Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 12:04 PM

Thanks to all ....... especially Suibhne O'Piobaireachd When we get back to the Beech I'll see how people feel about a bit of UTube exposure. Currently in the Bowling green until The Beech reopens and then the world is our winkle so to speak

Cheers
L in C Audaciously

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 08:18 AM

I'm trading in my H4 for wax-cylinder recorder.

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: treewind
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 08:02 AM

"best positioning of the stereo mics, and the mic gain setting"

If you're having trouble with the sound in any mic position, the problem may be the room you are recording in. Either clean it up with sound absorbing material, and make sure some of it can absorb bass (which is hard to do) - or find a big room with a really nice natural acoustic and use that.

Alternatively the suggestion of external mics and close miking may work, but it still needs a non-resonant room for best results.

Mic gain?
Set it so the peaks are 6-12dB below max recording (overload) level.
Lower if you are using 24 bit recording.
You can always boost it later with Audacity, but you can't recover a signal that's gone over the top and been clipped.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 07:40 AM

Nothing wrong with Cool Edit Pro. It's great for making noisy old cassette recordings almost hiss free.

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 04:42 AM

Just downloaded the Audacity to give it a whirl; it does the job and I find I can record from YouTube films on the lap-top, which can't be bad! Lots of rare concert tracks there to soak up.

As an H4 owner (old model) all I can say is I wish I'd gone for the H2. As I keep saying the modelling is atrocious & the XLR inputs are next to useless, at least they on mine because the machine crashes on phantom power - something I only found our when it was out of warranty! I use it for field & performance recording, and sometimes I'll use it to record instrumental parts for later sequencing on Ableton - such as the soundtrack for THIS, for which I recorded both the plastic treble recorder (+ electric shruti drone) and the frame-drum (not a loop!) using the H4.

As I say, Les - hope you're having fun. Let's have some Live from Chorlton tracks downloadable soon, eh?

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: Howard Jones
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 04:08 AM

The H4 is a nice little digital recorder and the built-in mics aren't bad. However it's designed for "field recording" rather than as a substitute for a recording studio, so if you want more control over the sound then it's a bit limited on its own. However it does score over much of the competition by also having full-size jack/XLR inputs for external mics.

No doubt others far more expert than I will comment, but my approach would be to use separate external mics for guitar and vocals connected to the mic inputs on the H4. Record these as separate tracks, and use Cubase Lite to mix them down to a stereo track. You'll have far more control over mic positioning and EQ for each track than if you try to use the built-in mics.

However, you'll need a pair of reasonable-quality mics, leads and a couple of stands so this isn't a cheap option.

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 09:52 PM

Has anybody determined the best positioning of the stereo mics, and the mic gain setting, to record singing and playing guitar on the Zoom? I have an H4. I keep experimenting and can't seem to get a result that really satisfies me.

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 07:55 PM

I use my ancient version of Audio Cleaning Lab for all such things (mine's an H4). It's ideal for the purpose. Not a freebie, of course.

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: Nick
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 07:44 PM

Reaper (or occasionally Audacity)

More to learn with Reaper but if it's anything other than a chop the ends off and normalise and bung it off to an mp3 then I use it rather than Audacity.

Also free until you want to pay for it

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 07:35 PM

(Garageband is what I meant for our Macs, not Rock Band!)

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: foggers
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 06:59 PM

Here is another vote for Audacity - yes it is basic but I am a simple woman with simple editing needs. (My OTHER needs are much more costly and complex but that's a whole other thread and possibly not for this forum.....)

If all you want is to be able to edit live recordings, snip out the fumblings at the beginnings and ends, tweak the gain, add fade in/out etc then Audacity is all you need and it is free to download.

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: Tangledwood
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 04:51 PM

The Zoom H2/Audacity combination works fine for my needs.

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: treewind
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 04:39 PM

I'd have though Audacity was more than enough for editing stereo files out of a Zoom recorder. It's what I use for recorings on my Edirol R9, and for basic mastering of stuff I've mixed on my multitrack HD recorder.

Audacity is a poor multi track mixer, but you're not doing that.
And it's the right price!

Anahata

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 03:53 PM

I use Cubase Lite (which came free with my H4).
I don't even bother with the editing facilities on the Zoom. The screen is far too small, and it's really perplexing.
I just download into my Mac, and do everything there.
(In fact, at home I just feed the output of my mixer into a Digidesign M Box. Only use the Zoom for location recordings nowadays!
Cubase can appear daunting at first, but, you don't have to use all its bells and whistles if you don't want to...Remember to save regularly though!!

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 03:34 PM

Les - there's lots of free stuff on line.

Try this: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ Maybe this is what Dave uses??

Have fun!

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 12:09 PM

I am very happy with Goldwave, which I believe is not dissimilar to audacity. You can also use both for slowing tracks down to help you learn the tunes.
Ray

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 11:24 AM

I use Audacity (a free download) for basic editing stuff (cutting down large files into more manageable sized pieces, selecting individual sections of large recordings, increasing or decreasing gain, etc) and have bEen very happy with it.

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: Will Fly
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 11:23 AM

I use a combination of Audacity and Garageband (on a Mac Book Pro).

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: theleveller
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 10:59 AM

I have used Audacity and Cubase in the past but am currently looking for a different system (Cubase is too complicated, Audacity is a bit basic).

Subject: RE: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 10:27 AM

astro's been using Rock Band on the Mac.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: Tech: Best prog for editing Zoom H2 files
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 10:07 AM

So, I have a Zoom H2 which seems relatively easy to use although the screen, as I think people pointed out, is very small.

Which is the simplest programme for doing things to recordings? I have a trial Cool Edit Pro but It looks a bit more than I need at present.

Any advice?

L in C