Comments on: Zoom H4n review

By: Tyler Faires

Tyler Faires — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 12:50:14 +0000

Hey brad,
I am looking to use my on board mic as well as the line in at the same time. Do you know how this is possible?

So for an example I would like to record ambient sound with the on board mic in mono mode in channel one. While at the same time recording into the line in channel two with a off board mic. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Tyler Faires

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 14 May 2011 18:46:38 +0000

Hi, I'm quite happy with the HN4. However…the folders are a bit confusing. When connecting to the PC the folders sometimes change their numbers. In addition, when I try different folders my wave files seem to go to one only. How many wave files can you put in one folder? Can you mix wave and MP3 files?? Other than that it's a great unit. I use it on gigs to provide my back up instruments

By: Raymond

Raymond — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 21:58:44 +0000

Hello Brad
My H4n freezes when i turn it on. It shows me the zoom logo and that's all.
What can I do? Please help...

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 16:16:37 +0000

Used internal mics for both recorders and it was very difficult for H4n to produce a mirrored recording because the sound reproduced seemed very artificial, overbright, harsh and quite hissy during quiet piano sessions. While hitting the piano keys hard the limiter was also not as affective as Sony's dual intelligent limiter – occasionally distorting with H4n. The Sony developed the sound like for like as if almost i was playing it real time. H4n is a multi tool for people wanting OT features but not high quality. Sony has been specifically marketed for enthusiast.!!!

By: dxace1

dxace1 — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 16:16:35 +0000

I have with regret sent
my DR-100 back to SP.

As others have noted (and
we can only hope that TASCAM
takes not) it's just not up
to the quality level seen in
other units, and in that I
mean specifically the SONY
D50, and probably the H4n,
which I have not yet had a
chance to try.

All of the previous poster's
comments, including one I
missed -- about the heavy
friction hard-to-turn manual
level wheel -- are spot on.

I will stay with my D50,
H2 and LS-10 for now for
my professional needs and
wait to see if TASCAM learns
some lessons.

Sorry to say that, but it's
true....

By: Brad Linder

Brad Linder — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 16:16:35 +0000

@dxace1: I've found that you get some handling noise when using pretty much any handheld digital audio recorder. And that means you're always best off adjusting the volume, making track marks, or pressing other buttons either before you've started the recording or when using an external mic.

The best solution I've found for this so far is the hardware dials that the Sony PCM-D50 uses instead of buttons for record and playback volume. Since there's no button to press, you can adjust the volume without hearing a "click" on the recording.

By: Henrik Rathje

Henrik Rathje — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 16:16:33 +0000

Well.. did a short test with my band rehearsal yesterday, and the setting between 0.8 and 0.9 was enough to get the gain to a good level!

So I'm happy again.. but very bad engineering that we had to wait for a version 1.40 firmware to resolve this stupid issue!

But again.. it's fixed well enough for me, so I'm keeping the thing ;-)

By: Andy Thacker

Andy Thacker — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 16:16:33 +0000

I bought the Tascam DR100 (probably first shipment in the UK).
Previously I have had Edirol R1 and R9H. I got rid of both those becuase they build quiality was just so flimsy.
Anyway DR100 was meant to be a robust, tough replacement.
IMHO it sounds poor.
I record mostly voice (my children etc) ... I had to set the gain settings so high to record at an acceptable level, it became just too hissy. Very disappointed.
The spin wheel feels cheap, but not painful or unuseable to me.

But here is the odd thing I have noticed.

If you hold the device up to the light, you can see through the microphone mesh and see the microphone capsules.

They seem to be aligned very strangely. One would expect from outward appearances that they simply point forward.

NO.

Are they in an X/Y alignment like the HN4?

NO

They both seem to be poiting outwards, and away from each other at about 45%. I would describe it as a "Y" alignment ... though I have never heard of such.

Can anyone else verify their microphones on the DR100 have been set up this way?

SoundOnSound have just given a glowing review of the HN4 btw.

By: Bill

Bill — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 16:16:32 +0000

Brad –
I would like to add podcasts to my blog sites. The H4n seems great. My question is. Where can i learn how to integrate it with a PC? How to connect a cell phone for remote recordings? What PC sofware works best with it? I am kind of looking for an all in one package that i can transport and use with a regular phone and cell phone as well? Is there a site that would tell me what software and hardwaer i need to pull this off?
Thanks – Bill

By: Fernando Rosas

Fernando Rosas — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 16:16:31 +0000

Hi Brad,

I just bought an H4n, with a pair of RODE NT1000. I dont' know why I get no signal from the mics... I read the manual, I turned on the phantom power to 48V. Do you have any idea about solving this problem? I used the same inputs jacks 1 and 2 to record from a keyboard and it works... but the mics don't want to work... please help me.

Fernando