Operation Manual English © ZOOM Corporation Reproduction of this manual, in whole or in part, by any means, is prohibited. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS / Usage Precautions SAFETY PRECAUTIONS In this manual, symbols are used to highlight warnings and cautions for you to read so that accidents can be prevented. The meanings of these symbols are as follows: This symbol indicates explanations about extremely dangerous matters. If users ignore this symbol and handle the device the wrong way, serious injury or death could result. This symbol indicates explanations about dangerous matters. If users ignore this symbol and handle the device the wrong way, bodily injury and damage to the equipment could result. Caution Warning · High humidity or moisture · Excessive dust or sand · Excessive vibration or shock Handling · Never place objects filled with liquids, such as vases, on the H2 since this can cause electric shock. · Do not place naked flame sources, such as lighted candles, on the H2 since this can cause fire. · The H2 is a precision instrument. Do not exert undue pressure on the keys and other controls. Also take care not to drop the unit, and do not subject it to shock or excessive pressure. · Take care that no foreign objects (coins or pins etc.) or liquids can enter the unit. Warning Caution Caution Connecting cables and input and output jacks You should always turn off the power to the H2 and all other equipment before connecting or disconnecting any cables. Also make sure to disconnect all connection cables and the power cord before moving the H2. Please observe the following safety tips and precautions to ensure hazard-free use of the H2. Power requirements Warning Since power consumption of this unit is fairly high, we recommend the use of an AC adapter whenever possible. When powering the unit from batteries, use only alkaline types. [AC adapter operation] · Be sure to use only an AC adapter which supplies 9 V DC, 300 mA and is equipped with a "center minus" plug (Zoom AD-0006). The use of an adapter other than the specified type may damage the unit and pose a safety hazard. · Connect the AC adapter only to an AC outlet that supplies the rated voltage required by the adapter. · When disconnecting the AC adapter from the AC outlet, always grasp the adapter itself and do not pull at the cable. · During lightning or when not using the unit for an extended period, disconnect the AC adapter from the AC outlet. Alterations Warning Never open the case of the H2 or attempt to modify the product in any way since this can result in damage to the unit. Volume Caution Do not use the H2 at a loud volume for a long time since this can cause hearing impairment. Usage Precautions Electrical interference For safety considerations, the H2 has been designed to provide maximum protection against the emission of electromagnetic radiation from inside the device, and protection from external interference. However, equipment that is very susceptible to interference or that emits powerful electromagnetic waves should not be placed near the H2, as the possibility of interference cannot be ruled out entirely. With any type of digital control device, the H2 included, electromagnetic interference can cause malfunctioning and can corrupt or destroy data. Care should be taken to minimize the risk of damage. [Battery operation] · Use two conventional IEC R6 (size AA) batteries (alkaline). · The H2 cannot be used for recharging. · Pay close attention to the labelling of the battery to make sure you choose the correct type. · When not using the unit for an extended period, remove the batteries from the unit. · If battery leakage has occurred, wipe the battery compartment and the battery terminals carefully to remove all remnants of battery fluid. · While using the unit, the battery compartment cover should be closed. Cleaning Use a soft, dry cloth to clean the H2. If necessary, slightly moisten the cloth. Do not use abrasive cleanser, wax, or solvents (such as paint thinner or cleaning alcohol), since these may dull the finish or damage the surface. Environment Warning To prevent the risk of fire, electric shock or malfunction, avoid using your H2 in environments where it will be exposed to: · Extreme temperatures · Heat sources such as radiators or stoves Please keep this manual in a convenient place for future reference. 2 ZOOM H2 Contents SAFETY PRECAUTIONS / Usage Precautions ................................2 What the H2 Can Do ................................5 Parts of the H2 .........................................8 Getting Connected .................................10 Operation on Battery Power .................11 About SD Cards ......................................11 Recording ...............................................12 Setup .................................................... 12 Power-on ............................................. 13 Selecting the operation mode ............. 14 Setting the input sensitivity and recording level.................................... 15 Recording and playback ..................... 17 Power-off ............................................. 17 Convenient Recording Functions ........ 35 Selecting the recording mode ............ 35 Using the AGC/compressor/ limiter function .................................. 37 Attenuating the low frequencies ......... 38 Using the auto record function ........... 39 Using the pre-record function ............ 42 Recording a stereo signal in mono (stereo mode only) ........................... 43 Convenient Playback Functions .......... 45 Selecting the play mode ..................... 45 Using the A-B repeat function ............ 46 File Operations ...................................... 47 Files and folders .................................. 47 Selecting a folder (stereo mode only) ........................... 48 Selecting a file ..................................... 48 Viewing file information ....................... 49 Assigning a name to a file (stereo mode only) ........................... 50 Deleting a file ....................................... 52 Dividing a file (stereo mode only) ............................ 53 Raising the overall file level (normalize function) .......................... 54 Converting a WAV file into an MP3 file (stereo mode only) ............................ 55 Converting a 4-channel file pair to a stereo file (4-channel mode only) ............................................................ 57 Checking the mark list ........................ 59 Stereo Mode Recording ........................18 About the stereo mode ....................... 18 Setup example (1): Built-in mics ...................................... 19 Setup example (2): External mic ...................................... 20 Setup example (3): External component .......................... 20 Selecting the mic pattern for the built-in mics ................................ 21 Recording ............................................ 23 Playback .............................................. 25 4-Channel Mode Recording ..................27 About the 4-channel mode ................. 27 Setup examples ................................... 29 Recording ............................................ 29 Playback .............................................. 31 Adjusting the front/rear/left/right balance (3D panning) ...................................... 32 SD Card Operations .............................. 60 Checking the remaining time on the card ............................................. 60 Formatting a card ................................ 61 SD card dropout errors ....................... 62 ZOOM H2 3 Contents Tuning an Instrument ............................ 63 Using the chromatic tuner ...................63 Using the dedicated guitar/ bass tuner ..........................................64 Adjusting the reference pitch of the tuner ............................................66 Specifications ......................................... 86 Troubleshooting .....................................88 Error Messages ......................................89 Index ........................................................90 Using the Metronome Function ............ 67 Switching the metronome /pre-count on and off ........................67 Making metronome/ pre-count optional settings ..............69 Connecting the H2 to a Computer ....... 71 Using the H2 as a card reader ............71 Using the H2 as an audio interface .....73 Other Functions ..................................... 78 Setting the date and time ....................78 Using the monitor function.................. 79 Supplying power to an external mic (stereo mode only) ...........................80 Adjusting the display contrast ............81 Controlling the backlight on/off setting ........................................................... 82 Specifying the battery type .................83 Making settings for the key hold function .....................................84 Updating the system software............ 84 · Windows, Windows XP, and Windows Vista are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. · Macintosh and MacOS are registered trademarks of Apple. · The SD symbol and SDHC symbol are trademarks. · The use of MPEG Layer-3 audio compression technology is licensed from Fraunhofer IIS and Sisvel SpA. · All other trademarks, product names, and company names mentioned in this documentation are the property of their respective owners. 4 ZOOM H2 What the H2 Can Do Thank you for selecting the ZOOM Handy Recorder H2 (subsequently referred to simply as the "H2"). The H2 is a nifty SD card based recorder with two operation modes for 2-channel (stereo) or 4-channel recording. This section describes the main features of this product. Stereo mode recording ( p. 12, p. 18) In stereo mode, you use the built-in mics or another source such as an external mic or a CD player to record a 2-channel stereo signal. sound source. The 120 degree directivity angle will help in capturing the ambience of the venue. Using the built-in mics The built-in mics allow you to record sound coming either from the front panel or the rear panel direction of the unit. The directivity angle covered by the mics is fixed to 90 degrees for the front side mics and 120 degrees for the rear side mics. Choose the side that is best suited for a given recording situation. Some examples for using the builtin mics are shown below. Solo vocals or a single instrument Point the front panel of the H2 towards the sound source. The 90 degree directivity angle will help in excluding unwanted sounds. 120 deg. H2 Recording front and back simultaneously By positioning the H2 upright, it is possible to record sound coming both from the front and back of the unit. This is great for a conversation between two people or recording an instrument and a singer facing each other. H2 90 deg. H2 Recording a band or capturing sounds in the field Point the rear panel of the H2 towards the Using an external mic Simply connect the microphone to the [EXT MIC IN] jack and place it near the sound ZOOM H2 5 What the H2 Can Do source. If a mono mic is used, only the left channel signal will be recorded. The 4-channel content is mixed into 2 channels (stereo) for playback. Recording other external sources The [LINE IN] jack lets you connect a CD player or other external component, for easy line recording of its output signal. 4-channel mode recording ( p. 27) In 4-channel mode, the built-in mics pick up sources in stereo both from the front and rear panel direction and create a 4-channel recording. The front/back/left/right level balance can be adjusted later, and for playback the result can be mixed into a 2-channel (stereo) signal. Audio files created in 4-channel mode can also serve as source material for a surround sound encoder. This makes it possible to produce surround sound audio that can be played on a home entertainment type 5.1ch surround sound system. The front/back/left/right balance can easily be adjusted after the recording is made. Field recording Recording a band rehearsal When the members of the band are facing each other, the H2 can be placed in the middle to record sound coming from the front and rear. H2 Position the H2 upright and have the front panel face the main sound source. H2 6 ZOOM H2 What the H2 Can Do Metronome function ( p. 67) The built-in metronome function of the H2 is convenient for use as a guide rhythm during recording. During playback, the metronome sound can be turned off. Another useful application of the metronome is for providing a pre-count before recording. Use as audio interface ( p. 73) The H2 can serve as audio interface for a computer, letting you directly record the input signal of the H2 on the computer, or play the computer output signal via the H2. Record Tuner function ( p. 63) The tuner functi ...