Autorecording with a Samson Zoom H2

Currently available and in stock from electronic retailers, Samson Zoom H2 digital recorders work well for an evening of autorecording. These units accept a line in connection from a Pettersson D240x or other detector and record directly to an onboard flash card in .wav format readable by SonoBat. Samson Zoom H2 units cost about 200 USD with a 4 GB card.

Zoom H2's do not automatically parse incoming signals into separate files. Instead, with this type of unit you record a single file, noting the start time, and then parse the bat pass events into single files with a date and time stamp in post-processing using the SonoBat AutoParser. For optimum convenience, leave the large recording file on the Zoom H2 and have the AutoParser read directly from it and save the parsed files to a directory on your computer or elsewhere.

Use these settings to record from a Pettersson D240x to a Samson Zoom H2:

• Lo cut: Off
• Rec mode: wav 44.1 kHz/16 bit (you can select 320 kbps mp3 for extended recording, but must first convert mp3 files to wav for using the AutoParser)
• AGC/COMP: Off
• Monitor: Off
• Plug-in: Off if using batteries
• Pre rec: Off
• Auto rec: Off (the Zoom H2 autorecord only starts up once; it does not start and stop)
• Mono mix: Off (Important to avoid mixing heterodyne signals with time expansion!)
• Battery: Ni-MH if using rechargeables
• set the record level to 90

When starting a recording session, push the record button twice to start. When recording, the Zoom H2 will display a constant red LED indicator and the LCD display will show the recording time counting.

The Samson Zoom H2 only records in stereo. When AutoParsing the recording file select the right channel. The AutoParser has help messages to guide you.

See also the answer on the FAQ page about a weatherproof enclosure for recording.