Forums » Equipment (cameras, recorders, K-II, etc.)

• Suzanne Godinho

  

  • 9 posts
  December 28, 2010 8:23:40 PM EST

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  I have many voice recorders and after some research would like to purchase a zoom recorder. My question is which would be better the H2 or H4. The H2 seems better affordable . Has anyone experienced using both and is there a big difference between the two.

• Wes Forsythe

  

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  December 28, 2010 9:38:39 PM EST

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  I don't have any experience with the H4 but from what I have been told there isn't any great advantage in what we are using it for. Most of the extra features of the H4 have to do with mixing music, and the extra options and controls may actually hamper it in the field (i.e. figuring out how to turn it on). A good comparison of both recorders can be found here http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2007/Dec/Zoom_H2_and_H4_Two_Handy_Recorders.aspx
  
  Read it and see if you see any differences that would make it worth the extra investment. I didn't...but someone else may know something that I don't.
• Clint Forsberg

  

  • 158 posts
  December 29, 2010 7:40:12 AM EST

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  Hi Suzanne, I had this same question and a friend in the field told me to go with the H2 which is what his group uses. He didn't go into details but said that the H2 is much less expensive than the H4 & has all the features that I'd ever need. I just bought one but won't have a chance to use it on an investigation until January 8th. Just testing it here in my house has sold me on the quality of the recordings and I also like the fact that I can listen in "real-time" with a set of headphones. We'll see what happens on the 8th......
• Rob ~ DEADPsalm

  

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  December 29, 2010 2:15:06 PM EST

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  Even though a good recording device is important, keep in mind that a significant portion of EVP work is accomplished with audio software.
  
  I would buy the H4 because I am a musician. I would not buy to H4 solely for EVP work.
  
• Blane Willcut

  

  • 52 posts
  December 30, 2010 10:09:57 PM EST

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  Try a Zoom H1. Only $99 at Best Buy and good quality as well. Accepts an SD micro card and can record as mp3 or wav. Good recorder at a good price
• Suzanne Godinho

  

  • 9 posts
  December 31, 2010 6:59:40 PM EST

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  Thank You all for your input, I greatly appreciate it. I will be going with the H2. Once I have purchased and used i will let you know how it worked out. The info. may be usefull to others who are also pondering the purchase. Ther have been some great deals on Ebay for these and also Best Buy has an outlet online for mainly used and refurbished items.Thanks again, I have learned so much from everyone on this site.
• Andrew OKCGC

  

  • 12 posts
  January 9, 2011 7:17:46 AM EST

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  The H1 is a really viable option at 99 dollars. It too is a linear PCM recorder capable of 96khz/24 bit uncompressed wave recording. It doesn't have the 4 channel option of the H2 and it does not have some of the bells and whistles, but it does share the same mic. capsules. I can tell you that 2 channel recordings made with both the h1 and h2 (in same sample rate and a/d conversion) sound identical. One thing about the h1 that I find desirable is that all of the record parameters have their own dedicated physical switch. One thing I hate about my h2 is having to menu surf on a small screen to set certain recording options. No such complexity in the h1. I recommend the h1 as the perfect beginner recorder for evp.
• Suzanne Godinho

  

  • 9 posts
  January 22, 2011 3:43:33 PM EST

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  Thanks for the advise Andy. I have not been online for a little bit due to a hand injury at work . I have not made the purchase yet which probably worked out for the best. The H1 sounds like it may be a little easier to use and much more affordable. Thanks again.
• Clint Forsberg

  

  • 158 posts
  January 22, 2011 5:29:35 PM EST

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  I have had the H2 for a short while now and the quality of the recordings is awesome. My only observation so far is that I recently ran both the H2 & my inexpensive "old reliable" Olympus VN4100-PC side by side on an investigation & the Olympus seemed to catch a couple of EVPs that the H2 didn't. I'm wondering if possibly the absence of noise on the H2 is going to turn out to be an issue?!?
• martin bravo

  

  • 3 posts
  February 22, 2011 1:12:51 AM EST

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  In all honesty the reason you are getting less evps, is because the clearer sound recording is filtering out false positives created by audio paradeolia. On the other hand if you are a believer that spirits use white noise to communicate, i would get a cd with white noise, or a fan to use. Results may vary. I use a Sony PCM M10 and although the recording is crispy clean I do catch less evps. The evps i do catch though are usually crystal clear and unmistakable. One thing I do is set my PCM on a tripod and still walk around with my cheapo.
• Wes Forsythe

  

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  February 22, 2011 7:48:18 AM EST

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  Martin you are correct and thanks for adding how subjective/experimental all of this still is. I know reputable investigators that believe you will only catch good EVP's by holding your recorder because your energy helps them.

   

  Another investigator insisted that if you got an EVP using a dynamic mic as opposed to a condensor mic you were hearing a false positive (he had some great technical explanation involving voice coils).

   

  Personally I use several mid range to high end recorders and when practical and possilbe try to use multiple recorders. That way I may be able to discern the untagged sneeze as such.

   

  I have an "EVP" documented on my site caught on a camera...until I compared the audio from other cameras. Even I ( a believer that ghosts can do pretty much whatever they set their mind to) thought it was a bit far fetched to think three cameras could capture a paranormal sound from opposite ends of a large room - not impossible but unlikely.

   

  I do have one I haven't posted yet where I am talking on one recorder and I seem to catch an EVP on another. I am still on the fence about it. The alleged EVP sounds NOTHING like what I was saying in neither tone nor phonetics but at the same time I don't want to jump to conclusions...but maybe I was the white noise.

  This post was edited by Wes Forsythe at February 22, 2011 7:48:18 AM EST
• martin bravo

  

  • 3 posts
  February 22, 2011 9:16:39 AM EST

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  Thanks Wes for your kind words. I would love to hear your EVPs. It still amazes me every time I capture one. Especially the intelligent response ones. I sit back and think to myself how do scientists dismiss this like they do? That being said though this whole area of investigating as a whole just blows me a way. Glad to hear you use a variety of recorders. I recently just got my PCM recorder, and I love it. Also not sure if anyone believes in this theory but here goes. I believe that everyone and every thing on this planet has an energy about it. This is like when you sell a car and see it six months later you will know its your car just by glancing at it. I have done some experimenting with recorders between mine and my wife’s. She and I will trade recorders halfway through out the night, and coincidently I will catch nothing even when there are unexplained noises occurring throughout the investigation. Its weird how it works but I feel like my recorders have my energy imprinted on them and this is why I catch what I catch. Could also be a reason as to why new recorders hardly catch anything at all, but as time progresses you catch more and more. I have a few awesome EVPS that I caught with my ZOOM H2 that were so clear, I didn’t even have to clear them up for windage, or background noise. I should post them up.
• Wes Forsythe

  

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  February 22, 2011 10:00:47 AM EST

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  Please do.
  
  Hadn't ever thought of our own energy imprinting on our own equipment...interesting idea. I actually have the same experience in a way. I have my trusty Sony recorder that I catch most of my (good) EVPs on. I also have a tape recorder that I have had forever that I have had some great success with. But I rarely get anything on the rest of them. I always chaulked it up to how I was using them mostly as stationery recorders, but it is definitely something to think about.
  
  My website is ihuntghosts.com. I have some good EVPs and some not-so-good ones (and I hope I am honest when I assess them). My pride and joy is the one called Children Laughing.