
Zoom H5 Handy Recorder is a handheld
digital audio recorder
In digital recording, an audio or video signal is converted into a stream of discrete numbers representing the changes over time in air pressure for audio, or chroma and luminance values for video. This number stream is saved to a storage d ...
from
Zoom Corporation
Zoom Corporation is a Japan-based audio company whose main business is the design and development of electronic devices for music. The company’s products are sold worldwide. Established in 1983, the company is listed on the JASDAQ market of t ...
, introduced in January 2014.
A successor to the
Zoom H4n __NOTOC__
The Zoom H4n is a digital recording device manufactured by Zoom. It is the successor of the Zoom H4 recorder. Both models have two built-in condenser mics arranged in X/Y stereo position and two XLR microphone inputs that double as 1/4 ...
, the new model features interchangeable input capsules with microphones (as does the
Zoom H6), allowing the recording of up to four tracks simultaneously, both internal and external.
Features
The H5 can record in
WAV
Waveform Audio File Format (WAVE, or WAV due to its filename extension; pronounced or ) is an audio file format standard for storing an audio bitstream on personal computers. The format was developed and published for the first time in 1991 ...
format up to 24-bit/96kHz as well as MP3. Sound can be recorded with up to four separate channels through the inputs. Several built-in effects are available, including
low-cut filter, input compressor and limiter, or a playback speed and
pitch control
A variable speed pitch control (or vari-speed) is a control on an audio device such as a turntable, tape recorder, or CD player that allows the operator to deviate from a standard speed (such as 33, 45 or even 78 rpm on a turntable), resulting ...
.
Two
XLR/
TRS combo connectors are provided with an adjustable
gain
Gain or GAIN may refer to:
Science and technology
* Gain (electronics), an electronics and signal processing term
* Antenna gain
* Gain (laser), the amplification involved in laser emission
* Gain (projection screens)
* Information gain in de ...
and
phantom power
Phantom power, in the context of Professional audio, professional audio equipment, is Direct current, DC electric power equally applied to both signal wires in Balanced line, balanced microphone cables, forming a phantom circuit, to power m ...
.
Both:
SD and
SDHC
Secure Digital (SD) is a proprietary, non-volatile, flash memory card format developed by the SD Association (SDA). Owing to their compact size, SD cards have been widely adopted in a variety of portable consumer electronics, including digi ...
memory cards are supported with a capacity of up to 32 GB.
Peripherals

The retail box includes several accessories, such as
X-Y Microphone capsule, rubber-foam
windshield
The windshield (American English and Canadian English) or windscreen (Commonwealth English) of an aircraft, car, bus, motorbike, truck, train, boat or streetcar is the front window, which provides visibility while protecting occupants from t ...
, plastic case, two
AA batteries
The AA battery (or double-A battery) is a standard size single cell cylindrical dry battery. ANSI and IEC battery nomenclature gives several designations for cells in this size, depending on cell features and chemistry. The IEC 60086 system c ...
and a manual.
Reception
Overall the reception for the Zoom H5 Handy Recorder since its release has been positive.
Transom called the H5 a worthy successor to the H4n, though they found that the optional microphone modules were of mixed quality.
Ty Ford praised the recorder for the number of features available for the price. Audio Media International called the H5 a "capable and straightforward portable recorder". ProPhoto magazine was impressed with the versatility and recording quality of the device.
In January 2015 H5 won
TEC Award
The TEC Awards is an annual program recognizing the achievements of audio professionals. The awards are given to honor technically innovative products as well as companies and individuals who have excelled in sound for television, film, recordings ...
in Recording Devices category.
References
External links
*
{{Zoom Corporation
Zoom Corporation
Digital audio recording