To that end, the H5 has two XLR inputs (rather than minijacks). a protest, a parade or music-but for interviews you will very likely want to use a microphone. The H5 has nice built-in stereo microphones that are really good for picking up vivid stereo ambiences-i.e. The H4N, on the other hand, lasts from six to ten hours. Battery life is also improved as the H5 can last up to 15 hours on a pair of AA batteries. The H5 is a significant improvement over the H4N because it is quieter and the controls are better. The H4N got the job done but it was a bit noisy and clunky to use. For many years it was unusual not to see a Zoom H4N on set (remember the days when DSLRs like the Canon 5D first came out and audio was a big issue?). Zoom H5 $280-The Zoom H5 is a step up from the H4N. We’ve reached a point where you can get relatively affordable field recorders that are versatile enough to be used in a lot of circumstances and get good sound. Let’s assume that you’re going to get out of the studio and record with field gear. For this you have two options: Recording directly into a computer, or recording with field gear. And of course, how comfortable you make the subject feel is key.įirst, you’re going to need a way to record your audio. Of course, having top-of-the-line equipment would be nice, but it’s all in the way you use it-how you position the mic, how close you get the mic to the subject (which is different for film vs.

Well, the good news is, there is a low barrier to entry, meaning you don’t need much in the way of equipment to set up shop: a digital recorder, microphone, headphones, editing software and a few peripherals are about what it takes.

Ready to venture into the world of podcasting?

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