Features
Here at Zoom we've been building innovative, great-sounding products for the past thirty
years. But with the revolutionary H6—the most versatile portable recorder ever—the bar is raised
further still.
Four interchangeable input capsules—X/Y, MS, Shotgun, and Dual XLR/TRS Combo—make the H6
the ultimate chameleon of the audio world, and its advanced preamps make it the best-sounding one
too.
Whatever your application—live recording, professional film/video work, or broadcast ENG (electronic
news gathering), etc.—the H6 can handle it with ease.
Main Features.
• Interchangeable input capsules that can be swapped out as easily as the lens of a camera
• Six-track simultaneous recording
• Four mic/line inputs with XLR/TRS combo connectors
• Gain controls (real knobs!) and -20dB pads for each input
• Phantom power for all main inputs: +12/+24/+48V
• Large full-color LCD display, angled so it's easy to read in all environments
• Records directly to SD, SDHC and SDXC cards up to 128GB
• Up to 24-bit/96kHz audio in BWF-compliant WAV or a variety of MP3 formats
• Auto-record, Pre-record and Backup-record functions mean that you'll never miss that perfect take
• Multitrack to stereo internal mixdown
• Independent monitor and playback mixes
• Virtual VU meters
• Voice memo and up to 99 marks per recording
• Overdubbing, up to 99 takes
• Built-in effects, including low-cut filtering, compression and limiting
• Onboard MS decoding
• Normalize, Divide and Trim editing
• Chromatic tuner and metronome
• Loop Playback with user-defined start and stop points
• Variable playback speed, from 50% to 150%
• Variable pitch per track without affecting playback speed
• USB port for data exchange to and from computer
• Multichannel and stereo USB audio interface for PC/Mac/iPad
• Camera strap mounts
• Mounts directly to DSLR or camcorder with optional HS-01 Hot Shoe Mount adapter
• Accepts standard AA alkaline or NiMH rechargeable batteries
• Over 20 hours of operation with 4 AA alkaline batteries
The Ins and Outs.
INPUTS
The H6 offers four main inputs (1-4), plus two additional inputs (L, R)
that are derived from whichever capsule (X/Y, MS, Shotgun, or Dual
XLR/TRS Combo) is plugged into the unit. The supplied XYH-6 X/Y capsule
also provides a secondary input for connecting an external mic- or
line-level signal via a stereo 1/8" Mic/Line In mini phone jack. When a
connection is made to that jack, signal from the X/Y microphones is
muted.
All four main H6 inputs (inputs 1-4) are combo connectors that can
accept either XLR or 1/4" balanced or
unbalanced phone cables. They can handle both micand line-level signals,
which means that you can connect either external microphones or
line-level devices like mixers, portable music players, electronic
keyboards, or electric guitars or basses with active electronics
(passive electric guitars or basses can also be
connected with the use of a mixer or effects device). Internal switching
contacts automatically detect the
circuit of choice.
On the H6, all connectors use the industry standard Pin 2 hot on XLR connectors and Tip hot on TRS connectors, as shown here:
Each of the six inputs (that is, 1-4 as well a L, R) has a dedicated
gain control knob. In addition, the four main inputs and the EXH-6
capsule feature a -20dB pad, allowing you to prevent distortion even
when high-level signals are introduced. In fact, with the use of the Pad
switch, the H6 can input a signal 30dB louder and 14dB softer than any
other Handy Recorder model. In addition, all capsules utilize higher
voltage preamps (5 volts instead of the more commonly used 3 volts) for
distortion free recording, even at high volumes. A built-in
instrumentation amp allows signals to be transmitted with minimal noise
even when long cables are used.
If you're using high-quality condenser (powered) microphones with the
H6, no problem—a simple menu option
allows the unit to provide Phantom Power (either +12, +24, or +48 volts)
to any or all of the main inputs (inputs 1-4). Inexpensive condenser
microphones requiring Plug-In Power (2.5 volts) can be connected to the
X/Y capsule's stereo 1/8" Line In jack.
OUTPUTS
The H6 Line Out is an unbalanced stereo 1/8" phone jack, located on the
bottom of the H6, beneath the LCD display. It carries the analog stereo
output signal, as determined by the H6's internal mixer.
The H6 USB port, located on the side panel to the right of the LCD
display, provides a digital output of either a stereo mix or the six
individual input signals, depending upon the setting of the "Audio
Interface" function in the USB menu.
In addition, the H6 provides a headphone output with a dedicated volume
control, located on the side panel to the left of the LCD display.
Connect your headphones to the stereo 1/8" mini phone jack for private
monitoring of the stereo output signal.
The H6 even has a built-in speaker, located on the underside of the
unit, for fast monophonic monitoring of the recorded signal without the
need to make any connections whatsoever. This speaker is automatically
disconnected when connection is made to either the Line Out or Headphone
output.
A little X, a little Y,
a whole lotta stereo.
The X/Y miking technique is optimal when you want to cover a wide area
and still capture sound sources in the center with clarity and
definition, making it great for all types of live stereo recording.
The supplied XYH-6 X/Y capsule adds two matched high-quality
unidirectional microphones to your H6. 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 utilize a cardioid polar pattern. These mics have the
largest diaphragm size (0.579" = 14.6mm) of any ever available on a
portable recorder.
As shown in this illustration, the angle of the two mics can easily be
changed from 90 degrees to 120 degrees for a wider stereo image (US
Patent 8184815).
Playing back stereo X/Y tracks in mono results in a fuller sound than
you would get with one microphone, but if mono compatibility is critical
(for example, in television production), the Mid-Side (MS) mic
technique can be a better choice.
Mid-side mic magic.
Enter MS ("Mid-Side") recording: an incredible technique that allows you
to actually adjust the width of the stereo image after it has been
recorded, making it especially useful for film, video and television
projects. Sound like magic? Read on.
Although the H6's supplied MSH-6 MS capsule appears to be just one
microphone, it actually contains two mic elements, positioned directly
on top of one another. One of the microphones inside the MSH-6 is
unidirectional (that is, it is mostly sensitive to signal coming from
directly in front, and less sensitive to signal coming from behind or
from the sides) while the other is bi-directional (that is, it is mostly
sensitive to signals coming from directly in front and directly behind,
and less sensitive to signal coming from the sides).
Inside the H6 MS capsule, the directional ("Mid") mic faces forwards
while the bi-directional ("Side") mic is set perpendicular to it, like
this:
The basic concept behind MS recording is that the Mid microphone picks
up signal coming from the center, while the Side microphone creates
ambience and directionality by adding or subtracting information from
either side.
The Mid-Side technique works well whenever you need a variable amount of
room sound. It can also be used for studio recording, and its
convenience and flexibility make it a good option for rehearsal and live
concert recording as well.
Riding shotgun.
Our optional SGH-6 shotgun capsule adds a professional-quality
hyper-directional (that is, highly directional) microphone to the H6,
making it the perfect audio recorder for anyone working in film, video
or live theater, or for ENG (electronic news gathering) applications.
Thanks to the three internal mics with digital signal processing
ability, the SGH-6 achieves a frequencyindependent super-cardioid polar
pattern. Compared to ordinary shotgun microphones using an acoustic tube
method, the SGH-6 maintains a highly directional pickup at about half
the length.
Shotgun microphones are often used when you cannot position a microphone
directly in front of a sound source. For example, if someone is
speaking in front of a video camera and you don't want them to hold an
interview microphone up to their mouth, the solution is to use an
off-screen shotgun mic.
However, shotgun mics are not the audio equivalent of a photographic telephoto lens. Even though they
do an above-average job of picking up sounds that originate from a short distance away, they always
sound better when they're physically close to the sound source. If the capsule is more than three feet
away, the audio will start to sound distant. The farther away it is, the more distant and reverberant
the audio will become.
Note: The SGH-6 is a monaural microphone.
Need more inputs?
If you need more inputs, simply plug in the optional EXH-6 Dual XLR/TRS
Combo capsule. It allows you to connect up to six discrete signals from
external microphones, instruments, mixers or portable music players,
making the H6 the smallest six-track recorder on the planet!
Note: The EXH-6 does not support phantom power.
File types supported.
The H6 can record audio in two different basic file types: WAV and MP3.
The main difference between the two is that WAV files are uncompressed;
that is, they contain all the recorded data without any "bits" (digital
words) being removed. Thus, they provide full fidelity without
compromise. The H6 can record up to six monophonic WAV files (or up to
three stereo files) in any of the following formats:
44.1kHz / 16-bit
44.1kHz / 24-bit
48kHz / 16-bit
48kHz / 24-bit
96kHz / 16-bit
96kHz / 24-bit
All WAV files recorded by the H6
are automatically time-stamped, making them fully compatible with the
Broadcast Wave Format (BWF); in other words, they are "BWF-compliant."
This is especially important when
recording audio for video, because it allows the audio to be precisely
synchronized with the onscreen action in postproduction.
MP3 recordings are compressed,
which means that some unnecessary data is removed prior to storage,
making them much smaller than WAV files, and thus much easier to upload
and download. Some MP3 files exhibit a slight loss of audio fidelity as
compared with the original signal; however, this is not noticeable in
all circumstances.
NOTE that when the MP3 file type
is selected, the H6 only records in stereo; if you want to record in
multitrack, you must select a WAV file type. The H6's internal mixdown
function allows multitrack WAV projects to be easily reduced down to
stereo MP3 or WAV, with independent control over each track's level,
panning and pitch.
Never miss a take:
Pre-record, Backup-record, and Auto-record.
PRE-RECORD
The interview started a splitsecond before you were ready. The conductor
lifted his baton just as you were checking a cable. The talent went
back on-air a moment too soon.
No problem… as long as you're using the H6. Its Pre-record function
automatically keeps the H6 silently but continuously recording in the
background, all the time. Then, when you hit the RECORD button, it keeps
the
previous two seconds and appends it to the beginning of the file. It's
as if the H6 had started recording two seconds before you actually got
to hit the button.
BACKUP-RECORD
Backup-record—the ultimate safety net. When turned on during the
recording of WAV files, the H6 automatically records a duplicate set of
L/R tracks, but with 12dB less input gain. Even if the original L/R
track is distorted, chances are the Backup version is fine.
You can listen to either set of tracks simply by going to the Backup
File option in the PROJECT menu. When turned OFF, you'll hear the
original L/R tracks; when turned ON, you'll hear the lower-level Backup
tracks instead. Pick the one you prefer and use it as your L/R master.
Bacon saved.
AUTO-RECORD
The Auto-record function allows the H6 to automatically start recording
when a certain level of sound is detected. When turned ON and the RECORD
button is pressed, the H6 doesn't immediately start recording; instead,
it goes into a standby mode; as soon as an incoming signal exceeds the
Start Level you've set, recording begins.
There's an equivalent Autorecord Stop function, too. When turned ON, as
soon as incoming signal drops below the Stop Level you've set, recording
ends.
Onboard effects.
The H6 provides an arsenal of effects that allows you to add polish to
your recordings and compensate for any problems or limitations in the
acoustics of the recording environment.
A low-cut filter allows you to remove signal below a certain
user-designated frequency (called a cutoff frequency). This is useful
for eliminating pops, wind noise, blowing, transmitted resonance from an
onstage mic stand and other kinds of low frequency rumble.
Compression and limiting compensate for fluctuations in level; in essence, they act like an automatic volume
control, reducing the level of louder sounds (that is, the sounds below a threshold point). The main difference
between the two is that a limiter reduces louder sounds more severely.
The H6 allows you to choose from three compressor settings and three
limiter settings. The two "General" settings (Comp1 and Limiter1) are
all-purpose settings that will work well on most kinds of program
material. The Comp2 and Comp3 presets are optimized for use with vocals
and drums, respectively, while the Limiter2 and Limiter3 presets are
optimized for use in live concert recording and small room "studio"
recording, respectively.
In addition, there's an onboard metronome and chromatic / guitar / bass tuner—both handy tools when recording musical content.
Battery life
and recording times.
The H6 requires just 4 AA batteries—either alkaline or rechargeable
NiMH—for power. Battery life (when using alkaline batteries) is more
than 20 hours, even during continuous recording. An optional AD-17 AC
adapter (included in the APH-6 Accessory Pack) allows you to power the
H6 from any standard wall socket.
The H6 records directly to SD cards. It supports standard SD cards as
well as the newer SDHC and SDXC cards, up to 128 gigabytes, making it
capable of accessing massive data storage.
Using the H6
as an audio interface.
The H6's USB port allows it to send and receive digital data. Connect
the H6 to your laptop or desktop computer via USB, launch your favorite
DAW or use the included Cubase LE , and start laying down your tracks.
You can even connect the H6 to an iPad (camera connection kit required).
When the H6 is set to "Stereo Mix" in the USB menu, it acts as a 2-input
/ 2-output interface; when set to "Multi Track," it acts as a 6-input /
2-output interface. The H6's onboard INPUT&OUTPUT mixer allows you
to create a custom stereo or six-track mix for output via USB, with
independent control over the level and panning of each track, as well as
access to effects like low-cut filtering, compression and limiting. In
addition, signal that is input to the H6 can be monitored directly
before it passes through the connected computer or iPad, enabling
monitoring with zero latency (that is, without any delay). There's also a
handy Loop Back mode that allows you to blend stereo signal coming from
the computer or iPad with signal coming into the H6 inputs, useful for
live streaming via the Internet or for adding narration to a musical
backing track.
Live concert recording
The illustration shows how you might typically use the H6 for live
concert recording. Here, the XYH-6 X/Y capsule is being used to capture
the onstage performance in stereo. In addition, a stereo feed from the
mixer is being sent to inputs 1 and 2 in order to record the board
sound, and a pair of external mics is connected to inputs 3 and 4 to
capture the audience sound.
Location videography
In the example shown in the illustration , the MSH-6 MS capsule is being
used to capture the main sound source in stereo, with external boom and
lavalier mics (connected to Inputs 1 and 2) focused on the talent
providing narration. Another pair of external mics is connected to
inputs 3 and 4 and are being used to record a second stereo image, this
one of the other performers in the scene. By using the MS capsule, you
can then use the H6's onboard MS decoder to adjust the width of the main
stereo image in post-production.
ENG
The H6 is the perfect audio companion for anyone doing ENG work,
especially when it is used with the optional SGH-6 Shotgun mic capsule,
as shown in this example. Here, the SGH-6 is being used to capture
the news event itself, recorded on the L/R track. Because shotgun mics
have a narrower focus (sometimes referred to as more "reach") than an
average microphone, the SGH-6 is the perfect choice when covering
late-breaking news at a distance. In addition, the SGH-6 does a great
job of picking up the frequencies produced by the human voice.
Two external handheld mics for the interviewer and interview subject are
plugged into Inputs 1 and 3, with backup external lavaliers plugged
into Inputs 2 and 4. The H6's onboard effects and powerful mixing
functions make it the ideal field mixer; the low-cut filter can be used
to reduce wind noise, and the compressor/limiter can be used to condense
the dynamic range and thus make the audio more television-friendly. The
six recorded tracks can then be mixed down internally to a stereo MP3
file for microwave or satellite transmission to the broadcast facility.
Rehearsal recording
Want to record your band as they rehearse? No problem, especially if you
plug in the optional EXH-6 Dual XLR/TRS capsule, which allows six
discrete mic- or line-level connections to be made to your H6.
In this example, a stereo submix of the mics covering the drum kit is
being fed from the PA mixer to the L/R inputs of the H6 via the EXH-6.
The four main inputs are used as follows: the lead singer's mic is
connected to Input 1; a microphone positioned in front of the guitar amp
is connected to Input 2; a direct signal from the bass player's active
electric bass is connected to Input 3; and an electronic keyboard is
connected to Input 4. Thus, each instrument and vocal is receiving a
track of its own (or, in the case of the drums, two tracks).
Being able to spread your instruments and vocals over six tracks instead
of four gives you an extra degree of flexibility that other handy
recorders cannot provide. As you listen back to your song, new musical
ideas may spring to mind, and that's where the H6's powerful overdubbing
function comes into play, because it allows any of the tracks to be
redone—up to 99 different takes—meaning that you can reshape your song
after the fact.
•The SD, SDHC and SDXC logos are trademarks. •Steinberg and Cubase are
registered trademarks of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. •The use of
MPEG Layer-3 audio compression technology is licensed from Fraunhofer
IIS and Sisvel SpA. •Windows®, Windows® 8, Windows® 7, Windows Vista®
and Windows® XP are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation. •Macintosh, Mac OS and iPad are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Apple Inc. •Unauthorized recording of concerts, lectures
and other public performances is prohibited by law. •All other
trademarks,product names, and company names mentioned in this
documentation are the property of their respective owners. •Allfeatures
and specifications are subject to change without notice.
Price : B$499.00
Warranty : 1 Year
