Moving often for work and looking for something that would allow me not to constantly carry around a studio, I bought a Zoom H4N microphone / recorder. I discovered something much more powerful than the Zoom H4N let's go more specifically, analyzing the aspects that make it an unsurpassed product for every professional.
Zoom H4N: what I expected
A few years ago it was nearly impossible to imagine a quality portable recording system that would fit in the space of your hand, yet here we are! Zoom has churned out two models of “microphones”: H2N and H4N. Let's talk about the model in this article Zoom H4N which is the more comprehensive of the two and let's explore some of its possibilities. The microphone is actually a bi-microphone, in the sense that it mounts 2 condenser capsules with various recording possibilities at 90 degrees (X) or 120 degrees (Y) by simply rotating them. It is equipped with an accessory that allows it to be fixed on a common microphone stand. Used in this sense is a good STEREO / MONO microphone (it is possible to set it) that we can always carry around and easy to use. Recording takes place on an internal SD card (supplied but replaceable with a max of 32Gb) and can be done in various formats including WAV e MP3. It works with battery (2 AA) or with a special power supply supplied. Like a traditional microphone, it can also be fitted with a windproof hood (supplied). The duration of the recording depends on the size of a card, but if we record in stereo mp3 at 256 we exceed 6 hours with only 1 GB of capacity.
What I did not expect from this microphone
We come to a slightly more thorough use of our "microphone". First of all we realize that we have 2 other inputs on the base, both balanced and unbalanced. These inputs allow you to use it as a travel sound card, allowing in fact a recording even from external devices with a lot of integrated mixer. In fact it is a 4-channel multitrack or if we want 2 external inputs + integrated microphone. The 2 microphones can also be replaced by an additional external microphone. The balanced inputs have switchable phantom power and this is also one of those things you don't expect. With the internal 4-channel mixer we can set volumes, pan, and various functions related to audio tracks. It is even possible to mix down the tracks. In the end we take the card SD and we find in a folder all the recorded files, divided as we have acquired them. We can alternatively connect the USB port to a PC and see the microphone as an external disk. Just to mention an obvious but unusual application is the possibility of using it as a USB microphone with the convenience of not having to go through external sound cards. At a time of boom in the usb-mic market this is no small feature.
Incredible discovery
I forgot that Zoom produced some of the best effects on the market. They haven't forgotten to put fifty of them into this microphone! In practice we could use the microphone Zoom H4N as a multi effect by choosing an effect and sending the output to an amplifier. The effects are of quality. It also features a tuner with various modes and a metronome. And what about the ability to use it as audio card? By connecting it as a USB we can use the supplied drivers to see H4N as an independent 4-channel sound card and use it with our favorite software. In practice, I can take my studio with me choosing between 2 independent balanced / unbalanced inputs + 2 integrated microphones, also these independent. 4 mono channels to be managed as best we like. Latency can go up to 1ms, excellent quality. Drivers are ASIO. There is also the option to carry out direct monitoring effect while recording (or to test effects). H4N also has (small) built-in speakers and this allows it to also be used as a listening source via USB or player mp3 / wav, in short, truly versatile! There is also a headphone / audio output to send it to a system. The function SPEED allows you to slow down a track without losing the pitch, very useful for better analyzing a song. It is not a function comparable to professional time stretching software, here the sense is different, but there is the possibility to slow down until 50% and speed up to 150% with acceptable quality. It is not possible to export the result, it is a function to use live listening. On the inputs it is possible to insert a limiter and a filter.
The surprise There is a Steinberg Cubase LE 5 license inside the box!
The price? 300,00-350,00, well spent in my opinion.
Defects
I state that I have a good overall opinion of the product, but I must - for the record - list some defects that for some may not be as negligible. There is a slight basic hiss probably due to the preamps. It's obviously not a studio microphone and the hiss is negligible when making ambient recordings. Personally I don't think it is a problem unless you really want to use it in the studio (but even here I wouldn't be so sure, all the preamps introduce some noise). The masks are not of immediate use, but this is a limit due to the limited spaces. The with integrated allows many things stand-alone, for example the split of a track, the mixing of 4 tracks, the mixdown, the automatic mono mixing of the microphones, a minimum of equalization, setting of effects, recording volumes, choice of formats ... All practical act is difficult to use, too inconvenient to use; once I select the recording format and the input volume (which has a handy slider on the side) I forget about its existence. Obviously in case of need it is always better to know that I have it but if I can I prefer to save my eyes! The microphone can be set for an "auto volume" or to choose the right input volume. Generally when this function is active, if the initial sound is too high, distortion is felt due to the time it takes the microphone to "understand" at what volume it should record. The use of the microphone as a “microphone”, ie in a studio connected to a sound card, is not too easy. The problem is not serious but you have to equip yourself with a 1/8 "stereo jack (the small one like headphones) and then enter the sound card via a pair of 1/4" mono jack adapters (in the case of stereo recording) or set from the integrated software the mono mix to mix the signal of the two microphones and then enter the sound card with a 1/4 ”mono jack. In short, the thing is resolved even if this is not the main use of this device.
Specifications
SD / SDHC card recording (up to 32GB) - various recording formats including WAV and MP3 - Resolution up to 24bit/96kHz - Connection USB 2.0 - Integrated stereo X / Y microphone (90 ° or 120 °) - 2 Preamplifiers for external microphones - Possibility to use 2 external inputs in combination with integrated microphones to record up to 4 channels simultaneously - Multitrack recording - Instrument input - Integrated mini speaker - Large LCD display and intuitive interface - Broadcast Wave support - Auto-record and pre-record function - Track marker function - Slow playback speed function for educational use - Effects - 50 simulations of guitar and bass amps - Up to 10 hours lasting with AA batteries - Remote control available as an option - Works with two AA batteries or with its own power supply (included). On battery it lasts an average of 6 hours.
Comes standard with a 2GB SD card, a windproof sponge, external AC power supply, microphone adapter clip, USB cable, protective case and Steinberg Cubase LE.
Fabio Pesce
