This One Feature Has SAVED Me On Gigs!! || Zoom H6 Review
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- čas přidán 2. 08. 2024
- When it came time to choose an external recorder to handle my audio needs for videography, the Zoom H6 was my choice, and it certainly did not disappoint. However, what I came to find out was that among the many great aspects of this unit, there is one particular feature that is both surprisingly good, and not even something I considered purchasing the unit for in the first place.
In this review, I'll talk about the many specifications and features of the Zoom H6, and why I chose it over other popular external recorder models like the Zoom H4n. Additionally, I'll also go over my preferred settings for the unit that you'll want to consider if you shoot video, and provide samples of some of the different ways you can capture audio with the unit. Last, I'll go over the one feature that has impressed me and saved me on a number of gigs.
The Zoom H6 is an excellent all around choice for an external/field recorder, and has become an essential part of my audio toolkit because of it.
If you like audio gear reviews and tutorial content like this, let me know in the comments below and I will make more in the future!
Zoom H6: amzn.to/32HCgep
SanDisk Ultra SDHC UHS-I SD Cards (32GB): amzn.to/3rjRwYF
Analog Cases GLIDE Case for the Zoom H6: amzn.to/3rZixQa
Panasonic Eneloop AA Rechargeable Batteries 4 pack w/ Charger: amzn.to/3gp3J7O
Zoom AD-17 Power Adapter: amzn.to/3g4JT1C
Mini USB to USB Type A Cable: amzn.to/34kEXmv
0:00 - Intro, why the Zoom H6 surprised me...
0:46 - Overall specs and features
2:36 - What it doesn't come with, that you might want...
3:05 - Zoom H6 vs. Zoom H4n (why I chose the H6)
4:07 - My recommended settings for the H6
5:11 - Audio quality samples
6:05 - The one feature that blew me away!
8:18 - Conclusion
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My Current Kit:
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Cameras & Lenses:
Sony a7S III: amzn.to/3Gd87kK
Sony a7 IV: amzn.to/3g3Ipoq
Sony a7 III: amzn.to/3GcEX5x
Sony 20mm f/1.8 G: amzn.to/3AE7pMt
Sony Zeiss Sonnar 55mm f/1.8: amzn.to/3r6Lo5M
Sony 24-70 f/2.8 GM: amzn.to/3HfLIoy
Sony 70-200 f/2.8 GM: amzn.to/3He70Ts
Audio:
Rode VideoMic NTG: amzn.to/3AJwTrW
Tascam DR-10L: amzn.to/3AIRA7l
Zoom H6: amzn.to/32HCgep
Lighting:
Aputure LS 60x: amzn.to/3Gc04og
Aputure Amaran P60c: amzn.to/3ob7qm6
Aputure Amaran AL-F7: amzn.to/3g3IzMy
Aputure MC: amzn.to/34l8DzS
Tripod/Monopod:
Manfrotto 290 Xtra 128RC: amzn.to/3o8bPpV
iFootage Cobra C180-II: amzn.to/3r8kfPY
Affiliate Disclaimer: The above links to products may contain affiliate links, which may earn me a small commission as an Amazon Associate. Amazon and all related Marks are Trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. - Věda a technologie
Thanks for being thorough and comparing different mics as well as the built in stereo mic! It's appreciated.
No problem, glad to hear it helped!
This is a great breakdown and demo! I actually just purchased an H6 and I'm mad excited to finally get it.
Thanks, and congrats on the purchase! It's a great recorder for sure.
Thanks Andrew This was an excellent review. Keep "em coming please
Thanks I appreciate that, will do!
Great review. Loved the special feature that you mentioned. That’s forced my hand to purchase the H6
10/10
Thanks James!
Great review. Terrific comparison with previous generation Zooms, and full of real-world advice.
Thanks Josh, glad you found it helpful!
I do my small drum kit with my H6 for videos and I love it so much. Maybe down the road I'll want more inputs but for now I'm happy, and it comes with the overheads/XY pair! And I'm sure I'll get good use with it as a field recorder
Glad to hear it's working well for you! Yeah it's a great unit for almost any type of acoustic instrument recording.
Great info on the settings. I needed this.
Thanks Edward, glad it helped!
just got the deal of the century on the 1st gen Zoom H6 that came with the case and 2 mics. great vid
Thanks, and congrats on the purchase!
As an event photog and videographer I can completely agree with you especially with the dynamics that come with an event. Ive done alot where there is no space on the board for an output as well as some where the engineer dont understand the board or have time to conntect
Exactly, it happens a lot more often than people would think.
A side benefit of compression is increased volume headroom. The cost of compression is less directionality of the microphone. Directionality is important because room ambience is the new noise floor. Don't use compression with wireless microphone receivers because the wireless system has its own compression magic. Singers should always be compressed because of their power and going off-mic. If your recording is too noisy, doing the opposite i.e. expanding, will push the noise floor down.
All good tips! With something like the H6, I usually think compression is best to handle in post, but as you noted, it all depends on the source, signal chain, etc.
Compression might be a way to affect perceived ambiance, but it has no effect directionality of a microphone.
It’s crazy how necessary the H6 is for shooting weddings. One thing I’ve noticed since Covid, it’s a shame how a lot of production gear companies have been skimping out on accessories and supplies. The mid/sphere mic and case the H6 that used to be bundled with it was a nice gesture from Zoom. Also, don’t forget the xy has a 3.5mm line in on the side so you don’t need that adapter into XLR in
Very true! Yeah, I wish the H6 still came with a small case (e.g. similar to the H4n's).
Very good review. My H6 is on the way.
Thanks, and congrats on the purchase!
Excellent presentation 👍👍 SO helpful!
Thanks Virgil, I appreciate that!
Thanks buddy 🙌
No problem!
i'm new to recording with external audio, but your video reassured me that the H6 should be a good investment! just a quick question: when you're recording live music gigs with the XY mics, where is the best place to put the H6 to ensure the drummer, vocalist, guitarist etc. all have even sound? like your audio in the paradise city cover video was great, i was wondering where you placed your H6!
Thanks! I have a concert tips video that talks about a lot of this re: placement, getting a good mix, etc. that I would definitely check out. czcams.com/video/AeXo-6M_KYk/video.html Usually, 10-20 feet from the stage and getting a mix of house sound from the mains, and actual ambient audio from the acoustic instruments.
I’m looking to use this as a backup for my podcasts. I currently have a rodecaster 2. I just need something on the table as a backup. I’ve lost a few podcasts when the file took a shit. This also looks good for something in the field.
The H6 can definitely do the job; it's great in the field too FWIW.
Hi Andrew :). Thx for the breakdown of the H6. Question: What are the differences between the 90 and 120 positioning on the recorder. Which setting would you recommend for recording your rehearsals in a studio setting. Thanks in advance for your input. Be well.
No problem, Heather! The 90° pattern has a bit more of a focused sound (i.e. recording what's in front of you) vs. the 120° pattern capturing more of the room/sides. I tend to use the 90° most of the time, but it's worth testing them out (along with different placements in the room for the H6, like in your studio case) to see which you prefer.
Thank you very much!
No problem, Ken!
Nice and quick overview. There was one thing I was wondering about that I could find no mention of in the manual: Is it possible to select source for the headphone monitor or line out, so you could monitor for instance just a single channel, a stereo pair, or is it always going to be all channels at the same time?
Thanks! There is the Solo mode that allows you do to this (basically, hold the track down and it lights up orange), but it affects both the line out and headphone monitor simultaneously.
@@andrewsaraceni Thanks for the quick response. So the line out and the headphone out are always the same? That's alright, though, and quite common to find in mixers where the headphone output mirrors the main monitor out. The main thing, at least for my particular use, is I'd need to monitor just one of the stereo inputs since one of my use cases would be recording synths with and without effects at the same time. At the moment, I am using two separate recorders, which works fine, but I like looking into future options for a more streamlined setup.
@@hakonsoreide No problem! Yeah they both output the same, but the recording will still be unaffected by what you're monitoring so I think that'll work fine.
Hi Andrew, great video, Its nice that you also mention the cons. Have a question, what limiter against peaks you use? Could yo make a video about it? Many thanks
Thanks Nick! For video I just use the built-in software limiter in Final Cut; similar for pure audio if I'm treating it separately in Adobe Audition, etc.
@@andrewsaraceni I mean, inside the H6... I doing a lot field recording, and wondering which frequency I should choose. I just recorded a band using the XY and two external condenser, even with the option Limiter 3 (studio) the sound is distorted... I also heard that appliying the option low cut in the menu will reduce the ambient noise, but that did happens to my traffic recording. Any help will be very appreciated. Great channel! Already subscribed!
@@nickvandermusic Thanks for the sub! Gotcha, I use Limiter3(Studio) and usually make sure the -20db cut switch is on for the XLR/1/4" channels and the -12db safety track feature is on for the XY/LR track. And even then, give yourself a good amount of headroom when recording (e.g. have the band metering at -18 to -12db) and just apply gain later in post.
@@andrewsaraceni Many many thanks for your answers, will apply all this and try to find the right setup. Greatings from Morocco!
Nice videos. I learned so much about Zoom H6. Thank you. I would like to make sure that we can have x-y mic pair in addition to 4 tracks (quarter-inch/XLR ) inputs. Therefore there are 6 tracks total max for live recordings, correct?
Thanks! Yes, you can have up to 6 tracks with the H6.
@@andrewsaraceni Thank you.
Hey! Does this recorder take line level inputs okay, if not does it have a pad? Subbed.
Thanks for the sub! Yes, the four XLR and 1/4" inputs support mic and line level (there's a -20db pad for each of the channels).
Great video Andrew! I wanted to use H6 audio interface which means the USB port is occupied. Since I use multiple mics that requires phantom power, the battery seem to be exhausting very quickly. I normally use a USB adapter to supply the power, only finding this is exclusive between audio interface and USB adapter power was the only USB port on H6. I am using the audio interface to a mobile device. Is there a way to resolve this situation? I know that USB ports on computer maybe able to power up the H6. I'm worried if the little mobile device such as a cell phone is able to do that. Thanks!
Great question - yes a computer, laptop, etc. with a USB port that supplies enough power, and would still let you use it as an audio interface via USB is probably your best bet.
@@andrewsaraceni Thanks for your reply! My problem is that I am connecting the USB to my cellphone as an audio interface for video recording. Therefore I can't use the USB port for power supply to H6.
I confirmed with Zoom, this is the way H6 is designed. So I have to use the 4 AA batteries to support the phantom powered mics... 😓
Great video, I recently purchased a H6 and while I love the majority of the sound at rock gigs using the XY Mic, with the unit mounted onto my camera, I have found that instruments are louder than the vocals. May I ask pleas what limiter you used for your fantastic paradise city video ?
Thanks! I still use the same Limiter 3 (Studio) for those situations. But I do process the audio in post in Audition as well (e.g. multiband compressor, EQ). Likely doing a video on that process in the future.
That is brilliant thank you, I will be at my favourite venue tonight and all day Saturday, so will definitely give that a try. As for post, I have only tinkered with Wavelab so far, but will give audition a try as well. Thank you again for the advice
Just going through the audio from last night and the vocals are so much better. The only issue I need to sort out now is that neither of my cameras are accepting any audio from the H6, so either I have missed a option on the H6, or I need a better cable.
@@jwar1976 Glad to hear it's improved! You should be able to use the Line Out to connect it to your cameras, but may need the right cable for it.
I used a coiled microphone patch cable but for some reason no audio levels being seen on the camera, only on the H6. Line out level on the H6 is set as -20db
What microphone did you use for this video (for the parts that are not the tests with the Rode and the Zoom XY mic)?
I used the Rode VideoMic NTG.
I own a zoom H4n Black Edition but my Zoom H6 will arrive this coming monday!!!
Congrats on the purchase! You'll love the H6, it pairs really well together with the H4n.
@@andrewsaraceni thanks for your video it was a big help.
fabulous vid. thank you for the effort and sharing. i am not an audio pro. i am a still photographer who does portraits of the elderly. but i also record their oral history. i was thinking the Zoom H6 because of the X/Y mics, good battery life and the built-in safety track. this week's gig is a 90yr old sitting at her dinning room table with family members asking questions for 2-3hrs. i was thinking of using the X/Y at 90 degrees or even a wider 120 degrees to get the questions along with the answers. how close should i have the Zoom H6 to the 90yr old? 3-4 feet close enough? any other settings i should be aware of? (44.1/16bit good enough?) thanks in advance. thumbs up.
No problem! XY mics would certainly work for that. I would say within a few feet should be fine (and just adjust the levels accordingly). Audio settings are usually best at 48kHz and 24-bit, particularly if you're filming video, so the audio is highest quality and will sync up to video later.
@@andrewsaraceni thank you for the quick reply. no video just stills so 44.1/24bit works for me. any other settings for a newbie who will no process the audio? thumbs up.
@@smalltalk.productions9977 No problem! I would double-check/go over the recommended settings I mentioned in the video (4:07), but otherwise I think you should be good.
@@andrewsaraceni i did several test recordings and was surprised that the XY mics on a tabletop tripod pointed 18" from me as the speaker need to have the input up to "8" in order to have decent levels. when listening via headphones, i still needed the headphone level to be near 80 for decent volume. i brought the same files into my imac and the files sounded fine via playback in Apple Music, Garageband and iMovie. but "8" is still pretty high. has that been your experience, the XY mics, though sounding fine, need a somewhat higher input? again, thanks in advance. i owe you a cup of coffee!!!
@@smalltalk.productions9977 No problem! Feel free to subscribe, and you can always leave a Thanks through the link below the video. 🙂Yeah I do think the XY mics require a bit more level, particularly if you're recording dialogue and/or at a distance. It all depends though, I usually record live concerts/bands with them, and in that case the level can be set pretty low.
Hello really great video !
I have a question about using the rode wireless go with the vxlr+ adapter, I recently bought one to use with my zoom h6. I've noticed when using this I can hear constant white noise in the background when recording. When I plug the rode go into the 3.5mm jack on the xy mic I can still hear the same noise. I've adjusted the gain on both devices to see if that would work. It seems to be a problem with the rode wireless go as I've tried the wireless go 2 and it works perfectly.
I was wondering if you have experienced this issue before & know any fixes to this problem?
Thanks
Thanks! I haven't personally experienced that, but RF interference/shielding issues with the Go's (I and II) - not just with recorders but also cameras and their 3.5mm jacks - has kind of kept me away from buying one. Trying a different cable or adapter to plug them in might help in some cases though.
@@andrewsaraceni Thank you for your quick reply. That's interesting, I'll try some other cables, do you have any specific shielding cables you'd recommend? I've already tried 4 different XLR adapters so hopefully maybe a different cable might fix it. I really like the Rode Go's for their size, being able to hide them on people for interviews etc. So hopefully I can find a fix for this. When I recorded to my Black magic I never got any issues with them.
Thanks for your help. Been looking everywhere for solution to this 😂
@@tomgreen3919 No problem! Most of my cables are Hosa's, which are affordable and solid quality. You could go all out with Mogami's though if you have the funds.
@@andrewsaraceni Great thanks will give those a try
when you hold the H6 in your hand while recording how do you avoid handling noise, cable noise etc..
I pretty much always set it down or mount it somewhere when recording. There are shock mounts you can use for mounting on cameras, or small tripods that could work well for holding, e.g. czcams.com/video/Ln-d731-dVU/video.html
Hi Andrew, will H6 be a good combi with a Panasonic videocam to record live jazz concerts with trumpets , sax, guitar and drums?can I just plug it in the videocam to use it as audio source for the footage? Sorry, i am just an amateur and a hobby videographer mom. ☺️
No worries! Yes it would work well for that, you could plug the H6's Line Out into your camera's mic/line in (and adjust the Line Out level on the H6). Though it'll also work fine to just capture as a separate audio source and match them up later in post.
@@andrewsaraceni Thank you for the tip….🙂
I like my H6 just fine.
Still a great recorder after all these years!
Hey Andrew.
I need a simpler setup. I just bought one and used it last night with my band at rehearsal. All was clipped and unusable. I had used the Zoom H1 and the limiter prevented clipping.. I thought I had limiter on and set for "music concert".
I don't need to spend that much time mixing rehearsals. I just want to simply capture the room....... without clipping obviously. And without me having to manually monitor input as I have been doing on the H1. I'm just worried that the limiter didn't work.. But I may not have had it engaged although I thought I did.
Does the limiter work? Maybe I didn't have it on.
Yeah, it could be a few things. It sounds like you may need to double check that the limiter (I prefer Limiter 3/Studio) was setup on the specific channel you used. Otherwise if you used the XY mics, you may want to set Backup Rec to get the -12db recording, or see if you need the -20db pad when monitoring the channel if you used the 1/4" XLR ones.
@@andrewsaraceni I used the stock XY. The limiter worked fine on my H1 for rehearsal. I may not have engaged it after initial setup. Again, last night was my first use. Are you saying not to use the "Concert" preset limiter setting?
@@douginny Gotcha, I think it's worth trying out the different limiter options and seeing what works best for you. Just saying that Studio is what's been best for me (even for live shows). I also usually make sure to keep my levels pretty low (e.g. monitoring around -12 to -18db) and boost gain in post so your signal isn't too close to the clipping point.
@@andrewsaraceni Thank you so much. Subscribed.
HELP: I want to import a music backing track to lay vocals along side to be mixed later IN THE H6. There is not ONE video that explains how to do this that works. I tried even converting the backing track to the specs the H6 is recording at on my laptop on the SD as I saw in a video but when I go back to the H6 and put the SD back in the H6 I can't find the backing track to play I want to use to lay vocals. I'm not talking about overdubbing I just need the track to be able to be referenced while recording.
Can anyone help me or lead me to a very specific and good english video that shows how?
Take the backing track from whatever the source is, and plug it into one of the H6's XLR inputs. Then you can play it back while you record your vocals in a separate track/XLR input, and just use the track with the vocals later.
@@andrewsaraceni No I don't like that option because the source would be my Phone and I will need that during the process for other things so I just want to do it ALL in the H6.
Supposedly it is possible but the only video I could find on youtube that remotely came close to explaining it was a terrible video that barely explains it at all.
HELLLLP PLEASE
it's got everything except for the bounce function (H4 and H5 have it)...pity (and no, overdubbing isn't the same).
Good point, I'm not sure why they took it out/didn't include it in the H6.
cool is it hard to use does it have built in mics
It's pretty intuitive to use once you get used to it. The XY mic it comes with is basically it's built-in mic option.
I have the Sennheiser Xsw -d set how do I use this set with my zoom h6 into a Red Komodo so I can record synched audio ?
You could do a line out from the H6 into the 3.5mm mic input jack of the Komodo (though you'll have to adjust the output level on the H6). Or just record the Sennheiser on the H6, and have the scratch mic running on the Komodo, and sync them up in post.
@@andrewsaraceni either or the Sennheiser xlr part is to be plugged into the h6 right ?
@@creativegreats6924 Yeah, I think in either case you'd connect the Sennheiser to the H6 via XLR.
Would you recommend this over x6 Tascam?
The X6 has 32-bit float and a newer user interface, but I'd honestly take the H6 over it given the additional inputs (and combination XLR 1/4" jacks). The X8 is actually a better comparison, but those units are known to be a bit buggy from what I've heard.
have you tried the Tacam X8?
Haven't yet, but I'm curious to...or to see what Zoom comes out with as the H6 successor.
@@andrewsaraceni sorry i typoed Tascam, but I've been a Zoom user since the GFX-5 guitar multifx pedal days and always loved their quality. Roland/ Boss have a similar vibe (with certain products of course)
I have read that it is simple to detach the xlr cable from the h6 zoom port unlike the h8 which you have to press a button to extract. do you confirm?
Thank you
Yes, I can confirm - no latch or anything to press, it removes quickly.
@@andrewsaraceni Doesn't this lack worry you? I'm undecided between the h6 and h8 zoom. I don't think the Manfrotto XPRO+ monopod can hold the weight of the Sony a7iii and the h8 zoom mounted on it.
@@maialinobabe4232 Initially it did, but it's solid once it's connected, so I've had zero issues with it. I'd look into some other monopods if you need/expect it to stand upright with that amount of gear on it. With some assistance it could hold though.
Can it be use as a 4 mono channels mixer???? Can you record on channel 2 while hearing (playing back) at the same time what you recorded on channel 1????, for example.
The H6 has an overdubbing feature, and you can monitor the channels through it, so that should support what you're trying to do.
@@andrewsaraceni but when you say overdubbing, it means that i will have to record over the same track, or i can record on a separate track without afecting the previous recording... ????
@@andrewsaraceni like on a studio mixer ...??
@@asmr6773 You can record without affecting previous takes, but it'll only let you mixdown the total amount of inputs. But technically if you did extra takes on the same tracks and mixed them outside the H6 later, that could work.
@@andrewsaraceni ok thanks
Sold
You made a good choice. 😉
Can i just sit the zoom h6 in a room and hit record or does it need to be plugged in somewhere
That would definitely work - you'd just use the XY mics to record the room.
@@andrewsaraceni thank you & the settings do I need to worry about high pitch distortion?
@@RubyVillegas No problem! No it should be fine so long as the mic isn't too close to you/a loud source.
Wish H6 had 32 bit float.
Same, I'm hoping Zoom release an updated version of it at some point.
32 bit float why? It records at 2 different levels
sir can we connect our external woofer to it so that voice comes from speaker what we speak on mic???
If it's a powered speaker, yes - usually it's easiest to take an XLR output from the speaker and go directly into the H6. If the speaker isn't powered though, you'd want to go through a mixer, etc.
@@andrewsaraceni sir its powdered with 5amp charger and it has 3.5 mm jack so should i take xlr to 3.5 mm wire and connect through h6 to speaker??
@@shivammishra-nh5xr If the 3.5mm jack on the speaker is an output, you could use a cable like you said and connect it to the H6 to capture its audio.
@@andrewsaraceni sir its written behind the speakers AUX In so should i purchase xlr to 3.5 mm wire and connect it sir?? or i can connect with line out on the base of h6 with 3.5 to 3.5 mm wire?? what should i do sir thanks and sorry for disturbing but plz help
@@shivammishra-nh5xr If it's an input (i.e. Aux In), that's not going to work. You should instead try to capture the audio from the mixer, or an output if the speaker has it.
How is the sound
It's excellent, but check the samples in the video to judge with your own ears.
is it good for sound effects
I think it could record sound effects (e.g. foley) fine - it records just about anything well, really.
What I can't believe is the unit will only take a SD card with 128gb max
It's rare you'll be able to fill even that much up being audio, but I suspect it's something they'll change/fix on the next unit.
Fwiw, the inputs are not good for guitar (i.e. they’re not Hi-Z inputs for guitars and basses that have high impedance.) I confirmed this with Zoom, who said that I will need to get a DI box to plug guitars into the H6. The possible exception to this is guitars with active electronics, which generally output hotter than passive pickups. The H8 has (I think) two inputs that can be Hi-Z
That's a fair point, i.e. for any instrument with passive pickups. Beyond a DI box, another good option there is also if you have amp with a balanced/line out (e.g. XLR) to run that into the H6.
@@andrewsaraceni the amp out option doesn’t work so well for my use case, which is live looping. I’m trying to do it thru my iPad to avoid the need to lug a laptop to gigs. I’m trying to make my kit as light as possible. Bringing a passive DI is not too bad
Zoom is trash