The Zoom H1n has become a beloved companion for many oral historians. Its compact size, ease of use, and surprisingly high-quality audio capture make it an excellent choice for recording those invaluable stories. But once you’ve pressed “record,” where does all that precious audio go? Into the SD card, of course!

Understanding SD card sizes and types for your H1n isn’t just about technical specs; it’s about ensuring your recordings are safe, sufficient for your project, and reliable. Let’s demystify the world of SD cards for your trusty Zoom H1n.

The Zoom H1n’s SD Card Compatibility: The Basics

First things first: The Zoom H1n (and its predecessor, the H1) uses microSD cards. Not the larger SD cards you might find in a DSLR camera, but the tiny ones that often come with an adapter for standard slots.

The H1n officially supports microSD and microSDHC cards up to 32 GB.

• microSD: Older, smaller capacity cards (typically up to 2GB).
• microSDHC (High Capacity): The most common type you’ll encounter for the H1n, ranging from 4GB to 32GB.

What about microSDXC (extended Capacity) cards?

These are cards larger than 32GB (e.g., 64GB, 128GB, 256GB). While some users have reported limited success with certain microSDXC cards in the H1n after formatting them on the device itself, Zoom officially states support only up to 32GB microSDHC. For critical oral history work, sticking to the officially supported types and sizes is always the safest bet. Why risk data corruption on an irreplaceable interview?

How Much Recording Time Do You Really Need?

This is the million-dollar question for oral historians. Oral history interviews can range from 45 minutes to several hours, sometimes across multiple sessions. Your recording quality settings will directly impact your file size and, consequently, your recording time.

The H1n records in either WAV (uncompressed, high quality) or MP3 (compressed, smaller files). For oral history, WAV is always preferred for archival purposes due to its lossless quality.

Let’s look at typical recording times for a 32GB microSDHC card when recording in WAV format:

WAV 44.1 kHz, 16-bit (CD Quality – Excellent for Oral History):

• A 32GB card can typically hold over 30 hours of stereo audio at this setting.

WAV 48 kHz, 24-bit (Higher Quality – Also Excellent):

• A 32GB card can typically hold around 20 hours of stereo audio at this setting.

Key Takeaway: A single 32GB microSDHC card, recording at archival WAV quality, is usually more than sufficient for multiple long oral history interviews.

Best Practices for Oral Historians and SD Cards:

Always Format In-Device: When you get a new SD card or before starting a new major recording project, format the card in your Zoom H1n. This ensures the card is correctly configured for the device and helps prevent recording errors.

• (Note: Formatting erases all data on the card, so back up anything important first!)

Stick to Trusted Brands: Don’t skimp on cheap, generic cards. Brands like SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston, and Lexar are highly reliable. Look for cards with a Class 10 speed rating for smooth recording, though for audio, even Class 4 is usually sufficient.

Multiple Smaller Cards > One Giant Card: Instead of trying to force a 64GB card that might work, consider having two 32GB cards. This offers redundancy. If one card fails or gets corrupted, you still have another. It’s also a great way to manage projects – one card per interviewee, perhaps.

Transfer & Backup Immediately: As soon as an interview is complete, transfer the audio files from the SD card to at least two separate storage locations (e.g., your computer’s hard drive and an external hard drive, or a cloud service). SD cards are not long-term storage! They are a temporary transfer medium.

Label Your Cards: If you’re using multiple cards, label them clearly with numbers or project names. This prevents confusion.

Avoid Filling to the Brink: Try not to fill your card completely. Leaving a little buffer space can sometimes prevent recording issues or corruption at the very end of a file.

In Conclusion:

Your Zoom H1n is a fantastic tool for oral history, and the microSD card is its unsung hero. By choosing the right size (sticking to that reliable 32GB microSDHC), formatting correctly, and prioritizing trusted brands, you can focus on the interviewer-interviewee connection, confident that your precious audio memories are being captured safely and effectively. Happy recording!