Let's Get Started - Zoom H5 Handbook

2. LETS GET STARTED
Okay, so lets do this. You've chosen your subject
and you want to use the mic on top.
1. Snap the mic of choice on top of the Zoom
H5 and switch the recorder on by sliding the
switch (5) to the right and releasing it.
2. Provided you put in fresh batteries, the
screen should go on, showing you a bunch
of volume indicators. These indicators stand
for the volume of sound coming into each
channel. The H5 has four channels: 1, 2, and
L/R, which you can also see on the buttons
below the screen. The numbers 1 and 2
denote the XLR points and L/R the direct
point on top.
3. As we're using the mic on top we'll have to
open up the L and R channels which, conve-
niently, are linked together.
4. So push the button that says L and you'll
see that both the red lights underneath L
and R will flick on. This means that the L/R
channels are now opened and the recorder
is picking up sound coming in through that
channel. You can see the indicator on the
screen jumping up and down as it's picking
up sounds from its surroundings.
Great. Now you're technically ready to start
recording. However, to make sure that you don't
get awful results that will plunge you into the
unending depths of audio hell, we have to set
the sensitivity correctly. The sensitivity of the mic
can be set with the dial (6), which 0 denoting no
sound and 10 full sensitivity.
[...] So what should be the setting?
Again, this depends on the situation you're
recording in and the indicators on the screen are
your best friend. Simply put: if the indicators stay
too low then the sensitivity is too low and you'll