I love Curtis's incredulity over the omission of a USB-C port. For those of you who don't know Curtis, this is the closest he will ever get to saying "What the actual f**k?"
@@onocoffee USB has become a bit of a splintered challenge. I would be nice to be able to mainly just buy USB-C cables at this point. Most new devices have them at this point.
@@onocoffee They wear out and break the pins inside the port. They are then difficult to repair. Blue Yeti's use this port on most all models, and the actual port replacement, if you'd like to see the level of difficulty if you could obtain the correct port housing for the board the mic is using. Just tube yeti usb repair or replacement. I'm with Mr Judd on this one for this reason.
You offer the best, most detailed information in your reviews. I can’t thank you enough since I’m always looking for ways to improve my audio. You’re awesome!
I use the Zoom H8 as a voiceover artist, initially I thought it was an overkill but it came in handy when I started using it for podcasts. I really like it. I have had it for a few years now.
Curtis Judd Your deep dives into testing and reviewing audio equipment is an invaluable gift to the UA-cam filmmaking community. Not to mention the quality of light education you’ve given us all with SSI, CRI, etc. I selfishly can’t wait for a Lupo Dual Color 60 review at some point. 😃. I wish you continued boomerang-ing success for everything you generously offer us all. I can only imagine how much time it takes to run all these tests and edit it all together to create these pieces. Truly an act of humble service. Thank you, Sir!
It is absolutely insane to think that we have reached a point where we can fit that much technology in a package that small These zoom guys are incredible
Thank you so much for another professional review, Curtis. Most of the stuff you review is way above my goals, means or money, but the experience and the approach you share and convey are incredible. It’s like having an incredibly patient mentor.
“I came up with no reason for the micro USB port....I am sorry for the ios only app, even though I don't know why I am apologizing for zoom...” that made my day! A good job always~~~
I have just purchased the H8 and my decision to buy as well as my ongoing education on how to use this unit have been guided by this great review. Much appreciated!
Doesn't look as "spidery" as I thought it would A great audio recorder thing for the price! p.s. I thought I already commented on this video but couldn't find it. So maybe you get two comments on this for the price of one. :)
@@curtisjudd I'm glad. Also very valuable in my opinion, not a lot of other reviewers manage to get female voice tests when trying microphones, and I think that's pretty important for us soundies.
I used a Zoom H6 to record a coastline in Portugal - the playback almost sounded like surround sound and I wasn't even using external microphones. Delighted with the detail and I'm considering buying the Zoom H8, too.
I just picked this up yesterday - pretty happy with it so far. Not as big as I thought it was going to feel in hand. Best review of H8 that I've seen - nice work Curtis!
Great video as always. Super helpful info for making a purchase decision. Production value is a new high at this channel. and I guess we're not mentioning that the H8 looks very alien-y (especially with the weirder modules)?
Just really wish they'd release an F4 update with some of this stuff. Feels like they've neglected that part of the market. Would love to see F4 with dual card slots and real outputs get that color touch screen, 32 bit float and dual converters. Feels like a miss to have waited this long to update it!
It seems there is not enough demand, since the F4 was discontinued. In the same form factor you can get the F8n Pro, though obviously that's more expensive. Dual card slots is always a good feature. But a touchscreen is a negative for field work: it's too dim and you can't use it in hot (sweaty palms) or cold (gloves) climates.
for reference, I just recorded live with the zoom H8 using all of it's ports as well as the included XY mic attachment on full battery power (4 AA Activ energy alkaline) the zoom was able to manage 30-40(ish) mins with 5 Mics using +48V This is a rough estimate as i was unwilling to let the zoom die mid-song so was forced to change batteries when the zoom displayed 1/3 power left
"However, if you if you need a recorder for a specific situation Zoom has other options better suited..." whew. I thought for a moment I'd want to get his over the Podtrak P4. Thanks for keeping the device greed at bay. 😅
Awesome review Curtis. Subscribed right away, and having owned and pumped the life out of my h2n and h4n for years, I think this is the device for my short films. Purchasing this based on your endorsement. Thanks again.
I'm a musician and use the H8 to record my performances and create amateur content such as short videos and interviews. I find the touch screen quite good and the user interface very intuitive. Preamps sound similar to the H5 and H6 which I've owned in the past, not amazing but good enough for people like me. I don't bother with the "musician" or "podcast" sections of the device and just operate in "field" mode for all my work whether it's performance or interview recordings. The thing that I came to appreciate the most is recording small classical music ensembles where you realise quickly the luxury of having up to 6 xlr and a 3.5mm input. Love your reviews Curtis!
Zoom's insistence to create 'unique' bevels/angles packaging design is creating obnoxious product cabling and portable packaging use. With all wires installed it looks like an octopus, is very non-bag-friendly placing undue strain on plugs/jacks, and nooks/crannies are dirt/dust magnets hard to clean. The Engineering keeps getting better with Zoom but their Marketing staff has allowed the final user's need to drift. Not good thinking.
Thomas Breithaupt Well I Thinking they have different configurations and trying to find what innovation sticks. I have a zoom H6 and I dont like that when Im podcasting with 3-4 people the cables run weridly to the sides before actually going the way I want to. I feel this design works with a round table of people podcasting. Im not saying its the best design, but I kinda get it. Plus cudos for trying imo
Definitely not made for bags. That "Swiss army knife" approach definitely results in several compromises. Not the right recorder for specialists. But could be a good choice for some. I didn't find the ports to be particularly problematic, but I do generally prefer to have all inputs on one side, all outputs on the other.
Yeah, no bags, but it does have strap loops which is how you'd want to carry it if doing field recording. I'm actually surprised the difficult shape wasn't on the "cons" list.
@@chakerian It isn't a con for me but I see how it could be for others. For field recording with the in-built mic module, it is big, but not unmanageable. For podcasting, I didn't see the form factor as an issue for me.
Thank for all your videos! Based on your videos and recommendations via a short comment conversation a while ago, I got the NTG5 and F6 and I believe this is a monster combo 👍🏼
I bought the zoom h2 which I had for like ten days before it was lost accidentally on a job. Thought it was amazing, used the money my friend paid out to me from losing the device to get a H4 model. Thought it was just brilliant, but then for some stupid reason I got rid of it when I wasn't using it for a while. Deeply regretted that decision. Picked up a zoom H5 shortly afterwards and couldn't be happier with it. I have done dozens of professional audio projects on it and during lockdown, it has been my go-to device for my audio work for television and radio commercials which I voice. It certainly isn't a criticism of my H5 unit, but I could do with a few more XLR inputs for the podcasts I have been recording. I have no doubt that the H8 is a beast. I think I will buy myself one as a treat in due course. Zoom is a brand that I have complete confidence in. whether you are shooting video or singing along with your guitar. It is intuitive and great value. Get one. You will not regret it.
Just found out your channel couple weeks ago. I want to say thank you so much for always explaining technical information as I'm just learning about sound recording. : )
I bought mine today. Thanks Curtis. Your review was very helpful for a beginner like me. I didn't want to give more for a Tascam X8 or Zoom F3 + a capable shotgun mic.
I love this recorder and use it all the time (mostly for music but occasionally for weddings). After extensive testing and running all 6 main inputs + 2 additional (EXH-6 capsule) this recorder has to be plugged in to bank power or a power supply at all times (it annihilates AA batteries). Curtis also mentions this recorder not being the greatest for podcasts but in 2022 Zoom has an answer to that problem via ZHA-4. This unit allows four people to hear the H8 mix all at once! Also Zoom finally released the EXH-8 which is adds 4 additional XLR inputs- I usually record my bands practices and I can mic the whole drum kit, both guitars, the bass, and all three vocals- it's one of the most fun "toys" I have!
When I first saw the H8 during Zoom’s pre-release marketing, I was immediately impressed with its capabilities. Though what immediately struck me was it’s singular aesthetics. It looks like a device Bruce Wayne might use in the Dark Knight.
When it comes to audio recording, I go to you, Curtis Judd, before I make any final decisions on purchasing audio gear. Thanks for all the hard work you put into your reviews.
Most of the other folks who have talked about this recorder felt it was important to mention the looks of the unit being different, space-age, or just plain weird. Thank you for not mentioning that because it really doesn't make a difference. I think the design makes a lot of sense. This was a great and thorough review, as always. 👍🦆
@@daniellove162 I'll give you that, but only one mentioned that. The rest just thought it was ugly. The majority of them also had never had it in hand and were doing "reviews" off of spec sheets. 🙂
Hi Curtis! Great review as always and I just received the H8 as well. Regarding the headphone for podcasting, we just a simple headphone splitter to connect several headphones. That would do the trick.
I love this thing! I do H8 the fact that it only uses iOS for its app... And uses micro USB. I figured this would be worth a lot more than 399...that's a surprise to me. Great video as always, Curtis. Thanks again!
Thanks for the video. Your content is straight to the point, very informative and honest reviews. You seem like an awesome educator. Keep up the great work! you got my subscription, like, and comment lol.
Another full and incredibly helpful review. An unexpected bonus for me was to see a use for the Edelkrone FlexTilt style heads. I bought one quite some time ago and found no use for it, dismissing it as the most pointless thing that I had ever purchased. Now I see that using it with a field recorder can work rather well (once the thick layer of dust had been removed), so thanks for that as well.
I got this tonight and i was shocked how light it is ? the only thing is ! how hard it is to get your fingers in there to switch the dials and switches LOL but seems pretty awesome !
I received mine this weekend. So far, I am very happy with it. The main downside for me as you mentioned was only being able to use one processor at a time for each channel, but not a deal-breaker at all. Hopefully, a firmware update will fix this.
Okay Curtis, now you've done! Went ahead and ordered the new Zoom H8! Refunding my recently purchased H6. The more powerful preamp from the H8 clinched it for me, the cool built-in sound pad sound effects was the sweetener, LOL! I also returned my Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen mixer in favor of the highly sought after Motu M4 4x4 mixer, mainly cuz of many reviews saying the Motu unit has a more powerful preamp and for its cool useful LCD dB level screen. Thanks for contributing to my G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) affliction, haha! :-)
So helpful!! Thanks! Thinking of getting the H8 or the P8 for podcasting. However would also use this for recording audio for videos. So appreciate the indepth look.
Another great episode. It's certainly an 'interesting' design, but as an Android user, I'm hesitant to choose this as my next field recorder. I also very much dislike the way they implemented the circular level settings on the display. Having a slider bar the width of the display is much more tactile friendly than those tiny circles.
I know you only covered the Field and Podcast apps... but the Music app actually supports up to 3 effects chained together (tap the track# to get to the EQ/Pan/Send screen for that track, and from there tap the "Effect" icon and you can get to dozens of choices). Unfortunately, this only works when recording in 44.1 Khz mode.
I picked up my H8 yesterday, and while I got the impression the A and B ports didn't have phantom power, but after upgrading to the 2.0 firmware, I noticed that phantom power is an option in the menus. I'll admit, I didn't check this in the original firmware, and I don't have a condenser-mic to test with (yet). If this recorder is capable of running six lavs directly off the recorder, that is perfect for my needs.
I hope the design will grow on me. Fortunately, it isn't on camera for most situations. 😀 It is pretty good in terms of usability for the handy recorder type of form factor
I thought you might enjoy seeing one practical use for the H8 by a musician and song writer. Clearly the F6 is better for film makers than the H8 and for highly detailed musical recording (and podcasts), but that is not H8's central purpose. It's purpose is for people to be able to make high quality recordings in different venues, often without having to connect and set up external mics. I am a songwriter and guitar is my primary instrument (I write songs on guitar, but I also play piano). I need a recorder to transfer my music into a DAW and I don't need a professional audio interface like the Zoom 20, the Zoom F6 or similar device. At most, I will have five or six external mics - but if I needed more, I could buy a Zoom module that provides four more inputs. I will use the X-Y mics to record music "ideas" and copywrite recordings. So if I am working on a song, I can easily record flash "revelations" of inspiration in a moment of time, without setting up external mics. Before I was using my Galaxy S20+ to record my songs, and the recording quality is good for a cell phone, but that is not saying much. It distorts the true sound of the recording. On my S20, I could never really hear exactly how my vocals were being heard by the audience. When I record my vocals on the Zoom H8, I can use the headphones to at least get an idea of how I sound while recording. And vocals recorded on the Zoom 8 are "magic." I can hear every nuance and every flaw, and this immensely helps me to see the weaknesses in my vocal performance. To put is more simply, the Zoom H8 recordings accurately reflect how I actually sound to an audience, and that is priceless. When singing challenging songs, very minor changes and correcting minor flaws can make a universe of difference. But if you cannot hear the flaws, then you don't know that you need to correct them. That's where the H8 is SO useful. Even using the X-Y mics that come with it provides a beautifully accurate recording and I can hear every minor mistake I make and address them. In the future, I will use the Zoom H8 as an audio recorder for the audio processor when I record videos of original songs for my (future) UA-cam channel. The quality and ability to tweak the audio from the H8 is more than sufficient for that use. Later, when I am wildly successful lol (God willing), I can upgrade my audio recording interface if necessary. NONE of this is a criticism of your review - your review is among the best I have listened to. I am writing this comment to let you know one example of how the H8 fits a musician's requirements perfectly. One interesting sidenote. I can control the volume on my Bose 700 (Bluetooth) headphones using a wired (3.5mm) connection to the Zoom 8. This is VERY useful and completely unexpected. I can't control the volume when I use a wired connection to my laptop. Evidently, the Zoom H8 has software that allows this interface for volume control on headphones - which is spectacular if you think about it. I am going to buy the Bluetooth module for the H8 and I am curious if it will allow me to use my headphones with a Bluetooth connection, which would also be wonderful.
@@curtisjudd I get that I really know nothing about recording high-end audio. I have subscribed to your channel and I am reading and researching this subject (I have two engineering degrees so this is natural for me to do). One of your recommendations appears to be don't spend a ton of money on professional audio components if you are not a professional. I think that is good advice. That is why I am starting with the Zoom H8 and cutting my teeth so-to-speak with using it and learning how to negotiate a DAW. BTW, I was joking about being "wildly successful," after I thought about it, the humor might not have come across in my comment and I don't want to sound arrogant. I hope to succeed in this new arena and I have literally spent over a decade writing music and learning guitar and piano. Learning how to sing vocals correctly is one of the most difficult challenges I have ever attempted. Mastering instruments is a close second, but I love writing songs. I now think that I am good enough to perform publicly and copyrighting my original songs is the first step - but only time will tell. The second step is making quality recordings of my songs to present to others on UA-cam and other venues. For the level that I am at, the H8 appears to be sufficient (per your advice). If you have a recommendation on vocal mics (for singing) I would appreciate it. Thank you for your time and expertise.
Great video Curtis. I enjoyed watching this. I have a Zoom H5 but rarely use it since the pre amps in the c200’s and c500 Mark ii is usually sufficient for my uses. The one thing I’m not wild about on this recorder is the form factor. I think it is nice they are trying something different but it seems like it isn’t quite the perfect setup for any use case.
I had to revisit this after seeing that the price dropped by $50. It's tempting to pick one up....but your honest review is enough to convince me that I'll be annoyed with the same issues that annoyed you.
Hello Curist! I love the way you make videos and provide proper guideline. But now I have been blown away by the look of you. May I know how did you lit yourself. I am very eager to see how you set up your lights.
Is it possible, in the music mode, to multi-track? In other words, can I record a signal on one track, playback and listen to it while I'm recording on another track?
Curtis, what pads are you using on that Sony headset? I just ordered some perforated pads, but I was highly considering getting velour/suede ones. Do those get hot for you when recording outside?
Hey Insanejughead, those are Garfield Softie covers - link in the description if you're interested. Yes, I love them for long recording sessions in the heat or the cold. Much better than the pleather cups which come with the 7506's.
Great review! Really enjoying your videos. Been watching this and the one for the F6 (many times). I cannot decide which one to get for my needs. I will mainly record a small choir with two external Rode NT5 microphones and one or two other mics for piano and flute. The 32 bit float with the non clipping and low noise floor on the F6 is really good features for me I guess since I am new to this kind of recording and it would handle "everything" and make me able to handle things in post. At the same time the H8 is very versatile in many ways and I like it as well. The F6 is more expensive, I could use the money for other things if I go for the H8. What would you choose for my needs?
I love Curtis's incredulity over the omission of a USB-C port. For those of you who don't know Curtis, this is the closest he will ever get to saying "What the actual f**k?"
Hahaha! Spot-on, Scott!
LOL.
I'm a bit behind - but what are the limitations of microUSB that people had them so much?
@@onocoffee USB has become a bit of a splintered challenge. I would be nice to be able to mainly just buy USB-C cables at this point. Most new devices have them at this point.
@@onocoffee They wear out and break the pins inside the port. They are then difficult to repair. Blue Yeti's use this port on most all models, and the actual port replacement, if you'd like to see the level of difficulty if you could obtain the correct port housing for the board the mic is using. Just tube yeti usb repair or replacement. I'm with Mr Judd on this one for this reason.
I like how Curtis puts the summary at the start. Dropped a Like at 23 seconds.
Thanks!
@@curtisjudd no, thank YOU for the great work you do :)
You offer the best, most detailed information in your reviews. I can’t thank you enough since I’m always looking for ways to improve my audio. You’re awesome!
Thanks Mchanga!
I use the Zoom H8 as a voiceover artist, initially I thought it was an overkill but it came in handy when I started using it for podcasts. I really like it. I have had it for a few years now.
Nice 👍
Curtis, can’t thank you enough for all the knowledge and testing you share.
Thanks Martin!
Curtis Judd Your deep dives into testing and reviewing audio equipment is an invaluable gift to the UA-cam filmmaking community.
Not to mention the quality of light education you’ve given us all with SSI, CRI, etc. I selfishly can’t wait for a Lupo Dual Color 60 review at some point. 😃. I wish you continued boomerang-ing success for everything you generously offer us all. I can only imagine how much time it takes to run all these tests and edit it all together to create these pieces. Truly an act of humble service. Thank you, Sir!
Agreed. Always just such a pleasure to see a new Curtis Judd video and learn something new every time.
@@mcgreevs24 Wow, thanks so much Martin! Very much appreciate the kinds words.
@@RobbyHuang Thanks Robby.
It is absolutely insane to think that we have reached a point where we can fit that much technology in a package that small
These zoom guys are incredible
Agreed!
Thank you so much for another professional review, Curtis. Most of the stuff you review is way above my goals, means or money, but the experience and the approach you share and convey are incredible. It’s like having an incredibly patient mentor.
Thanks so much, MyO!
Big appreciation for your professionalism and including a summary at the beginning of the video, you truly understand what people want.
Thanks, Liam. 🙏
“I came up with no reason for the micro USB port....I am sorry for the ios only app, even though I don't know why I am apologizing for zoom...” that made my day! A good job always~~~
😀
I have just purchased the H8 and my decision to buy as well as my ongoing education on how to use this unit have been guided by this great review. Much appreciated!
Thanks for the feedback, Richard. Happy recording!
Doesn't look as "spidery" as I thought it would A great audio recorder thing for the price! p.s. I thought I already commented on this video but couldn't find it. So maybe you get two comments on this for the price of one. :)
What a bargain! Thanks pal!
I love the little interviews you do with your family. I can only imagine the eye rolling when you say "honey I need to interview you again!"
Hahaha! They're good sports about it. 😀
@@curtisjudd I'm glad. Also very valuable in my opinion, not a lot of other reviewers manage to get female voice tests when trying microphones, and I think that's pretty important for us soundies.
I was literally searching for your h8 review 6 hrs ago.
And here it is! Yay!
maaaaaaaaate.. i was searching for hours.. zoom need to pay this guy
I used a Zoom H6 to record a coastline in Portugal - the playback almost sounded like surround sound and I wasn't even using external microphones. Delighted with the detail and I'm considering buying the Zoom H8, too.
👍🎙️
Thank you Curtis! Just got my H8 a few days ago.
You're welcome and happy recording!
I just picked this up yesterday - pretty happy with it so far. Not as big as I thought it was going to feel in hand. Best review of H8 that I've seen - nice work Curtis!
Thanks and happy recording!
**Update** V1.1 firmware was released on 31 August 2020 which fixes the slow boot-up issue.
Can you spot where I used the wrong cable?
0:43 I think.
I don’t know, at 2:25 it looked a bit like a USB micro A, but it’s hard to see.
Spot-on. That's a TRS cable, not the typical TS cable you'd use for a guitar or bass.
Stereo headphone 1/4
@@makatron Sharp eye there! Technically it was a 1/4" TRS to XLR cable, but the wrong cable regardless.
Thank you for your helpful explanation, Bro. Love your review approach, Curtis.
Thanks 🙏
Love the color grading and lighting!
Thanks Matt!
Thank you for these summary in the beggining of every video. This is huge timesaver. You are saint man.
You're most welcome!
Me, with my H6 looking at the micro-USB port thinking “I’m sure they’re going to fix this in the next recorder..” oh well.
*sigh*
My sentiments exactly.
Zero excuses for this. The amount of oversight required to make this decision would make giraffes jealous.
At the least, make it recessed or protected. Yeesh. Surface level micro USB is lazy and unacceptably crap design.
The quality of this review is outstanding! Very professional, balanced, and useful. Cheers.
Thanks Tynan Media.
Great video as always. Super helpful info for making a purchase decision. Production value is a new high at this channel. and I guess we're not mentioning that the H8 looks very alien-y (especially with the weirder modules)?
Thanks for the feedback!
Love your addition of a simple summary table with the pros and cons for those of us who remember how to read. Keep up the good work. Subscribed.
👍
Just really wish they'd release an F4 update with some of this stuff. Feels like they've neglected that part of the market. Would love to see F4 with dual card slots and real outputs get that color touch screen, 32 bit float and dual converters. Feels like a miss to have waited this long to update it!
I agree - would love to see an F4n with everything you listed.
It seems there is not enough demand, since the F4 was discontinued. In the same form factor you can get the F8n Pro, though obviously that's more expensive. Dual card slots is always a good feature. But a touchscreen is a negative for field work: it's too dim and you can't use it in hot (sweaty palms) or cold (gloves) climates.
This is the best and detailed information from a reviewer have to beeeee. Thank you Curtis you're the best !
Thanks Irvan.
for reference,
I just recorded live with the zoom H8 using all of it's ports as well as the included XY mic attachment
on full battery power (4 AA Activ energy alkaline) the zoom was able to manage 30-40(ish) mins with 5 Mics using +48V
This is a rough estimate as i was unwilling to let the zoom die mid-song so was forced to change batteries when the zoom displayed 1/3 power left
Thanks for. sharing, Zonga Pat.
This is my experience too. Using all XLR inputs with phantom power is battery hungry.
Yet again another brilliant straightforward explanation of the pros and cons of the zoom h8 handheld device.
Thanks NikCan.
@@curtisjudd more than welcome
"However, if you if you need a recorder for a specific situation Zoom has other options better suited..." whew. I thought for a moment I'd want to get his over the Podtrak P4. Thanks for keeping the device greed at bay. 😅
👍 I have to confess, for me the PodTrak P4 makes more sense for most of what I do.
@@curtisjudd H8 looks so cool though... :))
Awesome review Curtis. Subscribed right away, and having owned and pumped the life out of my h2n and h4n for years, I think this is the device for my short films. Purchasing this based on your endorsement. Thanks again.
Happy recording!
The design seems awkward. Did you find you needed to place it flat on a table to use comfortably? Bag might be prohibitive.
Yes, but that was true of the H6, H5, H4n as well, generally. And this is a bit bigger than all of those.
It looks like a spider top down when you plug the cords in
@@josephyang3260 Yes, it does.
I love the light on your face its so soft and clean, thanks for all those infos
Thanks Sadek.
What are its Kessel run specifications?
23 parsecs, not bad.
@Sasuntidictous Rhoireiphapos No quite but pretty good for $399 USD 😂
I can't believe how well this compares to my old H-4. Incredibly detailed professional-level video.
Thanks muchotone.
As always excellent review - Howewer, It does not look to be especially handy for cable management.
Thanks JOS.
I'm a musician and use the H8 to record my performances and create amateur content such as short videos and interviews. I find the touch screen quite good and the user interface very intuitive. Preamps sound similar to the H5 and H6 which I've owned in the past, not amazing but good enough for people like me. I don't bother with the "musician" or "podcast" sections of the device and just operate in "field" mode for all my work whether it's performance or interview recordings. The thing that I came to appreciate the most is recording small classical music ensembles where you realise quickly the luxury of having up to 6 xlr and a 3.5mm input. Love your reviews Curtis!
Thanks for sharing your experience with the H8, Hoang! Happy recording!
Plug in all the cables and you've activated arachnophobia mode for your viewers...
Oh no! A spider!
YES! I was waiting until Curtis did his review. Thanks for taking the time to do these.
You bet, thanks Chris!
Zoom's insistence to create 'unique' bevels/angles packaging design is creating obnoxious product cabling and portable packaging use. With all wires installed it looks like an octopus, is very non-bag-friendly placing undue strain on plugs/jacks, and nooks/crannies are dirt/dust magnets hard to clean. The Engineering keeps getting better with Zoom but their Marketing staff has allowed the final user's need to drift. Not good thinking.
Thomas Breithaupt Well I Thinking they have different configurations and trying to find what innovation sticks. I have a zoom H6 and I dont like that when Im podcasting with 3-4 people the cables run weridly to the sides before actually going the way I want to. I feel this design works with a round table of people podcasting. Im not saying its the best design, but I kinda get it. Plus cudos for trying imo
Definitely not made for bags. That "Swiss army knife" approach definitely results in several compromises. Not the right recorder for specialists. But could be a good choice for some. I didn't find the ports to be particularly problematic, but I do generally prefer to have all inputs on one side, all outputs on the other.
Yeah, no bags, but it does have strap loops which is how you'd want to carry it if doing field recording.
I'm actually surprised the difficult shape wasn't on the "cons" list.
@@chakerian It isn't a con for me but I see how it could be for others. For field recording with the in-built mic module, it is big, but not unmanageable. For podcasting, I didn't see the form factor as an issue for me.
Thank for all your videos! Based on your videos and recommendations via a short comment conversation a while ago, I got the NTG5 and F6 and I believe this is a monster combo 👍🏼
Hi EnforcerMan, congrats on the new recording setup - solid combination!
I bought the zoom h2 which I had for like ten days before it was lost accidentally on a job. Thought it was amazing, used the money my friend paid out to me from losing the device to get a H4 model. Thought it was just brilliant, but then for some stupid reason I got rid of it when I wasn't using it for a while. Deeply regretted that decision. Picked up a zoom H5 shortly afterwards and couldn't be happier with it. I have done dozens of professional audio projects on it and during lockdown, it has been my go-to device for my audio work for television and radio commercials which I voice. It certainly isn't a criticism of my H5 unit, but I could do with a few more XLR inputs for the podcasts I have been recording. I have no doubt that the H8 is a beast. I think I will buy myself one as a treat in due course. Zoom is a brand that I have complete confidence in. whether you are shooting video or singing along with your guitar. It is intuitive and great value. Get one. You will not regret it.
Thanks for sharing, Martin!
I am the second guy to watch this.
Thanks Curtis.
Love from India.
Thanks Rango, congrats!
I am so impressed by your reviews, without a fail :) Thanks for all the good stuff.
Thanks!
I'll leave this man a like cause he was very thorough.
Thanks Richard.
Super good video, the best reviews I've seen ever!
Thanks Leonardo!
Just found out your channel couple weeks ago. I want to say thank you so much for always explaining technical information as I'm just learning about sound recording. : )
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Thanks Curtis, we really appreciate you sharing all your knowledge and detailed reviews, it makes a difference!
Thanks M Santana!
I bought mine today. Thanks Curtis. Your review was very helpful for a beginner like me. I didn't want to give more for a Tascam X8 or Zoom F3 + a capable shotgun mic.
Glad it was helpful. Happy recording!
Thank you soo much for this.. I almost died of boredom trying to read the manual
LOL! Glad this helped.
Outstanding review! This video finalized my decision in purchasing the H8. Thank you!
You're welcome and happy recording!
I love this recorder and use it all the time (mostly for music but occasionally for weddings). After extensive testing and running all 6 main inputs + 2 additional (EXH-6 capsule) this recorder has to be plugged in to bank power or a power supply at all times (it annihilates AA batteries). Curtis also mentions this recorder not being the greatest for podcasts but in 2022 Zoom has an answer to that problem via ZHA-4. This unit allows four people to hear the H8 mix all at once! Also Zoom finally released the EXH-8 which is adds 4 additional XLR inputs- I usually record my bands practices and I can mic the whole drum kit, both guitars, the bass, and all three vocals- it's one of the most fun "toys" I have!
Thanks for sharing your experience with the H8. Nice!
When I first saw the H8 during Zoom’s pre-release marketing, I was immediately impressed with its capabilities. Though what immediately struck me was it’s singular aesthetics. It looks like a device Bruce Wayne might use in the Dark Knight.
And he’d capture some pretty good sound! 😉
When it comes to audio recording, I go to you, Curtis Judd, before I make any final decisions on purchasing audio gear. Thanks for all the hard work you put into your reviews.
Thanks Todd!
Most of the other folks who have talked about this recorder felt it was important to mention the looks of the unit being different, space-age, or just plain weird. Thank you for not mentioning that because it really doesn't make a difference. I think the design makes a lot of sense. This was a great and thorough review, as always. 👍🦆
Weird in context of how can you use this in a bag seems relevant.
@@daniellove162 I'll give you that, but only one mentioned that. The rest just thought it was ugly. The majority of them also had never had it in hand and were doing "reviews" off of spec sheets. 🙂
Yes, but as noted - this is a Swiss army knife style recorder, not made for bags. Hopefully my summary made that clear.
Thanks for the feedback Gene.
Hi Curtis! Great review as always and I just received the H8 as well. Regarding the headphone for podcasting, we just a simple headphone splitter to connect several headphones. That would do the trick.
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Curtis...thank you for another in depth, honest video! Kudos!
Thanks!
I love this thing!
I do H8 the fact that it only uses iOS for its app... And uses micro USB.
I figured this would be worth a lot more than 399...that's a surprise to me.
Great video as always, Curtis. Thanks again!
Thanks Dave.
This was great! Awesome overview Curtis. Subscribed!! Happy Holidays.
Thanks Patrick!
Thanks for the video. Your content is straight to the point, very informative and honest reviews. You seem like an awesome educator. Keep up the great work! you got my subscription, like, and comment lol.
Thanks Lee!
Another full and incredibly helpful review. An unexpected bonus for me was to see a use for the Edelkrone FlexTilt style heads. I bought one quite some time ago and found no use for it, dismissing it as the most pointless thing that I had ever purchased. Now I see that using it with a field recorder can work rather well (once the thick layer of dust had been removed), so thanks for that as well.
Hi John, glad to have sparked an idea!
Excellent video. And you present as a level headed, friendly sort of person.Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, spoonido.
Another great review! Thank you, Curtis.
Thanks R. S.!
Informative and beautifully presented as always. Many thanks.
Thanks Edward.
I just buy H8 and I'm happy with it. I thinking between F6 and H8.
Thank u soooo much Curtis! I really love your reviews. So much work in there. Thanks! Cheers from Chile 😃
Thanks Antonio!
Thank you Curtis.
You´re the man.
Top of the line reviews and tutorials about sound recording.
Regards J O
Thanks J O!
Another awesome review by the best in this arena. You’re the best, Judd! Thanks much!!
Thanks! 👍
I got this tonight and i was shocked how light it is ? the only thing is ! how hard it is to get your fingers in there to switch the dials and switches LOL but seems pretty awesome !
Congrats on the new recorder. Get out there and make some great sound!
Such a crazy looking thing. Thanks again Curtis!
Thanks for stopping by, Kreigh!
Extremely nice review of the product. Thank you ++ :)
Thanks Benoit.
I received mine this weekend. So far, I am very happy with it. The main downside for me as you mentioned was only being able to use one processor at a time for each channel, but not a deal-breaker at all. Hopefully, a firmware update will fix this.
Congrats, Phillip! Happy recording!
Okay Curtis, now you've done! Went ahead and ordered the new Zoom H8! Refunding my recently purchased H6. The more powerful preamp from the H8 clinched it for me, the cool built-in sound pad sound effects was the sweetener, LOL! I also returned my Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen mixer in favor of the highly sought after Motu M4 4x4 mixer, mainly cuz of many reviews saying the Motu unit has a more powerful preamp and for its cool useful LCD dB level screen. Thanks for contributing to my G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) affliction, haha! :-)
Hi Casey, congratulations! I hope the H8 works well for you. Happy recording!
Thank you for the review.
I was thinking of buying this as a back up of my TASCAM DR-44WL and saw it being sold at a retail store in Tokyo.
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Thank you Mr. Curtis Judd for all your wonderful videos ! X🤘🏻X
Thank you!
I just picked up the last one on sale for $260. waiting for it to arrive!
Happy recording!
Curtis your channel is fantastic! Thank you for sharing!!!!!
Thanks Andre!
Great content, he's the man when I want a detailed review!
Thanks Andrew!
Thank you for good information. Your video helped me a lot in purchasing the zoom h8. Now all that's left is to put some good sound in it. thank you.
👍 Happy recording!
So helpful!! Thanks! Thinking of getting the H8 or the P8 for podcasting. However would also use this for recording audio for videos. So appreciate the indepth look.
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Thanks! Great job on this video. Very detailed. I just bought one of these so I may be reaching out to you with a bunch of questions. Thank you
Happy recording!
Solid content, as always. Thanks for covering so much.
Thanks, Blakely Studio.
Another great episode. It's certainly an 'interesting' design, but as an Android user, I'm hesitant to choose this as my next field recorder. I also very much dislike the way they implemented the circular level settings on the display. Having a slider bar the width of the display is much more tactile friendly than those tiny circles.
Thanks AwesomeShot Studios. Good input.
The H8 is my workhorse. Often I just set it up on a mini tripod and use it as my mic for videos and even zoom calls.
👍 Thanks for sharing, Ria!
I know you only covered the Field and Podcast apps... but the Music app actually supports up to 3 effects chained together (tap the track# to get to the EQ/Pan/Send screen for that track, and from there tap the "Effect" icon and you can get to dozens of choices). Unfortunately, this only works when recording in 44.1 Khz mode.
Hi Chuck - appreciate the info. You're the right guy to review the music app. 😀
@@curtisjudd Thanks Curtis, I appreciate that. I hope to have that review out later this week.
I picked up my H8 yesterday, and while I got the impression the A and B ports didn't have phantom power, but after upgrading to the 2.0 firmware, I noticed that phantom power is an option in the menus.
I'll admit, I didn't check this in the original firmware, and I don't have a condenser-mic to test with (yet). If this recorder is capable of running six lavs directly off the recorder, that is perfect for my needs.
That's good news. Thanks for sharing!
While I’m definitely not a fan of the design, the featureset is spectacular. 🤯
I hope the design will grow on me. Fortunately, it isn't on camera for most situations. 😀 It is pretty good in terms of usability for the handy recorder type of form factor
I thought you might enjoy seeing one practical use for the H8 by a musician and song writer.
Clearly the F6 is better for film makers than the H8 and for highly detailed musical recording (and podcasts), but that is not H8's central purpose. It's purpose is for people to be able to make high quality recordings in different venues, often without having to connect and set up external mics. I am a songwriter and guitar is my primary instrument (I write songs on guitar, but I also play piano). I need a recorder to transfer my music into a DAW and I don't need a professional audio interface like the Zoom 20, the Zoom F6 or similar device. At most, I will have five or six external mics - but if I needed more, I could buy a Zoom module that provides four more inputs. I will use the X-Y mics to record music "ideas" and copywrite recordings. So if I am working on a song, I can easily record flash "revelations" of inspiration in a moment of time, without setting up external mics. Before I was using my Galaxy S20+ to record my songs, and the recording quality is good for a cell phone, but that is not saying much. It distorts the true sound of the recording. On my S20, I could never really hear exactly how my vocals were being heard by the audience.
When I record my vocals on the Zoom H8, I can use the headphones to at least get an idea of how I sound while recording. And vocals recorded on the Zoom 8 are "magic." I can hear every nuance and every flaw, and this immensely helps me to see the weaknesses in my vocal performance. To put is more simply, the Zoom H8 recordings accurately reflect how I actually sound to an audience, and that is priceless. When singing challenging songs, very minor changes and correcting minor flaws can make a universe of difference. But if you cannot hear the flaws, then you don't know that you need to correct them. That's where the H8 is SO useful. Even using the X-Y mics that come with it provides a beautifully accurate recording and I can hear every minor mistake I make and address them.
In the future, I will use the Zoom H8 as an audio recorder for the audio processor when I record videos of original songs for my (future) UA-cam channel. The quality and ability to tweak the audio from the H8 is more than sufficient for that use. Later, when I am wildly successful lol (God willing), I can upgrade my audio recording interface if necessary.
NONE of this is a criticism of your review - your review is among the best I have listened to. I am writing this comment to let you know one example of how the H8 fits a musician's requirements perfectly.
One interesting sidenote. I can control the volume on my Bose 700 (Bluetooth) headphones using a wired (3.5mm) connection to the Zoom 8. This is VERY useful and completely unexpected. I can't control the volume when I use a wired connection to my laptop. Evidently, the Zoom H8 has software that allows this interface for volume control on headphones - which is spectacular if you think about it. I am going to buy the Bluetooth module for the H8 and I am curious if it will allow me to use my headphones with a Bluetooth connection, which would also be wonderful.
Thanks for sharing, Frank. Glad to hear the H8 works well for you!
@@curtisjudd I get that I really know nothing about recording high-end audio. I have subscribed to your channel and I am reading and researching this subject (I have two engineering degrees so this is natural for me to do).
One of your recommendations appears to be don't spend a ton of money on professional audio components if you are not a professional. I think that is good advice. That is why I am starting with the Zoom H8 and cutting my teeth so-to-speak with using it and learning how to negotiate a DAW.
BTW, I was joking about being "wildly successful," after I thought about it, the humor might not have come across in my comment and I don't want to sound arrogant. I hope to succeed in this new arena and I have literally spent over a decade writing music and learning guitar and piano. Learning how to sing vocals correctly is one of the most difficult challenges I have ever attempted. Mastering instruments is a close second, but I love writing songs.
I now think that I am good enough to perform publicly and copyrighting my original songs is the first step - but only time will tell. The second step is making quality recordings of my songs to present to others on UA-cam and other venues. For the level that I am at, the H8 appears to be sufficient (per your advice).
If you have a recommendation on vocal mics (for singing) I would appreciate it.
Thank you for your time and expertise.
Great video Curtis. I enjoyed watching this. I have a Zoom H5 but rarely use it since the pre amps in the c200’s and c500 Mark ii is usually sufficient for my uses. The one thing I’m not wild about on this recorder is the form factor. I think it is nice they are trying something different but it seems like it isn’t quite the perfect setup for any use case.
Thanks Griffin, yes, not a great form factor for film except for effects recording.
Got mine today! Can’t wait to use it!
Congrats and happy recording!
I had to revisit this after seeing that the price dropped by $50. It's tempting to pick one up....but your honest review is enough to convince me that I'll be annoyed with the same issues that annoyed you.
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Super helpful overview, thanks!
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Thanks for detailed and easy to understand explanation
You're most welcome!
Hello Curist!
I love the way you make videos and provide proper guideline.
But now I have been blown away by the look of you. May I know how did you lit yourself. I am very eager to see how you set up your lights.
Hi Re View, thanks. I used a Godox SL150W II LED light for the key light with a big softbox. We have a review of that coming in the next week or two.
Excellent, informative video. Thanks for the time you put into this to help intermediate level folks make a well-informed buying decision.
Thanks 🙏
Very informative piece of content... Thank you sir!
Thanks John.
You need to do a video with the zoom headphone adapter for the H8 and tell us if its any good
谢谢 分享,刚刚买入一个H8。学习中
恭喜你,录制愉快!
Is it possible, in the music mode, to multi-track? In other words, can I record a signal on one track, playback and listen to it while I'm recording on another track?
Curtis, what pads are you using on that Sony headset? I just ordered some perforated pads, but I was highly considering getting velour/suede ones. Do those get hot for you when recording outside?
Also, have you considered reviewing any of those battery power banks? I saw the Anker logo and my curiosity suddenly became activated on such things.
Hey Insanejughead, those are Garfield Softie covers - link in the description if you're interested. Yes, I love them for long recording sessions in the heat or the cold. Much better than the pleather cups which come with the 7506's.
Many years ago I did, before I had the Anker. Now I don't think they still make this Anker model. Will take a look at newer models.
Great review! Really enjoying your videos. Been watching this and the one for the F6 (many times). I cannot decide which one to get for my needs. I will mainly record a small choir with two external Rode NT5 microphones and one or two other mics for piano and flute. The 32 bit float with the non clipping and low noise floor on the F6 is really good features for me I guess since I am new to this kind of recording and it would handle "everything" and make me able to handle things in post. At the same time the H8 is very versatile in many ways and I like it as well. The F6 is more expensive, I could use the money for other things if I go for the H8.
What would you choose for my needs?
If I had the budget for it, I'd opt for the F6.