Feature:
It would have made more sense, in my opinion, if the included mount attached to a mic stand, rather than camera tripod. In any case, it's not a huge deal.

Quality:
Pulling it out of the box it immediately felt cheap. Let's be real. It's so inexpensive, they had to cut corners somewhere. That said, the built in mics were sounded surprisingly good and the quality of the recordings really blew me away.

Value:
I have to say, this was a somewhat trepidacious purchase for me, not because of cost, but because so few sites/reviews discuss ANY of the portable recorder's ability to record LOUD rock rehearsals. I was worried that this would be overloaded by the volume levels. It was not. It performed well. In fact, I had the input levels (on the side) at M and the input levels at about 80% and there was no distortion at all. (I used 2 well placed SM57s to record the full band. I can hear every instrument. I'm really quite amazed. The XLR/1/4" inputs are really handy and phantom power? Great! I haven't used that yet though, I'll be trying it out soon. This product does exactly what I hoped it would do, and does it really well. I might have paid an extra $100 though for a sturdier unit and a better interface. Be warned: the type is TINY.

Desirability:
$100 cheaper than its nearest competitor. Full 48v Phantom Power. Neutrik inputs. Very inexpensive SD media and USB? It doesn't get much better. This is a great deal.

Sound:
It's too soon for me to say, but my experience so far was really surprising. I didn't expect the sound to be so good.

Ease of Use:
I was up and running with this unit in no time. I didn't read the manual at all. Fairly easy to do, however, I agree with someone else here who mentioned that using the stick (front center) and the wheel (top right side) was a little confusing at first.

Support:
I've had no experience with Zoom/Samson.

Overall:
I wanted to get this review out to those, like me, who weren't sure about this product. I was really surprised by the quality of the recordings that I was able to achieve with very little effort. I haven't experimented with the compression, 4 tracking, or simulation, but this worked like a charm for recording a very LOUD rock band rehearsal. I just hope the thing holds up to lots of use.

Feature:
The software included is amazing. The recorder is so versatile, with the different levels of gain for the microphones, and the additional inputs for mics, and the different choices for recording quality. The buttons and toggles are all quite small and delicate - not a problem for me, but might be for someone with big hands.

Quality:
I worry a little about the delicate controls, but it works very well.

Value:
A great deal. Can't get anything like it for the price.

Sound:
I recorded my big band rehearsal with the H4 sitting on a table around the corner. Everything was clear, no distortion, sounded fantastic!

Ease of Use:
It's very easy to use - it took 10 minutes to figure out how to record my piano/vocals, another 5 or less to transfer it to my computer. The manual is easy to understand.

Overall:
This should be more than I would ever need. I considered other types of recorders, but this is a much better value and so portable! I love it!

Feature:
If anything, the unit has too many features. It even has a built-in metronome (does ANYONE use that?) The dowside of so many gadgets hanging off it is that you have to navigate lots of menus to get what you care about. But the things that I care about (easy stereo recoring, multitrack recoring for occasional use) are there. I do wish that multitrack recording could support 96 KHZ at 24 bits, as you can do in stereo mode. Other than that, it's all inside...

Quality:
The unit's construction is on the cheap side. The menu toggle on the front is cheesy and the door to the battery/SD card access worries me every time I have to open it. But the built-in mics are well-protected and it has held up so far (a few months of use). For the price, it's as good construction as you would expect, but no better.

Value:
The included Cubase and ability to use the unit as an audio interface for your computer to make a poor man's DAW really place this unit in a class by itself. The field recorder aspects are the bread and butter that have to be good enough for the unit to be worth buying at all. The unit satisfies in all these ways.

Desirability:
This gets a lot of jobs done pervfectly acceptably at a price that keeps you happy. It's sexiness (if that's even the right word) is in its utlity and price.

Sound:
For the size, the built-in mics are excellent and the fact that you can plug condensor mics into the unit and draw 48V phantom power for them is outstanding. Don't expect the noise floor of a large unit, but it is quite acceptable, especially if used with wall power.

Ease of Use:
For the usual things you do, it's easy. Changing the current settings is a pain, as indicated above. But, usually, you just set and forget. The unit remebers the last settings, which makes it quite acceptable. It would be nice if the volume indication was more readable from a distance and if the unit had an LED to indicate clipping. Otherwise, it is mostly user-friendly.

Support:
The company web site is useful. There are good end-user web sites (http://www.2090.org/zoom/bbs/viewforum.php?f=15 is worth checking out both beore and after you buy). I have not tried to talk to a living human for support, however.

Overall:
This little beast does a lot. If you aren't interested in creating your own multi-thousand dollar studio, this will allow you to record practices and performances, make a demo CD, and even do nature field recordings if that is your desire. For those of us who don't aspire to becoming sound engineers, it is a marvel. Buy the Samson C02s with it, and you have an incredibly versatile recording capability for a lttle over $400.

Feature:
Highest score for this. This is one of the most feature packed portable recorders I`ve seen so far, and in this price range you could not ask for more. For me it works very well as an USB audio interface for my laptop, with low latency ASIO driver. Great!

Quality:
Feels a bit cheap and plasticky, but again.. I wouldn`t expect more for the price

Value:
I think the value for this unit is great. Maybe not the best recorder in the price range, but with all its built in features you get a lot for your money!

Desirability:
It could definately have been cooler looking. It should have been 1-1,5 inch shorter and black, then it had been dead cool

Sound:
Good enough sound with the built in mic`s, have not tried it with external mic. Line input work well.

Ease of Use:
It`s easy enough. Could have had bigger buttons, or have had all the mic/line gain switches done in the software instead.

Support:
Haven`t had any use for support other than software updates which is easy available on the website

Overall:
Very pleased with this. It has worked great for me. The only draw back as far as I`m concerned is its size(should have been shorter) and to some extent the cheap feel.

Feature:
I would have been nice if the H4 had a mic stand mount. We're all musicians so we all have mic stands. rather have that then a tripod mount, which is kind of cheezy! Velcro straps to connect it??? This was definitely an afterthought and not well thought out, in my opinion. The other features seem great. I have only used the onboard mics. Have not used the 4 track or guitar processor yet so I can't comment on that. I seems very cool though.

Quality:
Being that it's plastic, it's a lttle scary. Don't want to drop it. It seems to be well made. It would be better if it came with a hardshell case so I could just throw it in my gig bag when I'm done with it.

Value:
definitely worth it's price.

Desirability:
Pretty cool looking. I've been able to mess with people telling them it's a taser and pointing it at them. The cop at a club I playing wasn't too amused! LOL!

Sound:
I am so amazed by the H4. I've had it for a month, spent about 30 minutes with the manual and started recording my gigs. I play an acoustic solo and a duo. I have also recorded several bands with the H4. This thing is great. I just started getting deeper into the manual because I becuase I have had a few things I want to adjust, such as volume in my headphones during playback. I was listening to the playback thru speakers and all was good but I brought a recording into my office for some friends to listen to and found the volume thru my headphones was extremely weak. I was just reading how to adjust this so I will be trying it out at a gig this weekend.

Ease of Use:
Simple to use. Spent minimal time with the manual and was recording the night I bought it.

Support:
No problems so far.

Overall:
I expect to be satisfied with this product for a long time. If I lost it, I would replace it. For the price, it's the best thing out there!

Feature:
You can do almost anything with this right out of the box. They should have supplied a case to put the thing in, as it's rather oddly shaped.

Quality:
Taking 1 point off for the plastic housing and 2 points off for the cheap X-Y mic combo. I would have loved to see a unit like this with some higher end mics attached, so as to truly make it an all-in-one, even if the list price had been, say, $699 or so vs $299.

Value:
Couldn't find anything better for less.

Desirability:
More features and "usefulness" than any product I've ever owned.

Sound:
Records the sound that is there. Though it's classified as unidirectional, sounds recorded from the sides and back will sound distant. Fairly decent, though cheap, X-Y mic combo.

Ease of Use:
I'm a PC/tech expert and the menus and buttons continue to boggle me on this. The manual could have been a little more explicit.

Support:
Company didn't respond to my emails regarding the attached microphones or the mic modeling feature. Also, the manual could have been better written.

Overall:
Overall, the features make up for the lesser quality, noisy mics and plastic case.

Feature:
wish it had a remote (I see that there is a remote now but not sure if it works with the h4

Quality:
just be careful I wouldnt want to drop it but I wouldnt want to drop any of my equipment.if you did drop it the battery compartment would probably come open and throw your batteries out but i still think it would work. just be careful

Value:
great value for the quality of recording

Desirability:
nothing sexy about it other than it kind of looks like a tazer If I didnt own this I would probably spend the few extra bucks and get the updated version(bigger screen adjustable on board mics and a rubber protective housing.looks like it might be a little more durable. but for sound I dont think there would be any difference

Sound:
I play in a duet ,acoustic guitar and drums,we both sing. the onboard mics do a great job but for cd quality recordings try this.mic up the drums,plug in your guitar,get yor vocal mics ready, do all of this into your mixer. get a sound check what you think sounds good (we pan the vocals a little to the left and right ,and we pan the drum mics to get a stereo sound from the drums).then take a patch cord and go into inputs 1 and 2 of your zoom h4 and go into your record out of your mixer. then play on .listhen back adjust your mix on your mixer to what needs to be turned up or down or EQed then record again its so clear its scary. clean crisp recordings.this works really well and it shows just how you sound because there is no mastering and no fixing your mistakes.It is Live but unbelievably clean.i dont mess with the 4 track (just played around a bit)the built in mics work great but for studio quality ,try what I described above

Ease of Use:
screen a little small I dont mess with the onboard effects (have played around with them ,they sound good)mainly use it for listhening back to our rehearsals and live gigs

Support:
havent had any problems with the h4 .have had some minor problems with other items but zzounds allways makes it right

Overall:
I expect this to last a long time just protect it

Feature:
Lots of things this baby does. Audio interface, 4 track, and stereo mics are great. This thing can do it all

Quality:
ive had no problems with it....seems pretty well built.....i would get a case for it tho...

Value:
price is pretty decent.....best sound ull get within a 300 dollar price range....

Desirability:
it looks decent i guess.....its a great addition to my setup...

Sound:
Sound quality is fantastic. i get super clear when i record stereo or direct. it even has phantom power =]

Ease of Use:
SO EASY to use....right out of the box i turned the stereo mics and it sounded brilliant

Overall:
overall i would recommend it to anyone