ZOOM H1essential Handy Recorder – Portable Audio Recorder with 32-Bit Float for Music, Podcast, Film & Content Creation – Black | 32-bit floating wave, USB-C microphone mode, SD card recording, USB or power supply 2 x AA

I bought this item on the knowledge that it had a line-in port and the ability to sample audio at 96KHz 32bit-float resolution, making it a useful tool for making digital archival copies of my vinyl records. If that's your intended purpose, you will need an attenuator cable and a shielded RCA-to-3mm Jack cable. The internal line-in is better suited to microphones and will overload easily, but these cables are both inexpensive and plentiful on Amazon, and will do the trick nicely. Once you're set up, the device is incredibly easy to use. The screen may be tiny, but the UI is very simple and intuitive; it took me merely a few minutes to find my way around. The sound quality of the vinyl rips I've made with this device surpass those I've made using the USB-output on my ProJect PhonoBox USB V; not just because of the higher resolution, but because the Analogue-to-Digital converter inside is superior to the generic Burr Brown counterparts in most USB turntables and amplifiers. The device does not come with any internal memory or a supplied SD card, but even at full resolution, a day's worth of ripping won't fill a 32Gb card. I can't really comment on battery life as the USB-C interface acts as both a power supply and a data transfer tool. As a power supply, it provides everything the device needs, but data transfer speeds are incredibly slow, around 2.5Mb/second. If you're recording at maximum resolution, you're better off ejecting the SD card and inserting it into your computer. This is a fiddly process as the SD card slot is recessed from the main body, but you'll get the hang of it. I don't intend to use it for making field recordings or podcasts, so I can't comment on the quality of the internal microphones, but for the task I purchased it for, it's excellent!

Amazing device. It doesn't matter if you are recording a live event, an interview or voiceover, or just ambient sounds, this little chap does it and sound great. Full audio range with amazing detail and clarity in a compact device

The Zoom H1e (H1 Essential) is a compact, budget-friendly portable recorder that offers some notable upgrades over its predecessors, including the H1 and H1n. Here's a detailed review based on its performance and features: Pros: 1. 32-bit Float Recording: This ensures a wide dynamic range and minimizes clipping issues, making it an excellent choice for varying sound levels. 2. Lightweight and Portable: The small form factor is ideal for on-the-go recording and content creation. 3. Dual-Microphone XY Configuration: Captures stereo audio with clarity and depth. 4. Affordable Price: At around $100, it offers a solid set of features for the price. 5. Versatile Input Options: Includes a 3.5mm microphone input, enhancing its usability with external mics. Cons: 1. Handling Noise: The recorder is sensitive to handling noise, which can affect recordings if care isn't taken. 2. Preamp Noise: Its preamps introduce a noticeable noise floor, particularly in quiet environments or with sensitive microphones. 3. Limited Wind Protection: The built-in microphones are prone to plosives and wind noise, requiring an external windscreen for outdoor use. Conclusion: The Zoom H1e is a solid entry-level recorder for vloggers, podcasters, musicians, and field recordists. Its 32-bit float recording and portability are its standout features, though users may need to invest in accessories like windscreens or external mics for optimal performance. It's an excellent value-for-money option for those needing quality recording on a budget.

Good little recorder very easy to use also it talks to you 😂😂 it tells you if the audio is too loud I really like it small not too bulky already tested it from multiple sound sources and I am very happy with the quality of recordings can’t really be beaten for the price 🥳

A really cool device for audio recordings. The build quality is pretty good. The audio quality is great.

As an enthusiastic and long-time Zoom equipment user, including the H1 and H1n, I biught this model to get the 32 bit float feature, and also because I'd read good things about the improved user interface. 32 bit float means the recorder doesn't have a gain control, and can record whatever level you throw at it. For recording live amplified music gigs, this has been a real asset. Recordings are no longer clipped if louder than I anticipated, or lacking detail if quieter. I just press record and forget about it. However, if you are using it to record low-volume sounds, you will find the preamps are so noisy. To be fair, the H1n suffers from the same issue. The revised user interface is underwhelming. The screen is still not that legible, and since there is no level setting, the ever present waveform display is just eye-candy. Most annoying feature is that it still will not remember the date and time settings when you swap batteries, and setting the date and time through the button interface every time is so fiddly. I also haven't been able to download files via the USB interface, so not sure what they've changed there. So in summary, if you are recording live loud events where you don't have time to set levels and want to be sure you are getting the full dynamic range, it is a useful upgrade from the H1n.

This is awesome piece of kit. Yes, it falls a little behind other more pro and more expensive recorders, but it has advantages on them in many ways. This is a recorder to keep in a pocket for those occasions when good sounds are in the air but you were not planning to be field recording! Its 32bit Float - so all you do in those situations is just pick up the recorder, press button and record !!! No gain control, so monitoring sound is optional, no need to even wear headphones, just record! Also cheap, so if you need to leave it in the forest for overnight "drop rig" recording , you can - risk is minimal :) Oh, and it provides a "plug in power" through its mini jack - so many external mic options are available, from stereo omnis, to shotguns ! Very good product indeed. Some pple complain its a little noisy, but I don't think its anything serious, and if you really are recording quiet atmospheres and ambiences and self noise becomes audible, its quite easy to remove in post production.

Awful sound quality

使い方は簡単で失敗しない作りになっており、音質も良好でした。 少々高価ですが、液晶に音量のモニターもついていて安心感は抜群です。 録音データから文字起こし、翻訳作業、要約作業、レポート作成がとてもスムーズになりました。 乾電池の消耗を考えると1日2本は必要ですが、TYPE-C+モバイルバッテリーで給電しながらもOKです。

Zoom H1 essential. Lo è per davvero, nel senso che nella scatola c'è solo lui e un po' di documenti: niente batterie, niente memoria, niente cavetto e alimentatore, niente paravento e altri accessori. L'aspetto è un po' giocattoloso, pesa come una piuma ed è piccolo. Ma quello che interessa è la qualità di registrazione e l'usabilità: in una parola perfetti. Con questo schiacci il tasto rec e non ti devi preoccupare di nulla, fa praticamente tutto lui. Il menù è chiaro, anche se il display è piccolino, i tasti rappresentano tutte le funzioni importanti, a portata di mano. Il trasferimento dei dati via cavo è veloce. Autonomia con 2 batterie alcaline da supermercato, notevole. Nota importante: non c'è il volume di registrazione, con i 32 bit non serve e non è previsto: se c'è bisogno di "amplificare" nel senso di aumentare i db, bisogna farlo via software. E la qualità non ne risente, grazie appunto ai 32 bit. Però è possibile regolare il volume della traccia, quando viene esportata. La qualità di registrazione è assai buona: non ho constatato particolare rumore di fondo registrato. Aggiornamento novembre 2025. È uscito il nuovo firmware 2.0 che aggiunge: la possibilità di fare MP3, il gain di registrazione che si regola con i tasti freccia (indispensabile per evitare il clipping dell'mp3, utile per alzare o abbassare i db senza l'eventuale post editing, con l'uso formato WAV e qualità non distruttiva dei 32 bit), una nuova funzione di riduzione del rumore, ma attivabile solo con WAV. In pratica, la perfezione.

I use this to record my band's live performances. Super easy, great quality sound, batteries last forever, handy tripod mount .... great unit. It is plastic so you need to be careful with it, but the function for the price can't be beat.

I purchased the Zoom H1e to record my electric guitar practice sessions. I’m using the binaural earbuds connected into the Zoom H1e to record under my Boss WAZA AIR headphones. No need to adjust recording levels. No more clipped audio. It’s light weight and sits in a pocket comfortably. It also attaches to my iPhone video cage. It is plastic and doesn’t feel like a quality product (compared to my heavy and solidly constructed Sony PCM D-50 recorder) but it is an entry level recorder. For what it is I’m very happy so far.

I received my Zoom H1 essential about 20 minutes ago. Walking through the set-up perhaps wasn't the absolute easiest I've ever done, but not hard either, and I never had to reference the manual, not even once. One thing to note, you need to have 2 AAA batteries and a micro-SD card already on hand, it comes with neither and you can't use it without. So if you all excited to get recording, be aware. Luckily, I had those items so I decided to immediately run an audio check ... and this is it. The H1 attached to my tripod with no converters needed, and I simply pressed record. I also pressed record on my cell phone's video and audio recorder, and went through a song I'm currently working on. When I finished, I put the tracks into my DAW and compared ... not even close. Not close by a mile. And as A/V work is my passion, and even a paying hobby, my cell is purposefully one that is renowned for audio. I host an acoustic open mic weekly, using quality mics and a premium board, and though this isn't going to replace the 2-track recordings off the mains from the board, obviously, until now I'd been capturing the room noise (and the occasional player who wasn't mic'ed, such as cajon player or a bassist who opts to bring his own amp rather than go through my board) through my phone, and blending as necessary in post. But for the price of the H1, I realize I can substantially bring up the quality of the promo video audio. BTW, I got started so quickly I didn't even go into settings, and the H1 is set to default at 48K sample rate. I've changed it to 96K, because why not, so I suppose it is possible it squeeze even a little better fidelity out, and as all us audio people know, every little bit helps. The size is small but I like it that way, perfect, it doesn't need to be bigger so why would you. The build quality doesn't inspire hard use (and certainly not abuse), but I get the sense that if you treat it like you would a quality condenser mic or a quality acoustic guitar, it will serve for a long time. Enough of my jabber and yabbering, all you really need to know is in the video.