The new H4n recorder

Randy Panado · June 15th, 2009, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth Bloombaum

Yes, I've tested this with voice.

Due to the physical arrangments, the right-angle 3.5mm option from GS is more convenient than the standard 3.5mm plug, but, the standard works fine - just a little awkward.

There is a menu setting to turn on micpower / plugin power to the 3.5mm input.

Awesome.

Now just wondering about the audio wandering.

Ilya Spektor · June 16th, 2009, 09:20 PM

Hi,

I am a new H4n user. I tried it with built-in mics in manual and auto level modes, I am very pleased... I also connected it to the line-out (tape-out) of the DJ board to Inputs 1 & 2 in auto level mode. When DJs play very loud (they almost always play very loud...) I got distortions: there was the min level 1 out of max 100 - can't go lower... Is there a way to switch sensitivity from mic to line level? Somehow, I did not find it... Or I just have to use pads or limiters/compression?..

Nate Morse · June 16th, 2009, 09:27 PM

You can set the record level to less than 1 when you upgrade to the new 1.40 firmware. Refer the the instruction manual for installation details.

Link to Latest Firmware

Seth Bloombaum · June 16th, 2009, 09:40 PM

Got an email from Zoom - they wrote to say that the timestamp issue I reported has been fixed in the system 1.4 they released today. Yay!

Download Software

Downloaded, installed, tested, and it basically works close enough for rough Time-of-day timecode sync. Vegas now is able to interpret the timestamp info and drop the file in the correct location on the timeline - see the attached screencap.

This is no Sound Devices 702T or even Tascam HD-P2... but for $350 this is one handy little recorder. I've gotten a lot of use out of mine, and now, glad to get usable rough TOD timecode.

BTW, if you were waiting for the wired remote, it is now in stock at the usual retailers.

Seth Bloombaum · June 16th, 2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilya Spektor

Is there a way to switch sensitivity from mic to line level? Somehow, I did not find it... Or I just have to use pads or limiters/compression?..

If you came in via XLR, the original H4 had an undocumented feature: The combo 1/4"/XLR jack was mic level at the XLR, and line level at the 1/4".

I've not had a chance to test this with the H4n.

If this doesn't work out, the next step would be 30db pads, I suppose.

Nate Morse · June 16th, 2009, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth Bloombaum

If you came in via XLR, the original H4 had an undocumented feature: The combo 1/4"/XLR jack was mic level at the XLR, and line level at the 1/4".

I've not had a chance to test this with the H4n.

If this doesn't work out, the next step would be 30db pads, I suppose.

I've heard it's the same with the H4n. This according to Neal Ewer's podcast.

Ilya Spektor · June 16th, 2009, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth Bloombaum

If you came in via XLR, the original H4 had an undocumented feature: The combo 1/4"/XLR jack was mic level at the XLR, and line level at the 1/4".

I've not had a chance to test this with the H4n.

If this doesn't work out, the next step would be 30db pads, I suppose.

Thank you, all!

I'll try 1/4", and since I used XLR - it was mic level... I also will upgrade to 1.40 version!

Peter Greis · June 17th, 2009, 12:18 PM

Randy: If by wandering do you mean "does it stay in sync with your video" then yes it does a very good job at that. I had a 1 hour clip in a musical I recorded and when I brought the H4N audio into the time line I was only a few frames off with the corresponding video from the carmera at the end of the hour.

Galen Rath · July 10th, 2009, 05:43 PM

A Zoom tech answered my question about how many mAmps of current is supplied for phantom power. At 48V, you get a total of 10 mAmps, 5 per channel, or any sum of 10, say a combination of 8 and 2 mA or 6 and 4 mA is also okay. I was concerned about some mics requiring more power to operate at peak performance, e.g., the NTG-3 requires a minimum of 5 mAmps per the Rode data sheet. So this is good news for the H4n!

Randy Panado · July 11th, 2009, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Greis

Randy: If by wandering do you mean "does it stay in sync with your video" then yes it does a very good job at that. I had a 1 hour clip in a musical I recorded and when I brought the H4N audio into the time line I was only a few frames off with the corresponding video from the carmera at the end of the hour.

Thanks Peter. What camera did you use and at what frame rate did you shoot at?

Nate Morse · July 11th, 2009, 07:31 AM

Can't speak for Peter, but I've recorded 40 minute takes with no loss of sync using my HF100 at 30p. H4n was set to stereo mode 96kHz/24bit.

Peter Greis · July 14th, 2009, 07:57 PM

Randy: The video was shot with a Sony VX2000 (SD NTSC). Peter

Randy Panado · July 26th, 2009, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Liebergot

I am curious of one thing though. I am planning to use the H4n to record PA stacks at receptions, and also use the onboard mics to record ambient reaction audio. I plan on using the 1/8 "Line Out" port to send a wireless feed to my camera for backup/sync purposes. I wonder if I am recording in 4 Channel mode (using 2 mics and built in mics), which signal is being sent out of the "Line Out". Is it a mixed down 4 channel or simply 2 channel from either the onboard mics or XLR/1/8 input. If it send the onboard mics only, then that would suck, and do me no good, as I would want the miced PA stack and not the crowd reaction onbaord mics. If it's a mixed down 4 channel, then that's ok.

Gonna have to test this one.

Any update on this Michael? Just to clarify, it DOES have the ability to send out sound from the 1/8 input (because it's just a headphone jack right?), either from the onboard channels, XLR channels or BOTH is not yet confirmed though? I'd like to know what you're findings are. I'm very close to pulling the trigger on this.

thanks

Randy Panado · July 26th, 2009, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Greis

Randy: The video was shot with a Sony VX2000 (SD NTSC). Peter

Thanks Nate and Peter.

Michael Liebergot · July 27th, 2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy Panado

Any update on this Michael? Just to clarify, it DOES have the ability to send out sound from the 1/8 input (because it's just a headphone jack right?), either from the onboard channels, XLR channels or BOTH is not yet confirmed though? I'd like to know what you're findings are. I'm very close to pulling the trigger on this.

thanks

Sorry Randy I thought that I updated this info, as I forgot about this post.
To make a long story short, when using either normal stereo recording (onboard mics, or XLR inputs), or 4-channel recording (built in mics + XLR inputs or XLR inputs + 1/8 stereo input on back of H4n), the H4n will combine all recorded audio into a stereo signal outputted from the 1/8 "Line Out" on the H4n.

Since you are outputting the H4n though the 1/8 "Line Out" as a stereo mix, when you take that signal and use a wireless to transmit to your camera, then your wireless will muxed that stereo signal into a mono signal to your camera.

June 16th, 2009, 09:20 PM	#122
Ilya Spektor Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bronx, NY Posts: 99	H4n sensitivity Hi, I am a new H4n user. I tried it with built-in mics in manual and auto level modes, I am very pleased... I also connected it to the line-out (tape-out) of the DJ board to Inputs 1 & 2 in auto level mode. When DJs play very loud (they almost always play very loud...) I got distortions: there was the min level 1 out of max 100 - can't go lower... Is there a way to switch sensitivity from mic to line level? Somehow, I did not find it... Or I just have to use pads or limiters/compression?.. __________________ Thank you.

June 16th, 2009, 09:27 PM	#123
Nate Morse Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 46	You can set the record level to less than 1 when you upgrade to the new 1.40 firmware. Refer the the instruction manual for installation details. Link to Latest Firmware Last edited by Nate Morse; June 16th, 2009 at 09:28 PM. Reason: Firmware was newer than I was expecting.

June 16th, 2009, 09:40 PM	#124
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	H4n BWF timestamp fixed in sys1.4 Got an email from Zoom - they wrote to say that the timestamp issue I reported has been fixed in the system 1.4 they released today. Yay! Download Software Downloaded, installed, tested, and it basically works close enough for rough Time-of-day timecode sync. Vegas now is able to interpret the timestamp info and drop the file in the correct location on the timeline - see the attached screencap. This is no Sound Devices 702T or even Tascam HD-P2... but for $350 this is one handy little recorder. I've gotten a lot of use out of mine, and now, glad to get usable rough TOD timecode. BTW, if you were waiting for the wired remote, it is now in stock at the usual retailers. Attached Thumbnails __________________ 30 years of pro media production. Vegas user since 1.0. Webcaster since 1997. Freelancer since 2000. College instructor since 2001.

June 17th, 2009, 12:18 PM	#128
Peter Greis Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 41	Audio Wandering Randy: If by wandering do you mean "does it stay in sync with your video" then yes it does a very good job at that. I had a 1 hour clip in a musical I recorded and when I brought the H4N audio into the time line I was only a few frames off with the corresponding video from the carmera at the end of the hour.

July 10th, 2009, 05:43 PM	#129
Galen Rath Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 323	mAmps of phantom power A Zoom tech answered my question about how many mAmps of current is supplied for phantom power. At 48V, you get a total of 10 mAmps, 5 per channel, or any sum of 10, say a combination of 8 and 2 mA or 6 and 4 mA is also okay. I was concerned about some mics requiring more power to operate at peak performance, e.g., the NTG-3 requires a minimum of 5 mAmps per the Rode data sheet. So this is good news for the H4n!

July 11th, 2009, 07:31 AM	#131
Nate Morse Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 46	Can't speak for Peter, but I've recorded 40 minute takes with no loss of sync using my HF100 at 30p. H4n was set to stereo mode 96kHz/24bit.

July 14th, 2009, 07:57 PM	#132
Peter Greis Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 41	Randy: The video was shot with a Sony VX2000 (SD NTSC). Peter