Zoom H2: Record WAV or MP3?

George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

Just got the Zoom H2 today. I am confused about which format to record in and which sampling rate. The recording time with a 4 GB card can be 6 hours with WAV format 44.1 HZ 16 bit or 68 hours on MP3 format at 44.1 HZ 128 Bit. A huge difference in recording time. There are also a lot of other sampling rate choices in both WAV and MP 3. What format should I use and what sampling rate, if that is what it's called.

richard burton · From: Britain

Record in WAV.
You can stick it on the computer, copy it (so you don't lose the original), and then convert the copy to mp3

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

uh, wait a minute, yes true wave is the better quality, but you will never record a 3 or 4 hour gig in wave format, the file would be friggin' huge.

Purpose is everything. I record all gigs in 128 MP3 format which will offer a very adequate recording and the files will be about 50 meg for each set. experiment with some tunes in different settings, you may find that you really can't tell much difference once you get into the 128 or above mode, other than files size. Purpose.

If you are planning on a web host of a tune, use a smaller MP3 size,for web hosting it is best to keep file size in the 1 to 2 meg range. You will have to experiment to see which works best for you.

If you are using the H2 to transfer recording projects from a PC or Workstation, yes , by all means use the wave format.

When using the wave formats, be certain your PC and programs support 24 bit format otherwise stay with the 16 bit wave format.

I have used MP3 128 up to 320 with excellent results( purpose) and also 96 or even 64 for internet file hosting with no issues. 128 is the stock setting I use .

H2, nice unit, good luck
t

George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

Ok, thanks for the help. I suspected that the purpose would be the factor in determing which format to use. I have two uses for it. Record band practice to work on stuff on my own later and recording our band live, then transferring it to a CD.
We do play a 3 to 4 hour gig, so I do need some time. I have a CD duplicator that has RCA inputs on the back. One set is for analog and the other says CD, so I assume these are digital inputs.

The default factory setting is WAV 44.1 Khz 16 bit. I used that last night a few hours after taking it out of the box. The sound quality was awesome, but I filled up the 512 MB card that came with it. I am going to try recording the band live tomorrow night, so I will go to MP 3 and 128 Bits.

I have an iMac computer with software vs. 9.1. I think I will have to have OS-X system to load it onto the computer. The manual says this is what I need for using the H2 as an audio interface and for using it like a card reader. I hope I can just hook it up to my CD duplicator to make a CD. I don't think I will be able to go through my outdated computer. I guess the only way to find out is to try it. I will do that Sunday afternoon after I have our gig recorded tomorrow night.

Thank both you guys for chiming in. I really am impressed with the H2, having never had anything before but cassette recorders. I just hope I can get it to copy to a CD. I can make copies of the CD in my duplicator to give to the other band members, if it works.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

George, these are awesome tools, toys, I can't imagine anyone, especially a musician not having one !

I actually have two ! An original Edirol R-1, I paid $350 for it only a couple of years ago, can you imagine, and a Boss Micro BR which is a small 4 tracker which also records in MP3 or Wave , this is the one I take to gigs. If I ever fell into a deal on an H2 I would buy it in a NY minute.

good luck, have fun with it

t

George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

Tony, you sure are right. This thing is awesome. Will fit into my shirt pocket! I bought it at B and H Photo in NYC for $159.95, delivered. I had it in my hands 3 days after calling in the order. I am a newbie at this sort of thing. I have only had it 3 days and I have learned most of the operations already. Manual is easy to follow. I will try it out tonight on our live gig and see how it goes. I can't recommend this thing high enough for somebody that wants to tape practice sessions or gigs. Simply wonderful.

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Tony-I am still thinking of a portable recorder with a built in Mic. Just turn it on and record.I have been looking at the specs of the Zoom H2 priced at 199. and the new Tascam Dpo4 4 tracks with built in mic at 199. The Boss MicroBR. I want to import BIAB from the computer to the recorder on one track and record on the other, then export the mix back to the computer's hard drive. Probably in Wav form . I have a program to convert wav to Mp3 later.
Which one do you think would probably work best and easiest for me.? Thanks...al. Smile

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Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Al, Where are a couple of ways to do this, you can just plug the new recorder into the PC output and record the BIAB track to either 2 tracks ( stereo) for the Micro BR or any small 4 track, you can record it to a single track by panning the source hard left or hard right. Actually BIAB will allow you to set that up within it's song settings. I used to do that all the time, pan drums hard left and bass or keys hard right and save it as a midi file or wave, then transfer to a workstation on two tracks, drums would be on one and bass/ keys on the other.

Now, also you can save the BIAB track on your PC as a wave or MP3, then just transfer it to the new recorder with USB. The problem here is that if it is a two track recorder it will arrive in two tracks and I am not sure if you can record onto one track later on. With the Micro BR the BIAB track will arrive on two tracks but you still have two remaining tracks to record on. I think the other 4 track units are the same, Zoom H4 and the Tascam.

Me, I would just record it over to the new recorder in real time. I think the big question is if you can record on just one track with a unit like an H2 or is it predetermined that two track recording must be done.

I like the Micro BR, the menu's are a bit qwerky ,the display is made for a very small person, the input effects are not Steel Guitar friendly but can be edited real easy and the on board mic is mono .The whole thing can be confusing right out of the box but easy enough to overcome. If you are recording a live gig you need a small stereo mic or it will just be a mono recording. But then again , it is a 4 tracker, with effects, drums, the ability to record in Boss modes, Mp3 or wave and it fits in your shirt pocket . For $199 it does a lot of stuff. The Tascam model appears similar but I am not certain of the specs and such. I know you can do exactly what you are asking but I am under the impression you need one of the 4 track models to do this. Purpose is everything here, the two track models are not intended for this, the 4 track units are.

hope this helps

t

Russ Wever · From: Kansas City

Al -
The Zoom H2 will either Record or
Playback, but not both at once.
For that capability you might
look to the Zoom H4,
~Russ

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Tony and Russ-Thanks for your excellent comparisons, on the 2 and 4 tracks.

What I want is like my old cassette tape recorder with the builtin mics and playback. It looks to me like the New Tascam DP4 at $199. might be simple enough for me to use and close to the cassette one I had, until I wore out the clutches. Has anyone used a new DP4 yet and got aniy impressions.? Thanks guys..al. Smile

_________________
Michigan (MSGC)Christmas Dinner and Jam on my 80th Birthday.

My Email.. almarcus@cmedic.net
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Hey Al, I read the specs on that DP4, it looks like a very kool tool ! Looks like it will fit the bill as far as I can tell. The Boss Micro BR will also but it is a tad qwerky in the operation, not the easiest in the world with it's mini mini buttons and small display!

t

John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

George, I record student lessons and band practices and perfs in WAV on my Zoom H2, because that and AIF are the only formats that a utility called Levelator can use. That software gets the entire audio file really wonderfully boosted for much easier listening. That final "Levelated" file I convert to MP3 in iTunes, then upload those MP3 files to my iDisk for students to download.

This is all done on a Mac; I'm in OS X 10.4.11, Tiger.

Make sure you have a USB2 card reader, it's way faster transferring files from the H2 to your Mac than using a USB cable.

This workflow is highly recommended.

For 3-4 hours of record time, you'll need an 8GB HCSD card. DO NOT buy the Transcend brand, I've had 2 crap out and lost all the audio content.
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George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

John, thanks for your input. I bought an 8 GB Sandisk Ultra SD card so that I can record in larger WAV files. I have been able to make CD's just fine by plugging the H2 into the analog input of my stand alone CD Recorder and player. I have played with the divide function, but so far, I do not have it figured out. I know I am supposed to be able to snip out just one song from the original track and that the H2 re-writes it and even makes two copies. I can set the beginning of the song to snip, but haven't been able to figure out how to snip the end of the song. I can cut the on stage noise before the song starts, and get a clean start of the song, but I can't figure out how to cut out the unwanted noise when the song ends. I know it is simple to do once you know. If anybody knows how to do the divide, please let me know. Otherwise, I will just keep fiddling with it until I figure it out.

John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

I don't know about the divide function, that's a built-in H2 feature?

I just open the WAV in Fission (Mac only), do edits and saves there, very easy, you can see a graph of the audio file so editing is quite easy.
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Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

George, any one of the software recording programs can help clean up the files. I use the old CoolEdit 2000 which I think is now Audacity, load the file in, cut, paste, edit, add or reduce gain, EQ, effects etc, real easy stuff. Also converts to various formats.

have fun

t

George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

Thanks, guys for your input. I have never used any of the software stuff to edit on a computer. I am real greenhorn on it and don't know the difference in the programs or where you get them. Can they be downloaded for free? I keep running into a wall when I try most stuff because both my Imac and Mac Powerbook G3 are running system 9.1, not an OS-X system. The H2 User manual says to connect it to a computer, it requires Mac OS-X (10.2 or later) It says this is what I would need to use the H2 as a card reader. Is there an older program that I can download that will work with my computers running vs. 9.1? Perhaps I should ask this question in the computer section?

Randy Phelps · From: California, USA

Hey Ton, I record our gigs in wav format. it pretty much fills up the card... it is a big file, but it transfers via usb2 in about 3 or 4 minutes.

I drop it into garageband and cut it up in about 20-30 minutes.

I think the wav sounds mo betta.

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Tony-Thanks for giving me a Heads up on the specs on the new 4 track Tascam DP04. At only $199. I think I will order one and see how it all works out. I'll let you know in a couple weeks how it worked out. I want to thank you and all the members who post on Recording with all your tips....al. Smile

_________________
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My Email.. almarcus@cmedic.net
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