Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Zoom H8 Portable Recorder unveiled

03/07/2020

Award-winning H-series gets new flagship model

Zoom's H-series of portable recorders has long been a favourite for musicians and engineers wanting to capture audio while out and about. Indeed, their H4n has won a number of SOS Awards, thanks to its ability to capture not just the sound from its own stereo mics, but the signals from its two fully-featured mic preamps. This arrangement elevated the handheld recorder format from simple dictaphone status to being able to record full band performances, with surprising flexibility come mixdown.

Now, Zoom have released the H8, their most ambitious handheld recorder to date. It comes with a stereo X-Y pair of microphones but, like the H4n's successor, the H6, these can be swapped out for a range of newly developed mic and input modules. Options include a four-capsule Ambisonic array (which the H8 can decode into a variety of stereo and multi-channel formats), and the Expander Capsule, which provides four additional mic inputs. Zoom tell us that the H8 is fully backwards compatible with the H6's expansion modules, however, so if you've got those you can use them with the H8.

The bulk of the H8's recording sources connect to the octagonal centre section, and comprise two combi' inputs for mic/line/instrument signals, plus four straightforward XLR mic inputs. All told then, and with the Expander Capsule fitted, you could capture a generous 12 microphone signals simultaneously - which is quite a feat for a handheld recorder!

The lower section is dominated by a large colour touchscreen, while the bottom edges house the SD-card slot, a USB port, and headphone and line output mini-jacks. That touchscreen allows access to all of the H8's recording controls and software features, and Zoom have developed three different apps' for it, each with a different use in mind. The Podcast app lets you load up to 13 sounds into the H8, and trigger them using a touchscreen soundboard, while the Music app focuses on recording and monitoring, allows you to perform overdubs, and even features a full mixer, with control over compression, EQ and effects. The Field app, meanwhile, is aimed at sound designers and location recordists, and features high-resolution metering to help you ensure your recordings never clip.

Other features include remote control via an iOS app, a suite of guitar amp and effects modelling processors, and the ability to work as a multi-channel computer audio interface over USB.

The Zoom H8 will be available from August, and carries a very reasonable price tag of £506.99 including VAT. To learn more about it, watch Zoom's introductory video below.

Video of Zoom H8 Introduction Video

https://www.sound-service.eu/
LINK: https://www.soundonsound.com/news/zoom-h8-portable-recorder-unveiled...
See more stories from soundonsound

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

01/06/2026

Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026

January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026 Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...

02/05/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Search, Faster Editing, and an AI-Ready Foundation for Modern Media

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

01/05/2026

NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to Integrate Dolby's Full Suite of Premium Picture and Sound Innovations

January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...

01/04/2026

DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION

January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...

12/02/2026

Chyron Merges Live Web Content and CG Graphics with PRIME 5.3

Chyron unveils PRIME 5.3, the latest software release of the company's powerful engine for live production graphics. PRIME 5.3 delivers the first official i...

12/02/2026

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Interra Systems' Anupama Anantharaman on Protecting Live Sports Quality Across IP and OTT Workflows

The vendor's VP of Product Management explains how quality assurance, monito...

12/02/2026

LTN Makes Key Appointments and Introduces New Technology Organization

LTN announces the appointment of three experienced executives to lead its new Technology organization: Michal Miskin-Amir as EVP and Head of Technology, Jonatha...

12/02/2026

Riedel Opens Kuala Lumpur Office to Strengthen Global 24/7 Software and IT Support

Riedel Communications has officially opened a new office in Kuala Lumpur, Malays...

12/02/2026

NATO Upgrades Brussels HQ Broadcast Studio with Grass Valley LDX 135 Cameras

Grass Valley has won a competitive NATO-wide tender to provide the new camera system for NATO's main broadcast studio at its Brussels headquarters. The proj...

12/02/2026

Canon Announces Big Game Broadcast Lens Use Data

Canon U.S.A announces that the vast majority of broadcast lenses utilized on the NBC live broadcast for the Big Game between New England and Seattle on Sunday w...

12/02/2026

Three-Time Grammy-Winner Ludacris to Headline Performances at NBA All-Star 2026 in LA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and NBC Sports announce the entertainm...

12/02/2026

IOC Awards Broadcast Rights in Middle East and North Africa to beIN MEDIA GROUP

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announces that beIN MEDIA GROUP ( beIN ), the leading global sports, entertainment and media organisation, has secured...

12/02/2026

Big 12 Conference Unveils ASB GlassFloor for Upcoming Tournaments in March

The Big 12 Conference and ASB GlassFloor introduces a full LED video sports floor that will debut at the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's and Women's Baske...

12/02/2026

TNDV Showcases Aspiration35 at National Religious Broadcasters Convention 2026

Continuing its commitment to serving the faith-based broadcast and live event community, mobile production company TNDV, a division of Live Media Group, will hi...

12/02/2026

Marshall Electronics POVs Power Hidden-Camera Investigations on German TV Series, ACHTUNG ABZOCKE

The production team of the long-running German investigative series Achtung Abz...

12/02/2026

Vizrt Launches Sports Production Bundles to Empower US Students to Produce Like the Pros

Vizrt announces the launch of four Campus Stadium Production Bundles, designed t...

12/02/2026

LiveU Spotlights Three Broadcast Priorities with Digital-First, Workflow Automation, IP Contribution Resilience

At NAB Show, LiveU will showcase its broadest IP-video EcoSystem to date, design...

12/02/2026

Follow the Money, Episode 5: Analyzing Sports Media Deals With Sam McCleery and PwC's Lori Bistis

Welcome to the Sports Video Group's new interview series, Follow the Money, ...

12/02/2026

NBC Sports Engineers a Super Bowl Transmission Plan That Reached From Alcatraz to Stamford - and Out Onto San Francisco Bay

400 Gbps of bandwidth, layered redundancy, and mobile-first connectivity powered...

12/02/2026

5 Ideas for Bringing the Music You Love Into Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day often comes with a soundtrack. In fact, Spotify data shows that more people used Blend, our shared playlist feature, on February 14, 2025, t...

12/02/2026

Prompted Playlist in Beta Coming to Premium Listeners in More Markets

Some days you want your music to reflect a specific feeling, memory, or vibe that goes beyond a single artist or genre. You want to do more than listen. You wan...

12/02/2026

Our Medicine S2: Frontline Medicine Through A Blak Lens

Our Medicine S2: Frontline Medicine Through A Blak Lens 12 February, 2026 Media releases A Bigger, Bolder Second Series showcasing First Nations Frontline ...

12/02/2026

L3Harris' VAMPIRE System Successfully Fires Thales' Belgian-Made 70 mm Rockets

L3Harris' VAMPIRE system fires Thales Belgian-made 70 MM rocket from an FZ60...

12/02/2026

LTN Names 3 Executives to Lead Technology Group

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

12/02/2026

On the Ice, There's a Third Team at Work

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

12/02/2026

Mo Rocca to Receive the 2026 LABF Insight Award at NAB Show

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

12/02/2026

Marshall Electronics POVs Power Hidden Camera Investigat...

The production team of the long-running German investigative series Achtung Abzocke recently upgraded its cameras for the show's 12th season. The objectiv...

12/02/2026

Bitmovin Appoints Ian Baglow as Co-Chief Executive Office...

Leading provider of video streaming solutions, Bitmovin, has appointed Ian Baglow as Co-CEO alongside existing CEO and Co-Founder Stefan Lederer. Under this str...

12/02/2026

Vizrt Launches Sports Production Bundles to Empower US St...

Vizrt, a leading viewer engagement platform and a trusted expert in live production technologies, today announces the launch of four Campus Stadium Production B...

12/02/2026

Ailanto and Cubbit launch sovereign cloud storage for Swi...

Strategic agreement to deliver S3 cloud storage in Switzerland with full data sovereignty and local control including at the level of individual cantons plu...

12/02/2026

Mad About Video counts on Lightware MX2 matrix switcher a...

Mad About Video is a leading specialist in video for live events and installations throughout Malta. In operation since 2011, it has evolved from a company focu...

12/02/2026

JAGGAER supports Betsson Group in further strengthening i...

JAGGAER, a global leader in digital procurement and supplier collaboration solutions, today announced the successful delivery of a procurement digitalization pr...

12/02/2026

LiveU Spotlights Three Broadcast Priorities at NAB Show 2...

At NAB Show, LiveU will showcase its broadest IP-video EcoSystem to date, designed to help broadcasters and content creators embrace digital first operations, d...

12/02/2026

Spectrum News Acquires New England Cable News

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

12/02/2026

Vizrt Unveils Campus Stadium Production Bundles

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

12/02/2026

Hulu + Live TV Adds Fubo Sports Network to Channel Line-up

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

12/02/2026

FCC To Hold Open Commission Meeting on Feb. 18

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

12/02/2026

Ralph M. Oakley to Receive NAB's Chuck Sherman TV Leadership Award

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

12/02/2026

Sky Original drama Under Salt Marsh hits 1.8 million viewers in its first seven days

The six-part crime drama, created by Claire Oakley and produced by Little Door P...

12/02/2026

Riedel Opens Kuala Lumpur Office to Strengthen Global 24/7 Software and IT Support

Wuppertal February 12, 2026 Riedel Opens Kuala Lumpur Office to Strengthen Glo...

12/02/2026

Netflix unveils the trailer for 'That Night'

Back to All News Netflix unveils the trailer for That Night Entertainment 12 February 2026 GlobalSpain Link copied to clipboard WATCH THE TRAILER DOWNLOA...

12/02/2026

The Digital Product Passport: A New Era of Transparency and Sustainability

The Digital Product Passport: A New Era of Transparency and Sustainability Arvato Systems supports companies in getting started with the digital product passp...

12/02/2026

NVIDIA DGX Spark Powers Big Projects in Higher Education

At leading institutions across the globe, the NVIDIA DGX Spark desktop supercomputer is bringing data center class AI to lab benches, faculty offices and studen...

12/02/2026

Leading Inference Providers Cut AI Costs by up to 10x With Open Source Models on NVIDIA Blackwell

A diagnostic insight in healthcare. A character's dialogue in an interactive...

12/02/2026

GeForce NOW Turns Screens Into a Gaming Machine

The GeForce NOW sixth-anniversary festivities roll on this February, continuing a monthlong celebration of NVIDIA's cloud gaming service. This week brings ...

12/02/2026

February 11, 2026

TIME100 Health list features Scripps Research Professor Darrell Irvine Irvine is recognized for his work in empowering the immune system to fight disease, which...

11/02/2026

FYI: Phone Support Maintenance

FYI: Phone Support Maintenance One thing we pride ourselves on here at Utah Scientific is our 24-hour support included with our signature 10-year hardware warra...

11/02/2026

Bitmovin Appoints Ian Baglow as Co-Chief Executive Officer

Leading provider of video streaming solutions, Bitmovin, has appointed Ian Baglow as Co-CEO alongside existing CEO and Co-Founder Stefan Lederer. Under this str...