Zoom H5 Handbook page 3

Alrighty then! So you've rented a Zoom H5.
Maybe because your terrifying teacher told you to
do so or because your overenthusiastic classmate
kept banging on about it.
Whatever the reason, you're now stuck with an
alien device covered with buttons, dials and a
strange microphone - and now you'll have to deal
with it. Fear not! This quick start guide will get you
up and running in no-time.
Please note that this booklet is a rework of
HANDBOOK 02 about the Zoom H6!
1. DESCRIPTION
So, first things first: the Zoom H5 is a field
recorder that works on 4x AA batteries. It has two
XLR points on the bottom (1) and one direct entry
point on top (2). You can forget about the XLR
points for now, we'll deal with those later.
The Zoom H5 kits in the WdKA.Rental are all
outfitted with one direct-to-device microphone
which can be plugged into the slot on top of the
recorder (2). The direct mic is the one with the two
bits sticking out (4), and it is called an XY mic.
The XY mic records a more deep sound in front
of it with less emphasis on sounds from the sides.
The XY mic is generally well suited for sounds you
want more isolated (voiceovers, sound effects,
instruments, wildlife, that kind of stuff).
Obviously, there's no real right way to use this
mic, so the above should be seen as a guideline
and not as a rule. In the end it's all up to you and
your preferences, don't forget this.