Zoom H6 Manual 

Quick Guide © 2020 ZOOM CORPORATION Copying or reprinting this manual in part or in whole without permission is prohibited. Product names, registered trademarks and company names in this document are the property of their respective companies. You might need this manual in the future. Always keep it in a place where you can access it easily. The contents of this manual and the specifications of the product could be changed without notice. Windows® is a trademark or registered trademark of Microsoft® Corporation. Mac is a trademark or registered trademark of Apple Inc. The Operation Manual can be downloaded from the ZOOM website (www.zoom.jp/docs/h6). This page has files in PDF and ePub formats. The PDF file format is suitable for printing on paper and reading on a computer. The ePub format can be read with electronic document readers and is designed for reading on smart- phones and tablets. Handy Recorder

■ Front ■ Right side (and back) ■ Bottom Parts and Connections Input 1 Input volume L/R Input volume 1 Input 2 SD card slot VOLUME button PHONE jack POWER/HOLD switch Input volume 2 Track buttons and indicators (L, R, 1–4) Input volume 3 XY mic PAD switches (1–4) Input volume 4 Stop button Display Play/pause button & indicator REW button FF button Record button & indicator XLR TRS Input 3 MIC/LINE input jack (supports plug-in power) Input 4 Battery cover (back) Speaker (back) Scroll button LINE OUT jack Strap holes (can also be used with camera straps) REMOTE jack MENU button USB jack (Mini-B) 1: GND 2: HOT 3: COLD TIP: HOT RING: COLD SLEEVE: GND 1 2 3

Open while pushing up • Use alkaline batteries or rechargeable NiMH batteries. • Use MENU > SYSTEM > Battery to set the type of battery so that the amount of remaining battery charge can be shown accurately. NOTE AC power can also be used by connecting a dedicated AC adapter (ZOOM AD-17) to the USB port. HINT ■ Connection example Preparations PA mixer Computer Dedicated remote (ZOOM RCH-6) Digital SLR camera Headphones Ambient mics Mic capsule 3 4 1 2

1. After turning the power off, open the SD card slot cover and insert an SD card. To remove the SD card, push it further into the slot and then pull it out. HINT Before using SD cards that have just been purchased or that have been formatted on a computer, they must be formatted by the . To format an SD card, use MENU > SD CARD > Format. NOTE Turning the power on and off 1. Slide right. • To turn the power off, slide until the ZOOM logo appears on the display. • Sliding to the left (toward HOLD) will disable button operations. HINT • If “No SD Card!” appears on the display, confirm that an SD card is inserted properly. • If “Card Protected!” appears on the display, the SD card write-protection is enabled. Slide the lock switch on the SD card to disable write-protection. • If “Invalid Card!” appears on the display, the card is not formatted correctly. Format the card or use a different card. NOTE SD card slot in center of left side

The first time you turn the power on after purchase, set the display language when the Language setting screen opens. 1. Use to select the language, and press . The language setting can be changed later using MENU > LANGUAGE. HINT Setting the date and time (first time starting up) When the Date and Time setting screen opens after the Language settings screen, set the date and time. 1. Use to select the item to change, and press . 2. Use to change the value, and press . 3. Press . The date and time setting can be changed later using MENU > SYSTEM > Date/Time. HINT

Remaining recording time Phantom power voltage L/R track (connected mic capsule shown) Low cut indicator Compressor/limiter indicator Phantom power indicator Folder name Recording format Auto record Stopped Status icon Recording Recording time Panning Clipping indicators Battery charge indicator Full Empty Level meter (recording input level) Tracks 1–4 Paused Monitoring volume Name of project that will play when the button is pressed (when recording, name of project being recorded) ■ Playback screen Playing back Playback time Name of project playing back Level meter (playback level) Tracks 1–4 Playback speed Playback format Remaining battery charge Status icon Pitch control L/R track (mic capsule used during recording) Playback volume Panning Folder name Paused AB repeat playback active

Recording follows the process shown below. Prepare for recording • Install batteries • Insert an SD card • Connect mic capsule • Connect mics, instruments and other sources to Inputs 1–4 • Turn the power on • Set the recording format • Make input and output settings Record • Press to start recording and to stop Marks can also be added. Press to pause. Play and check • Press to start playback and or to stop Other options include cueing from mark positions, using AB repeat play- back, changing the playback speed, pitch and mode and making project mixer settings. When recording with the , folders and files are created on SD cards in the following manner. The manages recording and playback data in units called projects. ZOOM0003.MP3 ZOOM0003 ZOOM0003.hprj A folder named ZOOM0001 – ZOOM9999 is created for each project ZOOM0002_Tr34.WAV ZOOM0002.hprj ZOOM0002_LR.WAV ZOOM0002 Stereo file of recorded Input L/R signals Mono file of recorded Input 1 signal Stereo file of recorded Input 3/4 signals ZOOM0002_Tr1.WAV Project settings file Recorded stereo MP3 file ZOOM0001 FOLDER01 Root FOLDER02 FOLDER10 • • • Select FOLDER01 – FOLDER10 as the folder where projects will be saved

1. Select MENU > REC > Rec Format, and then select the setting. Open the MENU screen, go back Select up/down Confirm the item or value to set • WAV format is better for recording when high audio quality is important. • Since the MP3 format uses compression, the audio quality is reduced, but the file size is smaller. This is convenient when you want to save large amounts of recordings and use less space on the SD card, for example. • When using MP3, one stereo MP3 file is created using the mix set with the monitoring mixer. NOTE Recording format settings

Set according to the devices connected to Inputs 1–4. ■ Connecting a mixer or other device with a +4 dBu standard output level 1. Set the corresponding PAD switches to –20. When connecting an ordinary mic, set the PAD switch to 0. HINT ■ Connecting condenser mics and other devices that require phantom power 1. Select MENU ＞ INPUT&OUTPUT ＞ Phantom ＞ ON/ OFF, and select the input to receive phantom power. Open/Close the MENU screen Select up/down Confirm the item or value to set 2. Use to select On and press . 3. Press multiple times to return to the Home Screen. • When connecting devices that are not compatible with phantom power, do not turn phantom power on. Doing so could damage the device. • When connecting a dynamic mic, phantom power does not need to be supplied. NOTE In addition to +48V, phantom power can also be set to +12V and +24V. HINT PAD switch Input and output settings

These tracks (L, R and 1–4) correspond to the same inputs. 1. When the Home Screen is open, press the track keys for the tracks to record so that the corresponding LEDs light red. • Press track key 2 while pressing track key 1 to link these tracks as a stereo track. This will create stereo files on the SD card. Tracks 3 and 4 can be stereo-linked in the same way. • Stereo links can be disabled in the same manner. • The stereo link of the L/R tracks cannot be disabled. • When recording, files are created according to track settings in the following manner. Track recorded File name Description L/R tracks ZOOMnnnn-LR Stereo file Mono track ZOOMnnnn_Tr1 (for track 1) Mono file Stereo track ZOOMnnnn_Tr34 (for tracks 3/4) Stereo file Note: “nnnn” in the file name is the project number • All the files that are created during the same recording are managed as a single project unit by the . HINT Adjusting input levels (trim) Adjust the input levels to record with high audio quality. 1. Turn for the selected track to adjust the input level. • Adjust so that the peak level stays around –12 dB on the level meter. • Press to adjust the headphone volume. HINT

You can adjust the volume and panning of each input signal when monitoring. 1. Select MENU > INPUT&OUTPUT > Monitor Mixer in order. Open/Close the MENU screen Select up/down Confirm the item or value to set 2. Adjust parameter settings. Move cursor/change value Select parameter to edit/confirm Parameter Setting range Explanation Level Mute, −48.0 – +12.0 dB (in 0.5dB increments) Adjusts the volume. Pan L100 – Center – R100 Adjusts the stereo balance of the sound. 3. Press multiple times to return to the Home Screen. • Press to turn the monitor mixer on/off. • When WAV is selected as the recording file format, these volume and pan settings only affect the monitoring signals. They have no effect on recorded data. • The set monitoring mix is saved with the project and is also enabled during playback. The mix can also be changed during playback. NOTE

This starts recording. ■ Operations during recording Function Control operation Add a mark Press Pause Press Stop Press • When recording is paused, a mark is added at that point. • A maximum of 99 marks can be added in one project. • If the file size exceeds 2 GB during recording, a new file will be created automatically in the same project and recording will continue without pause. When this happens, numbers will be added to the ends of the file names: “-0001” for the first file, “-0002” for the second file and so on. • Track indicators (LEDs) will blink and clip indicators will appear lit when loud sounds are input. Adjust the input level so that the clip indicators do not light. • Clip indicators that lit during recording will turn off when recording stops. NOTE Recording

This starts playback. ■ Playback operations Function Control operation Select playback project/ move to mark Press Search forward/backward Press and hold Pause/resume playback Press Adjust the volume Press +/– Add a mark Press • The longer you press and hold / , the faster searching forward/backward becomes. • During playback, press track buttons to switch between playing back (lit green) and muted (unlit). HINT

to open the MENU screen where the following functions and settings can be used. Item Explanation PROJECT LIST Select and play recorded projects, set the folder used to save recorded data, etc. INPUT& OUTPUT Lo Cut Set to reduce the sound of air-conditioning, wind, vocal pops and other noise. Comp/Limiter Set to raise low-level input signals and attenuate high-level input signals. MS-RAW Monitor When recording in MS-RAW mode, set to monitor the mid mic input on the left channel and the side mic input on the right channel. Phantom Use to set phantom power supply for Inputs 1–4. Plugin Power Set the supply of plug-in power to the MIC/LINE input jack built into the XY mic capsule. Monitor Mixer Adjust the volume and panning of each input signal when monitoring. VU Meter Show the VU meters to check input levels. Line Out level Lower the output level of the LINE OUT jack. Use when inputting the output signal from the LINE OUT jack to the mic input jack of a digital SLR camera, for example. MS Matrix Set to convert signals from MS format stereo mic input through Inputs 1/2 or 3/4 to ordinary stereo signals. REC Rec Format Set the recording file format. Auto Rec Set to start and stop recording automatically in response to the input level. Pre Rec Set pre-recording to capture audio before recording starts. Backup Rec Set this to record the L/R track input signals at 12dB below the set input level as a separate file. Project Name Set how projects are automatically named. Sound Marker Set the output of tone signals from the output jacks when recording starts and stops. PLAY Set AB repeat playback, the project playback mode, etc. PROJECT MENU Information Check a variety of information about the selected project. Voice Memo Add voice memos to projects and play them back. Mark List Show a list of the marks recorded in the project. Project Mixer Adjust the volume and panning of each input signal when monitoring. Playback Speed Set the playback speed to 50% – 150% (1/2× – 3/2×). Backup File Set whether to play the recorded backup file instead of the regular file. Edit Change project names, normalize recording volumes, and divide and trim files. Overdub Add recordings to an already recorded project. Mixdown Mix down a recorded project to a stereo file (WAV or MP3). Rebuild Rebuild a project if necessary files are missing or broken. Trash Delete unwanted projects. TOOL Use the tuner with input signals, and set the metronome as a guide during recording. SYSTEM Date/Time Set the date and time. Backlight Set backlight power saving and adjust display brightness. Battery Set the type of battery so the remaining battery charge can be shown accurately. Software Version View the firmware versions. Factory Reset Restore the recorder to its factory default settings. LANGUAGE Set the language shown on the display. SD CARD Check open space on SD cards, and format and test them. USB Connect to a computer, and use as an audio interface or SD card reader. Note: See the Operation Manual for detailed information about each setting. List of functions and settings

Inputs L/R XY mic: XYH-6 Mics Unidirectional mics Sensitivity −41 dB/Pa at 1 kHz Input gain −∞ – 46.5 dB Maximum sound pressure input 136 dB SPL MIC/LINE IN (stereo mini jack) Input gain: −∞ – 46.5 dB Input impedance: 2 kΩ Plug-in power: 2.5 V supported Backup recording Input gain −12 dB INPUTS 1–4 Connectors XLR/TRS combo jacks (XLR: 2 hot, TRS: TIP hot) Input gain −∞ – 55.5 dB (PAD OFF)/– ∞– 35.5 dB (PAD ON) Input impedance 1.8 kΩ or more Maximum permissible input level +22 dBu (PAD ON) Phantom power +12/+24/+48 V (independent ON/OFF for INPUTS 1–4) Equivalent input noise −120 dBu or less Outputs Output jacks LINE OUT (stereo mini jack) Rated output level: −10 dBu (into 10kΩ load) PHONE OUT (stereo mini jack) Maximum output: 20 mW + 20 mW (into 32Ω load) Built-in speaker 400mW 8Ω mono speaker Recording formats When WAV selected Supported formats 44.1/48/96kHz, 16/24-bit, monophonic/stereo, WAV/BWF Maximum simultaneous recording tracks 8 (6 + backup recording) When MP3 selected Supported formats 48–320kbps Maximum simultaneous recording tracks 2 Recording time (hours and minutes) Using 2GB card 3:08 (44.1kHz/16-bit stereo WAV files) 34:43 (128kbps stereo MP3 files) Display 2.0 ″ full-color LCD (320×240) USB Mass storage class: USB 2.0 High Speed Multitrack mode audio interface operation: USB 2.0 High Speed (Driver required for Windows. No driver needed for Mac.) 44.1/48/96kHz sampling rate, 16/24-bit bit rate, 6 in/2 out Stereo mode audio interface operation: USB 2.0 Full Speed 44.1/48kHz sampling rate, 16-bit bit rate, 2 in/2 out • iPad audio interface operation supported (stereo mode only) • USB bus power supported Estimated continuous recording time using batteries (hours and minutes) Using alkaline batteries Using XY mic, 44.1kHz/16-bit (stereo × 1) about 21:00 Using XY mic and Inputs 1–4, 96kHz/24-bit (stereo × 3) about 9:45 • The above values are approximate. • Continuous battery operation times were determined using in-house testing methods. They will vary greatly according to use conditions. Power 4 AA batteries AC adapter (ZOOM AD-17): 5V/1A DC (supports USB bus power) External dimensions : 77.8 mm (W) × 152.8 mm (D) × 47.8 mm (H) XYH-6: 78.9 mm (W) × 60.2 mm (D) × 45.2 mm (H) Weight : 280 g XYH-6:130 g Note: When using a USB cable designed for recharging, SD card reader and audio interface functions cannot be used.