Zoom H1essential - An Honest Review
So, if you’ve landed here because you’re considering the Zoom H1essential, let’s get right to it. First off—no, we’re not sponsored. We buy nearly all our gear ourselves, and what we buy, we actually use. The sounds we record end up in our Free To Use Sounds libraries and on other sound effects platforms. So, is the Zoom H1 Essential “good enough” to create sellable recordings? Yep, it is! But to get the most out of it, you’ll want to understand both its strengths and its limitations.
Limitations Of The Zoom H1essential
One of the first things you’ll need with this recorder besides batteries and an SD card, is wind protection. Sadly, most recorders these days don’t come with it. We use Radius Windshields for wind protection. They’re a bit pricier, but they’re made in the UK, and the quality is fantastic for all the years to come. Plus, it feels good to support a company that’s passionate about its craft. (Check them out on Instagram if you’re curious—they post some great behind-the-scenes.) However, down below I added a cheaper alternative for you.
Another thing to know, this is a handy recorder, not necessarily “handheld.” Holding it too long in your hand while recording will introduce handling noise. This isn’t a big deal for quick sound effects like a door closing, but if you’re standing in a forest for five minutes? Your arm will get tired, and the soft rumble or cracks in your knuckles might be annoying when you listen later. We’ve included some gear tips in our video to help with this, but it’s good to be aware from the start.
While I think the old Rycote suspension kit does a solid job, the current price of around $150 feels a bit steep. I found a cheaper alternative from Movo on Amazon for $39. I haven’t personally tested it yet, but the reviews look promising, and I believe it would perform well with a lightweight recorder like this one.
One minor quirk I noticed: the headphone amplifier isn’t the strongest and can introduce some noise, which threw me off at first. However, please keep in mind that this doesn’t affect the actual recordings; they remain quiet and clear when you bump up the gain in post.
Another thing you might miss: no gain control. Some people might like the simplicity, but personally, I like adjusting gain as I go. With the H1essential, if you’re new to recording, you might listen in real-time and think it’s too quiet. It’s not a deal-breaker for me, but it does mean you’ll likely need a program to boost the gain afterward. It’s a skill worth learning and helps if you plan to get more into editing down the road.
Why We Bought It
Honestly, we didn’t plan on buying this recorder. We already have the Sony PCM A10, the Zoom H1n, and other recorders from Zoom and TASCAM. But Amazon Prime Day popped up with a $75 deal, and well… here we are!
Even though YouTube isn’t a big income source for us, it’s still worth having a recorder like this to easily record sounds wherever we travel. We love showcasing the world’s sounds, and this device is a simple, handy way to bring them to you. In fact, we used the Zoom H1essential to record in Hong Kong recently. Want to see and hear for yourself? Check out the video below.
The Real Advantage: Stealth Mode
So what’s the biggest selling point? Size. When I’m out with bigger setups, I tend to attract attention—something I try to avoid when recording in big cities. But with this small recorder, no one really notices me, which allows me to record authentic sounds without a second glance. It’s also a confidence-builder. You can just hit record and listen without worrying too much about all the settings. It’s a great option for beginners or for anyone who wants to stay a bit under the radar.
Another great feature of this small recorder is its ability to handle up to 1TB on a micro SD card. I personally use either a 32GB or 128GB card, but I always back up my recordings after a day or night out recording sounds. It’s a good habit—imagine losing some of your best takes just because of a card issue or misplaced recorder. This feature also makes it ideal for long, overnight recordings or, with a power bank, possibly even days of continuous recording if you’re out recording wildlife somewhere remote.
Final Thoughts
All in all, the Zoom H1essential is a good and affordable audio recorder, and it’s especially great for anyone starting in field recording. I wouldn’t call myself super picky, but I know what I need, and this recorder delivers within its limits. Honestly, I’m glad I bought it, and I’ll probably reach for it more often now—even if my old Sony PCM D100 is staying back home as a museum piece. 😊
