Comments on: Zoom H4 Mobile Recording: Useful for Movie Production?

By: Donraphael

Donraphael — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 19:40:10 +0000

U recently bought a Zoom H4 firmware version V1.0 which I upgraded immediately to version V2.10
The purpose of the H4 was for me to use it as an extra recording device for video and also as a phantom device in stead of buying a Beachtek.
Reading the experience of other users who stated the Zoom H4 has a drifting sync which runs up and down I made myself a test. The duration of the test was 30 minutes. Every 5 minutes I clapped my hands to give a mark.
The configuration was as follows: camcorders Sony FX1 and Sony VX2000, Zoom H4 setting on 48kHz Wave.
NLE Adobe Premiere V2.0 also setting on 48kHz.
The soundtrack of the H4 was 5 frames longer than the soundtrack of the Sony camcorders. Not bad at all.
After putting the start of both soundtracks on sync and shrinking the timebase of the H4 soundtrack to sync with the last mark (clapping hands) the marks in between also were in sync.
This was for me the proof the sync of the Zoom H4 was steady and not running up and down.
Zoom H4 great stuff…
Definitely a device for filmmaking. Maybe the sync problems of other users were caused by the old firmware.

By: Mr.Wong

Mr.Wong — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:52:29 +0000

This is not a device for filmmaking!! You will be billing your client enough to get a professional recording device, by the time you finish trying to sync the media from this device your video.

is it 100.0348%, or 100.049%or 100.0083% or 100.05%. I have done all the methods and tests to figure out the sync for this device.. I have no hair anymore. I LOVE the idea of it… and a great price point… But for filmmaking look elsewhere

By: Create Digital Music » Fix for Zoom H4 Mobile Recording: Use a Mobile Battery Pack

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:27:58 +0000

[...] Previously: Zoom H4 Mobile Recording: Useful for Movie Production? [...]

By: JollyRogered

JollyRogered — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 13:03:17 +0000

After checking on a taper forum (sorry, can’t remember url), I decided the R-09 was a better bet and bought one. Whatever your views of ‘taping’, these guys know their tools, and the R-09 seems to be by far the most popular choice right now.
I have also been using R-09’s where I work for a couple of months, and everyone here who’s used one has commented on how easy they are to use (cf. the H-4’s layered menus and you begin to see why this is an issue).
Sure, there are no xlr’s which is a bummer, but I made some recordings with a pair of Soundman binaural mics last weekend at The Big Chill (strictly for evaluation purposes, you understand!) and I’m well pleased.
(Fwiw, I made a pair of DIY binaurals a little while back, by sticking the capsules from a cheap stereo tie-clip mic (why would anyone make a stereo tie-clip mic!?) into a pair of earphones, and although though the results fell short of the Soundman’s quality, they still produced a pretty fine stereo image…)

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 07:12:53 +0000

I call my H4 my little buddy. It travels with me almost everywhere. The internal mikes are pretty fine. This tool is very sensitive, so set the external to medium and the internal levels to about 94. The mike emulation can be set to the Zoom default or to some very high end condenser mikes. I mostly save in MP3 at 320kps, stereo. I use rechargeable AA batteries, that last about 4-5 hours. The .wav format is capable of higher resolution, and accordingly takes more storage space. The USB does not push USB 2. to it’s max but I have not found that to be a problem. Sweetwater music sells the very top end and they have the H4 on the same page as units selling for much more. I do not use the built in guitar effects nor the four track capabilities. Pleased customer, yes. Anyone seriously considering this unit there are .mp3 and .wav downloads on the web. And granted it probably may not live up to a multi thousand dollar unit. This little unit just empowers me to do quality recording on a small budget and with a very small footprint. No I do not own any shares in Zoom.
Thanks
Tom

By: Keeping Track Of Music Technology

Keeping Track Of Music Technology — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:37:50 +0000

[...] I am actually considering getting a new portable audio recorder, mainly for capturing interesting sounds outside the confines of my studio, and recording quick ideas for songs when a full session isn’t convenient. The biggest buzz in this area at the moment is over the Zoom H4, which boasts two inbuilt condenser microphones, XLR connectors for external mics, 4-track capabilities and 24bit/96kHz recording. CDM have a post on this unit, and the discussion threads show that opinions are still divided; many are holding out for the release of the cheaper H2 which should be out this Autumn. Share this Post: [...]

By: simon

simon — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 08:08:58 +0000

I certainly wouldn’t want to be on a hectic film set trying to record audio into a H4 and having to go through 5 menu steps just to set levels.

I think getting a good level into these cheaper units is pretty important as they tend to be noisy. I do a lot of location recording and interviews and having a dedicated input control means I can ride the level as I record. But for found sounds when you might only get the one chance to record, you really need to be able to do these things quick.

By: buster

buster — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:52:44 +0000

I’ve done back to back comparison of recordings and sound quality of the H4 and the M-Audio Microtrack. The Microtrack is ugly, but it’s recordings beat the H4 hands down. The H4 definitely has fairly high harmonic distortion.

By: scott l.

scott l. — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:46:24 +0000

well, i own one, and i used it for sound design work. it worked fine overall, but there’s one serious issue with it (i second that it really can’t be used as an audio interface, at least not w/ version 1.0 firmware).

here’s the big issue – when powering a single mic via 48V phantom a slowly changing high pitched whine (between 7-9 Khz) can be clearly percieved in the audio recorded. this occurs whether in 4 track mode or stereo mode, and happens regardless of being powered by AC or battery. i researched it and found info relating to the internal ADC chip as the culprit. note that if connecting two mics via 48V phantom you don’t have any issue and you also don’t have any issue with phantom off. my unit might be problematic (early firmware) but thought everyone here should know about the potential at any rate. also early firware had issues with recording MP3s at 256kbps, but other biitrates, higher or lower were unaffected.

By: Matte

Matte — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 23:34:32 +0000

Thanks for the mention, i bought the h4 some months ago, i didn’t really ‘need’ it, but as a tool i carry around in my bag it proved useful more than once