Total Audacity noob here

[James H]

Oh yeah, it's pretty easy to spot the sketchy reviews. I usually bypass the 110%s and the <20%s. Or at least read them with a gimlet eye.

So I need to do some research on this "Yeti curse," I suppose...I'm guessing their product has some sort of actual systemic problem?

What about these two Amazon deals:

https://www.amazon.com/Zoom-H1n-Handy-R ... PDKIKX0DER

https://www.amazon.com/Zoom-H2N-H2n-Han ... PDKIKX0DER

[steve]

I've got an old version of the Zoom H2.

Pros:
Silent operation.
Good recording quality.
Reasonable price.
Very portable.
Built-in mics OK.
Can take an external mic.
Can record in WAV format.
Reasonably robust (but don't drop it onto a concrete floor or stand on it).
Can be used as a stand-alone recorder, or as a USB (stereo) microphone.
Includes wallwart PSU, mic stand adaptor and foam "pop shield".
Can "drag and drop" recording onto a computer (requires the computer to have a flash card reader).
Can transfer files to computer via USB (if computer does not have a flash card reader.
Can run on standard "AA" batteries.

Cons:
Plastic case and "bubble buttons" (don't drop it onto a concrete floor or stand on it).
External mic connector is mini-jack (can't use a "professional" mic with it directly - though could use a mixing desk or external mic pre-amp).
Batteries not included.
No 48v phantom power.
Recording "gain" is only a 3 position "High/Medium/Low" switch.

If you want that "warm, intimate, close-up" voice sound, then really you need to be using a reasonably good vocal recording microphone rather than the (stereo) built-in mics, but the lack of phantom power and "XLR" microphone input means you can't do that without additional equipment. Nevertheless, the Zoom H2 does give good, clean recordings with the built-in mics, so it is a cost effective solution as a general purpose, truly portable audio recorder.

[kozikowski]

So I need to do some research on this "Yeti curse," I suppose...I'm guessing their product has some sort of actual systemic problem?

That's my name for it. It (and microphones in this group) don't filter or process the five volts of USB battery coming through the USB cable. They just use it to run everything inside the microphone. If the USB service is "dirty" or mal-formed, the error ends up in the sound.

http://kozco.com/tech/audacity/clips/US ... neClip.mp3

We generated a filter to get rid of it (most times) in post production, but the filter works by killing certain pitches and tones in the show. Nobody wants to hear the only sure way to cure it short of electronic surgery (take the microphone apart) is to change the computer.

The Yeti Pro® doesn't apparently have this problem because they do process the USB service, and they do it at twice the price.

One question I didn't answer was whether you can use your headphones to live monitor your voice while you record. I can check that later. That's desirable because self monitoring can give you a more even volume in the performance.

I have a different recorder that can recharge batteries while they're inside the recorder. That isn't mentioned anywhere in the Zoom H1n instructions, so I assume not.

We should note that the forum gets all the equipment failures, so while it looks like a massive product failure to us, should be taken against the thousands of microphones sold to apparently happy customers.

More later.

Koz

[kozikowski]

you need to be using a reasonably good vocal recording microphone rather than the (stereo) built-in mics

I got my sound by summing the two microphones rather than splitting the stereo channel and deleting one side. That should also reduce the microphone internal noise.

My H4 has XLR connections on the bottom, but the opinion of the original owner was not to bother. They're not that good.

Koz

[kozikowski]

I found the H1n always sells for $119.99 no matter where you buy it.

Koz

[kozikowski]

I've got an old version of the Zoom H2.

A Legacy H2. You win.

I just missed buying one on eBay by one of those services that bids a dollar more 3 seconds before the bidding closes.

Koz

[steve]

My H4 has XLR connections on the bottom, but the opinion of the original owner was not to bother. They're not that good.

I read that they are better on the new ("N" version), the "H4N".
Then again, the built-in mics are pretty good in both the old and new versions.

[Trebor]

So I need to do some research on this "Yeti curse," I suppose...I'm guessing their product has some sort of actual systemic problem?

The Yetis are USB mics, not standalone recorders, they often produce continuous mosquito-like whine.

What about these two Amazon deals:
https://www.amazon.com/Zoom-H1n-Handy-R ... B078PTM82R
https://www.amazon.com/Zoom-H2N-H2n-Han ... B005CQ2ZY6

It's a bad-sign when most of the Amazon reviews are 'bots (i.e. faked) ...
Amazon Reviews for https ://www.fakespot.com /product/zoom-h1n-handy-recorder-2018-model get a "D".
Amazon Reviews for https ://www.fakespot.com /product/zoom-h2n-handy-recorder get an "A"

The fakespot pages are a review of the legitimacy of the reviews for a product, not a review of the product.

[James H]

Hadn't known about the Fakespot before today, thanks for the info.
So, for my purpose (voice audio recording for transfer to PC-based Audacity for post-processing, and assuming I stick with the Zoom line), I have three choices that are reasonably priced:
H1n, H2n, and H4n, yes? The "legacy" H2 being probably never available.
In other words, the recorders will work fine for the actual recording of my voice, and I shouldn't have any of the noise artifact issues from my PC when I'm doing post in Audacity?

What else do I need, besides a lot of scripts to read and getting my voice out in the marketplace for exposure? I know this means grinding my butt off.

Batteries aren't a problem, really; I keep a lot around. I'm a flashlight freak. At least one in every room, all Maglites, and typically one within one or two arms' reach.

ETA as a requirement: A quiet recording environment.

Anything else I'm missing here?

Thanks so much as always,
-JH

[kozikowski]

The "legacy" H2 being probably never available.

That's safe. The "new" ones in a box are going for original list or higher prices.

In other words, the recorders will work fine for the actual recording of my voice, and I shouldn't have any of the noise artifact issues from my PC when I'm doing post in Audacity?

That's what we expect. You avoid all the pages and pages of problems people have connecting a microphone to a computer. Do get it from someone to whom you can return it if there's something wrong.

Please be clear nobody in this whole message thread found any room problems. No echoes or trucks going by, so if you straighten out the microphone, you should be good to go. As usual, there is no "talented performer" button in Audacity. The performance is as good as the actor.

As way at the top, I know people with your voice and they do very well telling stories. I would probably avoid fancy-pants, classic English novels in favor of home-grown American stories.

"We almost made it off the farm with our stash of fresh apples when Josh, never a twinkle toes at the best of times stepped on a branch and made a crack that could be heard in three counties. We were depending on the failing hearing of Bobby the sheep dog to cover our tracks, but even Bobby figured out there was something wrong and made it out of his shed barking enough to wake the dead and flying low the whole way."

I can hear that in your voice.

Koz