The Zoom H5 Handy Recorder provides you with four tracks of portable recording power, letting you create professional 24-bit/96kHz recordings anywhere your creativity takes you. It comes standard with an XYH-5 XY microphone capsule, which you can swap out for other microphones and input modules to fit any recording situation. Two combo inputs, complete with onboard microphone preamps and switchable -20dB pads, let you connect the Zoom H5 with anything from phantom-powered condenser microphones to extremely hot line-level sources. Top it off with onboard processing, stellar recording options, and the fact that it doubles as a USB audio interface, and you can imagine how useful the Zoom H5 Handy Recorder can be.

Totally Flexible I/O

Swap out capsules to get the mics and I/O you need

For such a small, lightweight, and inexpensive portable device, the Zoom H5 Handy Recorder delivers a full set of professional-level I/O. First up, there’s the H5’s modular expansion port, which lets you connect the same amazing modular capsules Zoom introduced with the H6. You can read all about them in our Zoom Capsule Buying Guide. What’s more, the Zoom H5 comes with an XYH-5 capsule, which is an awesome shockmounted XY microphone that’s great for stereo recording. This capsule also includes an 1/8″ stereo input, but the H5 itself comes equipped with a pair of impressive combo jack inputs, each with its own volume dial and switchable -20dB pad. These inputs let you connect anything from phantom-powered condenser microphones to extremely hot line-level sources. And when it comes to monitoring, the Zoom H5 offers you both a line and a headphone output plus a built-in speaker.

Zoom H5 I/O at a Glance:

• Two onboard combo jacks provide mic- and line-level input via XLR or 1/4″ TRS/TS
• Independent volume controls and switchable -20dB pads provide easy level control
• Extra inputs available via swappable capsules (See Zoom Capsule Buying Guide)
• Headphone and line-level outputs provide stereo sound for monitoring and playback
• Review your recordings without external gear via the onboard monophonic speaker

Always Ready to Record

With Pre-record, Backup-record, and Auto-record functions

There’s something inherently unpredictable about field recording, which makes it unnervingly easy to miss critical takes. Zoom equipped their H5 Handy Recorder with three powerful recording modes to spare you the stress of a lost or ruined recording opportunity: Pre-record, Backup-record, and Auto-record. With Pre-record, the Zoom H5 is continuously buffering the last two seconds of audio, which it includes with every recording. So, even if you hit record late, you’re still likely to capture the sound you thought you missed. Along a similar line of thinking is Zoom H5’s Backup-record function, which records a separate stereo mix at 12dB down from your current settings (44.1/48kHz only). That way, if a sudden audio spike causes your input to clip, you still have a clean backup to work with. Finally, there’s Auto-record, which starts recording when the volume passes a certain threshold.

Zoom H5 Recording Options at a Glance:

• Pre-record function keeps you from missing once-in-a-lifetime recordings
• Continuous 2-second buffer lets you capture precious moments before you hit record
• Backup-record prevents unexpected audio spikes from ruining your takes
• Simultaneously records a second -12dB stereo track to provide a backup
• Auto-record function starts recording when the input crosses a volume threshold

Versatile USB Audio Interface

From field recorder to USB audio interface in a single cable

Not only is the Zoom H5 Handy Recorder an amazing field recorder, but it’s also a super-portable 4-in/2-out USB audio interface too. How cool is that?! We’ll tell you. For starters, because it’s class compliant, you can plug your H5 into just about any Mac or Windows PC, or even your iPad (via the Apple Camera Connection Kit), and get up to four inputs and two outputs right to your favorite DAW software or recording app. Need a good recording application? No problem — Zoom includes a copy of Steinberg’s Wavelab LE to get you going. What’s more, all of the H5’s onboard processing is available even when you use it as an interface, so you can track with compression, limiting, and filtering. There’s zero-latency input monitoring to make recording easier, plus a cool Loop Back mode that lets you mix and record a stereo feed over USB along with the H5’s inputs.

Zoom H5 USB Interface at a Glance:

• Offers full 4-in/2-out USB recording to your Mac, Windows PC, or iPad
• Onboard compression, limiting, and filtering available when connected
• Direct monitoring provides zero-latency recording capabilities
• Loop Back mode lets you record USB and external inputs together
• Includes a copy of Steinberg’s Wavelab LE recording software