Handy recorder Zoom H4n

The Zoom H4n is a compact handheld recorder built to capture up to four tracks of high-resolution audio anywhere you take it. Its onboard adjustable stereo microphone switches between a tight 90° X/Y position and a wider 120° spread, making it equally useful for interviews, ambient recording, or full-on live performances, with a maximum SPL rating around 140 dB.

Two locking XLR/1/4" combo inputs plus a 3.5mm mini-jack let it take condenser mics, line-level gear, or instruments directly, with switchable phantom and plug-in power. Recording modes go up to 24-bit/96kHz and include a 4-channel mode for capturing the onboard mic alongside two external sources at once, plus a multitrack mode with overdubbing and built-in effects like compression, reverb, and delay.

It records straight to SD or SDHC cards, doubles as a USB audio interface, and can run on AA batteries or an AC adapter for up to 10 hours in the field. A rugged rubberized body, mic-stand-ready mounting hole, and support for an external remote round out a recorder built for musicians, filmmakers, and sound recordists on the move.