Zoom H1N, H2N, H4N - if solely to record acoustic/vocals in 1 take thru internal mics

[Dancehallking]

which would you choose to buy if trying to record acoustic & vocals in 1 take between Zoom H1N, H2N, H4N, ...if ONLY using internal mics? No intention to use external mics or plug guitar in as kinda a 1 time use

Have a friend who is passing and trying to record some of him playing/singing to capture his memory as best/simplest I can and on a budget.

If something else from Tascam or other will work better, all ears.

all about even pricewise if I'm fine with used...anything that makes 1 of them a standout over the others?
Zoom H1N - $120 new
Zoom H4N - $130 used
Zoom H2n - $120 used

[Andy Howell]

It depends really on how much you want to spend. The mics with the H4 ar insanely good for the price but the little H2N is pretty decent as well.

The H2N has a stereo mic head in XY — it just doesn't look like that. It has a second capsule at the rear and so can do Mid side recording as well. That's pretty amazing for the price.

The H2N can be mic stand mounted (or tripod mounted) and that helps with positioning. Process in a DAW — I find I have to work on the high bands a bit.

This is not my main recording gear but I do use it for field recording. For many people it will be all you need!

[reeve21]

Sorry about your friend. Very nice thing you are doing.

I picked up a used h4n here on AGF a few months back, and am very happy with it. I use it exactly the way you intend to. Then I download to Audacity where I mess around with some simple effects.

I believe it has some built in effects, but I have never used them. It also has the ability to overdub for a total of 4 tracks, but I have not used that feature.

My sense is you don't need the h4 to do what you want to do, one of the cheaper models will work, assuming you process it in a DAW. Whether the mics are better in the higher priced models I can't say.

I'm pretty inept with technology, and I was able to figure it out without too much trouble.

Good luck with the project!

[MikeMcKee]

Can't go wrong with an H4n.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by Dancehallking

which would you choose to buy if trying to record acoustic & vocals in 1 take between Zoom H1N, H2N, H4N, ...if ONLY using internal mics? No intention to use external mics or plug guitar in as kinda a 1 time use

Have a friend who is passing and trying to record some of him playing/singing to capture his memory as best/simplest I can and on a budget.

If something else from Tascam or other will work better, all ears.

all about even pricewise if I'm fine with used...anything that makes 1 of them a standout over the others?
Zoom H1N - $120 new
Zoom H4N - $130 used
Zoom H2n - $120 used

Hi Dhk

Actually, the plain old Zoom H1 (still for sale for about $70 on Amazon 4/18/18) would do what you want, and is highly portable.

I own several Zoom (H2, H2n, H4, H4n) and I'd go for the simple H1 if you gave me the assignment you described. The extra bells and whistles on the H2, or H4n and even on the H1N are not going to add needed capabilities to your situation.

[JakeStone]

I've used the H1 and H4nPro.
The 4pro was a huge improvement in sound. Not a bit of hiss or anything. Much better than the H1.
Best to you and your friend.

[Dancehallking]

fyi, from a curiosity standpoint i reached out to Zoom NA directly and they actually said the Zoom H4n Pro has the same sound quality as Zoom H5 and Zoom H6. They said zoom h1n and zoom h2n has inferior recording quality to Zoom H4n Pro.

This was solely based on recording with the internal mics.

[Davis Webb]

The H1 is just fine. I keep it in my studio. Its fast to record with and there are no down sides.

[DCCougar]

Or Tascam DR05.