Zoom H1essential

It's fine for recording interviews when you clean it up afterwards in software or AI. *Not* very good for recording performances off a mixer or interface via the 3.5mm input. It's only good for mics.

Standard DJ mixers need about -20db of gain reduction to work with the Zoom H1e, you can't plug this into a DJM and record off the REC OUT. There will be input overload and no recording or clipped audio, the 32-bit float can't save you here. Recordings will sound flatter than recording from DJ software directly.

There's no gain reduction (pad) on the Zoom so you'll need external attenuators or to record off an output with a separate volume control set to very low. Booth out is alright but that's usually in use for monitoring.

Standard AAA batteries last for around 3 hours while recording. Lithium ones last all night but will quickly end up costing more than the device. Use a 5V USB power source instead.

Transfers from the Zoom plugged in via USB-C to your laptop are slow. Stick your SD card into your laptop instead.

Mine ended up distorting on the left channel within about a year, sending it back.