Zoom H4essential Portable Recorder

Content creators, filmmakers, and musicians alike are raving about the H4essential, an updated iteration of the company’s popular portable recorder lineup. Featuring additional recording and playback tracks, combo input interfacing, and an updated LCD, the H4essential brings more recording gusto to the table than ever before. Enhanced features include expanded memory card compatibility for higher workload handling, several hours of onboard battery life, and quiet operation controls — to name just a few. There’s also a brand-new Accessibility Mode, where a screen reader assists visually impaired creators with menu navigation. Zoom’s collection of portable recording gear has been a longtime favorite among content creators at Musiekwereld. With the introduction of the H4essential, that tradition won’t be replaced anytime soon.

Crystal-clear 32-bit float recording

Transparent 32-bit float recording has become a standard of Zoom’s portable recorder models. Along with its iconic X/Y stereo microphone design, the H4essential retains nothing less of crystalline audio quality, making the unit perfect for content creation, filmmaking, field recording, instrument capture, and more — all while keeping your audio levels balanced for less work later on.

Four tracks for limitless ways to record

Limiting yourself to one track means you’ll be recording take after take. Zoom has curbed this issue by outfitting the H4essential with four simultaneous recording and playback tracks. Combined with the recorder’s dual combo inputs and modern X/Y microphones, you’ll have endless ways to record the perfect take in one go.

Quiet operation controls and LCD interface display

The H4essential’s full-color LCD makes surfing the recorder’s entire feature catalog a breeze. To add to the pot, quiet operation recording and rotary controls, including transport buttons and an on-side volume knob, make it possible to navigate your workflow with a single hand, providing excellent field utility. Additionally, onboard microphone and track controls present an easy way to navigate dual-device recording in your workflow, with a visual representation available on-screen for immediate monitoring. The H4essential also accommodates visually impaired creators. It has built-in accessibility tools that provide audible menu descriptions in seven languages.

Combo-input audio interfacing

As if its recording power alone weren’t enough, Zoom equipped the H4essential with an extensive I/O for professional and portable audio interfacing. For starters, the recorder’s onboard dual XLR/TRS combo inputs provide connectivity for several instruments and microphones. Likewise, a mic/line in offers an easy way to include an external auxiliary input into the mix. To top it all off, monitoring your project is as easy as it gets: simply connect your external headphones or utilize the recorder’s built-in speaker to play your recordings for the entire room.

Receptive to modern-day setups

The H4essential is equipped to integrate into nearly any contemporary recording or filming setup. The recorder is lavalier-ready with an available 3.5mm mic/line input, ensuring professional-grade vocal capture. Likewise, a 3.5mm output provides compatibility with most modern camera models for lifelike complimentary sound. Topped off with the ability to function as a fully-featured USB microphone, there’s no creation session that the H4essential can’t handle.

Store your entire workload via SDXC and SDHC card support

The H4essential accommodates microSDXC (64GB-1TB) and microSDHC (4GB-32GB) cards for efficient storage capacity in any recording situation. With a whopping maximum capacity of one 1TB, you’ll spend less time swapping out your equipment and more time focusing on your content.