EEVblog #271 – Zoom H1 Recorder Teardown

[Ed.Kloonk]

Hi.

Don't get me wrong but it's nice to see Teardown Tuesdays videos posted on a Tuesday. Dunno if it was deliberate this week but was going to nag you about it sooner or later.

I can't do it on youtube so I'll do it here:   -thumbs up-

 

Also, I've always called .wav files "wave files". I don't know anyone else who says "wav". We always called them Wave files from the get go since they were (8-bit) (and sometimes (4-bit!!) wave-form files before the idea of compression came in.

Then we sort of called them PCM (pulse code modulation) files because the .wav file extension from Microsoft provided for the addition of non-wave information in the data stream. 

Just my 0.02

[EEVblog]

Also, I've always called .wav files "wave files". I don't know anyone else who says "wav".

Now you know someone who does.
Many people I know call it "wav" too.
I in fact use both "wave" and "wav", but "wav" more commonly, just like you'll catch me using both "mil" and "thou", and "veea" and "via" for PCB stuff

Dave.

[david77]

Here! Always called them "wav files".

[Ed.Kloonk]

Fair enough. Probably the Wave thing comes from the American influence of devices for the PC such as the sound blaster and the wave blaster.

I don't really have an issue with how you pronounce it. But I think wav comes from MS's inability to supply a decent filesystem with filenames with more than three letters for a file extension are forbidden and that's where I suspect all this comes from. Coders also annoy me a bit with exe (executable) files pronounced as echs-see.

I really did enjoy that vblog. I remember many of us craving that type of device twenty years ago and to finally see it not only invented but layed out in this way is very satisfying.

[Ed.Kloonk]

Nearly forgot to ask. Did you try and record sound before re-soldering back that big shield? I'd be interested to know if it actually does much shielding or if it makes any difference with aux mics.

[EEVblog]

I don't really have an issue with how you pronounce it. But I think wav comes from MS's inability to supply a decent filesystem with filenames with more than three letters for a file extension are forbidden and that's where I suspect all this comes from.

Yes, and I believe many do it deliberately as a piss-take on that.

Coders also annoy me a bit with exe (executable) files pronounced as echs-see.

echs-see is quicker and easier, I use that all the time 

Dave.

[Ed.Kloonk]

hehehe

[Psi]

Nothing wrong with 'echs-see'.

Pronouncing .wav files as wav instead of wave is a bit strange though, this is the first time i've actually heard anyone say wav.

But the really annoying one is when people say 'www' as 'dub dub dub'.
Makes you wanna smack them over the head with an adsl router.

[Ed.Kloonk]

hahaha

And I heard someone say "dot eff ell vee" the other day. It's FLAV gone darn it!

 

[Chet T16]

[shadowless]

There are batches of the recorder that has a battery drain issues.  I am not sure if this one has that issue still.

[vlf3]

A real interesting product you have there Dave; stacks of technology audio wise and functions too...
might look it up, and see if export to Jersey Channel Islands is possible !. 

[michalis]

We always enjoy your teardowns Dave, good stuff!!
I was on the market for a voice recorder and I was going to buy the H1, until I read many reviews comparing it to the tascam DR05 which has similar specs and price but it is said that it has a superior build quality, however they were only comparing the outside of the two devices if you know what I mean.. it would be nice if you could get your hands on a tascam to see what's under the hood..

[EEVblog]

There are batches of the recorder that has a battery drain issues.  I am not sure if this one has that issue still.

Mine seems to have that. Do you know any more about this?

Dave.

[hanndoddi]

Hey nice video fun to see something audio related.

I was wondering if you could run it from the power from the USB or do you have to run it from the battery?

[shadowless]

There are batches of the recorder that has a battery drain issues.  I am not sure if this one has that issue still.

Mine seems to have that. Do you know any more about this?

Dave.

I have one that has the green and blue board which is the earlier batch. I have return it due to the battery drain issue. I tired to measure the drain. it is normally at 0.2ma but occasionally i see a draw at 30+ma. I am not sure what is the cause for this.

The replacement i got has both blue boards and don't seems to drain the battery in a week anymore.

I think there are some difference in the old and new boards but i am not at the level to figure out the difference.

Will post some pictures later.

[bjoernx]

The device is very similar to this reference-design on TI's website: http://www.ti.com/solution/mp3_player_recorder_portable_audio
Following that diagram there from left bottom ccw I can follow pretty much the exact same path, that Dave did on the pcb in the teardown! It also recommends the very same audio-codec chip that was used in there.

[EEVblog]

I have one that has the green and blue board which is the earlier batch. I have return it due to the battery drain issue. I tired to measure the drain. it is normally at 0.2ma but occasionally i see a draw at 30+ma. I am not sure what is the cause for this.

The replacement i got has both blue boards and don't seems to drain the battery in a week anymore.

I think there are some difference in the old and new boards but i am not at the level to figure out the difference.

Will post some pictures later.

Thanks.
I read somewhere maybe some dodgy caps?
Mine is way old now, and bought from the US on ebay, not sure if I can get it replaced?
Mine seems intermittent on this issue, not that I use it much, so always leave the battery out anyway.

[shadowless]

Hi Dave,

Just feel crappy when company like these sell a faulty product that drains battery in a week.  Even with warranty you have pay to send it in for replacement...

Here's the photo, not sure if you can figure out the fix for yours.

[SeanB]

A first difference is the kapton tape on the USB socket, perhaps they had issues with the USB socket shorting out R110 or R20 on the lower board intermittently.

[JJHamster]

Hey nice video fun to see something audio related.

I was wondering if you could run it from the power from the USB or do you have to run it from the battery?

I can confirm that they run off USB power - I  have one of these along with the 'official' accessory pack (p/n APH-1) which includes an ac adaptor which runs into the USB.  I would definitely give these recorders a thumbs up!
Does anyone have any comments on the line input protection? I use the recorder with piezo elements (believe it or not to record insect feeding sounds!) but am worried about frying the unit when the elements get bashed.
Cheers for the teardown Dave - As a 'young player' I find these educated tours very useful!

[SeanB]

Try using a pair of red led's in anti parallel across each input, and protect them from light. They will clip at around a volt input, which will be distorted, but which will be survivable by the input circuitry.

[JJHamster]

Try using a pair of red led's in anti parallel across each input, and protect them from light. They will clip at around a volt input, which will be distorted, but which will be survivable by the input circuitry.

I think I understand, turn excess voltage into light? cunning - thanks for the tip. I have a question about multiplexing (matrix switching?) several elements into the recorder - I shall write it up and bung it in the newbies forum.

[SeanB]

The light is not the desired effect, but the high forward voltage drop of around 1.5V. The LED's need to be protected from light because otherwise the will generate a voltage by either photoelectric effect or by leaking current. They need to be the regular standard 3mm Led or small SMT device so as to have low capacitance.