ZOOM H8 Audio Recorder Review: A Swiss Army Knife Audio Recorder

In today’s episode, we have an in-depth look at the new ZOOM H8 audio recorder for field, video, music, and podcast recording. We’ll look at the ZOOM H8 from the perspective of a video/film creator and a podcaster. The H8 marks a substantial step ahead from the ZOOM H6, H5, and H4n Pro.

#ZOOM #H8 #Recorder

Index:
00:00 Intro
00:12 Summary
00:22 Recorded with H8
00:31 XLR/TRS inputs
00:45 XLR Inputs & Phantom Power
00:56 SD Cards
01:08 Line out for camera
01:40 Speaker
01:53 Bluetooth adapter and iOS app
02:20 Powering options
03:41 USB Audio interface
04:42 Pre-record
04:58 Color touch screen
05:29 XY Stereo microphone module
05:49 Interchangeable mic modules
06:13 Recording modes
07:24 Compressor, limiter, noise gate
07:47 1/4-20 Thread
07:57 Headphone output
08:24 Price
08:36 USB micro port
09:05 iOS only app
09:19 Some features disable others
09:55 Outdoor stereo sample
10:11 Podcast sample
11:22 Shure SM7B
12:17 Self noise performance
14:10 Who is the H8 for?
17:41 Wrap-up
17:57 Please buy my courses

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses at https://school.learnlightandsound.com including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest course is Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, Pictureline or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- ZOOM H8 audio recorder - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon - https://geni.us/M5Bq1kh
- ZOOM H6 audio recorder - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon - https://geni.us/eh0Fr0
- ZOOM F8n audio recorder for film/video - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon - https://geni.us/aXim
- ZOOM F6 audio recorder for film/video - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon - https://geni.us/pCFS
- ZOOM PodTrak P4 audio recorder for podcasts - B&H, Sweetwater - https://geni.us/BbGtUP
- ZOOM LiveTrak L-8 audio recorder for podcasts - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon - https://geni.us/81Wt0VO
- RODE NTG5 short shotgun microphone - B&H, Sweetwater, Pictureline, Amazon https://geni.us/LoGE7F4
- Garfield Softie Ear Pad Covers for Sony MDR-7506 - B&H https://geni.us/Qcpgd
- Sony MDR-7506 headphones - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon https://geni.us/sonymdr7506CH
- Godox SL150W II LED light - Amazon https://geni.us/nBdQF
- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Pictureline, Amazon https://geni.us/InspOl
- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS II Lens - B&H, Pictureline, Amazon https://geni.us/gr47
- Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K - B&H, Pictureline https://geni.us/uK8UqB
- Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS ART Lens - B&H, Pictureline, Amazon https://geni.us/bhOWVlW

The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed - “For the Kids” by Utah. Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed: http://share.mscbd.fm/curtisjudd

Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd