Zoom unveils H1 XLR portable sound recorder capable of clip-free recordings using 32-bit float audio and dual A/D converter circuits

Zoom has unveiled the Zoom H1 XLR portable sound recorder with dual XLR/TRS inputs capable of clip-free recordings. Dual A/D converter circuits and 32-bit float WAV files up to 96 kHz deliver a -122 dBu noise floor, allowing clean recordings of subtle sounds perfect for ASMR as well as extremely loud sounds without the need to adjust microphone gain to prevent clipping.

The H1 XLR can also be used as an audio interface for podcasting or home and studio music recordings when connected to Android and Apple smartphones and PC and Mac computers using a USB-C cable. When used as such, the recorder provides two stereo inputs and two stereo outputs, and is limited to 16-bit or 32-bit float recordings at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz.

The internal microSD card slot is compatible with cards up to 1 TB in size, and recordings can be made simultaneously to the card and connected audio interface host. A trashcan folder reduces the chance of accidentally deleting important recordings.

The H1 XLR can be externally powered by the Zoom AD-17 5V 1A power adapter or by a power bank using USB-C bus power. Internally, the recorder can be powered by two alkaline, lithium, or rechargeable NiMH AA batteries. The approximate runtimes using alkaline batteries are four hours with phantom mic power on, and 12 hours with phantom power off. NiMH runtimes are similar, while lithium runtimes are roughly doubled.

The recorder weighs 5.79 ounces (164 g) and measures 2.44 x 4.21 x 1.55 inches (62.1 x 107 x 39.3 mm). A built-in speaker and 3.5 mm audio jack for headphones allow users to monitor and review recordings. A high-contrast OLED display allows users to see a real-time waveform during recording. The recorder is designed with audible descriptions for use by the visually impaired or anyone wanting to operate the recorder without looking, with voices in Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish.

The Zoom H1 XLR has an MSRP of $149. The Zoom store on Amazon US will carry the H1 XLR when it is released on September 16, 2024. Filmmakers who are recording sounds of fast action with the H1 XLR should use cameras with a global shutter (like this Sony on Amazon) to eliminate annoying rolling shutter effects.