zoom h4n how to use it ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter young alistai
  • Start date Start date
Y

young alistai

New member
ive got a variety of questions about this expensive little machine. having received it as a present since xmas im a beginner but do know how to use a cassette deck only! thats my limit i fail to get to grips with the manual ive sent off for a dvd in an attempt to understand just how to simply mix guitar and vocals on a simple track .....does anyone else fail to understand this piece of equipment?
 
The H4N is versatile and thus a little confusing. You can use the integrated mics to record ambient noise, or plug one or two external mics into the XLR inputs and record standalone (without a computer). Alternately you can connect the H4N via USB to a computer and use it as a soundcard.

For more info on computer audio recording check out TweakHeadz Lab Electronic Musician's Hangout.
 
young alistai said:
in an attempt to understand just how to simply mix guitar and vocals on a simple track .....
Click to expand...

(i didn't see that the first time around for some reason)
The H4n definitely performs a wide variety of functions with very few controls. Your main navigating tools are going to be the scroll wheel and menu buttons on the top right side panel. The scroll wheel pushes down too, adding a 'select' function. If you're at the point where you have guitar and vocals recorded already (I'm assuming in 4-track mode), during playback you can use the scroll wheel to select a track, and push it down to select that track and get into options (panning, output levels etc).

Unfortunately your mixing options in the Zoom are a little limited. Many prefer to sent the WAVs to a computer and mix them there. Even Audacity will give you more options than the Zoom, if you don't have a preferred DAW already..
 
In the Settings menu, you can change the mode to one of three things - Stereo, 4CH, or MTR.

Stereo mode is what it sounds like. You can only use either the built in mics or external mics...not both at the same time.

4CH mode is basically stereo mode but with two stereos tracks. You can record with all mics at the same time. The onboard mics record to one stereo file and the external mics record to another stereo file. I'm not actually sure if you can control the overall mix using this mode.

MTR is multitrack mode. Think overdub mode. This lets you record, for example, a rhythm guitar track and then go back and record a lead or vocals on top of that. You'll end up with a separate WAV file for each recording you do and it also allows you more control of the overall mix. I believe this is the mode you want.

That being said, mixing on the H4N isn't spectacular. If you want better control and the ability to apply effects and whatnot, copy the files to your computer and do the mix there. You'll do a much better job and be more efficient at the process. If you lack the software to do it, check out Audacity.

-Shane
The Wee Lollies
 
Is it possible to actually get a professional recording with the H4n?
 
dumbass said:
Is it possible to actually get a professional recording with the H4n?
Click to expand...

Short answer is Yes. But why did you not start a new thread on this?

However what you get on the zoom will depend on what you record, where you record and what expectations you have in regards to professional recording.

Alan.
 
wheelema said:
The H4N is versatile and thus a little confusing. You can use the integrated mics to record ambient noise, or plug one or two external mics into the XLR inputs and record standalone (without a computer). Alternately you can connect the H4N via USB to a computer and use it as a soundcard.
Click to expand...

In 4chan mode, if you get a minijack->dual jack cable you can use 4 external microphones with a maximum of 2 condensers, making this a pretty neat little device. As has been mentioned, you need to go to MTR mode for layering tracks.
 
wheelema said:
Alternately you can connect the H4N via USB to a computer and use it as a soundcard.
Click to expand...

Unless you, like me, have an AMD-based computer.

dizzywiggle said:
4CH mode is basically stereo mode but with two stereos tracks. You can record with all mics at the same time. The onboard mics record to one stereo file and the external mics record to another stereo file. I'm not actually sure if you can control the overall mix using this mode.
Click to expand...

You can control the overall mix using this mode as a "Mixer"-option becomes available in the menu.
 
dumbass said:
Is it possible to actually get a professional recording with the H4n?
Click to expand...

It is absolutely possible. The preamps can be a bit noisy at high gain, so I wouldn't recommend using mics that need lots of it, such as the SM7b (in that case get an external preamp). Most mics work just fine though.
 
What about using the built-in mics? Would they be sufficient and should I use the cushion to cover it when I do? What difference does the microphone cushion make when recording, if any?

Just starting to try and use this thing, I've heard a fair bit about how you can make a professional recording with it. I'm thinking that with knowing how to properly go about recording, and then importing the tracks and mixing them, then maybe mastering them or getting them mastered, if I could have a perfectly good cd to duplicate and distribute on my own.

If the quality of this puppy could hold up, that would be great. Considering my old-dirty-shoe-string-budget.
 
dumbass said:
What about using the built-in mics? Would they be sufficient and should I use the cushion to cover it when I do? What difference does the microphone cushion make when recording, if any?

Just starting to try and use this thing, I've heard a fair bit about how you can make a professional recording with it. I'm thinking that with knowing how to properly go about recording, and then importing the tracks and mixing them, then maybe mastering them or getting them mastered, if I could have a perfectly good cd to duplicate and distribute on my own.

If the quality of this puppy could hold up, that would be great. Considering my old-dirty-shoe-string-budget.
Click to expand...

The built-in mics are not too bad, but a standalone condenser brings another world of quality. Remember microphones does not necessarily get better the more you pay for them. I dare to say any condenser is better than those built-in ones. I have recorded ideas with the built-ins but would not consider a serious recording unless I was aiming for a lo-fi type of sound.
 
As for the cushion, you should only use it when recording in a windy environment or if you are going to sing directly into the built-in microphones. It basically blocks wind (and of course breath) from ruining your takes.
 
dumbass said:
Have any recommendable condenser mics?
Click to expand...

When I bought my H4n, which was also my first recording equipment, I got an SE2200a along with it. They're good and not very expensive.
 
What is the difference between hi-fi and lo-fi? Is 44.1khz hi-fi or just a sampling rate?

How did your recording with the h4n go?
 
The built-in mics are condenser mics, would a standalone condenser mic make a big difference, would it be enough for a professional sounding recording with the h4n?
 
I've been using an H4n for years but only as a live recorder. I've had good and bad results so all I can say is pay attention to what you do so can avoid mistakes and get better and better sounding recordings. This is from a band rehearsal a while back using the H4n's built in mics and a set of Octava MK-012 as drum sides (they weren't really set up as overheads). I took the 4 track from the Zoom, split the stereo tracks, adjusted the volume to taste, exported to a 2 track stereo and voila!

https://soundcloud.com/bill-l-1/02-she-got-me-when-she-got-her

Bill L
 
That's pretty good quality. Just wondering how the MK's affected it, if they made a big difference in quality compared to the built-in mics. The sound came from combining what you recorded with the built-ins and the MK's?
 
dumbass said:
What is the difference between hi-fi and lo-fi? Is 44.1khz hi-fi or just a sampling rate?
Click to expand...

It basically just means good quality (hi-fi) and poor quality (lo-fi), but it is not an absolute measurement. Some artists go for a lo-fi kind of sound on their records for various reasons. One example is early Jeffrey Lewis records, which I actually think should stay lo-fi because of the intimate nature of his songs. The sample rate can be 44.khz for both.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top