This was an amazing video.... I used this for a podcast and I had four external LAV mics for four people. But my audio echoed a lot. So I wanted to have less tracks. This is the only video that addressed it. Thank you SO much!
Thank you for the video. You won't believe this. I won this Zoom H6 back in 2013 as one of the prizes for winning the Australian Songwriters Association songwriting contest award. 10 years ago I don't think there was any youtube video or very few explaining the benefits of using it and I thought it was mainly for people recording live gigs only which I don't really do. I found it too small to read on the screen, and put it aside. It's only recently when I thought of selling it, that I tried google and found lots of videos and OMG, what a great tool which i could have used for a long time. Now I am looking at all the possibilities of using it, and it's also great to be used with Zoom online for meetings (funny they both are called Zoom), to give a great sound as playing music on Zoom meetings is terrible, so the H6 can also be used to give a great live music sound. Your video has helped understand few things I was still wondering about. Many thanks for doing this.
What a great prize to win! Yes it really is a very capable recorder, you can use it with the built in microphone or add XLR mics for recording pro audio and the ability to connect it to a computer gives it that extra versatility as you say for Zoom calls or any software recording. 👍
this was super helpful! i just bought the Purple Panda lapel mic and plugged it into my Zoom H6..works great indoors..will need to test it outdoors on a bike now for a project im working on. thank you so much!
Well - I got the Zoom H6 (largely because of your reviews) and it actually exceeded expectations. I was recording waves along a shoreline in Portugal with its built-in Mics on stereo and the playback actually sounds like surround sound. Great device!
Super stuff, this helped clear a whole lot of confusion with regard how podcasts with multiple users get recorded on any of these Zoom recorders starting Zoom H5 and up[.
Can I ask a very basic question as I have just bought an H6, but one thing bothers me? I understand everything you have talked about here and it is all very clear and so well presented. My question is - the LED screen on the H6 should be seen at all times so you can alter settings and make changes and so the microphones are facing away from you when you record. It also makes more sense to have the microphones facing you as you record. Which is it? I am tempted to set up the H6 and then turn it so the mics face me but I am confused. Help!
Great glad you found the video helpful! As for the placement of the microphone for best results you should point the mics at the subject. For field recording the screen is in the right position as you tend to point to mic forward and you look down at the screen so perfect. But when you are recording your own voice, turn the mics toward yourself and the screen as you say is at the back and not ideal to view. If you use external microphones connected to the XLR then you can pivot the zoom to face you but when using the built in mics the screen is easily seen when recording your own voice.
I have a question. I have guest on my Let's Build A Family podcast & will be using 2 mics with the zoom h6. Is there a specific thing i need to do before i start recording separate tracks.? Or do i just hit track 1 & 2 & press record as if i was just using one mic. When i do just me for recording, i hit track 1 & press record. Do i need to change anything in the menu before i record with multiple people.?
By default if you tap on the numbers for each input on the top of the zoom this will activate the channels so if you plug in a mic into input 1 and 2. Tap on numbers one and two on the top. This will then record each microphone onto its own track. When you put the SD card into your computer you'll see two seperate files one for mic one and the other for mic two. You can then place these into an audio or video editor on the timeline and sync. The great thing is that you can edit each track independently. at 7.24 on this video I talk about using the Matrix Mix option under menu item no 2 to join track 1&2 or 3&4. if you did this then both mics will be recorded onto a single audio file in stereo. I prefer the first option as i want the two files to edit in post.
This is the second video I am watching of yours. I am trying to take my youtube channel in a different direction (more Podcasting vids), and I am hooked on your channel. Keep up the great work and thanks for creating this awesome content. Can't wait to get all my items in and start production with more professional sound and video.
It would work well. The XY capsule allows you to cover a wide area yet still capture a strong center image. In terms of loudness, you would just have to adjust the levels and make sure there is no peaking so keep the dial down anywhere between 2-5 and watch the level input meter and also use headphones when you set it up and test it.
Nice video. Could you use it as an audio mixer with an ATEM Mini switcher? 1. The venue or DJ or mixing desk gives you an audio feed, usually XLR or headphone jack. 2. You plug the audio feed into the H6. 3. You use a 3.5mm cable to go from Line Out into the ATEM Mic 1 or Mic 2 3.5mm audio input? Saves buying a dedicated audio mixer?
I would say that this would work. Certainly you can feed the DJ mixing desk into the XLR jacks with the right cables or adapters. I did this recently had two RCA outputs from a pioneer desk which I connected to XLR jacks 1 and 2 for left and right using two RCA to XLR adapters. Then you can use the 3.5 output jack on the base of the H6 to feed into the 3.5 mic input of the ATEM Mini. Haven't tested this set up but the theory is sound.
The XY microphones are great for recording ambient audio, music etc and if you like they can even record vocals. However the XLR inputs are the ones that you can set to phantom power which is only used for external microphones that need phantom power. So check which microphone you are connecting first before turning on phantom power.
@@Touchtechnologyreview Thanks alot for writing back! In very torn if I should go with the Zoom H6 or the F6. I like that the F6 gains are easy to set and has a much lower noise floor, abit more then I want to spend. Not sure which one. would be better for overdubbing. Thanks a ton.
@@scourneene The Zoom F6 is awesome! It has six XLR inputs rather than 4. not sure about the noise floor as I haven't tested the Zoom F6. However I can say of the Zoom H6 has very little line noise anywhere up to around 5-6 on the dial. So depending on the mics you use and how high you set the levels I don't think you will notice the noise on the cheaper H6. But as always I recommend going for the product that you can afford so if the F6 is in budget go for it!
If you are using this for podcasting with 4 people and you want them to each have headphones is it possible to do that with a multi channel headphone amp connected to the single headphone jack on the ZOOM H6?
Yeah it should work just fine 4 channel headphone amps. The only thing to look at is what size connection the interface has. the Zoom as a 3.5mm audio jack output and some interfaces may have a 1/4 inch jack so you might need 3.5 to 1/4 adaptors for the zoom and also for all headphones.
Thank you, great overall review/how to. One question I am not seeing any posts on, using the stereo mini line out and best practices. Say you are using the H6 for your primary recording device with one or two mics connected, and you want to send the signal to a video camera as scratch recording, like a Sony FS mkii. This camera only has XLR inputs so you would have to convert from stereo mini to XLR, but any other settings issue that could happen or other settings to consider for that line out? Thank you.
Nice informative video. Question, when setting up the xy mic to record live music etc., what is the difference in the position of the 120 and 90 degree sides? I know it's best to have to top of the x pointing at the source but what is the difference in the 120 and 90? Also, when using the MS capsule, what is the difference in having the sides turned on or off when recording live music etc.? Thanks.
120 degrees would be good for capturing a field recording or live performance, as it captures a wider sound range. 90 degrees would be better suited for a one on one interview or solo instrument for example.
Hi, I was searching to see if zoom h6 is good for streaming or not, but didn't find anything useful. I am trying to buy gear for streaming and for audio one of my choices is zoom h6, but since I'm on a budget I won't be able to buy a separate mic to use via h6, I was wondering if it's a good choice or should I buy a standalone mic such as hyperx quadcast? Thanks for your help.
Hey there. I think the H6 is a good option for adding XLR microphones to a computer for streaming. However to use the internal mics even though they sounds good they kind of don't really look the part for a live stream. For me the internal mics of the H6 are best used on location etc. Fro streaming you may be better off with a USB microphone. It will be a cheaper solution really.
It's a versatile tool indeed. Would want to use it in the field and indoors, and it seems to be the cheapest tool that does it all and could be mounted on top of the camera.
Question for you. When using an external microphone, should I dial the value all the way down on the XY capsule or remove it all together? I’m curious if there will be a noise conflict having the XY capsule attached along with an external mic attached.
You can leave it connected, no problem. If you dial it down to 0 there would be no noise coming in from it. Better still tap on the LR buttons on the top to turn them off and only have the one XLR channel active so if you have a mic plugged into XLR port 1, tap on number one on the top and make sure it is red and tap all other channels off.
@@Touchtechnologyreviewdoes the zoom h6 create a L R mixdown track if using input 1 for a boom mic and input 2 for a lav? Is there a way to record a separate mixdown track of my inputs 1+2 ?
great instructional video! question: Can you use the capsule mics as well as the external mic inputs at the same time? On the h4n, it's one or the other, can't do both that I know of.
I just realised I missed this comment. But yes you can record through the capsule and at the same time through all other mics connected via the XLR inputs. Sorry about the delay.
I get around 4-6 hours of recording using the best lithium ion batteries I can find. Recently I have been connecting a usb battery pack via the usb port and this powers the H6 with phantom for 10-12 hours before needing a re-charge.
Do your headphones need to be studio monitoring headphones or will regular headphones work? Is there any advantage or disadvantage to using one or the other?
If you are monitoring a vocal for a podcast for example then you don't really need studio monitors any headphones will do allowing you to hear the signal and pick up any issues ie peaking, room noise etc, then you can adjust settings as needed. Studio monitors are more accurate in the representation of the audio and tend to have a flat EQ so these are better for musicians and composers who need to hear the signal without any bias to Bass, treble etc.
Would the audio be separate for video? I see people use different equipment like a mixer and use a recorder as well? Can you do a podcast audio and video audio all in one shot?
When using the zoom you can use it as an independent audio recorder then match up the audio with the video in post production. If you wanted to you can connect the zoom to a camera using the 3.5 audio output at the base of the ZOOM and this would then pass through the audio into the camera. I tend to prefer recording it on the internal SD card and then syncing in post production.
@@Touchtechnologyreview I was looking at getting a Zoom Q8 but after hearing how poor the picture quality is...I'm back to looking at audio recorders and wondering how hard is it to sync vid and audio on post for a newbie? Thanks!
Hello, i record my audio using the Zoom h6. I monitor the audio using apple's in-hear-phone but there is a lot of interference / Whistle, specially when moving closer to the zoom h6, the noise / Whistle becomes incredible high. I tried with both TRS and TRRS.
You're not giving enough information to analyze what's going wrong. First thing you should try is using a different set of headphones, ideally the kind that go over the ear. You can find a useable pair for around 30$. Next: What mics are you using? If you are using the XY capsule that comes with the unit, don't go too close. They're very sensitive and have no pop protection. Keep at least 1' distance. Don't use phantom power with mics that don't require it. That's all I can tell you without knowing more about your setup.
The MS-Raw option is for the mid / side mic which is the circular capsule mic. When recording in MS-RAW mode, you can monitor the mid mic input through the left channel and the side mic input through the right channel.
I realize this was created 3 and a half years ago, but I'm hoping you'll see my question! This video was very helpful. How will powering the phantom mics affect rechargeable batteries? I know there's a setting to power the Zoom from computer, which I plan to do. Will that work to power the phantom mics as well, or will I need to be prepared with plenty of battery backups? I will record some days 9-10 hours with only short, sporadic breaks.
Yes the Phantom Power does tend to burn through batteries. I have since been using a USB power bank for longer recordings. Simply use the provided USB cable and connect..... I have been using the Cygnett 6,000 MA unit which was less than $50 and goes for many hours, haven't counted but would say more than 10. You can get larger power banks too which would last even longer.
The audio in your videos are amazingly clear. I never knew it was possible. I am using a condenser mic with the zoom h6, but I can hear so much static in the background in my videos. I recently switched out cables. I was using the Amazon basic at the moment but switched out to the mogami gold. The mogmami sounded clearer but then it was picking up radio stations. I am not a pro by any means and I am trying to learn as I go. Do you think its a cable issue for the background noise?
Hi there a good cable does certainly go a long way to getting the best out of your equipment. However unless you have a poor quality or faulty cable it should not really be causing a high amount of static or noise in itself. There are a couple of other things to consider. The Zoom H6 has incredibly low noise pre-amps. So it won't be the zoom unit itself. Most likely the noise would be coming from the Microphone itself. So that could be the issue. The Microphone I use is the Rode NT1 which is also known for very low signal to noise ratio. Before assuming that it is your Microphone you can try checking the following 1) Make sure that the gain on the input is set up to 5-6 an no higher Anything over 6 will start to introduce a lot of line noise no matter how good the cable and microphone might be. 2) Try using the zoom with the battery power(not plugged into mains) I have had situations where noise was introduced via poor electricity supply. 3) Turn off any devices that might be causing interference nearby or try relocating where you are recording. If you have tried all this and there is still a lot of noise. I would guess it is the microphone itself.
@@Touchtechnologyreview Thank you so much for responding, it was most helpful. I am using the Audio Technica condenser mic. I do keep the gain on 5 for my recordings. I just switched over to battery power and it seems to lessen a bit, I think. Unfortunately I can't move locations but thinking about installing a curtain to section off the room. I will try a few more things and helpfully it works out. Thanks again!
@@momma2a No problem. The AT microphones should have low noise. I wander if it requires phantom power and if you turned that on. Be mindful of my notes about not plugging in and out when phantom is turned on too as that can damage the microphone. So if the noise persists it could point to a damaged microphone. It happened to me once. There was a random wind like static noise that would build over time. So without hearing it it is hard to say what the noise is but really the AT and Zoom combo should be super quiet.
@@Touchtechnologyreview it will be a process of elimination. I really hope its not the microphone. I do power off before unplugging anything. It does sound like static in the background. As I turn up the volume during editing it's even more apparent. Thanks again!
4:10 you did not press the appropriate button to activate that channel. In your case it was “3” and skipping that means there won’t be any signal at all.
Hey, thanks for the video. I have the same setup plus the ZHA4 amp, H6, sm58, and xlr cable are from Amazon basics. However, I have an issue with noise more specifically I can hear the radio in my monitors. The radio disappears when I turn on the PAD button but again there is a white noise that is very distracting.
This would depend on the Camcorder. Most low or mid range cam corders that use a 3.5 input for audio would not have great audio, there may be some line noise and the bit depth may not be as high as the Zoom which is a dedicated audio recorder. On the higher end Camcorders with XLR input the audio may be as good as the H6 but again it depends on the Camcorder. Thanks for checking out the video review. Glad you liked it!
@@Veescape I haven't heard the audio on the Panasonic but being XLR I would assume it will be good enough quality so for a single mic it would be fine. The Benefit of using a zoom or any other dedicated audio recorder is multiple xlr inputs for more than one person and redundancy by using a second audio unit.
Your thoughtful video is very clear, about using the 4 external mic jacks (in my case, none of my pics require phantom power). But what about using one or two external mics in addition to (not instead of) the attached XY stereo mic? I am recording one classical guitar and one voice. Although I have several very high quality studio mics, the XY stereo mic the unit comes with is also of surprisingly high quality. I’m thinking of using that for the acoustic guitar, and an external Sure SM58 mic for my voice. I’m running it into a Focusrite Scarlett 1818 and LogicPro. How does that work, recording with the XY stereo mic, and a single vocal mic? Will I inevitably end up with a mono recording, unless I plug in a second external vocal mic (linking the two external tracks)?
Actually when it comes to podcasting the Rodecaster Pro is a better choice but it costs a few hundred dollars more. For that extra spend you get 4 headphone outputs for your guests. Sound Pads which you can load with music and sound effects and even a 3.5 cable input or bluetooth input for iOS devices.
So pleased to hear that. Sure you can get them on Amazon or any photo dealer. Here is an Amazon US link for example Manfrotto Pixie Mini Table Top Stand: amzn.to/3s7C5kg
HELP: I want to import a music backing track to lay vocals along side to be mixed later IN THE H6. There is not ONE video that explains how to do this that works. I tried even converting the backing track to the specs the H6 is recording at on my laptop on the SD as I saw in a video but when I go back to the H6 and put the SD back in the H6 I can't find the backing track to play I want to use to lay vocals. I'm not talking about overdubbing I just need the track to be able to be referenced while recording. Can anyone help me or lead me to a very specific and good english video that shows how?
I've been looking for audio interfaces for a while to be able to record my piano. I wanted to get a set of SE07's and a SSL2. After seeing this review I wonder if it wouldn't be better to get this ZOOM 6 instead. If I combine it with two SE7 I can use the 'on board' mics to pic up either a second instrument, voice, or maybe the soundboard of the piano to get a fuller sound. Or I can just use it the same way as I would use the SSL2 but be more flexible/mobile and also be able to use more phantom powered mics. Am I missing something or is the sound quality much better from a device like the SSL? Would love to get some input on this.
Thanks for sharing valuable information. Could you please tell me it is better to buy zoom h5/6 or scarlett 2i2 4th gen? In fact I am a teacher, and I want to record educational videos at home office. Thanks in advanced.
In terms of sound quality I would say both will be a good option. The main reason that you might consider a Zoom H5 or H6 is that they include a built in microphone and can record internally to an SD card making them more portable and versatile. The Scarlett is an audio interface and will always need to be used with a computer. the scarlet only has 2 XLR inputs compared to 4 on the zoom. So if you do a podcast in the future with 3-4 guests the zoom has the advantage there. If it is only going to be used on a computer and you only need to connect 1 or 2 mics then the Scarlett would be fine.
I would like to use this devise for an interview podcast , how can me and my guest hear eachothers voice as well as our own voice, is there a microfone and headphone you reccomend?
Yes you sure can. The manual has a full list of recommended cards. You can see that here: zoomcorp.com/media/documents/H6_compatible_cards_en_3_0.pdf But my experience has been that the Sandisk 60MBS Extreme works really well. You can get even higher speed but would probably never need it as audio doesn't need the highest throughput.
Great thanks for watching! When you connect it via USB to your computer you can get it to behave like a sound card, it should then work with all software on your computer allowing you to plugin microphones or audio devices and record right in.
Hi, is it possible to have a final audio with no mixing or treatment needed for a podcast with 4 speakers? I would need a file that join the relevant audios (track 1 is activated when speaker 1 speaks, track 2 when speaker 2, etc). Is it possible with that zoom or should we do it manually
This was an honourable contribution to the audio recording world. Thank you!! You clarified so many shady issues.
You’re very welcome. Thanks for checking out the video!
@@Touchtechnologyreview Would This be better than elgato wave xlr for RUclips videos?
One year later, this video is still helpful. Thank you for the info
Glad it was helpful!
This was an amazing video.... I used this for a podcast and I had four external LAV mics for four people. But my audio echoed a lot. So I wanted to have less tracks. This is the only video that addressed it. Thank you SO much!
Great to hear! Glad it was helpful. Thanks for checking out the video and for great feedback!
This was fantastic. Please consider making more zoom h6 tutorials. Many thanks!
Thanks so much. I'll certainly look into it. Cheers!
please do make more ! we are learning about this now for our band, and you've been very helpful dude!
Great to hear. Thanks for the feedback👍
@@Touchtechnologyreview you're welcome man! also we subbed to ya ! so we look forward to getting more techy with ya 🤘🤘🤘 rocknroll dude 😎
@@viewsinbetween3568 That's awesome. Thanks so much 👍🤟
So useful, to the point, clear and concise - you've made the audio world a better place - thank you 👍
Thanks so much. Glad you found the video helpful!
Thank you for such clear instructions for the H6….. first video I’ve watched that has made set up less confusing!
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the video. You won't believe this. I won this Zoom H6 back in 2013 as one of the prizes for winning the Australian Songwriters Association songwriting contest award. 10 years ago I don't think there was any youtube video or very few explaining the benefits of using it and I thought it was mainly for people recording live gigs only which I don't really do. I found it too small to read on the screen, and put it aside. It's only recently when I thought of selling it, that I tried google and found lots of videos and OMG, what a great tool which i could have used for a long time. Now I am looking at all the possibilities of using it, and it's also great to be used with Zoom online for meetings (funny they both are called Zoom), to give a great sound as playing music on Zoom meetings is terrible, so the H6 can also be used to give a great live music sound. Your video has helped understand few things I was still wondering about. Many thanks for doing this.
What a great prize to win! Yes it really is a very capable recorder, you can use it with the built in microphone or add XLR mics for recording pro audio and the ability to connect it to a computer gives it that extra versatility as you say for Zoom calls or any software recording. 👍
Awesome video.. very clear / easy to understand :)
Glad to hear that! Thanks for the feedback!
Excellent! Super clear, super direct and succinct. Thank you for this video!
You are most welcome. Thanks for checking out the video!
Been looking all over the internet an could find a solution... You helped it was the Phantom power I missed. Thanks!
Glad I could help!
Great Stuff!! You can also press their assigned buttons simultaneously to link any of the tracks as a combined stereo track(1&2 and 3&4).
For sure. Thanks for pointing that out.
Hey does it pan control for stereo positioning?
this was super helpful! i just bought the Purple Panda lapel mic and plugged it into my Zoom H6..works great indoors..will need to test it outdoors on a bike now for a project im working on. thank you so much!
Great to hear that you found my video helpful. Enjoy the new audio gear you should get some amazing recordings with that combo. 👍
Well - I got the Zoom H6 (largely because of your reviews) and it actually exceeded expectations. I was recording waves along a shoreline in Portugal with its built-in Mics on stereo and the playback actually sounds like surround sound. Great device!
Great to hear that! Yes the built in XY mics do a great job of capturing environmental sounds. The sound of waves in Portugal 👏.
Well done sir, very informative and concise
Thanks so much. Glad you found the video helpful!
Very helpful video! Thank you
Great to hear. Thanks for checking out the video!
Just ordered mine from B&H, can't wait to experiment with it.
Awesome!
Super stuff, this helped clear a whole lot of confusion with regard how podcasts with multiple users get recorded on any of these Zoom recorders starting Zoom H5 and up[.
Great to hear that. Thanks for watching!
Can I ask a very basic question as I have just bought an H6, but one thing bothers me? I understand everything you have talked about here and it is all very clear and so well presented. My question is - the LED screen on the H6 should be seen at all times so you can alter settings and make changes and so the microphones are facing away from you when you record. It also makes more sense to have the microphones facing you as you record. Which is it? I am tempted to set up the H6 and then turn it so the mics face me but I am confused. Help!
Great glad you found the video helpful! As for the placement of the microphone for best results you should point the mics at the subject. For field recording the screen is in the right position as you tend to point to mic forward and you look down at the screen so perfect. But when you are recording your own voice, turn the mics toward yourself and the screen as you say is at the back and not ideal to view. If you use external microphones connected to the XLR then you can pivot the zoom to face you but when using the built in mics the screen is easily seen when recording your own voice.
I have a question. I have guest on my Let's Build A Family podcast & will be using 2 mics with the zoom h6. Is there a specific thing i need to do before i start recording separate tracks.? Or do i just hit track 1 & 2 & press record as if i was just using one mic. When i do just me for recording, i hit track 1 & press record. Do i need to change anything in the menu before i record with multiple people.?
By default if you tap on the numbers for each input on the top of the zoom this will activate the channels so if you plug in a mic into input 1 and 2. Tap on numbers one and two on the top. This will then record each microphone onto its own track. When you put the SD card into your computer you'll see two seperate files one for mic one and the other for mic two. You can then place these into an audio or video editor on the timeline and sync. The great thing is that you can edit each track independently. at 7.24 on this video I talk about using the Matrix Mix option under menu item no 2 to join track 1&2 or 3&4. if you did this then both mics will be recorded onto a single audio file in stereo. I prefer the first option as i want the two files to edit in post.
@@Touchtechnologyreview thank u very much
Sound is ON POINT bro !
Thanks man. Greatly appreciated!
Excellent video TTR.
Thanks 👍 Greatly appreciated!
This is the second video I am watching of yours. I am trying to take my youtube channel in a different direction (more Podcasting vids), and I am hooked on your channel. Keep up the great work and thanks for creating this awesome content. Can't wait to get all my items in and start production with more professional sound and video.
Thanks so much! Great to hear from you and that you are enjoying my content. You can't go wrong with the Zoom H6, amazing sound. Enjoy!
Nice work! Well done. Really enjoyed it. Thank you for this training video - appreciated.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!
Very helpful. W the phantom didn't know why my mic wasn't working. So thank you
You are most welcome!
Hi what software were you using to edit
I am using DaVinci Resolve for editing.
this is a great piece of information thanks
You are very welcome!
Other videos on same topic, absolutely forgot to mention about the Phantom power, and I was pulling my hair all this time. Thank you.
You're very welcome. Yes I thought it was important to mention it for those wanting to use Lav Mics.
Very professional direct to the point with clear message. Thank You
Thanks so much!
Thanks Sir!! Im considering buying one of these !
Good choice!
Question, how do you plug in the phantom power into zoom?
The Zoom H6 has phantom power. You can go into the settings to turn it on when you want to connect a microphone that requires Phantom Power.
How well does it handle loud sources like concerts?
It would work well. The XY capsule allows you to cover a wide area yet still capture a strong center image. In terms of loudness, you would just have to adjust the levels and make sure there is no peaking so keep the dial down anywhere between 2-5 and watch the level input meter and also use headphones when you set it up and test it.
Nice video. Could you use it as an audio mixer with an ATEM Mini switcher?
1. The venue or DJ or mixing desk gives you an audio feed, usually XLR or headphone jack.
2. You plug the audio feed into the H6.
3. You use a 3.5mm cable to go from Line Out into the ATEM Mic 1 or Mic 2 3.5mm audio input?
Saves buying a dedicated audio mixer?
I would say that this would work. Certainly you can feed the DJ mixing desk into the XLR jacks with the right cables or adapters. I did this recently had two RCA outputs from a pioneer desk which I connected to XLR jacks 1 and 2 for left and right using two RCA to XLR adapters. Then you can use the 3.5 output jack on the base of the H6 to feed into the 3.5 mic input of the ATEM Mini. Haven't tested this set up but the theory is sound.
@@Touchtechnologyreview Wish me luck! Trying it on Friday (24.02.23).
Thanks mate.
Great, let me know how it goes
Are the x/y mics powered by phamton power, I believe they are condessor mics? If so is phamton power automatically sent to the mics? Thank you!
The XY microphones are great for recording ambient audio, music etc and if you like they can even record vocals. However the XLR inputs are the ones that you can set to phantom power which is only used for external microphones that need phantom power. So check which microphone you are connecting first before turning on phantom power.
@@Touchtechnologyreview Thanks alot for writing back! In very torn if I should go with the Zoom H6 or the F6. I like that the F6 gains are easy to set and has a much lower noise floor, abit more then I want to spend. Not sure which one. would be better for overdubbing. Thanks a ton.
@@scourneene The Zoom F6 is awesome! It has six XLR inputs rather than 4. not sure about the noise floor as I haven't tested the Zoom F6. However I can say of the Zoom H6 has very little line noise anywhere up to around 5-6 on the dial. So depending on the mics you use and how high you set the levels I don't think you will notice the noise on the cheaper H6. But as always I recommend going for the product that you can afford so if the F6 is in budget go for it!
Thank you! Very clear and helpful.
wonderful! سەرکەوتوو بیت
Thanks so much!
Thank you very much🙌🏻
You’re welcome 😊
Mate that was awesome, thank you!
My pleasure!
Thanks, you solved my problem! Great vid
Great to hear it helped! Thanks for watching!
🙏 thanks! I have been using a 2i2 and cloud lifter with sm7b and garage band, but may need the h6 for field work down the road.
Great to hear!
If you are using this for podcasting with 4 people and you want them to each have headphones is it possible to do that with a multi channel headphone amp connected to the single headphone jack on the ZOOM H6?
Yeah it should work just fine 4 channel headphone amps. The only thing to look at is what size connection the interface has. the Zoom as a 3.5mm audio jack output and some interfaces may have a 1/4 inch jack so you might need 3.5 to 1/4 adaptors for the zoom and also for all headphones.
Very comprehensive, thank you.
You're very welcome!
Perfect video. Thank you
Thanks so much!
Thanks from Brazil
You are very welcome!
Thank you, great overall review/how to. One question I am not seeing any posts on, using the stereo mini line out and best practices. Say you are using the H6 for your primary recording device with one or two mics connected, and you want to send the signal to a video camera as scratch recording, like a Sony FS mkii. This camera only has XLR inputs so you would have to convert from stereo mini to XLR, but any other settings issue that could happen or other settings to consider for that line out? Thank you.
Great video
Thanks so much. Glad you liked the video!
What a great video, Thank you!
Thanks so much!
Thanks
Very good video
Thanks 🙏
Your video is so helpful! Thank you!
You're so welcome!
Does merging the 1&2 audio tracks mean that you will be getting the sound of one than the other
Very Informative video thanks a lot for such a useful tutorial
You are very welcome! Thanks for watching!
Nice informative video. Question, when setting up the xy mic to record live music etc., what is the difference in the position of the 120 and 90 degree sides? I know it's best to have to top of the x pointing at the source but what is the difference in the 120 and 90? Also, when using the MS capsule, what is the difference in having the sides turned on or off when recording live music etc.? Thanks.
120 degrees would be good for capturing a field recording or live performance, as it captures a wider sound range. 90 degrees would be better suited for a one on one interview or solo instrument for example.
Thanks for the quick tutorial.
You're welcome!
Very helpful thanks
You're welcome!
great video! thanks!
Glad you liked it!
Thank you, this was very helpful
Great to hear!
Hi, I was searching to see if zoom h6 is good for streaming or not, but didn't find anything useful. I am trying to buy gear for streaming and for audio one of my choices is zoom h6, but since I'm on a budget I won't be able to buy a separate mic to use via h6, I was wondering if it's a good choice or should I buy a standalone mic such as hyperx quadcast? Thanks for your help.
Hey there. I think the H6 is a good option for adding XLR microphones to a computer for streaming. However to use the internal mics even though they sounds good they kind of don't really look the part for a live stream. For me the internal mics of the H6 are best used on location etc. Fro streaming you may be better off with a USB microphone. It will be a cheaper solution really.
Many thanks 🙏
ANY option to get an stereo file instead of individual files for each mic ???
It's a versatile tool indeed. Would want to use it in the field and indoors, and it seems to be the cheapest tool that does it all and could be mounted on top of the camera.
💯
Question, what does the lightning bolt icon ⚡️ on the screen do?
Great question. I should have mentioned in the video. It is highlighted when you turn the phantom power on for that channel.
Thank you for these tips!!!
You are very welcome!
Bought and SUBSCRIBED
Great to hear!
Tem como conectar pedaleira para se ter reverb nele?
Helpful thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Very helpful, thanks!
Thanks for watching.You’re most welcome👍
Question for you. When using an external microphone, should I dial the value all the way down on the XY capsule or remove it all together? I’m curious if there will be a noise conflict having the XY capsule attached along with an external mic attached.
You can leave it connected, no problem. If you dial it down to 0 there would be no noise coming in from it. Better still tap on the LR buttons on the top to turn them off and only have the one XLR channel active so if you have a mic plugged into XLR port 1, tap on number one on the top and make sure it is red and tap all other channels off.
@@Touchtechnologyreviewdoes the zoom h6 create a L R mixdown track if using input 1 for a boom mic and input 2 for a lav? Is there a way to record a separate mixdown track of my inputs 1+2 ?
Great video thanks! I was curious on how to use a lav mic with this!
Glad to be of assistance!
great instructional video! question: Can you use the capsule mics as well as the external mic inputs at the same time? On the h4n, it's one or the other, can't do both that I know of.
I just realised I missed this comment. But yes you can record through the capsule and at the same time through all other mics connected via the XLR inputs. Sorry about the delay.
@@Touchtechnologyreview Thanks. I was able to get a hold of an H5 and H6 and tested them. I ended up purchasing an H6. Thanks for your video!
Thank you help lots!
You’re most welcome! Glad to hear that.👍
hi, thanks for the video. How do you find the battery life on the H6 when using Phantom to power the NT1?
I get around 4-6 hours of recording using the best lithium ion batteries I can find. Recently I have been connecting a usb battery pack via the usb port and this powers the H6 with phantom for 10-12 hours before needing a re-charge.
@@Touchtechnologyreview Ideal. Thanks very much and great video.
great vid!
👍🙏
Can I have the same record on my zoom h6 sd card and on the camera line out through the zoom h6 both at the same time for A / B testing?
Yes you can press record while you have the 3.5mm out going to another device.
I would be interested in the best settings for recording from a mixing console Pioneer A9
How did you control those points in logic ?
Very useful video, thank you.
Do you have one for a Zoom H8?
You are welcome. Unfortunately, I don't have one on the Zoom H8.
Do your headphones need to be studio monitoring headphones or will regular headphones work? Is there any advantage or disadvantage to using one or the other?
If you are monitoring a vocal for a podcast for example then you don't really need studio monitors any headphones will do allowing you to hear the signal and pick up any issues ie peaking, room noise etc, then you can adjust settings as needed. Studio monitors are more accurate in the representation of the audio and tend to have a flat EQ so these are better for musicians and composers who need to hear the signal without any bias to Bass, treble etc.
Would the audio be separate for video? I see people use different equipment like a mixer and use a recorder as well? Can you do a podcast audio and video audio all in one shot?
When using the zoom you can use it as an independent audio recorder then match up the audio with the video in post production. If you wanted to you can connect the zoom to a camera using the 3.5 audio output at the base of the ZOOM and this would then pass through the audio into the camera. I tend to prefer recording it on the internal SD card and then syncing in post production.
@@Touchtechnologyreview I was looking at getting a Zoom Q8 but after hearing how poor the picture quality is...I'm back to looking at audio recorders and wondering how hard is it to sync vid and audio on post for a newbie? Thanks!
Hello, i record my audio using the Zoom h6. I monitor the audio using apple's in-hear-phone but there is a lot of interference / Whistle, specially when moving closer to the zoom h6, the noise / Whistle becomes incredible high. I tried with both TRS and TRRS.
You're not giving enough information to analyze what's going wrong. First thing you should try is using a different set of headphones, ideally the kind that go over the ear. You can find a useable pair for around 30$. Next: What mics are you using? If you are using the XY capsule that comes with the unit, don't go too close. They're very sensitive and have no pop protection. Keep at least 1' distance. Don't use phantom power with mics that don't require it. That's all I can tell you without knowing more about your setup.
What is the MS-Raw monitor option in the zoom H6? and what is the difference between Stereo and RAW?
The MS-Raw option is for the mid / side mic which is the circular capsule mic. When recording in MS-RAW mode, you can monitor the mid mic input through the left channel and the side mic input through
the right channel.
I realize this was created 3 and a half years ago, but I'm hoping you'll see my question! This video was very helpful.
How will powering the phantom mics affect rechargeable batteries? I know there's a setting to power the Zoom from computer, which I plan to do. Will that work to power the phantom mics as well, or will I need to be prepared with plenty of battery backups? I will record some days 9-10 hours with only short, sporadic breaks.
Yes the Phantom Power does tend to burn through batteries. I have since been using a USB power bank for longer recordings. Simply use the provided USB cable and connect..... I have been using the Cygnett 6,000 MA unit which was less than $50 and goes for many hours, haven't counted but would say more than 10. You can get larger power banks too which would last even longer.
@@Touchtechnologyreview thank you so much for the prompt reply and suggestion!
The audio in your videos are amazingly clear. I never knew it was possible. I am using a condenser mic with the zoom h6, but I can hear so much static in the background in my videos. I recently switched out cables. I was using the Amazon basic at the moment but switched out to the mogami gold. The mogmami sounded clearer but then it was picking up radio stations. I am not a pro by any means and I am trying to learn as I go. Do you think its a cable issue for the background noise?
Hi there a good cable does certainly go a long way to getting the best out of your equipment. However unless you have a poor quality or faulty cable it should not really be causing a high amount of static or noise in itself. There are a couple of other things to consider. The Zoom H6 has incredibly low noise pre-amps. So it won't be the zoom unit itself. Most likely the noise would be coming from the Microphone itself. So that could be the issue. The Microphone I use is the Rode NT1 which is also known for very low signal to noise ratio. Before assuming that it is your Microphone you can try checking the following 1) Make sure that the gain on the input is set up to 5-6 an no higher Anything over 6 will start to introduce a lot of line noise no matter how good the cable and microphone might be. 2) Try using the zoom with the battery power(not plugged into mains) I have had situations where noise was introduced via poor electricity supply. 3) Turn off any devices that might be causing interference nearby or try relocating where you are recording. If you have tried all this and there is still a lot of noise. I would guess it is the microphone itself.
@@Touchtechnologyreview Thank you so much for responding, it was most helpful. I am using the Audio Technica condenser mic. I do keep the gain on 5 for my recordings. I just switched over to battery power and it seems to lessen a bit, I think. Unfortunately I can't move locations but thinking about installing a curtain to section off the room. I will try a few more things and helpfully it works out. Thanks again!
@@momma2a No problem. The AT microphones should have low noise. I wander if it requires phantom power and if you turned that on. Be mindful of my notes about not plugging in and out when phantom is turned on too as that can damage the microphone. So if the noise persists it could point to a damaged microphone. It happened to me once. There was a random wind like static noise that would build over time. So without hearing it it is hard to say what the noise is but really the AT and Zoom combo should be super quiet.
@@Touchtechnologyreview it will be a process of elimination. I really hope its not the microphone. I do power off before unplugging anything. It does sound like static in the background. As I turn up the volume during editing it's even more apparent. Thanks again!
@@momma2a No problem, best wishes...
4:10 you did not press the appropriate button to activate that channel. In your case it was “3” and skipping that means there won’t be any signal at all.
Correct, you must press on the channel to activate it.
Hey, thanks for the video. I have the same setup plus the ZHA4 amp, H6, sm58, and xlr cable are from Amazon basics. However, I have an issue with noise more specifically I can hear the radio in my monitors. The radio disappears when I turn on the PAD button but again there is a white noise that is very distracting.
Are you using batteries or plugging into wall with power adapter?
Loving it!!
Cheers!
Great review!
Question: Will the H6 enhance my sound, compared to running an external mic direct to my Camcorder?
This would depend on the Camcorder. Most low or mid range cam corders that use a 3.5 input for audio would not have great audio, there may be some line noise and the bit depth may not be as high as the Zoom which is a dedicated audio recorder. On the higher end Camcorders with XLR input the audio may be as good as the H6 but again it depends on the Camcorder. Thanks for checking out the video review. Glad you liked it!
@@Touchtechnologyreview Thanks so much ! I have a Panasonic HC-X2000 . . . which has an XLR input.
@@Veescape I haven't heard the audio on the Panasonic but being XLR I would assume it will be good enough quality so for a single mic it would be fine. The Benefit of using a zoom or any other dedicated audio recorder is multiple xlr inputs for more than one person and redundancy by using a second audio unit.
@@Touchtechnologyreview Thanks so much. Time to watch more of your vids 💥
@@Veescape You are most welcome!👍🙏
Your thoughtful video is very clear, about using the 4 external mic jacks (in my case, none of my pics require phantom power).
But what about using one or two external mics in addition to (not instead of) the attached XY stereo mic? I am recording one classical guitar and one voice.
Although I have several very high quality studio mics, the XY stereo mic the unit comes with is also of surprisingly high quality. I’m thinking of using that for the acoustic guitar, and an external Sure SM58 mic for my voice.
I’m running it into a Focusrite Scarlett 1818 and LogicPro. How does that work, recording with the XY stereo mic, and a single vocal mic?
Will I inevitably end up with a mono recording, unless I plug in a second external vocal mic (linking the two external tracks)?
Yes you should be able to combine the XY recording with another xlr mic. For stereo file on the xlr you can link two channels ie 3,4.
Amazing video. Ty!!!
Thanks so much!
Would this be a better option than getting the rodecastor pro?
Actually when it comes to podcasting the Rodecaster Pro is a better choice but it costs a few hundred dollars more. For that extra spend you get 4 headphone outputs for your guests. Sound Pads which you can load with music and sound effects and even a 3.5 cable input or bluetooth input for iOS devices.
@@Touchtechnologyreview Yes, I want it for podcasting strictly and the rodecastor seems to have great settings as well to get better sound.
Thanks for the the awesome video. Improved the quality of my life. Where can I get one of those stands you use to mount your Zoom on?
So pleased to hear that. Sure you can get them on Amazon or any photo dealer. Here is an Amazon US link for example Manfrotto Pixie Mini Table Top Stand: amzn.to/3s7C5kg
HELP: I want to import a music backing track to lay vocals along side to be mixed later IN THE H6. There is not ONE video that explains how to do this that works. I tried even converting the backing track to the specs the H6 is recording at on my laptop on the SD as I saw in a video but when I go back to the H6 and put the SD back in the H6 I can't find the backing track to play I want to use to lay vocals. I'm not talking about overdubbing I just need the track to be able to be referenced while recording.
Can anyone help me or lead me to a very specific and good english video that shows how?
I've been looking for audio interfaces for a while to be able to record my piano. I wanted to get a set of SE07's and a SSL2. After seeing this review I wonder if it wouldn't be better to get this ZOOM 6 instead. If I combine it with two SE7 I can use the 'on board' mics to pic up either a second instrument, voice, or maybe the soundboard of the piano to get a fuller sound. Or I can just use it the same way as I would use the SSL2 but be more flexible/mobile and also be able to use more phantom powered mics. Am I missing something or is the sound quality much better from a device like the SSL? Would love to get some input on this.
Thanks for the awesome tutorial!
You are very welcome! Thanks for watching!
I have duo Lavalier clip on mics. If I use them, will the mics get overloaded/damaged?
Thanks for sharing valuable information.
Could you please tell me it is better to buy zoom h5/6 or scarlett 2i2 4th gen? In fact I am a teacher, and I want to record educational videos at home office.
Thanks in advanced.
In terms of sound quality I would say both will be a good option. The main reason that you might consider a Zoom H5 or H6 is that they include a built in microphone and can record internally to an SD card making them more portable and versatile. The Scarlett is an audio interface and will always need to be used with a computer. the scarlet only has 2 XLR inputs compared to 4 on the zoom. So if you do a podcast in the future with 3-4 guests the zoom has the advantage there. If it is only going to be used on a computer and you only need to connect 1 or 2 mics then the Scarlett would be fine.
@@Touchtechnologyreviewthanks
Brilliant! Thank you
You're very welcome!
I would like to use this devise for an interview podcast , how can me and my guest hear eachothers voice as well as our own voice, is there a microfone and headphone you reccomend?
So the microphone I’m looking to buy comes with a huge power supply box that the mic plugs into. How would a mic like that work with my zoom H4?
Hi! Thanks for the video. Can we record with the external mics on the sd card? Which sd do you recommend?
Yes you sure can. The manual has a full list of recommended cards. You can see that here: zoomcorp.com/media/documents/H6_compatible_cards_en_3_0.pdf But my experience has been that the Sandisk 60MBS Extreme works really well. You can get even higher speed but would probably never need it as audio doesn't need the highest throughput.
Fantastic information😄
I have a quick question, is it possible to use the zoom h6 as a sound card as well and record straight into your software?
Great thanks for watching! When you connect it via USB to your computer you can get it to behave like a sound card, it should then work with all software on your computer allowing you to plugin microphones or audio devices and record right in.
Hi, is it possible to have a final audio with no mixing or treatment needed for a podcast with 4 speakers? I would need a file that join the relevant audios (track 1 is activated when speaker 1 speaks, track 2 when speaker 2, etc). Is it possible with that zoom or should we do it manually