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.
3 of 3 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!