Zoom H6essential 6-Track 32-Bit Float Portable Audio Recorder

Zoom H6essential 6-Track 32-Bit Float Portable Audio Recorder

The H6essential Portable Recorder, Zoom's flagship handheld recorder, provides six clear, distortion-free audio tracks without requiring level adjustments. With hot-swappable X/Y microphones that can easily handle 135 dB and 32-bit float recording, the H6essential provides a flexible, painless audio solution.

The four XLR-1/4" combo inputs have professional condenser mics driven by +48V phantom power and high-quality, low-noise Zoom mic preamps. With its vivid 2" colour display, an onboard mixer makes it simple to manipulate individual tracks and view waveforms in real-time. As a 6-in / 2-out interface, the H6essential can stream up to two audio channels to computers and smart devices and use its USB-C port for power. In addition, the recorder can be easily mounted on a tripod for stationary use or, with an adapter, atop a camera for field recording tasks.

The blind and visually impaired were considered when designing the Essential Series. Use the built-in speaker or headphones to navigate the menu while listening to descriptions. The languages available to creators are English, Spanish, French, Japanese, German, Italian, and Chinese.

The H6essential's fundamental versatility is made to help all types of creators. To meet the demands of your unique application, the H6essential features a detachable X/Y mic capsule that can be replaced with a variety of optional modules.

The H6essential's default capsule adds two excellent microphones in an X/Y stereo arrangement. This setup captures a crisp stereo image and is most responsive to audio directly in front of it.

A highly directional microphone for centre sound pickup and a bidirectional side mic for left and right sound pickup are both included in the SSH-6e. It is possible to adjust the mid-side stereo image from mono to ultrawide stereo pickup. The centre microphone can record the conversation, and the side microphones can mix in as much or as little ambient sound as needed.

If you require additional inputs, simply insert the EXH-6e dual XLR-1/4" TRS combo capsule. This lets you add two more line-level sources, instruments, or microphones. If power is connected to the capsule's USB-C port, phantom power can be used. A 3.5mm jack is provided for line- or mic-level input, and plugging in lavalier microphones can be powered.

The H6essential records a vast dynamic range thanks to its dual AD converters and 32-bit float. This enables producers to record flawless audio without any clips consistently.

Zoom's ultraclean preamps, which support +48V phantom power and +4 dBu professional line-level input, are featured in the four XLR-1/4" TRS combo inputs. The X/Y microphones on board can record sound up to a powerful 135 dB SPL, comparable to a jet plane taking off.

Transmit audio in 32-bit float over USB-C while recording to an SD card at the same time. The H6essential functions as a 6-in / 2-out audio interface when connected via the USB-C Port to a Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android device.

A portable studio is what the H6essential is. Utilise the XLR inputs to record up to four instruments and the X/Y microphones to record the entire ensemble in stunning stereo.

With its four XLR inputs, the H6essential has you covered when everyone wants to be on your podcast. Attach the optional EXH-6e capsule to the two extra XLR inputs.

To pair with your iOS device and remotely record, adjust your mix, view your waveforms, and change settings, use the BTA-1 Bluetooth adapter (separately sold). You can also pair with Bluetooth timecode devices to sync audio and video, if you have the optional BTA-1 Bluetooth adapter.

You can listen to your recordings on the built-in speaker for easy access. The speaker can produce an astounding 500mW of power.

Form Factor

Handheld Recorder

Primary Use Applications

Audio-for-Video, Dictation & Transcription, Music Recording, Podcasting

Number of Tracks

8 (6 Inputs + Stereo Mix)

Number of Input Channels

6 (4 x Mono, 1 x Stereo)

Maximum Sampling Rate

96 kHz / 32-Bit Float

Microphone

Interchangeable Cardioid Condenser Stereo Pair, X/Y Configuration

Number of Microphone Inputs

4

Built-In Speaker

Yes, 500 mW Mono

Display

2" / 5.1 cm Colour LCD

Memory Card Support

microSDXC (Up to 1 TB)

Special Features

Overdubbing

Audio File Formats

BWF, iXML, WAV

Sample Rates

44.1 / 48 / 96 kHz

Bit Depth

Up to 32-Bit (Floating Point)

Analog I/O

4x Combo XLR-1/4" 3-Pin Female Balanced/Unbalanced Line/Mic Input (Lockable)
1x 1/8" / 3.5 mm TRS Female Line Output
1x 1/8" / 3.5 mm TRS Female Headphone Output

Phantom Power

+48 V

System Connection

1x USB-C (I/O, 2.0)

Audio Interface Capability

Stereo Only

Max Input Level

Mic Inputs:
+4 dBu
Line Inputs:
+24 dBu

Headphone Output Power

20 mW per Channel into 32 Ohms

Impedance

Mic/Line Inputs:
≥3 Kilohms

Microphone Sensitivity

-42 dB (X/Y)

Microphone Max SPL

135 dB SPL (X/Y)

Power Options

Battery, USB Bus Power, AC/DC Power Adapter

Battery Type

4x AA

Approximate Battery Life

48 kHz/32-Bit:
18 Hours (AA Alkaline, 2 Channels, Recording, Built-In Mic)

AC/DC Power Adapter

5 VDC at 1 A (Included)