First look at the Zoom H4n
The previews of the Zoom H4n have generated a lot of excitement so I added a few airline miles to the family account and ordered one of these new hand held recorders.
Zoom Field Recorders
I’ve had a Zoom H2 field recorder since they were delivered and it has been a very satisfactory tool. I’ve used it to capture audio for my YouTube videos, to record hula accompaniment for my wife, to archive band rehearsals, and to save ideas for original compositions. A very satisfactory tool, but not quite CD quality, not quite the tool I would use for high quality recording. The self-noise just peeks into the quiet spots and long fades, the mics roll off a bit above 16 Khz.
I have posted some comparison tests between the H2 and other recording chains here on Home Brewed Music: a comparison with my best studio recording chain and a shootout with several other field recorders. In both cases the H2 was “amazing for the price” but not the winner.
The H4 preceded the H2, cost a bit more, does multi-track recording and has XLR inputs and 48V phantom power for serious microphones. There have been many complaints about the user interface and the fragile feel of the controls. I’ve never used one myself, so I can’t say anything about the recording quality.
Both these units offer a remarkable level of functionality, with multitracking on the H4 and surround sound on the H2, and both function as a USB interface for recording directly on the computer.
What’s new with the H4n?
This year Samson/Zoom announced a new recorder, the H4n. This unit has a larger LCD screen, improved user interface, and according to the manufacturer, improved mic preamps. I ordered one as soon as they were available and it arrived today.
The H4n is only slightly larger than the H2, but it is just that bit too big to be comfortable in a shirt or pants pocket. And the mics sticking out without protection also make it unlikely as a pocket device.
The bright orange LCD screen on the H4n is a big improvement over the H2 and H4. The look and feel is also more impressive, with a style and solidity that are missing from the earlier units.
The gain setting on the H4n is a big change from the H4 and H2. Both those recorders have a 3 position level switch, which sets the preamp level before the a/d converters. Then another control sets the recording level from 1-100, but this setting is applied after the a/d converter and mic preamp. This means that only the 3 position switch can actually lower the recording level in a way that prevents overload and distortion, and the second finer control is essentially useless.
The H4n has only the incremental gain control from 1-100. Hopefully it is implemented so that it turns down preamp gain and controls overload. I’m counting on the smart guys at the Zoom H2/H4/H4n forum to poke around and figure out the details.
I was expecting features like auto-level, limiting, and auto-record, but Samson/Zoom surprised me by including a Mid/Side decoding function in the preamp as well.
Recording with the H4n
Well, how about some clips? The big bright screen on the H4n makes level setting easier than the H2, and with my recording mode all set to stereo 44.1/24, recording is just as easy as the H2 – one press of Record starts standby mode for level checks, then one more press and we’re storing bits.
After a quick recording a feature I never thought much about – a monitor speaker – turns out to be very comforting. Just hit play and there’s confirmation that you captured something. Its time to move the tracks to the computer, and this would be good time to compliment Samson/Zoom on their manual. This little recorder has a ton of features and the manual has covered every one I’ve needed so far. Page 35 clearly explains how to connect the H4n to the computer over the USB connection and it worked like a charm on my XP SP3 system.
Another improvement is obvious and very welcome – this new unit is a USB 2.0 High Speed device. The previous H4 and H2 are both USB 2 compatible, but they are anything but high speed. This H4n makes my standalone cardreader obsolete. Switching cards in and out draws attention to a potential problem, though. The door over the SD card slot does not look rugged enough for the use it will get. I kind of expect to see a lot of these with masking tape or gaffers tape covering the SD slot when they get older.
Hey, as long as it’s hooked to the computer, let’s see how it works as an audio interface. Maybe I’m just having a good night, but everything goes smoothly, Adobe Audition 1.5 sees the Zoom H4n and records a decent track.
Here’s a little “Opihi Moemoe” using the H4n as an audio interface, using the built-in mics. The positioning is about 30″ between the guitar and mics:
[audio:http://www.homebrewedmusic.com/audio/opihi.mp3]
or download opihi.mp3
Sounds pretty good to me, but in the fade at the end you can hear a bit of noise. Hmmmm.
A four way comparison
The main comparison is between the two Zooms, the Fostex FR2-LE, and my main studio recording chain, a John Hardy M-1 preamp feeding a LynxTwo-C A/D converter. A pair of Shure KSM141 mics provide audio to the Fostex and John Hardy. I tried to group all four units as close as possible.
Two mics and two Zoom recorders
Each of the clips is mono, I kept only the Zoom track from the mic that was pointed toward the guitar. The streaming clips are MP3, but the download is a PCM WAV file and considerably larger. I positioned the guitar 3 feet from the mics. This is a quite a strenuous test of the recording chain, because the guitar is such a quiet instrument that plenty of gain is required even for much lesser distances.
The Fostex:
[audio:http://www.homebrewedmusic.com/audio/1-1-FR2.mp3]
or download 1-1-fr2.wav
The H2:
[audio:1-2-h2.mp3]
or download 1-2-h2.wav
The H4n:
[audio:1-3-h4n.mp3]
or download 1-3-h4n.wav
The Hardy:
[audio:1-4-jh.mp3]
or download 1-4-jh.wav
I’m a bit disappointed with the results here. I was hoping the H4n’s new preamp and mics would provide a big improvement in noise performance compared to the H2, but I’m not hearing it. Listening to the long fade at the end of the clip, both the Zoom units exhibit more noise than the other two systems. Of course this is an extreme test, and with a more normal recording distance the noise wouldn’t be a problem. And the source of the noise might be the mics rather than the preamps, so it’s only fair to compare the H4n with one of the Shure KSM141 mics.
Using external mics
The Fostex with Shure mic:
[audio:2-1-FR.mp3]
or download 2-1-FR2.wav
The H4n with Shure mic:
[audio:2-2-h4n.mp3]
or download 2-2-h4n.wav
In these clips the guitar is a little closer to the mics, about 30 inches. This is still far enough to require a lot of gain, and both units exhibit some noise. But again the H4n is a touch noisier than the Fostex in the fade at the end of the clip. With the external mic, though, the difference is a lot smaller.
In the four way comparison, the studio chain with the Hardy preamp and Lynx converters was clearly the quietest. How does the H4n do in a head to head with the champ?
The H4n with Shure mic:
[audio:3-1-h4n.mp3]
or download 3-1-h4n.wav
The Hardy with Shure mic:
[audio:3-2-jh.mp3]
or download 3-2-jh.wav
This recording has the guitar even closer, less than 2 feet and just far enough to avoid proximity effect. With lower gain and the external mic the H4n sounds a lot less noisy but still just a hair more than the Hardy and Lynx.
And so the story is told
I’m really quite impressed with the H4n. It has a solid feel and a look that inspires confidence. The controls work cleanly and seem sturdy. The large bright display makes the unit much more friendly to old fogey eyes like mine. The manual is substantial because the feature set is pretty amazing. I’ll probably only scratch the surface, but plenty of other musicians will find use for the multi-track recorder with overdubbing, effects, metronome and so on. Folks doing interviews and recording lectures can benefit from the limiter, automatic gain control, and auto-record.
How is the H4n as a solo acoustic guitar recording tool? I’d say about 95%. The tonal balance of the recordings are fine, the dynamics are good. I’m quite happy with how the guitar sounds with either the external mic or the built-ins. I’m a little bit disappointed by the noise performance, though. A bit closer placement, a little noise reduction software in post, it’s a problem that can be solved, but I was hoping for world class performance from this little unit and I’m afraid it’s not quite at that level.
This entry was posted on Saturday, March 7th, 2009 at 11:29 pm and is filed under Audio, Comparisons. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Jedi said in post # 1,
on May 14th, 2010 at 5:51 am
I’m sorry, dear friendS but i bought a couple of them h4n and realized that they share a BUZZ problem, which appears to be a major BUG.
Whenever you connect a couple of professional Canon Mics and use it in PHANTOM +48 MODE, your H4N recording will record a 45db buzz noise on both channels that will enable you to APPRECIATE standard power 50 Hz buzz. This apparatus won’t perform a professional recording. Apparently there is no attenuator of such a problem and filters to stop this Buzz.
Rechargeable Batteries on the other hand, that will solve the problem temporarily, will last one hour maximum in phantom mode.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Shall I flush them in the loo?
I bet they are not waterproof either….
Jedi
Peter Miller said in post # 2,
on July 14th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Seems the zoom H4n is quite good. Thanks for the detailed information
Anyone used the Zoom R16?
I have a pc based studio at the moment, it’s all in one room ( can nearly always hear the computer at some point)
Looking for something to record on then I can edit etc. on the pc.
All solo acoustic guitar.
regards
Peter
Fran Guidry said in post # 3,
on July 14th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Hi, Peter, I’m listening to “From A Distant Shore” right now. I’ve always loved the sound of an echo well used.
I have an R16 and am quite impressed. I haven’t done a careful comparison to my main recording rig, but it works pretty nicely just to listen to it. The last few videos in my slack key channel on YouTube were recorded with the R16. http://www.youtube.com/franguidry
The best low(er) cost recorder I’ve discovered in my searches is the Fostex FR2-LE. I sold mine fairly shortly after I did this blog post because I just never used it, but the preamps were quieter and cleaner than anything else under $1000 USD.
Fran
Peter Miller said in post # 4,
on July 18th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Thanks, for the reply.
I will look into the Fostex.
The R16 are real cheap now in Australia to compete with online prices apparently. it might be a better option than the zoom h4n maybe?
I wonder, the if i can keep the r16 channels separate and load them into my PC without having to mix down to 2 channel?
My last Cd was recorded on an m-audio audiophile 24/96.
I’m very happy with it but looking for something mobile and with more inputs.
Will also look into buying a Firewire/usb interface as well.
keep well
peter
Fran Guidry said in post # 5,
on July 18th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Peter, I responded to your by email, but let me respond here as well. I love my R16. When you open the directories on the memory card, each track is a separate file. It’s a snap to bring them over to the computer for mixing and editing.
Fran
D Longworth said in post # 6,
on July 20th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Hi Fran
If you had to record only 2 tracks (spoken word) using an external condensor mic, and your primary criteria was sound quality, would you use the H4N or R16?
thanks
Fran Guidry said in post # 7,
on July 20th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Since I don’t have both units here to compare I can’t offer an opinion. I don’t even have the other equipment that I used for the H4n comparison, so I don’t have any yardstick. If I had to choose, I’d say go for the H4n just based on cost, because I don’t think there’s a quality difference that will impact your project.
But there certainly might be other considerations. The R16 is nice to work on, with bigger controls and such. But the H4n is more portable and I preferred the sound of the H4n built-in mics. You might find the H4n mics more than adequate for your project and save a bunch of hassle and setup time not to mention cost.
Fran
Peter Johnson said in post # 8,
on November 26th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Just got the H4n. Using a recent Fender Strat direct plug-in mode. The H4n seems to get overloaded and distorts with even moderate attack on the strings, without preamp and effects. From the recording level indicator, the max level seems to be reached, and voila overload. Any help?
Fran Guidry said in post # 9,
on November 26th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
Peter, I wish I could help you, but I didn’t keep my H4n and I never used it as a DI for an electric guitar. In fact, I don’t even have an electric guitar.
Have you visited the Zoom forum? Perhaps someone there can offer a suggestion.
http://zoomforum.us/viewforum.php?f=15
Fran
Tuan Enslinger said in post # 10,
on December 2nd, 2010 at 10:59 pm
We really like this website. Wewish I could come here all the time.
Peter Hyatt said in post # 11,
on July 8th, 2012 at 3:40 am
Fran,
your website has become a real “go to” for learning; thanks. Here is my question:
Given the few years that have passed since Zoom H4n, do you see the H4n being replaced any time soon? Will purchasing it in 2012 become obsolete in a few years?
My second question to you: if you could have only one portable recorder, would it be the H4n? H2n? thanks for your work here. Peter
Fran Guidry said in post # 12,
on July 8th, 2012 at 8:27 am
Peter, thanks so much for stopping by.
The latest announcement from Zoom is a new video recorder, the Q2n. This looks like the M-S mic of the H2n wedded to the cell phone camera from the Q3HD. It lacks the line in port but includes live connection to the computer so it can be used as an HD streaming camera for Skype and Ustream. Interesting product if live streaming takes off in a big way. http://www.zoom.co.jp/products/q2hd/
I just checked the Zoom “news” page and there is no announcement of a new audio recorder. I would expect that they will announce a new one in the next three years, but if you need/want to record something now, waiting doesn’t seem like a very good option.
I currently have an H2n and an R16, so those two cover my stereo and multi-channel needs very nicely. But honestly if I had only one recorder and I were shopping today with all the knowledge I have, I’d get the H4n. The ability to connect external XLR mics adds too much to the package. These days when I record duets in the field I use two recorders and the job would be much easier with a single recorder with 4 channels.
Fran
William said in post # 13,
on January 2nd, 2013 at 7:00 am
Hi Fran,
Thanks so much for your reviewing! But I’m so confused with the “direct input”.
1. Does the H4n have a direct input?
2. What is a direct input actually?
3. Does it mean it will only record the sound from the guitar’s pickup without recording the sound of the environment?
4. What are the pros and cons of direct input comparing to the H4n’s in-built mics
5. I have a Ko’olau Tenor ukulele with the L.R. Baggs Five.O Pickup, can I connect the ukulele into the H4n and record the sound directly from the pickup?
I am planning to buy the H4n but want to make sure that it has the function that I want. Thanks.
Fran Guidry said in post # 14,
on January 2nd, 2013 at 8:45 am
Hi, William,
The term “direct input” is often abbreviated DI and refers to a level matching and signal balancing device for connecting unbalanced sources to balanced mic level inputs. These are used primarily in PA sound reinforcement applications to minimize noise on long cable runs and to provide unbalanced inputs for mixing boards that don’t have a native unbalanced capability.
But I suppose the 1/4″ input jacks on the H4n represent a kind of “direct input” since you can plug an unbalanced source into them.
Which brings us to point 3, and yes, it does mean that you can record the sound of the pickup without any external sounds being captured.
Point 4 – generally the sound of a pickup is not as natural and “acoustic” as the sound captured by microphones, but it certainly can serve the purpose of capturing the music in a noisy environment. I have done this in several of my recent videos like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXReoi5cD1g Here I ran the guitar pickup into an effects box then directly into the recorder.
So point 5 – yes, you will be able to connect the Baggs pickup to the H4n and record the pickup directly.
Hope that’s helpful. By the way, if I were you I would wait until The end of January before buying an H4n because it’s possible that Zoom will announce a new recorder at one of the major trade shows happening this month. I don’t have any concrete information, but the time is about right and the H4n has been marked down on some retail sites in the past few months.
Fran
William said in post # 15,
on January 2nd, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Hi Fran,
A few more questions:
Is there a specific cable used for connecting the pickup and the DI? Do you have any recommendation?
Can I monitor the sound of the DI during recording? What if I record with the DI and built-in mics simultaneously, which source will I hear in my headphones?
I watched your video! Nice playing! Did you record it outdoor? That’s exactly what I want to do! I don’t the external sound and only want to capture the sound of the pickup. But what does the A2 do? Adding effects like reverb in an amplifier? Again, when you plug your guitar into the A2, and then plug the A2 into the H2n, will you hear the original sound from the pickup or the sound with effects added in your monior headphones?
THANKS!!!
Fran Guidry said in post # 16,
on January 2nd, 2013 at 7:12 pm
I strongly recommend that you download and read the H4n manual. It has lots of good explanations, including pictures and details of the cables. http://www.zoom.co.jp/downloads/h4n/manual/
Connect from your guitar to the line/instrument input of the H4n with a male to male 1/4″ mono cable. This is a standard guitar cable.
Yes, you can monitor all the inputs of the H4n. You’ll need to read the manual to get the details.
Yes, I recorded the video outdoors. I was playing live on the side of the road while I shot the video. The A2 provided EQ, reverb, and mono to stereo conversion.
Once the signal passes through the A2 is has the effect added to it, and any place it is heard or recorded after that will have the effect.
Fran