Zoom H5studio 4-Track Handy Recorder with 32-Bit Float and 19.4mm Mics
The H5studio is the Handy Recorder built around microphone size and preamp quality. Its capsules measure 19.4mm, and the inputs use the F-series preamps from the company's field recorders.
- 19.4mm capsules: wide frequency response, 140 dB maximum SPL and an expansive dynamic range, so loud sources do not force you to back away.
- F-series preamps: rated at -127 dBu EIN, which keeps quiet dialogue and room tone clear of hiss.
- 132 dB dynamic range: dual AD converters feeding 32-bit float hold the loud and the quiet in one take.
- 32-bit float and gain knobs: record in 32-bit float and ignore levels, or work in 16 or 24-bit with the dedicated knobs and skip the post-production pass.
- Up to 6 tracks at once: 4 individual tracks plus a stereo mix, with 4 track playback.
- Sample rates 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz for anything from a podcast to a critical acoustic session.
- XYH-5s capsule fitted as standard, a 90 degree XY stereo microphone.
- 2 inch full colour LCD at 320 x 240, with a built-in speaker and LINE OUT.
- Power and control: 4 AA batteries or the ZOOM AD-17 supply, with the ZOOM BTA-1 adding wireless control.
Zoom's handheld line has always traded on convenience. The H5studio is the model where the components stopped being compromises, carrying 19.4mm microphone capsules and the preamp design from the F-series field recorders.
The microphones
The capsules measure 19.4mm. Capsule area drives a great deal of how a small recorder sounds, and the extra size shows up as a wider frequency response, a larger dynamic range and a 140 dB maximum SPL rating. That last figure is the practical one, because it means the recorder can sit close to a drum kit or a guitar cabinet without the microphone giving up before the performance does.
The preamps and 32-bit float
The inputs use Zoom's F-series preamps at -127 dBu EIN. Paired with dual AD converters and 32-bit float, they cover a 132 dB dynamic range, wide enough to hold a shouted line and quiet room tone in the same file without noise or distortion. The H5studio also keeps dedicated gain knobs, which matters more than it first sounds. Recording in 32-bit float means you never clip but always do a level pass afterwards. Recording in 16 or 24-bit with a real gain knob means the file is finished the moment you stop. This recorder lets you choose per job rather than committing to one workflow.
Four tracks and a mix
The H5studio captures up to six tracks at once, four individual tracks plus a stereo mix, and plays back four. Sample rates run from 44.1 kHz through to 192 kHz. Four inputs is enough for a two person interview on lavaliers, a rehearsal with a stereo pair and a couple of spot mics, or a solo session using the built-in capsule alongside an instrument feed.
Around the unit
The fitted XYH-5s is a 90 degree XY stereo microphone. There is a LINE OUT, a headphone jack and a built-in speaker for checking a take on the spot, plus a 2 inch full colour LCD at 320 x 240 for metering and file handling. Recording goes to microSD card, power comes from 4 AA batteries or the ZOOM AD-17 adapter, and the ZOOM BTA-1 wireless adapter adds remote control.