Zoom H8 Portable Recorder User Manual
- June 4, 2024
- Zoom
Table of Contents
Zoom H8 Portable Recorder
Specifications
- Product Dimensions 1 x 9.1 x 9.1 inches; 1.8 Pounds
- Binding Electronics
- Item Weight 8 pounds
- Brand Zoom
Introduction
It is a portable digital recorder that may be used to record high-quality audio directly onto the device or into the audio recording and editing software on your computer. The 6 in the name refers to the normal 4 XLR inputs and the additional 2 channels that can be recorded using the stereo microphone positioned on top.
Zoom Corporation does not bear liability for any damages or third-party claims arising from the use of the software, whether directly or indirectly. Unauthorized redistribution, sale, leasing, renting, alteration, or reverse engineering of the software is prohibited. Features and specifications of the software and the contents of the documentation may be changed in future without notice.
Windows® is a trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft®
Macintosh®, Mac OS®, Mac® or OS X® is a trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Inc.
Note
Other Product names, registered trademarks and company names in this document are the property of their respective companies.
Note
All trademarks and registered trademarks in this document are for identification purposes only and are not intended to infringe on the copyrights of their respective owners.
Note
Proper display is not possible on gray scale devices.
The illustrations in these instructions might differ from actual screens.
This guide explains firmware update to v1.10 as an example.
Installing the firmware update file Download the ZIP file containing the
firmware update file from H8 download page.
For Windows
Extracting the ZIP file Select the folder where you downloaded the ZIP file. ① Click “Compressed Folder Tools”, the ② “Extract All”. The ZIP file will be extracted.
Copying the firmware update file to a SD card
Copy the “H8SYSTEM.BIN” file to the root directory on a SD card.
For Mac
Opening the downloaded file
After downloading, click “Downloads” displayed at the bottom of the screen. Then click ➁ to open the downloaded file.
Copying the firmware update file to a SD card
Copy the “H8SYSTEM.BIN” file to the root directory on a SD card.
The following is the same procedure for Windows and Mac.
Insert the SD card into the H8.
NOTE
- Always make certain that the power is off when inserting or removing a SD card. Inserting or removing a card while the power is on could result in data loss.
- When inserting a SD card, be sure to insert the correct end with the top side up as shown.
Install new batteries in the H8 or connect an AC adapter.
While pressing , turn the power on.
Touch “Yes” on the screen.
This starts the firmware update.
NOTE
- During the firmware update, do not turn the power off or remove the SD card. Doing so could cause the H8 to become unstart able.
- In the unlikely event that a firmware update should fail, conduct the procedures from the beginning to update the firmware again.
After the firmware update completes, turn the power off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you run phantom power per-input, or does it turn it on for all at a time?
You can select phantom power for each individual input.
Phantom power needed for mics?
Yes, the H8 will provide phantom power as needed.
How is this a 12 track recorder when you can have at most 8 inputs at once?
The H8 can record up to 12 tracks at once. These include up to 4 tracks of input from a mic capsule, Inputs 1–4, A and B, and a stereo mix of these with L/R tracks (2 tracks).
Can you overdub tracks?
Yes, you can overdub with the H8.
Can i use this device to record from 4 phones using xlr to aux 3.5mm cable?!
Yes, not a problem.
How about power over usb? does that work, and if it does, does it work well without a powered usb port?
Yes. The H8 recorder may be powered by its’ built-in USB port. It may also be powered by (4) AA batteries for remote usage; recording and playback operation when away from AC or USB power sources.
How long is the warranty on this?
the Zoom H8 warranty is one year.
Can this output separate tracks on its own, saving 1 output track for each microphone input, without using a DAW?
Yes you can, it has different modes on it. But you can easily seperate all of those input tracks.
Can I record wireless with the bluetooth adapter on my ipad multitrack?
No, the wireless still records onto the H8, it just allows you to adjust levels and start and stop remotely.
How long could I record a single track for? (Could I leave it recording all day?)
Assuming you are using AC power and have a large enough SD card (32 GB or more), the Zoom should easily be able to record 24 hours of CD-quality WAV audio on a single card and exponentially more with MP3. I believe there is a 2 GB file size limit, so the Zoom should automatically write to a new file when the limit is hit. In that case, you should be able to merge the files in post.
Can the time format be changed to 12-hour instead of 24-hour?
Yes.
Is the soundpad usable in audio interface mode?
No, you cannot use the sound pads when in audio interface mode.
Does this provide phantom power for mics that need it?
Yes. Phantom power is built into the H8 for mics the need it. You may switch this feature ‘on’ or ‘off’ in the settings.
Exactly what micro usb to usb cable works for this?
I had a problem with the first 3 USB cables I tried. It just didn’t connect to the PC at all. So I returned it for a new one. New one did the same. Mfg was great in trouble shooting. I updated the firmware to 2.0 and it began to display error message for deficient cable. I got to my 5th cable before it worked…and I marked it as special. I had never had a problem with USB cables for data before this…even on other zoom products.
Does it come with a power adapter ?
It does not come with a power adapter. It is designed to run from 4 AA batteries. A Zoom AD-17 AC adapter can be purchased. I have used a non-Zoom USB adapter with a Micro-B USB cable to power mine.
This unit can use the extension microphones of the H6?
Yes. The module connections are compatible with one another.