ZOOM H1ESSENTIAL HANDY RECORDER

Zoom H1essential Portable Recorder

The Zoom H1essential is a compact, high-performance portable recorder designed for musicians, content creators, and field recording. With 32-bit float recording, it captures perfect audio without the need to set gain levels, making it virtually impossible to clip or distort your recordings.

Equipped with 90º XY stereo microphones, the H1essential delivers clear, accurate sound with excellent stereo imaging—ideal for recording acoustic instruments, vocals, interviews, and ambient audio. Its intuitive design is complemented by a new OLED display, providing clear visual feedback in any environment.

Advanced features like overdubbing, auto record, pre-record, and timer functions give you flexibility in both creative and practical recording situations. It also doubles as a USB microphone, making it a versatile solution for streaming, podcasting, and online content creation.

With up to 10 hours of battery life on AAA batteries (or USB-C bus power), the H1essential is built for portability and reliability on the go.

Key Features

• 32-bit float recording – no need to set gain
• 90º XY stereo microphones (120 dB SPL handling)
• Records up to 96kHz sample rate
• OLED display for clear navigation
• Overdubbing, auto record, pre-record, and timer functions
• USB microphone functionality (48kHz / 24-bit)
• Audio guidance accessibility feature
• Up to 10 hours battery life (AAA or USB-C power)

Specifications

Inputs

• Built-in mic: 90º XY stereo, unidirectional
• Sensitivity: –37 dB/1 Pa at 1 kHz
• Max SPL: 120 dB
• Mic/Line In: Stereo mini jack, ≥2 kΩ impedance, 2.5V plug-in power

Outputs

• Headphone/Line Out: Stereo mini jack
• Max output: 20 mW + 20 mW (32Ω load)
• Output impedance: ≤10 Ω
• Built-in speaker: 250 mW

Recording

• Format: WAV (BWF, iXML supported)
• Sample rates: 44.1 / 48 / 96 kHz
• Bit depth: 32-bit float
• Modes: Stereo / Mono
• Storage: microSDHC (4–32GB), microSDXC (64GB–1TB)

Display & Connectivity

• Display: 128 × 64 OLED
• USB: Type-C (USB 2.0 High Speed)
• Functions: File transfer + USB mic

Power

• 2 × AAA batteries (Alkaline, Lithium, NiMH)
• USB bus power supported
• Approx. battery life:
  • Alkaline: ~10 hours
  • NiMH: ~9 hours
  • Lithium: ~18 hours

Physical

• Dimensions: 53.9 × 136.6 × 29.0 mm
• Weight: 92 g (with batteries)

Summary

A simple, powerful, and ultra-portable recorder that delivers professional-quality audio with minimal setup—perfect for capturing ideas, performances, and content anywhere.