Zoom H5studio Handy Recorder

The Zoom H5studio is a handheld recorder for people who want to do more than keep a rough record of an event. Its combination of large XY microphones, external microphone inputs and hands-on level controls makes it a capable partner for acoustic sessions, documentary interviews and detailed location recordings. You can travel with a self-contained stereo recording system, then add your preferred microphones when the production calls for closer placement or more separation. It brings a considered recording workflow to a format that is easy to take out of the studio.

Hear the performance and the space around it

The supplied XY microphone capsule uses 19.4mm capsules and accommodates sound pressure levels up to 140dB SPL. That gives it scope for both delicate acoustic performances and powerful sources, provided the recorder is positioned appropriately. XY recording captures a stereo image from two closely placed directional microphones. For a rehearsal, that can convey where instruments sit across the room; for a location recording, it can retain the sense of an environment. Moving the recorder closer gives more emphasis to the subject, while a more distant position brings in more room sound.

Flexible recording with meaningful control

Dual analogue-to-digital converters and 32-bit float recording give you considerable freedom to adjust recorded levels in compatible editing software. This is valuable when a quiet passage suddenly becomes much louder, or an interviewee changes speaking level. The H5studio also provides dedicated gain knobs and conventional 16-bit and 24-bit recording, so you can choose a workflow to suit the job. Float recording does not repair an overloaded microphone, poor placement or unwanted background noise; it gives you more latitude with the level of a correctly captured signal.

Add close microphones without losing the bigger picture

Two locking XLR/TRS inputs feature Zoom's F-series preamps, with 48V phantom power available for suitable condenser microphones. Record a stereo picture through the built-in pair while using the external inputs for two voices, a vocal and an instrument, or additional detail within a performance. Keeping sources on separate tracks lets you rebalance them afterwards instead of committing every decision on location. The H5studio captures four individual input tracks and can also record a stereo mix at supported sample rates up to 96kHz; 192kHz recording is available for individual tracks without that stereo mix.

Work comfortably from capture to edit

The colour display shows levels and waveforms, making it easier to check what is happening while you record. Separate headphone and line outputs let you listen critically while feeding a camera or another destination. Over USB, the H5studio becomes a four-input, two-output audio interface, extending its role to computer recording and compatible mobile setups. This is particularly attractive if you want one recorder for interviews away from your desk and a practical microphone interface when you return to edit or record narration.

Build a recording kit around the way you work

Four AA batteries or USB power give you options for portable and longer fixed sessions. Recording to microSD keeps the main capture process independent of a laptop. The Capsule System 3.0 connection accepts compatible current-generation Zoom capsules, allowing different microphone arrangements as your work changes; older capsule generations are not interchangeable. For musicians, sound recordists and small production teams, the H5studio's appeal lies in that balance: a capable stereo recorder today, with external inputs and compatible expansion when tomorrow's session needs something different.