CES 2018: Zoom Sound Lab release the H1n audio recorder

Released in March 2010, the Zoom H1 has been a popular choice for many videographers, especially in the wedding industry due to its small size, simplicity, and price.

Zoom has now introduced the successor, the H1n. It looks much more refined and a lot easier control since the original H1 only had the single record button on the front with buttons down the side.

One-touch button controls
1.25” monochrome LCD display
Intuitive menus for easy operation
Stereo X/Y 90˚microphones handle up to 120 dB SPL
Stereo ⅛” Mic/Line In mini phone jack
Stereo ⅛” Phone/Line Output jack with dedicated volume control
Limiter button for input signal up to 120 dB SPL
Playback Speed Control, Voice Emphasize Filter, and Stereo Bounce functions
Auto-Record, Pre-Record, and Self-Timer functions
Supports up to 24-bit/96 kHz audio in BWF-compliant WAV or a variety of MP3 formats
Tone generator for filmmaking use with DSLR and video cameras
Records directly to Micro SD and Micro SDHC cards up to 32 GB
Micro USB port for data exchange to and from computer and use as an audio interface
Runs on only 2 standard AAA alkaline, Lithium, or NiMH rechargeable batteries, or AC adapter (AD-17)
Up to 10 hours of operation with alkaline batteries

The original H1 with its single record button on the front

The built-in X/Y microphones capture high-quality stereo sound, supporting up to 24-bit audio at sampling rates of 44.1, 48, or 96 kHz in WAV and various MP3 formats. Just like the original, the H1n has a 1/8″ (3.5mm) mic/line input for connecting external microphones or other sound sources, and supplies plug-in power (2.5 volts).

With the improved usability thanks to its plethora of new buttons on the front, a few new functions have been added to the software including auto-record, pre-record, and self-timer. For video shooters, the H1n now has a tone generator making it easier to make it easier to sync in post or set your camera audio levels. It would have been nice to have an option to create an attenuated safety track from a mono input source. You can get around this by using a mic like the RØDE VideoMic Pro+.

The Zoom H1n chooses to use 2x AAA batteries instead of a single AA battery in the Zoom H1. It can also be powered via an AC adapter or USB bus power. Powered by batteries, Zoom claim 10-hours of recording time.