Zoom H6studio 6-Track Handy Recorder with 32-Bit Float and Interchangeable Mic Capsules
The H6studio is the flagship of Zoom's Handy Recorder line, and it borrows from the F-Series field recorders: the same class of preamps, 32-bit float capture and an interchangeable microphone system, in a handheld body.
- 6 tracks, 8 recorded: six individual tracks plus a stereo mix, captured at the same time.
- 32-bit float recording: takes clipping off the list of things that can end a session.
- F-Series preamps: rated at -127 dBu EIN, giving 132 dB of dynamic range alongside dual A/D converters.
- Large-diaphragm XY mics: 19.4 mm capsules with 123 dB of dynamic range, holding up to 140 dB SPL.
- Interchangeable capsule system: the supplied XYH-5s capsule can be swapped for other Zoom capsules as the job changes.
- 2 inch full-colour LCD: 320 x 240 resolution for metering and setup.
- Flexible power: 4 AA alkaline, lithium or NiMH cells, or the ZOOM AD-17 adapter at 5 V / 1 A.
- Wireless ready: works with the dedicated ZOOM BTA-1 adapter, recording to microSDHC cards.
Aimed at musicians capturing samples, podcasters recording a table of guests and sound designers chasing textures on location.
The H6studio is where Zoom's field recorder technology comes down into a handheld body. It records 6 audio tracks, or up to 8 when you count the stereo mix, using F-Series preamps and 32-bit float. If the H1n is about always having a recorder with you, this is about not needing a second machine when the session gets bigger.
Six tracks plus a stereo mix
Capturing up to 8 tracks, 6 individual plus a stereo mix, makes the H6studio a portable multitrack setup rather than a stereo capture device. That is the difference between recording a podcast panel and recording a podcast. Each voice, instrument or source arrives as its own file, and the stereo mix is there as a reference or a quick deliverable. Playback runs up to 6 tracks.
Never lose a take to clipping
32-bit float recording is the reason to choose this over an older six-input recorder. Whether you are on set or on location, the level that surprised you does not destroy the take, and the fix happens afterwards. The preamps behind it deliver ultra-clean audio at -127 dBu EIN, and combined with dual A/D converters they provide 132 dB of dynamic range, which is what makes the float format worth having rather than a spec sheet line.
Bigger microphones
The onboard XY pair uses 19.4 mm capsules, larger than the mics on most handhelds, with a rich, flat response, 123 dB of dynamic range and the ability to withstand 140 dB SPL. Zoom's own comparison for that number is a jet engine. The capsule system is interchangeable too, so the XYH-5s can come off and another Zoom capsule can go on when the job calls for a different pickup pattern.
Screen, power and media
A 2 inch full-colour LCD at 320 x 240 handles metering and setup. Power comes from 4 AA batteries, alkaline, lithium or rechargeable NiMH, or from the ZOOM AD-17 adapter at 5 V / 1 A. Recording goes to microSDHC cards, and the dedicated ZOOM BTA-1 wireless adapter is supported for remote control.