Uploaded July 2024 | Updated September 2026, 32 minutes ago
When I heard some blind folks recommending this, I had to investigate further. Audio recording is probably the only item in the film and video making process that wasn’t very accessible to me. I did have a recorder, but I had to rely on my remaining vision to spot a red light to make sure I was rolling. I recently changed my audio recorder to the Zoom H4essential, replacing my old Zoom H4n. The biggest reason for doing so was because it included a screen reader of sorts, it’s called Voice Guidance. As soon as I began to use this, it was night and day with how accessible this was. While it’s able to read many things, some areas are still needing a bit of work. It does however work well for recording audio for my video and film projects, including this video. I want to give kudos to Zoom for making their new line of recorders as blind friendly as possible on their first attempt. Here’s hoping for continued accessibility on their “Essential” line of products.
Descriptive transcript.
Juan is framed from the chest up and talking to the camera. He's wearing a blue t-shirt. Behind him is a brick pattern of a chimney and a white wall.
-(Juan) I’m legally blind, and this is how I record audio for videos like these. Now because I record video on my iPhone, you would also think that I use the built in microphone to get my audio. Actually no. Instead, I use an external audio recorder.
A shot of a dark grey portable audio recorder. It's about the size of a large TV remote. It has 2 silver colored microphones at the top which are aimed diagonally in an X Y pattern. Below that is a screen and below that are several rectangular and oval shaped buttons. In the middle is a large circular record button.
-(Juan) The Zoom H4essential. By the way, not sponsored. It’s just that several blind people have recommended using this audio recorder for good reason.
A close up shot of the audio recorder on a table. Juan's hand is seen operating a switch on the device that is hidden from view. We hear a synthetic voice speaking from the recorder.
-(synthetic voice) Input settings, output settings, rec settings, SD card.
Juan's hand presses a visible button on the recorder.
(Synthetic voice) Input one, on.
-(Juan) It's called Voice Guidance. It reads back the menus, and it also reads back a lot of the buttons on the recorder when you press them. It used to be that with the previous model,
A shot of a recorder that looks similar to the first recorder. With the exception of a few additional buttons, and the recorder being silver in the middle, and dark gray along the edges. The record button flashes red.
-(Juan) the Zoom H4n. I had to lean in real close to make sure that the record button wasn't blinking anymore. But now with this model. If I wear headphones, and I press the record button, it makes a sound. If I press it again. It makes another sound. Now is this recorder completely accessible? Does it read everything back? No it doesn’t, but for me and my needs it does the job. But here's hoping with future software updates they keep upgrading Voice Guidance so it becomes even more accessible.
When I heard some blind folks recommending this, I had to investigate further. Audio recording is probably the only item in the film and video making process that wasn’t very accessible to me. I did have a recorder, but I had to rely on my remaining vision to spot a red light to make sure I was rolling. I recently changed my audio recorder to the Zoom H4essential, replacing my old Zoom H4n. The biggest reason for doing so was because it included a screen reader of sorts, it’s called Voice Guidance. As soon as I began to use this, it was night and day with how accessible this was. While it’s able to read many things, some areas are still needing a bit of work. It does however work well for recording audio for my video and film projects, including this video. I want to give kudos to Zoom for making their new line of recorders as blind friendly as possible on their first attempt. Here’s hoping for continued accessibility on their “Essential” line of products.
Descriptive transcript.
Juan is framed from the chest up and talking to the camera. He's wearing a blue t-shirt. Behind him is a brick pattern of a chimney and a white wall.
-(Juan) I’m legally blind, and this is how I record audio for videos like these. Now because I record video on my iPhone, you would also think that I use the built in microphone to get my audio. Actually no. Instead, I use an external audio recorder.
A shot of a dark grey portable audio recorder. It's about the size of a large TV remote. It has 2 silver colored microphones at the top which are aimed diagonally in an X Y pattern. Below that is a screen and below that are several rectangular and oval shaped buttons. In the middle is a large circular record button.
-(Juan) The Zoom H4essential. By the way, not sponsored. It’s just that several blind people have recommended using this audio recorder for good reason.
A close up shot of the audio recorder on a table. Juan's hand is seen operating a switch on the device that is hidden from view. We hear a synthetic voice speaking from the recorder.
-(synthetic voice) Input settings, output settings, rec settings, SD card.
Juan's hand presses a visible button on the recorder.
(Synthetic voice) Input one, on.
-(Juan) It's called Voice Guidance. It reads back the menus, and it also reads back a lot of the buttons on the recorder when you press them. It used to be that with the previous model,
A shot of a recorder that looks similar to the first recorder. With the exception of a few additional buttons, and the recorder being silver in the middle, and dark gray along the edges. The record button flashes red.
-(Juan) the Zoom H4n. I had to lean in real close to make sure that the record button wasn't blinking anymore. But now with this model. If I wear headphones, and I press the record button, it makes a sound. If I press it again. It makes another sound. Now is this recorder completely accessible? Does it read everything back? No it doesn’t, but for me and my needs it does the job. But here's hoping with future software updates they keep upgrading Voice Guidance so it becomes even more accessible.
