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Krummhorn
Co-Administrator
Zoom H2
- Thread starter JONESEY
- Start date
Hi Jonesey,
I have the H4 and have recorded my church pipe organ on many occasions with excellent results. Here are two examples, both composed by Jean-Paul Verpeaux (Musicalis):
1. Lithanie
2. Softly and Tenderly variation (I played the hymn tune first, then his variation)
Neither recording has been "touched up" or edited. The H4 was placed about 15 feet from the pipework, the same distance where I sit at the console. This is the Möller pipe organ in the church where I have been the organist since 1982.
I have the H4 and have recorded my church pipe organ on many occasions with excellent results. Here are two examples, both composed by Jean-Paul Verpeaux (Musicalis):
1. Lithanie
2. Softly and Tenderly variation (I played the hymn tune first, then his variation)
Neither recording has been "touched up" or edited. The H4 was placed about 15 feet from the pipework, the same distance where I sit at the console. This is the Möller pipe organ in the church where I have been the organist since 1982.
Flute'n'Pedal
New member
Hi Jonesey, I have the H2 and am very happy with it. It records with surround sound, whereas the H4 doesn't. If you want to hear samples of the recording, please go into my website: http://pandea.simplenet.com/organengruts.html
Flute'n'Pedal
Flute'n'Pedal
Soubasse
New member
The H2 and the H4 between them are probably the most affordable and versatile devices on the market today, not to mention with excellent recording specifications. I've had my H4 for about a year and have no complaints. The H2 records with essentially the same specs as the H4 but as Flute'n'Pedal has mentioned, the H2 has the surround option whereas the H4 has the multitrack option. Both fine recorders and a doddle to use. I sincerely doubt you'd be disappointed.
jgirv
New member
ive recorded pipe organ, live acoustic jazz bands, brass quartet and organ, and a full-blown New Orleans band with the H2.... it's pretty amazing. You have to play around a bit with the recording level... (do a few short experiments) then you're good to go. Oh, and spend a few more bucks and get the largest memory card you can for it... mine can record over 6 hours in stereo at CD quality setting (44.1) ...
a great tool!
a great tool!
It sure is ... I'm still amazed at the wonderful sound quality that these are able to record. And the setup is rather simple, too ... or it can be as complex as one wants by adding additional mics using the built in plugs. Zoom packed a wallop of neat stuff into the H2 and H4.
Contratrombone64
Admiral of Fugues
JONESEY
New member
Well, I took a test recording and stuck the H2 close to the keyboard, but it was picking up the keys being pressed each time - it was so sensitive!.
Think I'm going to try again at a different Church where they have an electronic Organ and the keyboard is much quieter.
Key noises aside, I'm finding it very useful to hear what I'm playing back, and seeing that I'm missing the odd rest here and there.
It does make me ultra critical so if I ever get a good recording I'll post it for sure!
Think I'm going to try again at a different Church where they have an electronic Organ and the keyboard is much quieter.
Key noises aside, I'm finding it very useful to hear what I'm playing back, and seeing that I'm missing the odd rest here and there.
It does make me ultra critical so if I ever get a good recording I'll post it for sure!
jgirv
New member
...if you placed it on the console it would definitely pick up the key presses...
you can put it on the console if you isolate it from the vibrations by placing it on a soft surface.
Best method is to use the supplied adapter and place it in a mic stand.
Good luck with it, it's a great tool.
you can put it on the console if you isolate it from the vibrations by placing it on a soft surface.
Best method is to use the supplied adapter and place it in a mic stand.
Good luck with it, it's a great tool.
Flute'n'Pedal
New member
Jonesey:
You don't have to have the recorder so close to the organ. I myself have found that the best result is obtained when the recorder is one-third the distance from the far wall to the organ pipes. Then I set the gain at high.
You don't have to have the recorder so close to the organ. I myself have found that the best result is obtained when the recorder is one-third the distance from the far wall to the organ pipes. Then I set the gain at high.
Performed an organ concert at my church this past Sunday (April 26) and recorded it on my Zoom H4 using its own mics, selecting the option to simulate Neumann U87's. This is a 9 rank 2 manual M.P. Möller built in 1979.
This organ has only 4 general pistons, so they are used for major registration changes only. All the registration changes you hear on this recording were done manually and/or by very judicious use of the crescendo shoe.
Here is the Buxtehude Passacaglia in D Minor.
This organ has only 4 general pistons, so they are used for major registration changes only. All the registration changes you hear on this recording were done manually and/or by very judicious use of the crescendo shoe.
Here is the Buxtehude Passacaglia in D Minor.
Last edited:
falcon1
New member
Krummhorn, very nice performance of the Buxtehude Passacaglia in D-minor. The organ doesn't sound bad either. 
The sound quality of the Zoom is very good which could probably be improved with external mics and/or some sound editing.
I will go to my local music store and see if they have Zoom available, this is must to have.
The sound quality of the Zoom is very good which could probably be improved with external mics and/or some sound editing.
I will go to my local music store and see if they have Zoom available, this is must to have.
VeniVidi2009
New member
Hi
I have used the Zoom H4 since it was released and am very satisfied with it. In its most sensitive mode I can even use it with a parabol disc antenna to record birds singing without any problems such as hiss and noise.
The example we have listened to here in this thread are all from rather small organs and recorded from a close position. I you wonder how the H4 performs in more demanding situations you can listen to the clip I have uploaded on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebMHOXkfDXQ&feature=channel_page
where the instrument is a new and large Ruffatti organ with these specs:
http://www.ruffatti.com/specs/uppsala.html
A really large organ placed in a cathedral with 6-7 seconds reverb. I had to process the sound file on some spots (taking away caughing sounds from the public) and cut some of the lowest bass (because of the long reverb). Now I used the built in mics because of practical reasons (this was recorded at a public consert) but the possibility to directly use external mics (even with phantom power requirements and XLR conncectors) is a really great feature on this rather cheap and handy recorder which results in even better sound quality of course.
I can recommend it to 100%. On the recording here I have of course recorded the file with CD quality and 16-bit/44.1 kHz sampling.
I have used the Zoom H4 since it was released and am very satisfied with it. In its most sensitive mode I can even use it with a parabol disc antenna to record birds singing without any problems such as hiss and noise.
The example we have listened to here in this thread are all from rather small organs and recorded from a close position. I you wonder how the H4 performs in more demanding situations you can listen to the clip I have uploaded on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebMHOXkfDXQ&feature=channel_page
where the instrument is a new and large Ruffatti organ with these specs:
http://www.ruffatti.com/specs/uppsala.html
A really large organ placed in a cathedral with 6-7 seconds reverb. I had to process the sound file on some spots (taking away caughing sounds from the public) and cut some of the lowest bass (because of the long reverb). Now I used the built in mics because of practical reasons (this was recorded at a public consert) but the possibility to directly use external mics (even with phantom power requirements and XLR conncectors) is a really great feature on this rather cheap and handy recorder which results in even better sound quality of course.
I can recommend it to 100%. On the recording here I have of course recorded the file with CD quality and 16-bit/44.1 kHz sampling.
jhnbrbr
New member
I'm sure your recording is as good as it possibly could be, VeniVidi2009, but I for one would far rather listen to a smaller instrument in more intimate surroundings. What could be better calculated to destroy music utterly than a 6-7 second reverberation time? It's a criminal waste of a good organ to stick it in cathedral! The only way to even half-enjoy an organ recital at a cathedral is to sit as close to the organ as it's possible to get (or maybe inside it!). It does make you wonder sometimes when you see people applauding politely after sitting through a wishy washy soup of jumbled sounds!
VeniVidi2009,
Splendid recording ... this if the first recording of a large organ that I've heard done with the H4. Although I had no doubts about it being able to handle the reproduction, it really confirms what a great little machine this H4 really is. Certainly worth every penny I spent for mine. It keeps amazing me every time I use it.
I actually prefer the live building .. guess that comes from playing in a totally dead (acoustically) church for the past 27 years.
Splendid recording ... this if the first recording of a large organ that I've heard done with the H4. Although I had no doubts about it being able to handle the reproduction, it really confirms what a great little machine this H4 really is. Certainly worth every penny I spent for mine. It keeps amazing me every time I use it.
I actually prefer the live building .. guess that comes from playing in a totally dead (acoustically) church for the past 27 years.