Zoom H6 Help Sheet

Get Started

Step

Action

What to Do

1

Put the device together

Remove the protective plastic covers, and attach the microphones to the top of the device.

If you're recording...	Then you should use...
All the sounds going on in a room	The ball-shaped microphone top.
Directional audio	The crossed tubular microphones top.

Note: The soft mic cover is not necessary for most recording.

2

Power on the recorder

Hold down the sliding power switch on the bottom left side of the device.

Navigate the Menu

Step	Action	What to Do
1	Open the menu	If you're not in the menu, click the Menu button on the lower-middle-right side of the device.
2	Move around in the menu	Scroll with the toggle switch on the middle-right side of the device.
3	Select a menu item	Click the toggle switch. Tip: This seems weird, but just push the switch into the device and it functions as a button.
4	Go back or exit the menu	Press the Menu button.

Menu Item Functions

Menu Item

Description

Project List (looks like a folder)

This is where all of your recordings are saved and can be accessed (refer to “Playback”).

Input&Output (looks like a microphone)

This is where audio effects and options exist. You don’t really need this stuff for most recording, but if you’re doing more serious recordings, refer to “Built-In Audio effects and Options".

REC (looks like a big red ball)

Here, you can select the format of your recordings. The default setting is excellent for almost any recording.

You can also activate or deactivate the following:

Auto Rec	The device will automatically begin recording when it detects a certain level of noise. That level can be configured under Auto Rec → Set Start & Stop Level.
Pre Rec	This enables the device to constantly be “listening” and will automatically keep around 2 seconds of recording before you tell it to record (in case you started recording a little late).
Backup Rec	This enables the device to simultaneously record a separate audio track 12db below the set audio level (in case you recorded something at too high a level and got clipping).

You can also set what the device names your recordings, either by the default, or the date.

Play (looks like a green arrow)

Here, you can configure playback modes (see “Playback”).

Project Menu (looks like a paper with music notes being drawn on)

This gives you advanced control over already recorded files, including the following:

Overdub (add recordings on top of already recorded files)
Change the playback speed
Change the playback pitch
Mix the project (change individual track levels)
Check project information and change the project names
Check and create track markers
Mix down a project (take multiple tracks and combine them to one stereo track
Normalize tracks
Divide projects
Trim the beginnings and ends of projects
Delete one or all projects in a folder
Rebuild a damaged file or project
Record a voice memo for a project
Play backup files

Tool (looks like a metronome)

Gives you access to two handy tools (a tuner and a metronome).

System (looks like a gear)

Here, you can do the following:

Set the date and time
Set the backlight level
Check the battery level
Check the software version
Do a factory reset

Language (looks like a globe)

Set your language. English is the default.

SD Card (looks like an SD Card)

Here, you can check how much space is left on the SD card, format the card, and do a performance test.

USB

Here, you can choose between SD Card Reader and Audio Interface. (See “H6 & Computer Interaction”.)

Record Audio

You should be on a screen that looks like a mixing board with several channels, a time readout, and lists the folder you’re recording in.

Step

What to Do

1

Choose what input you’re using for recording, and activate it by pressing the top row of buttons according to the table below:

If...	Then...
You’re using the microphones attached to the top of the device	Press the L and R inputs.
You’re plugging mics into the device through one of the 4 direct inputs	Activate each according to their number (1, 2, 3, or 4).

When activated, the inputs will light up.

2

Set the volume level.

3

Run a test recording to make sure the device isn’t picking up the sound too loudly or too quietly.

Adjust this with the volume knobs that read 1-10.

4

When ready, hit the record button (red circle).

When recording, the time readout on the screen will turn red and show you how long you’ve been recording.

5

When you’re finished, hit the red record button again, and the device will stop and save your recording.

6

When you want to record again, repeat the previous steps and it will automatically save a separate recording.

Playback

To hear your recordings on the device from the device itself, follow the instructions below.

Step	What to Do
1	Go to the project list in the menu (see “Navigate the Menu”).
2	Select the folder you recorded into (default is folder 1).
3	Scroll through to see your recordings, then click on them to take you to the main screen again where you can click the play button to hear what you recorded.

Volume for playback is located on the lower middle left side of the device.

If you recorded with multiple inputs, you can hear individual inputs by selecting their channel number and deselecting any others on the device during playback.

To exit back, press the Menu button.

H6 and Computer Interaction

There are two ways to get recordings off of the device and onto your computer.

SD Card

You can pull the SD card out and insert it into an SD card reader.

USB

You can plug the device into your computer using the USB cable provided.

To do this, plug the device in and power it on.

Once it’s powered on, you’ll be given the option between “SD Card Reader” and “Audio Interface”.

If you don’t see these two options, go to the menu and scroll down to “USB” (See “Navigate the Menu”).

Choose “SD Card Reader” and the device will show up on your computer as a simple storage device where you can access the folders and files stored on the device.

Find the recordings you want, and drag them from the device to your computer.

The H6 can do more than record and transfer files to your computer; it can also act as an audio interface.

To do this, scroll to “USB” on the menu, and select “Audio Interface”.

The device will now act like any other audio interface and interact with your computer or any DAW.

Built-In Audio Effects and Options

If you’re just doing simple audio recording with the built-in mics, this information is irrelevant.

However, if you’re going to try to use this device to do some serious recording, here are the options given to you under the Input&Output section of the menu (see “Navigate the Menu”).

Lo Cut
Comp/Limiter
MS-RAW Monitor
Phantom
Plugin Power
Monitor Mixer
VU Meter
Line Out Level

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