Zoom H4n line recording at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > All Things Audio

All Things Audio
Everything Audio, from acquisition to postproduction.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old October 10th, 2010, 09:32 AM   #1
Major Player
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Rio de Janeiro - Brasil
Posts: 304
Zoom H4n line recording

I have Zoom H4n recorder and, reading the manual, couldn`t figure out how to set it up to record in line, from a mixer, for exemple.
Can anyone explain it to me?
Thanks
Ron
Ron German is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 10th, 2010, 10:48 AM   #2
New Boot
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Houston Texas
Posts: 15
Strange as it may seem, the Zoom H4n does not have a line input mode. It's either mic level or instrument level. I found that out the hard way at a live concert I was trying to record. To get a good recording level from a mixer you are going to need a stereo DI. Run from the Mixer to the DI, and from the DI to the Zoom. If the output from the mixer is low enough, you might be able to get away with not using a DI, but that's the only way I've been able to reliably record line level on my zoom.
Daniel Karr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 10th, 2010, 11:01 AM   #3
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 5,742
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron German View Post
I have Zoom H4n recorder and, reading the manual, couldn`t figure out how to set it up to record in line, from a mixer, for exemple.
Can anyone explain it to me?
Thanks
Ron
The "line" inputs are the 1/4" TS jacks on the XLR/TS combo jacks on the bottom. You plug in there. But important note ... the H4n doesn't HAVE actual line level inputs. Those jacks are instrument level, designed for sources such as keyboards and guitar piclups. Their level is higher than mic level but lower than consumer line level and their impedences are higher than a true line level .... 480 kilohm compared to the 20 kilohm or so that is typical of a line level input. If your mixer has the option of sending a mic level ouput, you might be better off using it and sending the signal to the XLR mic inputs on the Zoom.
__________________
Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!
Steve House is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 10th, 2010, 12:29 PM   #4
Major Player
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Rio de Janeiro - Brasil
Posts: 304
Thank you Daniel and Steve
So I`m not crazy. I`s incredible that a so capable recorder doesn`t record line levels inputs (I`m sorry Daniel, but I donīt know what`s DI).
Very disapointing.
Ron
Ron German is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 10th, 2010, 01:02 PM   #5
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 3,420
DI refers to a direct box. It contains a transformer for instrument-to-mic, and some padding, which is usually used to take a guitar amp's "line" out to mic. Usually, to get that signal to a mixer for a PA system. A very common bit of gear in the sound reinforcement and band world.

For this application, you'd run mixer output to a passive DI's 1/4" input, probably select -20db or more of pad, then run the DI's xlr output to the xlr mic input of an H4n.

This is probably the least expensive interface from a line-level source, depending on the DI you buy.

Other alternatives, if your mixer doesn't have mic-level out (many audio-for-video mixers do, most sound reinforcement mixers don't), would be to use an in-line 30db pad.

However, though a sound reinforcement mixer's output is nominally line-level, be aware that many house engineers run quite a bit less than that. So, depending on the situation, one might wish for 10 or 20db of padding. Many DIs have switchable levels of pad. Some in-line pads do as well.
__________________
30 years of pro media production. Vegas user since 1.0. Webcaster since 1997. Freelancer since 2000. College instructor since 2001.
Seth Bloombaum is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > All Things Audio

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:12 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network