Zoom Hn4>>>>Is There Nothing it can`t Do???

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norskdrum

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Hello Fellow members...

I have just read the best part of 156 pages of the ZOOM Hn4 Recorders Manual!:confused:Is there nothing this wonder of the modern recording age can`t Do? OK!! it can`t serve Guinness at the right temperature but give em time;)

In all seriousness though what do folk think (if anything) about this item? I suppose folk on this Forum..would not look twice at this gadget as there recording source..not only because it is not a proper recording set up...but after trawling through the manual I can see why?folk would think life is to short....

anyway thoughts appreciated

all the best Steve:)
 
Hey Steve I have the H4n and I do plenty of on-site recordings with it. In fact I was thinking of getting another one for we do live sound support at many festivals and record the acts and at most festivals we have more than one stage so another H4n would be nice!
 
I love it I recorded and mixed 48 track songs with with. Recorded drums in 4 channel mode. Used it all the metronome the tuner the modelers. Its my favorite piece of gear.
 
Zoom Hn4~ Possibilities!

Hello Again Moresound & The Chicken master!:)
Graet to hear from you guys and so fast...

My intention was to see if anyone rated the HN4..in the dizzy world of seriouse recording!
As Moresound already knows I was/am looking for a simple set up to record my Percussion lessons..[dvd /online and via web cam hopefully) no matter it would be great to have areally good recording as I progress?

As you will know I have received some excellent advice from fellow members..and the general feeling is go with 2 x small mics over the Percussion set up through a M/Audio fast track or similar and to the Laptop out to Powered speakers/Monitors (excuse me if that is a bit out of sync.)

Could the HN4 really be a good alternative to the above reccomends?:eek:

Really interested in hearing more and all advice as usual welcome

All the best:)
many thanks Steve
 
I like doing drums with it in 4chan mode sometimes wen I feel lazy. set it up in front and overhead-ish at an angle to the hi-hat/crash side a tad, then add a couple of my generic dynamics on the kick and snare plugged ito the extra inputs. ta-da... drum mix.

I had a PS04 before this one, and a PS03 before that, which obviously didn't have the recording capacity (ugh smartmedia cards) or the nicer stereo mic or XLR ins, but it did have lots of very programmable effects and a drum/bass machine that wasn't just presets... I thought the same thing about that little guy when it came out and I still use it for some stuff too. Wish Zoom would have taken the mics, card type and inputs of the H4N and add on all the virtual studio style extras of the PS04 and I think I would have found the ultimate multitool.
 
Best part is you can take what has been store on the H4n dump it into say ..... Reaper then go back for more tracks and then mix away - multi tracks on you lap top or desk top! Or it can be used as an interface right into your computer!!
 
Good morning Capt Ego & Moresound..
Good to hear from you both....captego I would be using the Hn4 for drums but in my case it would be double congas & timbali~with a variety of smaller items ranged in between or to the side e.t.c. IE cow bells/Wood blocks e.t.v.

I was on the Zoom site for a long time..and was watching there examples of what uses the Hn4 could be put..
so am wondering if I could get away with using it out front on a boom mike? at the sweet spot for crossover.

I did spot something interesting in the manual which appeared to be contradicted on a later page(BUT could be wrong:spank:)?
It said(I think) that the internal and external mics if fitted could not be worked in tandam:confused:which later reffered to the mics working together which makes sense.

I am not hung up on the Hn4 just very impressed by all the features,and the ability just to have it out front on a satand>>>but if it is still felt the more authodox method would be best so be it,then two mikes on boom over the centre of the above instruments:? + the other items suggested earlier...

I am thinking I would not have to bother with extra mics/audio interface e.t.c. hope this is correct? please let me know,I am shooting in the dark with a lot of my waffle.Must admit Moresound you really make a good case for using it....

Please let me have more details if you have the time maybe a pros & cons list might help...

anyway all the very best to you both

many thanks Steve:)
 
One thing you have over looked Steve is you don't necessarily need to do an over head situation with the H4n or with external microphones. You can always do close micing of the drums With external microphones.
 
...

MIDI.

Although, no one asked for it, and it's a freaking field recorder. Just thought I'd be the serious one among the sea of you jokers. :D

Although I'm learning to actually meet string players, so MIDI is becoming less important. Now if drums were practical to actually have...
 
Hi Again,
Good to hear from you...
Please can you explain a bit more,re your comments below.
Not fully understanding sorry,Us amatures!

Most of the advcie prior to the Hn4 question was about micing using stereo mics x 2 over the set up rather than each drum?


Cheers Steve


moresound said:
One thing you have over looked Steve is you don't necessarily need to do an over head situation with the H4n or with external microphones. You can always do close micing of the drums With external microphones.
Click to expand...
 
I use the h4n in 4 channel mode using the mics as overheads, and I plug in a 57 for the snare and any lcd for the kick. Ive experimented using ext mic plug in the back, so I can use other mics. I just plug 2 mic into a mixer pan them hard left and right and line it into the mic ext. cool stuff Here is an example done with the h4nView attachment potential drums.mp3
 
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It cant do pancakes and makes a shitty razor.... other than that its really good.
 
Originally Posted by moresound View Post
One thing you have over looked Steve is you don't necessarily need to do an over head situation with the H4n or with external microphones. You can always do close micing of the drums With external microphones.
Click to expand...

Hi again
sorry to bother you again, but can you explain the above for me...
I was still hoping the Zoooooom Hn4 might do it..but if the opinion is for seperate stereo mic`s then so be it

all the best Steve
 
I'm not quite sure I follow. I don't own the H4N and have only messed with it for about 5 minutes once, but I think what they're referring to is using two microphones into the inputs of the H4N at the same time as using the stereo condensers built into the Zoom itself. I personally have never done that, but that's what the others seems to be getting at.

Another interesting idea is using the microphones on the H4N as overheads themselves and maybe sticking a snare and kick microphone into the inputs of the H4N. Instant minimalist drum mic'ing!

No comment on how well that would work, but experiment and let us know!
 
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