Low audio on Zoom H2 w/ Giant Squid

[Dana Salsbury]

I've got my H2 on high input level with the lapel plugged in, and I'm getting very low sound levels (I have to crank it in post) even though I'm recording in a quiet room. Any ideas?

[Allan Black]

IMO the Giant Squid omni lav sounds better on speech than the cardioid and those mics run slightly louder and cleaner with the GS 9volt battery box.

Wipe the minijacks with a spot of brass cleaner on a clean rag.

Cheers.

[David Ennis]

High input level means the H2 expects a strong input so it amplifies it less. Use Low input level

[Andy Wilkinson]

Actually, I think this is wrong David. I have a H2 and, just to make sure, I just quickly tested it myself while on a lunch break with a Rode Videomic plugged into the 3mm Ext Mic-in socket.

The Low setting gives less deflection on the LCD meter bars, Medium more and the High setting the most.

[David Ennis]

That would be true for gain settings, Andy, because with gain settings you're telling the unit what to do. With input level settings, which is what Dana referred to, you're telling the unit what to expect.

Maybe Dana meant gain settings. I don't have my H2 with me, and I don't recall whether it offers both gain and input settings.

[Dana Salsbury]

Yes, the Mic Gain (L/M/H). To my understanding, the High setting will give me higher levels in post. The low setting doesn't even show up on the Zoom screen. Please let me know; I get a lot of noise when I have to crank levels in post.

[Dana Salsbury]

I'm really concerned. I need a dramatically better gain, and I don't know why it's so low. My Rode gives me a little better response, but really not much.

Is this a settings problem?

Also, I had a DJ tell me that he places lapel mics underneath clothing. I would think that would rub terribly. Thoughts?

[Dave Blackhurst]

Dana -
Do you have the plug in power turned on (only available in the stereo menus)? I had very low signal with my GS until I fiddled with the H2 enough to find that setting and give the mic some juice!

[Dana Salsbury]

Thanks Dave,
Yes, it's set to on in the menu.

[Andrew Dickerman]

I've got a similar situation with the H4. The levels are good using the internal mics but quite low when using the Rode ntg-2 on phantom power plugged into the xlr input.
I'm going to add a battery to the Rode to see if that helps.

[David Ennis]

I wonder if Dana has a defective unit. With my Rode VideoMic plugged in to my H2 and the mic sensitivity set to medium and me speaking in a normal voice at about 18 inches from the mic, I easily hit -6 dB on the meters. That's with AGC/COMP off. If I turn on AGC, it pegs.

[Steve House]

You said you have a Giant Squid mic - is it wired for iRiver's or wired conventionally? I might be mis -remembering but I think the iRver wiring is different than conventional mics I seem to recall, either in the powering arrangment or in the signal going to the ring rather than the tip asd is standard. Check the GS site to be sure.