Zoom H3-VR

[The Elf]

This one has got me thinking...

I like the idea and I like the price of the H3-VR. I like the fact that it can record to its own SD card, but...

I would like to record the raw audio to my mixer and do all the fancy decoding later - it has to be recorded in sync with the other audio the mixer is capturing.

Can it be done?

[ConcertinaChap]

Sounds like it possibly might be. From Zoom's website: "the H3-VR’s audio interface mode turns it into a USB 360 mic for your computer". You'd have to have something like the Mac's aggregate device so as to be able to use it alongside your normal audio interface, though.

CC

Edit: I was right. From the manual: In 4 ch Ambisonics mode input signals 1–4 are sent as converted tracks 1–4 in this 4-in/2-out connection mode for Windows/Mac. To use with Windows, download the driver from the ZOOM website (http://www.zoom.co.jp). The bus power of the connected device will be used.

[Mike Stranks]

Hi Elf!

I posted in the NT-SF1 thread a couple of days ago that some user reviews are now finding their way online. One guy who clearly knows about things audio expressed his disappointment with the quality of the captured sound... 'like cheap Chinese SDCs' was his verdict.

Hugh is due to be reviewing the Zoom; might be best to await his opinion...

[The Elf]

Thanks, guys. This is really just for live ambience/audience reaction, so sound quality is not so critical for my purpose, but recording to a separate computer is a non-starter. It HAS to feed to the mixer that is recording the rest of the mix - I've found that the faff of getting separate recordings sufficiently synced is a hassle and overhead I'm not happy to continue.

[ConcertinaChap]

Sorry, didn't notice the mixer bit. In that case I think you're out of luck. The only analogue outs it has are both stereo.

CC

[ManFromGlass]

aggregate device on a Mac has always been unreliable for me. I gave up on it after hours of researching a solution and comments from other composers. Your mileage may vary.

[Mike Stranks]

And just to throw another spanner in the works - sorry Elf - for the ambisoniscs to decode properly you'd have to be sure that all the mixer gains were at precisely the same level. Not sure that the Livetrak can give you that precision as there won't be a gain-gaining feature like there is on the better location multitrack recorders.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Hugh is due to be reviewing the Zoom; might be best to await his opinion...

I'd had an email conversation with Chris Korff about reviewing this before Xmas, but for a variety of reasons I gather it has actually gone to a different reviewer and is currently in progress...

H

[ConcertinaChap]

Thanks for the update

CC

[Mike Stranks]

Hugh is due to be reviewing the Zoom; might be best to await his opinion...

I'd had an email conversation with Chris Korff about reviewing this before Xmas, but for a variety of reasons I gather it has actually gone to a different reviewer and is currently in progress...

H

Hmmm... not all reviewers are the same. Let's hope we get a technical review of actual S/N ratios and noise floors etc. That's what most of us who've commented here are interested in. Perhaps if the 'other' reviewer is not equipped to do such tests it could be sent on to Hugh for a technical analysis.

[Wonks]

Or at least an inset technical review piece.

[ConcertinaChap]

I'd had an email conversation with Chris Korff about reviewing this before Xmas, but for a variety of reasons I gather it has actually gone to a different reviewer and is currently in progress...

Did anything come of this?

CC

[ConcertinaChap]

Anything at all?

CC

[The Korff]

It's on my list of things to chase up! Will report back soon...

[ConcertinaChap]

Thanks.

CC

[Kewl]

There's a new Facebook users' group for the H3-VR: https://www.facebook.com/groups/902899420069659/

[Mike Stranks]

Over in Musicians' Lounge in the thread on the Kent SoSMeet you'll discover that CC has bought one.

He gives first impressions and has uploaded some audio. The audio was better than I'd been expecting after reading some of the reviews.

It's definitely up there with the likes of the Zoom H4n and H5 et al. Probably not in the same class as the F4/8 but then look at the price! Very worth considering methinks.

[Kewl]

Very worth considering methinks.

On sale until the 26th of August (at least in the US and Canada, 28% off).

[The Elf]

Very worth considering methinks.

On sale until the 26th of August (at least in the US and Canada, 28% off).

Where from?

[ConcertinaChap]

Cheapest place to get one from I found in the UK was Amazon at £291.

I lead a session in Bradford on Avon and I'm intending to take the H3-VR to that for a test run next Monday since recording sessions and the like is my main purpose for the thing - if it works out then listening to a session with the H3-VR located in the middle in binaural could be rather cool. Either way I'll put up some audio in due course. So far I'd agree with Mike's summary. It's not going to match my NT-SF1/UAD Apollo combination anywhere close but it's a sixth of the price and for recording sessions and the like for podcasts and similar it should be eminently suitable and has the wonderful advantage of being quite discreet in use. The sound quality is definitely not a disaster area.

CC

Edited to add:

There's a new Facebook users' group for the H3-VR: https://www.facebook.com/groups/902899420069659/

Well I've asked to join. We shall see what we shall see.

[The Elf]

I'd be interested in hearing what you capture with it, Mr Concertina, if you feel you can share. In the situations where this device might be useful I doubt that an absolute purity of audio quality would be top of my list.

It's not actually a device that would suit my envisaged use at the moment, but never say never...

[Dave B]

It's horrendously tempting for me at the moment. The idea of doing some ambient field recording, then being able to manipulate the results afterwards is something that I'm quite interested in. There's been quite a few times recently when I wanted to record what I heard - something like this would have been very handy to have around.

Sadly, I've missed the boat on one of those - there were some trees down my street and when the wind blew through them, it was uncannily like filtered white noise. I rather fancied capturing that just to fool people but the damned neighbours cut them down ...

[Mike Stranks]

Here's the link to the audio from CC's quick test: https://www.dropbox.com/s/x00d4v7qbhxttm2/1st%20H3-VR%20test.wav?dl=0

[Kewl]

Very worth considering methinks.

On sale until the 26th of August (at least in the US and Canada, 28% off).

Where from?

If you can order from Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/Zoom-H3-VR-Handy ... 07HPDRG11/

I don't know about import fees and taxes you would be charged on top of that...

[Wonks]

About 23% currently (plus a handling fee dependent upon the courier/postage used). From November, probably around 40%.