Re: H4N peaks from 1-100
 

Also, depending on what is coming out of the board you may need an attenuator. The H4n's 1/4" TRS in's are not true LINE but instrument inputs. If the board doesn't have an output fader then the pro LINE level will be too hot and you will need an attenuator. If the board has an output fader then you can bring the level down to match the H4n's inputs. With my Mixpre I output from the tape out which is a consumer line level signal (-10dBv) and it is still too hot. I have to use a -11dB pad cable to bring it down to acceptable levels.

Re: H4N peaks from 1-100
 

The fact that he lowered the Zoom's recording gain from 75 to 5, and the distortion persisted, certainly jives with what you're saying about line level signal going to a mic input. Keep in mind that he said it sounded clean before the show started, so the signal from the board must have been just a little bit below the Zoom's clipping level.

Yes, he definitely should use the 1/4" inputs on the Zoom, and probably with a pad to be extra safe.

Still, there is one part of this tale that "does not compute."

If the feed from the board was really turned completely off, he should not have had any audio on the Zoom. Board completely off should mean absolutely no signal from board which should mean absolutely no input to Zoom. (And keep in mind that the Zoom was clean, with some significant board signal, before the show started.) So there is still something puzzling here.

Also he mentions that he heard audience applause when the board feed was completely off.

This leads me back to the comment I made in an earlier post:
"Either the board op didn't really know what he was sending to your recorder (i.e. it was not really turned off completely) or else you were using the recorder's integral mics."

Re: H4N peaks from 1-100
 

I'm with Greg -- the internal mics might still have been on. I'm guessing the Zoom might have been in 4CH mode.

Re: H4N peaks from 1-100
 

I only mention this because I have done it:) Are you sure you were turning down the record level and not the volume? Both are on 1-100 scales...caused me a bit of consternation once!

Re: H4N peaks from 1-100
 

I'm with Greg -- the internal mics might still have been on. I'm guessing the Zoom might have been in 4CH mode.

Yep. And the sound guy's tweaks having no effect, very strange. Could it be that you are simply listening to the wrong file? Remember that in 4CH mode and with the internal mics also on, you will have not one file but three files. One from the internal mics and one each from the XLR sources. Have you checked them all? If you have, apologies to you :-)

Pete