First thoughts on the Zoom H8 audio recorder

The new Zoom H8 audio recorder was just announced and I wanted to share my initial thoughts. This device offers a new spin on the role a portable audio recorder can play, and it does a few things that I think are impressive and compelling. If you’re someone who records music, podcasts, and audio-for-video, the H8 has a lot to offer. But is it the right tool for you?

The elevator pitch for the Zoom H8 is that it’s a handheld-style audio recorder with a whopping 6 built-in XLR inputs, an XY stereo condenser microphone that plugs into its external audio module connector, and a touchscreen interface with apps for 3 separate tasks: field recording, music making, and podcasting. This is something new.

I actively do field, music, and podcast recording, so I’m the ideal candidate for a Zoom H8. The only big deterrent is that I’m not in love with its industrial design.

Some people like it. The designers and executives that approved it are in favor. I’ve read YouTube comments where people expressed positive thoughts about the design. But the vast majority of opinions I’ve read are that it looks ugly. But this doesn’t turn me off to the device completely. I still find its functionality compelling.

🏆 Impressive things about the Zoom H8: 🏆

• Channels 1 – 4 are compatible with +4 dBu line-level signals.
• The separately available BTA-1 Bluetooth Adapter lets you control the H8 and view the meters from an iPhone or iPad.
• It has a built-in tone generator that can help you sync sound to picture.
• It has a “Backup Rec” feature that’s the similar to Tascam’s Dual Record feature. The H8 can record a second pair of tracks that are 12 dB lower than the main tracks, so if it gets too loud and distorts, the backup recording will be clean. However, it may only work with connected microphone modules, not the inputs.
• It can be used as a 12-channel USB computer audio interface for Mac or Windows. It can be also be used as a 2-channel stereo interface with iPhones and iPads.
• It has outputs for both headphone and line, which means you can send audio to another device, such as a camera or a wireless headphone transmitter. You can adjust the line output level, and send a tone so you can properly adjust the input level of the device you’re plugging into, again, such as a camera.
• It records Broadcast Wave Format files.

🌊 What’s a Broadcast Wave Format file? A BWF file is similar to a regular .wav audio file. It has the same .wav extension and it can be used like a normal audio file. What makes it different is that it stores metadata that can potentially be useful in video production.

When you press the Pause button on the Zoom H8 (the same button as the round Record button), it leaves a marker timestamped on the file. I would greatly prefer a Mark button so you can add markers only where you want them. Other software compatible with BWF files, such as Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Premiere, and Pro Tools can later use these markers, in theory anyhow.

I recently tried to get Markers I made on the Tascam DR-40X to show up in FCPX, and it didn’t work. I called Apple’s support team and they couldn’t figure it out. This doesn’t make me hopeful for the usefulness of the BWF markers Zoom H8, but who knows? Maybe it will work. 🤞

🧠 Thoughts on the Zoom H8 apps 🧠

When I first learned about the apps in the Zoom H8, I thought it seemed a little strange, but the more I read about it, the more reasonable it seemed. For example, in order to use the guitar effects and overdubbing features on the Zoom H4n Pro, you need to switch it to the icily named “MTR” mode. To do the same on the Zoom H8, you simply tap the attractive Music icon.

There are some limitations to what these various apps can do. For example, the Podcast app is limited to using just 4 external microphones via the XLR inputs. In a pinch you could connect a fifth microphone into the 3.5mm stereo input on the included XYH-6 mic capsule. Or you could use the XYH-6 as a fifth podcasting mic, you’ll just need to be careful that the person speaking into it doesn’t overload and distort the mics.

This isn’t the end of the world because a podcast with more than four people can potentially become too chaotic sounding. This limitation is there because the Podcast app has the ability to trigger four separate audio files from the touchscreen, which eats up the other available tracks. You can have your show’s intro music on one pad, the ending music on another pad, and so on. This can save you lots of editing time. It comes with 13 sounds preloaded, but you can load any sound files you have on your SD card.

Even though the pad sounds consume the other available tracks in the Podcast app, you can still record a stereo mix of every track, in addition to the isolated tracks from the four mics, the stereo mic capsule, and the four pad sounds. In fact, all of the apps in the Zoom H8 allow you to record a stereo mix like this. Yet another impressive feature.

A limitation that got my attention is that you can only record and playback high-resolution 96 kHz audio when using the Field app. This app is intended for use when recording audio-for-video and other field recording situations. This limitation is likely in place because you can’t use musical features like the guitar effects at higher resolutions.

One detail I like is that when you use the Field app, the screen displays large meters so you can easily see if you have correct audio levels. If you only have one track armed (which means you’ve only pushed the little red button next to one of the channels that you have a mic plugged into), the H8 will use more of the screen to display that one audio meter. As you arm more tracks, the meters get smaller to fit them all on the screen.

⚡️ QUICK NOTE: If you’re not 100% sure how to correctly set audio levels, don’t worry! Just read my easy-to-understand How to Set Audio Levels article. You can do it! 👨‍🌾

More good things about the Zoom H8:

• All of the XLR inputs have locks
• It has a metal 1/4-20 female thread for mounting
• It’s compatible with SD cards with up to 512 GB capacity 😮
• It has a built-in speaker

Bad things about the Zoom H8:

• No physical headphone volume control, touchscreen only 👎
• Turning on phantom power sends it to every XLR input
• It has a Micro-B USB port, a tighter fitting high-speed USB-C port would be much better
• With the XYH-6 capsule attached, 4 AA batteries and an SD card, the H8 weighs 1.28 lbs (0.58 kg)
• It seems to be made for tabletop use and for use on stands, but not necessarily for handheld, camera mounting, or in location audio bags

All in all, I think the Zoom H8 is interesting. I don’t like the industrial design, but looks aren’t everything. It’s impressive that there are 6 built-in XLR inputs on a somewhat compact unit, with the option to expand to 10 with the separately available EXH-8 input capsule.

Even though the H8 is marketed as a “handy” recorder, it’s pushing the limits of what can be considered a handheld device. With the included XY mics attached it’s 2.6 inches (66 mm) longer and 1.7 inches (43 mm) wider than a Zoom H4n Pro.

The fact that an H-series Zoom recorder can properly handle professional line-level signals is music to my ears. However, this isn’t a recorder for professionals. The Zoom H8 was made for consumers. It’s got a familiar and easy-to-use smartphone-like interface. Despite what Zoom wants you to think, the H8 wasn’t made for recording foley for Hollywood films. It’s for aspiring YouTubers, bedroom podcasters, and local bands. Like I said earlier, it’s for me.

It’s great that the H8 has Hi-Z inputs on channels A and B for guitars. It’s also cool that it can be used as an interface for Zoom’s Guitar Lab software, so you can access a large number of effects and amp models.

The Zoom H8 also comes with codes for downloading a program for Mac and Windows called Wavelab Cast. One of the things it does is let you load a video file, then mix the audio for the video, then export a new version of the video file with your improved audio mix. This is something I currently need, so I would like to give it a try.

The Zoom H8 is far from perfect, but it’s got a unique bag of tricks that have made me curious. I look forward to trying one out someday. When I do, I will certainly share my experience here on the blog.

Thanks for checking this out! If it was helpful, you can easily help me at no cost to you. Just click on these links before you buy something at Amazon, eBay, or B&H. I get a tiny commission when you do, even if you buy a robotic snowman (because that’s what the H8 looks like). 🤖