OT: regarding Zoom H4N

UlfLaursen wrote on 6/25/2011, 12:13 PM

Hi

I was recording a conferece today and had a "tape out" from the mixer into my H4N.

At some times when a choir was singing and musicians were playing, the feed I got was somewhat distorted and my levels went crazy... I tried all kind of things both in manual and automode but nothing helped. I have a feeling that the feed out was already distorted before I got it.

What could I do in a situation like this?

I could try to record separate tracks with the build in mics and mix them with my camara sound on the singing part, and then use the feed only on speaking and "normal" level music.

Thanks for any input. :)

Ulf

Back to post

Comments

Hitime wrote on 7/1/2011, 2:31 AM

I regularly use my h4n for recording choirs (I am a choral singer). If you have a sennheiser radio mic (as I have ) the m2 and m4 mics are amazingly good,particularly when processed using the Sonitus multiband compressor (VST plugin to Vegas) to help overcome the obvious limitations with such small mics.

I use the sennheiser MZA900P adapter into the xlrs on the h4n. Very highly priced for what it is but then it has sennheiser printed on it. I get good value out of it.

I recently used this setup in place of my radio mic when I wanted to wire a tour guide recently. It turned out well. I probably will go this way when all the radio frequencies change in the UK in 2012.

I have just bought a zoom r16 or field recording. To my surprise, this works very well as a generic control surface in Vegas once you have set it up. BUT DON'T CHANGE THE R16 USB CONTROL SETTING WHILST IN VEGAS UNLESS YOU REALLY WANT TO REBOOT!!

UlfLaursen wrote on 7/1/2011, 10:25 AM

@musicvid:

Do you have a link for the matchbox?

Thanks

Ulf

musicvid10 wrote on 7/1/2011, 11:19 AM

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/direct-boxes?_requestid=124606

Also look at that Live Wire for 29.99. It has up to 40dB of attenuation.
They all have about the same components inside.
You would need two direct boxes for two channels of audio.

Typical configuration is 1/4" from mixer (at a modest line level) to DI.
XLR from DI to H4, with ground lifted, and attenuation (padding) as needed.
Zoom set on Low sensitivity of course, check initial levels with limiter off, then turn limiter "on" for final adjustment and recording.

UlfLaursen wrote on 7/1/2011, 11:12 PM

Thanks a lot man ;)

/Ulf