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Samson Zoom H2 Digital Recorder Review

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Tom Hamilton Posted: 04-28-2008 3:06 PM
Samson Zoom H2  Review

 

 PROS:

 

What we really like about this 24 bit recorder is the fact that it is only $200 as compared to professional 12 bit dictation “only” $500 recorders.  We also like the fact that it doubles as a decent USB voice array microphone with as much as a 3 foot range and a choice between a 120° mic spread and 90°.  We recommend using the front 90° spread on 1 or 2 monitors and the 120° mic spread on 3 or more monitors. 24 bit recording is impressive.  Price wise you can’t beat the H2 for recording conferences, lectures or concerts. This unit even includes a number of professional features like Time Stamp, 512 Mb internal memory (can accommodate 4 Gb SD cards), low-cut filters and can even simultaneously record with all 4 microphones (surround sound) for round table conference discussions and auto-level mic input control. 

 

 CONS:

 

NaturallySpeaking cannot transcribe 24 bit recordings so you can only utilize the MP3 settings which only produce mediocre transcription quality (about equivalent to low-end consumer quality digital recorders). The H2 doesn’t include playback or editing software like most other digital recorders.  The membrane buttons lack the tactile feel of a dedicated push button and there is no dedicated slider switch control functionality like double speed play back (cue/review) or seamless punch in because this recorder isn’t designed for transcription use. Note that the H2 is also more than twice the size of a traditional transcription recorder.    

 

 

 

Although the H2 doubles as a good voice array microphone system (surpassing other dedicated voice array systems like the high priced $345 Acoustic Magic’s USB Voice Tracker or Andrea Electronics $80 USB Superbeam) it isn’t quite as good as the Samson Q7 or Buddy Desktop which are roughly the same price.

 

 

  One feature which we particularly dislike is if you wish to use the H2 primarily as a desktop USB microphone you have to go through 9 menu selections to activate the USB microphone output because the H2 doesn’t remember your changes when you power down the unit.     

 

 

  CONCLUSION:

 

If you are looking for an inexpensive digital recorder for serious or even semi-serious work, we cannot recommend the H2 unless you are echo dictating.  Note that unlike other digital recorders, the H2 doesn’t include playback/editing software because it is designed for another purpose.

 

If you are looking for the perfect desktop microphone, the H2 is decent but not our 1st choice unless you are on a $200 budget.  However, if you are on a $200 budget and need a 24 bit digital recorder for conferences, lectures and even concerts that will double as a USB voice array microphone for speech recognition, the Zoom H2 is a great choice 

 

KnowBrainer Support Staff – Tom Hamilton Now Providing FREE (1st 5 min.) Tech Support 615-884-4558 A Nuance Gold Certified Endorsed Vendor KnowBrainer.com - KnowBrainer Speech recognition Forum
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mmarkoe replied on 04-28-2008 3:25 PM

Tom Hamilton:
Samson Zoom H2 Review

eMicrophones has been providing the Samson H2 handy recorder/microphone for several months. The vast majority of purchasers are one of two groups. Either local musical bands who want to record their concerts or business people/lawyers who need to record a conference. Our testing found this item is not appropriate for speech recognition purposes.

Martin

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KnowBrainer replied on 04-28-2008 7:28 PM

 

We can understand why you don't recommend the Samson Zoom H2 24 bit digital recorder for speech recognition purposes on your website and we would agree that the Zoom H2 is not ideally suited to that task but we believe the H2 has a place in the speech recognition community. Note that we ONLY CARRY speech recognition products on our website and the reason why we are introducing the Zoom H2 to the speech recognition world is because we found this recorder to be acceptable as a combination desktop Voice Array microphone and a 24-bit digital recorder for anyone who needs both on a $200 budget. NaturallySpeaking cannot transcribe 24-bit recordings but can transcribe MP3 recordings. However, DNS transcription is nowhere near the quality levels of transcription dedicated professional digital recorders such as the “soon-to-land in second-place” Philips 9600 or the soon-to-be King of digital recorders, the Olympus DS-5000 (which we will be posting a review first on the KnowBrainer Digital Recorder Forum.

 

We would only recommend the H2 for light direct MP3 transcription but found the unit worked reasonably well as a Voice Array microphone and even bested the $345 Acoustic Magic Voice Tracker which costs considerably more. We basically recommend this recorder for someone who needs a combination Voice Array microphone and an MP3 recorder for occasional transcription use and a 24-bit recorder for frequent conference and lecture usage for Echo Dictating. At $200, you can't beat the price and we felt there was a need for something in this price range. We have also had several requests for this speech recognition option.

 

Lunis Orcutt - Developer of KnowBrainer & Host of the Http://www.KnowBrainer.com Speech Recognition Forum A Nuance Gold Certified Endorsed Dragon NaturallySpeaking Vendor ALWAYS Ask If Your Speech Recognition Vendor Is Nuance Certified

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mmarkoe replied on 04-28-2008 7:44 PM

KnowBrainer:
Note that we ONLY CARRY speech recognition products on our website

Well gee Knowbrainer, eMicrophones only carry speech recognition products on our web site as well. Perhaps you think Conference Software with which we provide specialty microphones is not speech recognition? Of course it is since the recording must be clear for it to be interpreted. We sell podcasting microphones. If the recorded speech is not clear, it won't be understood. So please let us know if eMicrophones, Inc. is not a speech recognition specialist and you are?

Sincerely,
Martin

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mmarkoe replied on 04-28-2008 7:46 PM

KnowBrainer:
Note that we ONLY CARRY speech recognition products on our website

Well gee Knowbrainer, eMicrophones only carry speech recognition products on our web site as well. Perhaps you think Conference Software with which we provide specialty microphones is not speech recognition? Of course it is since the recording must be clear for it to be interpreted. We sell podcasting microphones. If the recorded speech is not clear, it won't be understood. So please let us know if eMicrophones, Inc. is not a speech recognition microphone specialist?

Sincerely,
Martin

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KnowBrainer replied on 04-28-2008 7:48 PM

 

eMicrophones has been providing the Samson H2 handy recorder/microphone for several months. The vast majority of purchasers are one of two groups. Either local musical bands who want to record their concerts or business people/lawyers who need to record a conference. Our testing found this item is not appropriate for speech recognition purposes.

 

According to you you've been selling Zoom H2 digital recorder for several months but you claim it shouldn't be used for speech recognition. From our point of view it looks like you're selling at least one non-speech recognition product.

Lunis Orcutt - Developer of KnowBrainer & Host of the Http://www.KnowBrainer.com Speech Recognition Forum A Nuance Gold Certified Endorsed Dragon NaturallySpeaking Vendor ALWAYS Ask If Your Speech Recognition Vendor Is Nuance Certified

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mmarkoe replied on 04-29-2008 5:25 AM

KnowBrainer:
According to you you've been selling Zoom H2 digital recorder for several months but you claim it shouldn't be used for speech recognition. From our point of view it looks like you're selling at least one non-speech recognition product.

The Samson is listed under Conference Audio/Handheld recorders. Lawyers and court reporters use them to record depositions as well as record conferences. They must recognize the recorded speech on playback as a legal record.

Martin

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