide exceptional low-noise performance.

Record All Channels Live or Overdub Layers

The H8 features multichannel recording capabilities with a resolution of up to 24-bit / 96 kHz. It supports recording up to 12 tracks, which include a mic capsule, backup recording, XLR inputs 1-4, XLR-1/4" combo inputs A and B, as well as a left-right stereo mix.

You can record all channels at once or take advantage of the overdubbing function to incorporate additional instrument layers following the initial recording. Fine-tune the levels and panning for your tracks, and then utilize the H8's internal mixdown feature to create a blended stereo file.

SD Card Recording and Audio Interface Functionality

Enhance portability by recording directly onto an SD card (with a maximum capacity of 2GB), an SDHC card (up to 32GB), or an SDXC card (up to 512GB). Utilizing a 2GB card allows for over three hours of recording time in 16-bit / 44.1 kHz stereo, employing the BWF-compliant WAV format to ensure uncompressed audio quality and compatibility with industry standards. Please be aware that media cards must be purchased separately, and using larger capacity cards may result in longer startup times.

Alternatively, the H8 can function as a 12-in/2-out USB 2.0 audio interface (supporting up to 24-bit / 96 kHz) when connected to a Mac or Windows computer. To operate as an audio interface with an iPad, an Apple Camera Connection Kit is required and sold separately.

3.5mm Outputs for Simultaneous Hookup to a Camera and Headphones

The H8 boasts 3.5mm line and headphone mini-jack outputs for simultaneously feeding your camera/DSLR and a pair of headphones. For quick playback reference, a built-in monophonic speaker is also provided.

Powered via AA Batteries or AC Adapter

The H8 can be powered using four AA batteries or by connecting it to a wall outlet with an AD-17 AC adapter, which is sold separately. Alkaline batteries provide over 20 hours of continuous recording time. Additionally, when operating the H8 in stereo USB audio interface mode, it is possible to power the device via USB bus.

Rugged and Portable, Handheld or Mounted

The durable, ergonomic body lends itself naturally to handheld use. Should you need to mount it on a mic stand or tripod, a threaded hole on the back of the H8 obviates the need for stand adapters. Obtain a hot shoe adapter (available separately) to attach the H8 directly to a DSLR.

Signal Processing Adds Sonic Polish

The H8'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.

Special Recording Functions

The H8 is equipped with various recording functions that allow users to avoid the inadvertent omission of the beginning of a performance. The pre-record feature captures audio moments that occur before the record button is engaged, ensuring that the start of an exceptional take is never lost. Additionally, the auto-record function can initiate recording automatically upon detecting a user-defined sound level, making it particularly useful for voice-activated scenarios.

Furthermore, the backup record feature enables the H8 to create an automatic duplicate of the left/right input at a lower gain level. This means that even if the primary track suffers from distortion, the backup recording is likely to remain intact and usable.

Supports External Remote Control

You can use your iPhone or iPad to monitor level meters and press record, play, and stop in each H8 application mode. Just insert the BTA-1 Bluetooth module (available separately) to your H8 and connect to your iOS device.