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Recording wise there's almost no difference in quality between the two devices being delivered through TH-cam. Listening at home in my studio with a pair of near field monitors. The Tascam X8 might have a flatter EQ at certain frequencies leaving the Zoom sounding slightly brighter but its pretty hard to tell to be honest. It's safe to say that you wont go wrong with either device. IMO.
@@Dale_Blackburn it means certain frequencies are neither boosted nor reduced, hence they are 'flat' and more representative of what the audio actually sounds like
@@Dale_Blackburn Basically the device isn't adding its own touch to things, that may either prefer female voices, or male voices, etc. It is being equally fair, and with no unique quirks to take advantage of creatively.
I do notice a huge difference in how each device captures space. I can feel the Audio coming from the Portacapture X8 to have a more natural sound, in terms of perspective. The H1n tend to sound less dynamic, like all the sounds are blending together and have less separation. This has nothing to do with EQ or TH-cam audio compression.
X8 has more dimensionality, more depth. As a musician, I notice it has more warmth but retains openness and clarity when recording live music and in your soundscapes as well. I love Zoom…owned 5 of them. X8 will be my next device though.
Great comparison Marcel! both do sound amazing, I have to say the X8 clearly has more sensitive onboard microphones and has a more dynamic and open sound with less background noise, but I'm using really good headphones..... to the untrained ear, the differences will be small-- now using external microphones, the differences would be even smaller! -- The H1n is how you started and I'm sure other folks out there can easily start their beginnings into field recording with this H1N recorder and no one would be the wiser when they hear the final product! the lesson here is just go out and record, content is the most important thing! Love your video Libby!!!!!!!!!!
Great assessment Michael Robbins. I noticed the same thing about slightly greater openness and sensitivity of the X8 on my headphones. The H1n is a great device considering cost and portability (the best sound recorder is the one in your pocket). No regrets purchasing it. Looking to upgrade to external mics in the future for more definition and directivity capture. Thanks for sharing Marcel.
Playing with this device at a tascam booth at a music conference I realized this tool is much better suited for a niche audience. For instance, I already have a zoom h4n but this new device would allow me to record a safety track, power it via power bank, allow me to change the pitch without affecting the speed of the track and most importantly, adjust my settings via Bluetooth and the app. That's what stood out to me.
Thanks for the comparison. I have and love my H1n. I use it for most of the audio on my channel. Your videos helped me decide on the H1n a year ago and I have been obsessing over the importance of audio ever since. But I recently picked up the X8 and have been loving it. I definitely notice more clarity with the X8. But I mainly purchased it for video interviews with multiple mics, recording podcasts on the road, plugging my (vocalist)wife's condenser mic(Rode NT1) into it while micing my acoustic guitar with the onboard X8 mics while adding reverb, compression and EQ and then synching this to our video channel. Sounds amazing with this setup and completely portable. I do minimal field recording but I do use the X8 for ambient and sound effects creation for my videos. I never record over 96k so I haven't heard the notorious hum issue. Oh and the tuner and metronome, for me as a guitarist is awesome. I couldn't find any other device that can perform all the of these roles.
@@runningintohistory that is good to know.. i ordered one and then the volume button was so loose that it made a slight click noise if the hardware is moving (like me walking and recording). That noise was so disappointing in the final audio😟 very disturbing. then I replaced that with another piece and faced same issue (ordered on Amazon) While no one on internet talks about it as it is such a big problem. So maybe both pieces were faulty. For me - the use case is street interview recording. So can’t keep it static. Now am wondering whether to order from another seller or spend some more money to try out h2n.
@shivam nandi are you talking about the h1n or X8? I do know a lot of people are placing gaffer tape over the h1n volume button because its so easy to accidentally move the setting. I will end up doing the same thing since I bumped the volume button accidentally a few times while in my pocket. But my h1n volume isn't loose enough to just move while walking. Interesting you had two like that.
@@runningintohistory i am talkin about h1n. and yes its volume button was making noise while i moved (or just move my hand). on both pieces i ordered. That is why i was so surprised as there is no mention of this anywhere.
Thank you for making this video. Listening all recordings in Beyerdynamic DT770 pro 250 ohm, I hear more details in the background with X8, when H1n sound more muffled regarding sounds at a distance. Side by side X8 gives a little step up from couple samples already, but so much important step up that the sound feels more natural and soundstage is wider. X8 makes everything sound beyond realistic, somehow(for me), in the way I really like it. My first H1n on the way, will record audio effects with it for my future games. Cheers!
Similar in quality. But to me, the x8 sounds a touch brighter, wider, and more sensitive. Impressed by the zoom going toe-to-toe with the newer and more expensive unit, but also pleasantly surprised by the quality of the tascam capsules. I listened blindly. At first I didn’t hear much of a difference, but the dock scene with the birds made it obvious. After that, the difference was clear. Thanks for the video. Cheers to you both.
I have both and i catch myself using the H1n more than the Tascam purely because it's more portable.. sound wise the tascam is a little better but not by a lot. definitely would go for the h1n. especially if you just need a small and decent recorder.
Thanks for doing this! It was closer than I thought it would be. but for the last session I closed my eyes and only opened them when I thought the recorder switched and I was correct every time, even though I’m only listening on Apple Airpods (3rd gen). the Tascam has significantly better low representation, but also seems a bit more susceptible to wind. But agree with the other commenter that the dynamic range of these situations is relatively low. And the 32-bit float will shine in more challenging situations or when time is tight. But it just goes to show that any tool in the right hands can be a great one. 🙌
Nice video, this different-categories-of-the-same-product comparison format is interesting. Based on this video the X8 sounds better with a more realistic sound and a wider stereo image, but the difference in these samples is subtle, less than you might expect for a 5x price difference... but you aren't paying 5x just for the slightly better built-in mics but rather for the features. 32-bit float, 4 XLR inputs with phantom power, multichannel recording. To the H1n's credit small size and low price are great features as well and there's no doubt in my mind that it's the right product for more people's use cases.
the question is also: Can you hear a $400 difference? The X8 does have more functionality which cannot be compared to the H1n, but if you just going to use in built mics, the $400 difference is not that obvious (to my ears)
I have both. The zoom is the one I slip in my pocket on the way out the door for those “just in case” moments. And for research of locations. The X8 is what I take to recorded properly at high sample rate with 32 bit float for the safety of knowing what I can do with it in post. Also the x8 I attach other mics to it and use for contact mic and hydrophone etc etc. They both have their specific use cases
I think this shows that there’s something to be said for lighter and cheaper. No matter how good the Tascam is, you’re never going to put a relatively heavy, more expensive recorder in a situation where it could be damaged or lost. That’s not a dig at Tascam. It’s simply a matter of the right tool for the right job.
Thank you for the great video! For the price the H1 sounds extremly good! That is the cool thing about the Zoom handhelds. I really like the sound of my H5 mics, too. For my the upgrade to better mics is a real problem budget wise. I think the mics of the x8 sound a little more open with less bass frequenzy and I’m really glad to hear that you get a really good xy or ab solution on board. The question that bothers me at the moment is: how important is it really (!) to have 32bit when you can do postproduction? But that is an other question. So thank you for the comparison! Personally i’m glad that I liked the x8 more than the H1.
Well well well. That was indeed a bit of a shock. Such minor little differences in the recordings except the busy scene by the road in the City, where the X8 had more obvious and warmer low end rumble from the cars/motorbikes/bus. I expected a much bigger difference than that. I think it convinced me to keep using my H1n and spend on some Clippys rather than a new recorder. I think I'll be OK with that as I spend time learning and recording more. I'll definitely watch this again in the next few minutes and really listen without any distraction from the chat. Thanks anyway Marcel. Quite an eye opening comparison for sure. I expected so much more from the X8.
Indeed the H1n is an awesome recorder and we hope we could showcase that. Quick question about the clippys. How much phantom power do they need? Is it enough to be used on the line in?
@@FreeToUseSounds There's a stereo Clippy (EM272) available with a 3.5mm plug requiring PiP, and an XLR version with 12-48v Phantom. I've seen many people use the 3.5mm PiP version with the H1n and they sound great.
I decided to record the sounds of nature, city, cafes but I was confused to choose which mic is better for me. Thank you so much, your channel helps me a lot. I think H1n is the best option for me. Thanks again :)
The difference in sound quality between the two recorders is like comparing 4K to 1080 on a small mobile phone; negible. Then it depends on what you're going to record. I would think that the Tascam is less sensitive when it comes to wind as well as handling noise. Especially the later is a "built-in" problem with the Zoom. :) But for my personal use which is recording external sound for personal videos to replace the subpar sound my cameras are capable of, both the original H1 as well as H1n (and H2n) is more than enough. Also simple to handle and reliable. Thanks for the video!
I used the "Scary Wind Textures" Library and it was incredible! It was evident that would have been quite an experience! Really added to the storytelling, and I could tell there was a story of itself behind those winds!
I see you have now owned and used the Tascam X8 and the Zoom F6. I am currently looking at both of these. Between the two have you a preference, and mind sharing why? I wanted the X8 at first, love the screen and the fact I can have one device to do some on site recordings with the built in mics (like a concert) but my research usually has the F6 rated as the "better" device. I understand one is more of a sound bag field recorder and one is a handy recorder, but they do have a lot of overlap in features and close in price, heck you could disconnect the X8 mics if you really wanted to use it more like a dedicated field recorder. I have a H2N that I took with me to a concert not long ago, and it sounded terrible worse than my phones recording, maybe just where I was standing and the way the microphones are made, no clipping, just no detail and dynamics it was all bass, but I also dropped it when using it for a TH-cam video for LAV recording forgetting it was tethered to me, so maybe I damaged the built in mics.
Those are wastly different types of recorders, but the point is still illustrated - even a cheap one can record high-quality audio. For me personally, having X-Y + A-B with 4 side-mounted XLR Combo jacks out of the box is the killer feature.
The decision is harder, which is a good thing I guess. I’m interested in the new X6 which is smaller but I can use my xlr shotgun mic along with wired or wireless lavalier. But there’s no excuse to not own an H1n as a main or backup tool. Thank you for all that you do!
I always have my Olympus lsp4 with me (it's actually even smaller than the zoom h1n). If you ever have the opportunity to test the olympus lsp4... don't miss it. maybe the smallest recorder with a good sound. I think it's so good to always have a recorder with you, but it doesn't bother you because it's so small and light. thanks for your work!!
Hate to say this but this test is largely irrelevant because both audio recorders results are transcoded into TH-cam's audio format for the site. I honestly could NOT hear a difference between both recorders in any of your examples. That said, I own both the original Zoom H1 as well as the H4n Pro Black and I use them both very regularly for ambient electronic music production, the H1 for more risky sound gathering like you are doing over the water and such, and the H4n for more controlled environments where it is less likely to get banged around or dropped. You are doing a great job, keep it up!
I'm not sure it is irrelevant really. I watched many many handheld recorder comparisons on TH-cam and the huge obvious differences always come through. Not on this one though. I expected the X8 to really burst into life when he switched over from the H1n, but it was way closer than I ever imagined. I suspect much of it was down to subject choices. The scene by the road with the crowd of people showed the biggest difference for me, so maybe the X8 shines a lot more when the sound source is more "busy" and complex than just birds, a quiet back street, or a fairly quiet night market. I'd probably expect a more obvious difference when recording a rain or thunder storm for instance, or traffic, crowds, etc ... Or maybe it's just me still in shock that a H1n holds up so well against a new $500 unit. I'm quite amazed if it really is that close.
Thank you for feedback Michael and I can assure you that they both sound very similar while editing and on TH-cam. However we do have sound sample libraries from Bangkok recorded with the Zoom H1n and the Tascam X8. I have all sounds also uploaded by tonight within the All In One Bundle. That way everyone who has the files can put them side by side.
The biggest achilles heel I have with the Tascam Portacapture x8 is it's mic capsules and wind noise. It doesn't matter what wind protection I use. The capsules on the Tascam seem affected by any amount of wind pressure that it actually blanks out small sections of the wav file - which is worse than peaking which can be fixed with 32bit float., but with this problem, when you go in to a DAW, it shows those sections with the wav file with a straight line and no recorded sounds. It happens even with the low cut filter if the wind is too strong - where as on my Sony PCM D100, it captures the same sound without that problem. Saddly, I am re-packing my Tascam to send back today. I may give the Zoom F3 a try later - but don't have any good external Mic and will need to save money to buy the Audio Technica 4025 with it's stereo xy mics.
I own both of these and can say i prefer the X8. The H1n was giving me white noise issues randomly which made it un-reliable. X8 sounds more crisp and clear when capturing recordings. I notice a huge difference when working with foley. I do like the compactness of H1n though if i just need something quickly and can throw it in my pocket for use later.
All sounds was recorded in loud ambient environment. I think difference will be noticeable in more quiet environment when Zoom H1n will show a lot of self-noise.
I could hear a noticeable difference in sound quality with the x8 being the clear winner. A better comparison would have been an environment that has both loud and soft sounds like a fireworks show or arcade. Having 32 bit float is a game changer for novices like me who struggle to get the gain levels just right. I have an x8 on order and hopefully it will arrive soon. Thx for your comparison!
Ok - the X8 sounds better - but just a little bit. More precise, less noise floor and a little bit more balanced. But for me I this is a slap in the face of Tascam because their brand new device is just 5% better but 500% more expensive than the "old & simple" H1N from Zoom. I always loved this little recorder because it never disappointed me and it delivered always good results - especially for the price. Thank you for this great video.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us. Yes the Zoom H1n recorder has a special place for us too. The H1 was our first recorder ever and without them, who knows if we would have that channel.
X8 definetly sounds better, albeit I have to pay attention to notice, and if I close my eyes I notice immediately (I am listening with the standard pair of Sonys 7506). I have the H1n for a few years and love it, because the weight and size is never a restriction to carry it along with me anywhere. I also imagine that the more modern X8 unit offer professionals much better recording control, options and user interface which may be critical. The small H1n is very sensitive to handling noise; while the X8 may not survive a concrete drop test... the H1n basically just "bounces"... Again, to each its own, for me, amateur guy, H1n offers outstanding price x weight x simplicity value.
To my ears the H1n sounded slightly more detailed in faint sounds, like it picked up more than the X8, but the difference is very small. The X8 sounded ever so slightly warmer to me, again with a small difference. Disregarding the differences in what you can do with the devices and the price, and going purely by sound, I'd pick the Zoom. To put it in subjective words the Zoom sounded more clinically exact, the Tascam more pleasing - which is why I'd pick the Zoom, to build a mood and ambiance you sometimes need sounds to be a bit unpleasant and raw.
Thank you for the video. Great job shooting and editing Libby! Was that the Vlog Alpha? Still very much looking forward to that big q&a with the both of you :)
Only real dif I hear is that to me in some of the recordings the Tascam had a little better low end response and sounded less tinny. The birds sounded like they had a tad of distortion on the Zoom while the Tascam sounded a little cleaner. Otherwise they only dif I can see is the fact that the Tascam will surely out shine the H1n when recording very loud sounds like thunder and such ... But for normal everyday recordings on a budget the Zoom is fine.
@@FreeToUseSounds Yes I understand that, but it was still not as smooth as the Tascam in my opin, just sounded like very slight distortion in the capsules at some frequencies.
There is a problem with Zoom H1n from my point: the auto recording. I need "full auto recording," which means to start recording when the acoustic pressure is above the required level and stop, after it goes down. But H1n can only start recording once. Then it would be stopped manually, or when you run out of battery/SD space.
I think there would be a huge difference when listening to other genres. Just listen to ambient sounds is not really going to test what the X8 can do. If you are recording several tracks of music in hi-res and using effects and so forth, you will probably find a huge difference between the two recorders.
I chose recorders from "Zoom f3" and "Taskam x8". In the end I chose "Zoom f3" because of its small size (because I work as a videographer). But the lack of built-in microphones in "Zoom f3" upsets me and I want to buy some microphones similar to those in "Taskam" - please advise me what to choose from?
The zoom has a wider, more spacious sound with crisp highs which caught my attention immediately. The tascam sounded flat throughout the frequency spectrum. The microphones are not as sensitive as the zoom microphones. This is what I noticed while listening to your video with Sony headphones.
Great comparison. But what I really love is your enthusiasm. I'm sure we could give you a phone and nothing else and you would record great sounds. Thanks and have a nice day.
This video was so useful for me - it's almost like it was made for me - thank you! Think I'm gonna stick with the H1n, I love the compactness of the unit and my binaural's plug straight in. Man, I want to go to Bangkok right now, the moment when you missed the bell sound was exactly my reaction too.
up grade! X8 will save us with 32 float bitrate (dual pre-amp) ...when we make a mistake/slappy capture audio on field,X8 can increase or decrease our capture in editing...no peaking no soft audio anymore.. about the audio quality,its about mic what we use.. thats my opinion...
The TASCAM X8 has more depth to its sound. But that's what I can hear over my studio speakers. I guess if you aren't an audiophile, it doesn't really matter as long as you can capture the audio.
When you switch between the two devices, I do not feel that you have switched between them, so I did not notice a noticeable difference between the two recordings
Listening on DT 770 250's and the sounds is very, very similar on both devices. I think the mics in the H1N are brilliant for such a low budget device. The preamp noise can be a minor problem indoors, but it's nothing a little EQ can't fix. If you need XLR inputs you can just buy an adaptor.
Thank you so much for your comment. Yeah I saw a video on TH-cam about an XLR adapter. Also there is a cool 48v converter on the market that you could with an H1n. That makes it perfect for microphones that need phantom power.
Than You so much for helping us with this importan decision making, this helps a lot, I only wish, to listen to the same exact sound from both, not sure if thats what you did, my point is I was looking to see wish leave behind any sound, the little details. Thanks!
The X8 seems to have a thicker sound but picks up everything, it’s very hard to decipher which sound is ‘more important’ … The H1n definitely has more ‘treble’ or gives prominence to thinner detail. If I wanted rich density I would definitely buy the X8 if I wanted bird song alone definitely the H1n, but at only $100 I would now buy them both 😂…
I ask you a question, is the issue of the lines in the high frequencies in the Tascam solved? Do you have any information? Thank you very much for your time and congratulations for the channel.
Difference is minimal, at least in the hands of Marcel) I think if you need just hand recorder and not exactly 32bit, just go for zoom h1n or smth like zoom h5, because it has different capsules option. Thanks for video guys! You’re best!
Where did you get that bag you are using… I’m a videographer/cinematographer that recently became obsessed with clear good sounding audio.. I use a 5.11 24hr bag to haul my equipment.. but I’m looking for one a bit more sturdy
thank you so much for the video, im looking for a recoder to begin, is this better than sony ICD-UX570F? both are same budget at this time. What should i chose for recoding theo sound when i writing on paper while around is very loud? what is better for noise handling? Thank you so much again, your channel is help me very much and this is very wonderful for me.
I hear zero difference between the recorders. But… this is easy sound to record, low dynamic range so no test of limiting or clipping, high level ambience masks any recorder self noise. Try doing this same comparison at an air show with fly-bys.
Hi. Great video! Which one, or others similar, would you think to be preferable for recording a handpan instrument at a budget no higher than $400 USD? Thank you.
Hey Marcel, I am so new to sound recording and don't have trained ears for sounds. I feel they are so similar... but if I understand the difference also would be the use of other types of microphones connected. As well as 32 bit float. I see the H1n limits to single mic input and my H6 more inputs.
Hi Greg. This is correct. The X8 has more features for sure but this video was only about the sound of the capsules to make it fair and realistic to the over the Zoom H1n. You are correct. They both sound very similar.
We will be recording our bands gigs with the X8 (strangely, there is no one recording their band or gig with the X8, on YT anyway, which is very strange) Can you record to a Seagate Expansion Portable Drive 2TB or similar? Thanks.
Helllo can you share us how you people organize all these recordings properly and find the exact matching ones when needed ? I have a huge collection too but I fail to rename similar sounds.
@@FreeToUseSounds I tried posting this same comment previously with a link to B&H but it did not seem to post. So I posted again without the link. Makes me think TH-cam rejects comments with links?
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Recording wise there's almost no difference in quality between the two devices being delivered through TH-cam. Listening at home in my studio with a pair of near field monitors. The Tascam X8 might have a flatter EQ at certain frequencies leaving the Zoom sounding slightly brighter but its pretty hard to tell to be honest. It's safe to say that you wont go wrong with either device. IMO.
I couldn't agree more. Both sounding great for the recording examples. We do have sound samples and I upload them into the All In One Bundle soon.
Can you describe what you meant by flatter EQ please? Thanks.
@@Dale_Blackburn it means certain frequencies are neither boosted nor reduced, hence they are 'flat' and more representative of what the audio actually sounds like
@@Dale_Blackburn Basically the device isn't adding its own touch to things, that may either prefer female voices, or male voices, etc. It is being equally fair, and with no unique quirks to take advantage of creatively.
I do notice a huge difference in how each device captures space. I can feel the Audio coming from the Portacapture X8 to have a more natural sound, in terms of perspective. The H1n tend to sound less dynamic, like all the sounds are blending together and have less separation. This has nothing to do with EQ or TH-cam audio compression.
Great video, really like how your cinematography is shaping up.
I love my H1N and is more than enough for my needs.
Thank you Chris! The Zoom H1n is a great recorder and I still use it too.
X8 has more dimensionality, more depth. As a musician, I notice it has more warmth but retains openness and clarity when recording live music and in your soundscapes as well. I love Zoom…owned 5 of them. X8 will be my next device though.
Great comparison Marcel! both do sound amazing, I have to say the X8 clearly has more sensitive onboard microphones and has a more dynamic and open sound with less background noise, but I'm using really good headphones..... to the untrained ear, the differences will be small-- now using external microphones, the differences would be even smaller! -- The H1n is how you started and I'm sure other folks out there can easily start their beginnings into field recording with this H1N recorder and no one would be the wiser when they hear the final product! the lesson here is just go out and record, content is the most important thing! Love your video Libby!!!!!!!!!!
Great assessment Michael Robbins. I noticed the same thing about slightly greater openness and sensitivity of the X8 on my headphones. The H1n is a great device considering cost and portability (the best sound recorder is the one in your pocket). No regrets purchasing it. Looking to upgrade to external mics in the future for more definition and directivity capture. Thanks for sharing Marcel.
Thank you Michael! I was wondering if somebody ever noticed the videography too. :)
Thank you for watching Paul!
"Keep in mind, only because something is brand New, not means is better" ...perfect, I always say this to my filmmakers friends.
True ! 🤗
Thank you Rafael!
Playing with this device at a tascam booth at a music conference I realized this tool is much better suited for a niche audience. For instance, I already have a zoom h4n but this new device would allow me to record a safety track, power it via power bank, allow me to change the pitch without affecting the speed of the track and most importantly, adjust my settings via Bluetooth and the app. That's what stood out to me.
I can probably hear a very slight difference but I wouldn't know which was which without the labels. Both sound amazing.
The most complete, enjoyable and honest comparison I have seen so far. Thank you
Thank you for watching!
Thanks for the comparison. I have and love my H1n. I use it for most of the audio on my channel. Your videos helped me decide on the H1n a year ago and I have been obsessing over the importance of audio ever since. But I recently picked up the X8 and have been loving it. I definitely notice more clarity with the X8. But I mainly purchased it for video interviews with multiple mics, recording podcasts on the road, plugging my (vocalist)wife's condenser mic(Rode NT1) into it while micing my acoustic guitar with the onboard X8 mics while adding reverb, compression and EQ and then synching this to our video channel. Sounds amazing with this setup and completely portable. I do minimal field recording but I do use the X8 for ambient and sound effects creation for my videos. I never record over 96k so I haven't heard the notorious hum issue. Oh and the tuner and metronome, for me as a guitarist is awesome. I couldn't find any other device that can perform all the of these roles.
hey!!! isn't the volume button loose? doesn't it create noise?
@shivam nandi I haven't had any issues with the volume on my X8 or H1n.
@@runningintohistory that is good to know.. i ordered one and then the volume button was so loose that it made a slight click noise if the hardware is moving (like me walking and recording). That noise was so disappointing in the final audio😟 very disturbing. then I replaced that with another piece and faced same issue (ordered on Amazon) While no one on internet talks about it as it is such a big problem. So maybe both pieces were faulty.
For me - the use case is street interview recording. So can’t keep it static.
Now am wondering whether to order from another seller or spend some more money to try out h2n.
@shivam nandi are you talking about the h1n or X8? I do know a lot of people are placing gaffer tape over the h1n volume button because its so easy to accidentally move the setting. I will end up doing the same thing since I bumped the volume button accidentally a few times while in my pocket. But my h1n volume isn't loose enough to just move while walking. Interesting you had two like that.
@@runningintohistory i am talkin about h1n. and yes its volume button was making noise while i moved (or just move my hand). on both pieces i ordered. That is why i was so surprised as there is no mention of this anywhere.
Thank you for making this video. Listening all recordings in Beyerdynamic DT770 pro 250 ohm, I hear more details in the background with X8, when H1n sound more muffled regarding sounds at a distance. Side by side X8 gives a little step up from couple samples already, but so much important step up that the sound feels more natural and soundstage is wider. X8 makes everything sound beyond realistic, somehow(for me), in the way I really like it. My first H1n on the way, will record audio effects with it for my future games. Cheers!
Thank you so much sharing your thoughts too Alex! Great to have you here on the channel!
Similar in quality. But to me, the x8 sounds a touch brighter, wider, and more sensitive. Impressed by the zoom going toe-to-toe with the newer and more expensive unit, but also pleasantly surprised by the quality of the tascam capsules. I listened blindly. At first I didn’t hear much of a difference, but the dock scene with the birds made it obvious. After that, the difference was clear. Thanks for the video. Cheers to you both.
Thank you Jeremy!
I loved the video. I've had an H1 for several years and he never let me down. Thanks for the comparison.
Thank you for watching Emerson! We are glad you enjoyed it!
I have both and i catch myself using the H1n more than the Tascam purely because it's more portable.. sound wise the tascam is a little better but not by a lot. definitely would go for the h1n. especially if you just need a small and decent recorder.
Since the BEST audio is REDUNDANT audio, plan on buying both (or two H1n's). Not having redundant audio is playing with fire.
Thanks for doing this! It was closer than I thought it would be. but for the last session I closed my eyes and only opened them when I thought the recorder switched and I was correct every time, even though I’m only listening on Apple Airpods (3rd gen). the Tascam has significantly better low representation, but also seems a bit more susceptible to wind. But agree with the other commenter that the dynamic range of these situations is relatively low. And the 32-bit float will shine in more challenging situations or when time is tight. But it just goes to show that any tool in the right hands can be a great one. 🙌
Can't agree more Dave! I think when doing the X8 vs Sound Devices and Zoom, I hope I can get some loud sounds too.
Nice video, this different-categories-of-the-same-product comparison format is interesting. Based on this video the X8 sounds better with a more realistic sound and a wider stereo image, but the difference in these samples is subtle, less than you might expect for a 5x price difference... but you aren't paying 5x just for the slightly better built-in mics but rather for the features. 32-bit float, 4 XLR inputs with phantom power, multichannel recording. To the H1n's credit small size and low price are great features as well and there's no doubt in my mind that it's the right product for more people's use cases.
the question is also: Can you hear a $400 difference?
The X8 does have more functionality which cannot be compared to the H1n, but if you just going to use in built mics, the $400 difference is not that obvious (to my ears)
Yay! Thank you for the great video! I think the H1n does so much for its price. Thank you Marcel and Libby!
That is true Ben. For $100 you get a great recorder.
I have both. The zoom is the one I slip in my pocket on the way out the door for those “just in case” moments. And for research of locations. The X8 is what I take to recorded properly at high sample rate with 32 bit float for the safety of knowing what I can do with it in post. Also the x8 I attach other mics to it and use for contact mic and hydrophone etc etc. They both have their specific use cases
I think this shows that there’s something to be said for lighter and cheaper. No matter how good the Tascam is, you’re never going to put a relatively heavy, more expensive recorder in a situation where it could be damaged or lost. That’s not a dig at Tascam. It’s simply a matter of the right tool for the right job.
Never say never!
Thank you for the great video! For the price the H1 sounds extremly good! That is the cool thing about the Zoom handhelds. I really like the sound of my H5 mics, too. For my the upgrade to better mics is a real problem budget wise. I think the mics of the x8 sound a little more open with less bass frequenzy and I’m really glad to hear that you get a really good xy or ab solution on board. The question that bothers me at the moment is: how important is it really (!) to have 32bit when you can do postproduction? But that is an other question. So thank you for the comparison! Personally i’m glad that I liked the x8 more than the H1.
Thank you for watching Rouven :)
Well well well. That was indeed a bit of a shock. Such minor little differences in the recordings except the busy scene by the road in the City, where the X8 had more obvious and warmer low end rumble from the cars/motorbikes/bus. I expected a much bigger difference than that. I think it convinced me to keep using my H1n and spend on some Clippys rather than a new recorder. I think I'll be OK with that as I spend time learning and recording more. I'll definitely watch this again in the next few minutes and really listen without any distraction from the chat. Thanks anyway Marcel. Quite an eye opening comparison for sure. I expected so much more from the X8.
Indeed the H1n is an awesome recorder and we hope we could showcase that. Quick question about the clippys. How much phantom power do they need? Is it enough to be used on the line in?
@@FreeToUseSounds There's a stereo Clippy (EM272) available with a 3.5mm plug requiring PiP, and an XLR version with 12-48v Phantom. I've seen many people use the 3.5mm PiP version with the H1n and they sound great.
@@cryptotrader2779 Maybe when I'm back in Europe I can order them.
I decided to record the sounds of nature, city, cafes but I was confused to choose which mic is better for me. Thank you so much, your channel helps me a lot. I think H1n is the best option for me. Thanks again :)
The difference in sound quality between the two recorders is like comparing 4K to 1080 on a small mobile phone; negible. Then it depends on what you're going to record. I would think that the Tascam is less sensitive when it comes to wind as well as handling noise. Especially the later is a "built-in" problem with the Zoom. :)
But for my personal use which is recording external sound for personal videos to replace the subpar sound my cameras are capable of, both the original H1 as well as H1n (and H2n) is more than enough. Also simple to handle and reliable.
Thanks for the video!
Thank you Per! Great feedback :)
I used the "Scary Wind Textures" Library and it was incredible! It was evident that would have been quite an experience! Really added to the storytelling, and I could tell there was a story of itself behind those winds!
Hi Christian! This is so cool to hear. Wind sounds are always hard to get and this was a fun one to record. So glad to hear that :)
Hola, cual me recomiendas comprar.
I see you have now owned and used the Tascam X8 and the Zoom F6. I am currently looking at both of these. Between the two have you a preference, and mind sharing why? I wanted the X8 at first, love the screen and the fact I can have one device to do some on site recordings with the built in mics (like a concert) but my research usually has the F6 rated as the "better" device. I understand one is more of a sound bag field recorder and one is a handy recorder, but they do have a lot of overlap in features and close in price, heck you could disconnect the X8 mics if you really wanted to use it more like a dedicated field recorder.
I have a H2N that I took with me to a concert not long ago, and it sounded terrible worse than my phones recording, maybe just where I was standing and the way the microphones are made, no clipping, just no detail and dynamics it was all bass, but I also dropped it when using it for a TH-cam video for LAV recording forgetting it was tethered to me, so maybe I damaged the built in mics.
thank you, I just bought a zoom h1n and I am amazed at the quality sounds it can record.
Great to hear that :)
Those are wastly different types of recorders, but the point is still illustrated - even a cheap one can record high-quality audio.
For me personally, having X-Y + A-B with 4 side-mounted XLR Combo jacks out of the box is the killer feature.
I guess its just the coloration of the mics, they both capture the important information that is needed
The decision is harder, which is a good thing I guess. I’m interested in the new X6 which is smaller but I can use my xlr shotgun mic along with wired or wireless lavalier. But there’s no excuse to not own an H1n as a main or backup tool. Thank you for all that you do!
I always have my Olympus lsp4 with me (it's actually even smaller than the zoom h1n). If you ever have the opportunity to test the olympus lsp4... don't miss it. maybe the smallest recorder with a good sound. I think it's so good to always have a recorder with you, but it doesn't bother you because it's so small and light. thanks for your work!!
This is also a nice piece of gear. I haven't used it but I heard good things.
Hate to say this but this test is largely irrelevant because both audio recorders results are transcoded into TH-cam's audio format for the site. I honestly could NOT hear a difference between both recorders in any of your examples. That said, I own both the original Zoom H1 as well as the H4n Pro Black and I use them both very regularly for ambient electronic music production, the H1 for more risky sound gathering like you are doing over the water and such, and the H4n for more controlled environments where it is less likely to get banged around or dropped. You are doing a great job, keep it up!
I'm not sure it is irrelevant really. I watched many many handheld recorder comparisons on TH-cam and the huge obvious differences always come through. Not on this one though. I expected the X8 to really burst into life when he switched over from the H1n, but it was way closer than I ever imagined. I suspect much of it was down to subject choices. The scene by the road with the crowd of people showed the biggest difference for me, so maybe the X8 shines a lot more when the sound source is more "busy" and complex than just birds, a quiet back street, or a fairly quiet night market. I'd probably expect a more obvious difference when recording a rain or thunder storm for instance, or traffic, crowds, etc ... Or maybe it's just me still in shock that a H1n holds up so well against a new $500 unit. I'm quite amazed if it really is that close.
Thank you for feedback Michael and I can assure you that they both sound very similar while editing and on TH-cam. However we do have sound sample libraries from Bangkok recorded with the Zoom H1n and the Tascam X8. I have all sounds also uploaded by tonight within the All In One Bundle. That way everyone who has the files can put them side by side.
The biggest achilles heel I have with the Tascam Portacapture x8 is it's mic capsules and wind noise. It doesn't matter what wind protection I use. The capsules on the Tascam seem affected by any amount of wind pressure that it actually blanks out small sections of the wav file - which is worse than peaking which can be fixed with 32bit float., but with this problem, when you go in to a DAW, it shows those sections with the wav file with a straight line and no recorded sounds. It happens even with the low cut filter if the wind is too strong - where as on my Sony PCM D100, it captures the same sound without that problem. Saddly, I am re-packing my Tascam to send back today. I may give the Zoom F3 a try later - but don't have any good external Mic and will need to save money to buy the Audio Technica 4025 with it's stereo xy mics.
I own both of these and can say i prefer the X8. The H1n was giving me white noise issues randomly which made it un-reliable. X8 sounds more crisp and clear when capturing recordings. I notice a huge difference when working with foley. I do like the compactness of H1n though if i just need something quickly and can throw it in my pocket for use later.
Very impressed with the Zoom H1n, I personally can't tell the difference. Listening with sennheiser headphone.
Tascam seems to be wider and deeper
Thank you for sharing your thoughts too!
All sounds was recorded in loud ambient environment. I think difference will be noticeable in more quiet environment when Zoom H1n will show a lot of self-noise.
Very similar, i couldnt here any difference thank you
I could hear a noticeable difference in sound quality with the x8 being the clear winner. A better comparison would have been an environment that has both loud and soft sounds like a fireworks show or arcade. Having 32 bit float is a game changer for novices like me who struggle to get the gain levels just right. I have an x8 on order and hopefully it will arrive soon. Thx for your comparison!
Thank you for your input Brian!
Ok - the X8 sounds better - but just a little bit.
More precise, less noise floor and a little bit more balanced.
But for me I this is a slap in the face of Tascam because their brand new device is just 5% better but 500% more expensive than the "old & simple" H1N from Zoom.
I always loved this little recorder because it never disappointed me and it delivered always good results - especially for the price.
Thank you for this great video.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us. Yes the Zoom H1n recorder has a special place for us too. The H1 was our first recorder ever and without them, who knows if we would have that channel.
Thank you Marcel for this video comparison!
It was our pleasure!!
most helpful video I've seen so far!
X8 definetly sounds better, albeit I have to pay attention to notice, and if I close my eyes I notice immediately (I am listening with the standard pair of Sonys 7506). I have the H1n for a few years and love it, because the weight and size is never a restriction to carry it along with me anywhere. I also imagine that the more modern X8 unit offer professionals much better recording control, options and user interface which may be critical. The small H1n is very sensitive to handling noise; while the X8 may not survive a concrete drop test... the H1n basically just "bounces"... Again, to each its own, for me, amateur guy, H1n offers outstanding price x weight x simplicity value.
X8 sounds it has captured more details and depths than the H1n.
Thank you for letting us know.
To my ears the H1n sounded slightly more detailed in faint sounds, like it picked up more than the X8, but the difference is very small. The X8 sounded ever so slightly warmer to me, again with a small difference. Disregarding the differences in what you can do with the devices and the price, and going purely by sound, I'd pick the Zoom. To put it in subjective words the Zoom sounded more clinically exact, the Tascam more pleasing - which is why I'd pick the Zoom, to build a mood and ambiance you sometimes need sounds to be a bit unpleasant and raw.
Thank you for the video. Great job shooting and editing Libby! Was that the Vlog Alpha?
Still very much looking forward to that big q&a with the both of you :)
Oh yes. Sony Alpha A7iv, ZV1 and iPhone 13
Only real dif I hear is that to me in some of the recordings the Tascam had a little better low end response and sounded less tinny. The birds sounded like they had a tad of distortion on the Zoom while the Tascam sounded a little cleaner. Otherwise they only dif I can see is the fact that the Tascam will surely out shine the H1n when recording very loud sounds like thunder and such ... But for normal everyday recordings on a budget the Zoom is fine.
No distortion because I never hit 0.
@@FreeToUseSounds Yes I understand that, but it was still not as smooth as the Tascam in my opin, just sounded like very slight distortion in the capsules at some frequencies.
Gotta watch that first step getting out of the Bangkok bus.
Ha Ha hA oh yes. Motorbikes and also don't dream while trying to get off or on. The bus drivers don't wait a single second. :)
Thank you for a very nicely made set of experiments. I feel that I must give a strong shout-out for the excellent film work and editing 🙂
Thank you so much for watching and we really appreciate your positive feedback.
Love your show , different but as enjoyable and practical as watching Curtis Judd
There is a problem with Zoom H1n from my point: the auto recording. I need "full auto recording," which means to start recording when the acoustic pressure is above the required level and stop, after it goes down. But H1n can only start recording once. Then it would be stopped manually, or when you run out of battery/SD space.
I think there would be a huge difference when listening to other genres. Just listen to ambient sounds is not really going to test what the X8 can do. If you are recording several tracks of music in hi-res and using effects and so forth, you will probably find a huge difference between the two recorders.
Maybe but I don't record music so somebody else could do that test.
I chose recorders from "Zoom f3" and "Taskam x8". In the end I chose "Zoom f3" because of its small size (because I work as a videographer). But the lack of built-in microphones in "Zoom f3" upsets me and I want to buy some microphones similar to those in "Taskam" - please advise me what to choose from?
The zoom has a wider, more spacious sound with crisp highs which caught my attention immediately. The tascam sounded flat throughout the frequency spectrum. The microphones are not as sensitive as the zoom microphones. This is what I noticed while listening to your video with Sony headphones.
Great comparison. But what I really love is your enthusiasm. I'm sure we could give you a phone and nothing else and you would record great sounds.
Thanks and have a nice day.
Ha Ha thank you so much! :)
This video was so useful for me - it's almost like it was made for me - thank you! Think I'm gonna stick with the H1n, I love the compactness of the unit and my binaural's plug straight in. Man, I want to go to Bangkok right now, the moment when you missed the bell sound was exactly my reaction too.
Oh yes and door :)
up grade! X8 will save us with 32 float bitrate (dual pre-amp) ...when we make a mistake/slappy capture audio on field,X8 can increase or decrease our capture in editing...no peaking no soft audio anymore..
about the audio quality,its about mic what we use..
thats my opinion...
Thank you for the comparision! I think they both sound great but the Tascam X8 worth the money.
Thank you for watching!
Seems like H1n gets more lower tones. Both recorders sound great. I'm keeping my H4nPro for as long as possible. Great video. Thanks.
The TASCAM X8 has more depth to its sound. But that's what I can hear over my studio speakers. I guess if you aren't an audiophile, it doesn't really matter as long as you can capture the audio.
When you switch between the two devices, I do not feel that you have switched between them, so I did not notice a noticeable difference between the two recordings
X8 has clearer/cleaner sounds for me. Having said that……….‘we’ buy for our needs and budget.
Correct answer.
Both sound good
We think so too! Thanks for watching.
congrats! finaly a sound testing video... :)
Thank you so much! We have a lot more on our channel. Happy exploring :)
Great video Marcel! I love the H1N cause it goes everywhere with me.
Same here! Always in the pocket :)
Harus diberi keterangan pengaturan gain berapa agar kami bisa lebih tahu detailnya.
Thank you for making this comparision video! Have you also compared the X8 to the Zoom F6 and Mix-Pre 6ii?
Not yet Craig. We do this on the road. We leave Bangkok in a couple days.
tripod has an arm safety strap, doesn't use it while almost dropping it seconds before.
what a madlad
Ha Ha Ha :)
Those two are very very similar. However, if you try the Roland it's quite different from them.
Listening on DT 770 250's and the sounds is very, very similar on both devices. I think the mics in the H1N are brilliant for such a low budget device. The preamp noise can be a minor problem indoors, but it's nothing a little EQ can't fix. If you need XLR inputs you can just buy an adaptor.
Thank you so much for your comment. Yeah I saw a video on TH-cam about an XLR adapter. Also there is a cool 48v converter on the market that you could with an H1n. That makes it perfect for microphones that need phantom power.
@@FreeToUseSounds I never knew this, that opens up a lot more in the way of mics! Thanks! Do you know what the name of the adaptor is?
This helps me decide where to spend money - I will definitely stick with my h1n for a while.
Glad we could help! :)
maybe a short on a dry room to compare as ambience washes out the source also wind weather etc
Can you compare it on music and instruments? Seagulls are great but the sound is too inconsistent
That could have been a great example too yes. I could have asked a music studio here. Ah didn't even cross my mind.
Think I’m going to pull the trigger on the X8. Way more depth.
Than You so much for helping us with this importan decision making, this helps a lot, I only wish, to listen to the same exact sound from both, not sure if thats what you did, my point is I was looking to see wish leave behind any sound, the little details. Thanks!
We don't want to repeat a sequence but we switched during the video between H1n and Tascam and made a note each time.
What about Zoom H6? Any ideas?
The X8 seems to have a thicker sound but picks up everything, it’s very hard to decipher which sound is ‘more important’ … The H1n definitely has more ‘treble’ or gives prominence to thinner detail. If I wanted rich density I would definitely buy the X8 if I wanted bird song alone definitely the H1n, but at only $100 I would now buy them both 😂…
Exactly the same wow. I have an h6 and now I’m kinda thinking of just grabbing a h1n to do the more risky recordings
It's a great recorder for sure! Nothing is worse than no recording at all.
I can't hear any differences. All sounds good. Maybe H1N more bright and little bit noisy....
yeah they both very very close.
I ask you a question, is the issue of the lines in the high frequencies in the Tascam solved? Do you have any information? Thank you very much for your time and congratulations for the channel.
Difference is minimal, at least in the hands of Marcel) I think if you need just hand recorder and not exactly 32bit, just go for zoom h1n or smth like zoom h5, because it has different capsules option. Thanks for video guys! You’re best!
Very true Anton. If 32 bit isn't important you can go with them. I also think about purchasing a Sony recorder.
Nice Video, still using my old ZOOM H1 like it a lot
Nice one :)
Where did you get that bag you are using… I’m a videographer/cinematographer that recently became obsessed with clear good sounding audio.. I use a 5.11 24hr bag to haul my equipment.. but I’m looking for one a bit more sturdy
You mean to LowePro Tactic? its the version two. I have this one a very long time already.
thank you so much for the video, im looking for a recoder to begin, is this better than sony ICD-UX570F? both are same budget at this time. What should i chose for recoding theo sound when i writing on paper while around is very loud? what is better for noise handling? Thank you so much again, your channel is help me very much and this is very wonderful for me.
What did you end up buying?
@@TheChameleon2008 im using h1n and a Korg's piezoelectric microphone. It works very well for me.
@@haingongoc9816 Ah i see! So you not using the device mics'? I already have a portable device with mic input so maybe i should go the same route :)
I hear zero difference between the recorders. But… this is easy sound to record, low dynamic range so no test of limiting or clipping, high level ambience masks any recorder self noise. Try doing this same comparison at an air show with fly-bys.
Not so many air shows around us right now.
@@FreeToUseSounds Right, but my point is that would likely product a difference in sound between the two recorders.
I think they sounded pretty much the same, I have h1n, I love it need to get out and record more
Yeah go out and record :)
So useful! Thank you!
Thank you for being here with us! :)
Thank you guys!
Pleasure!! :)
Hi. Great video! Which one, or others similar, would you think to be preferable for recording a handpan instrument at a budget no higher than $400 USD? Thank you.
Did you ever figure this out cos thats what I am now interested in knowing
@@johnglennon5623 Hi. I got the Tascam X8, but have not recorded with it yet.
@@marcgregoryneville hi I ordered the Zoom H6 black . I probably should have went for cheaper but all the inputs drew me in and I don't know why
I love your work, Thank you for this moment ! +SUB
Welcome onboard! Nice to have you here! :)
Hey Marcel, I am so new to sound recording and don't have trained ears for sounds. I feel they are so similar... but if I understand the difference also would be the use of other types of microphones connected. As well as 32 bit float. I see the H1n limits to single mic input and my H6 more inputs.
Hi Greg. This is correct. The X8 has more features for sure but this video was only about the sound of the capsules to make it fair and realistic to the over the Zoom H1n. You are correct. They both sound very similar.
We will be recording our bands gigs with the X8 (strangely, there is no one recording their band or gig with the X8, on YT anyway, which is very strange) Can you record to a Seagate Expansion Portable Drive 2TB or similar? Thanks.
What did you record the sound of the tie when there were no subtitles?
What do you mean?
@@FreeToUseSounds What did you use to register your voice in the episode?
they sound the same to me... nice sounds by the way
Helllo can you share us how you people organize all these recordings properly and find the exact matching ones when needed ? I have a huge collection too but I fail to rename similar sounds.
We have a video about it! Check out the video about the UCS file sytem
@@FreeToUseSounds thanks much its very helpful
Hi! Is the high frequency hum issue fixed or is it still a issue?
There are no differences, in my opinion, only one device was used... Which one?
You could use a Sescom Bidirectional Stereo Audio Switcher to listen to two recorders on your headphones. B&H has them.
I can check if they are somewhere available in Bangkok since we are not in the US.
@@FreeToUseSounds I tried posting this same comment previously with a link to B&H but it did not seem to post. So I posted again without the link. Makes me think TH-cam rejects comments with links?
In what quality did you record on both recorders?