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(OT) Zoom H4N question
I couldn’t find a Zoom forum, or I would have posted there, but I gotta think someone here will know the answer to this:
I’ve been testing my new ZoomH4N and here’s what I’m wondering: If I feed it a wireless or wired XLR, set my mics and then voice a typical-volume voice test, even with REC level at 100% my levels are about -12dB or below. I have to nearly yell to get anything much above that.
Is this expected? Audio tends to be my Achilles heal, but it seems like if anything I’d rather be lowering audio a bit rather than raising it a lot to wind up with “ideal” audio by the end of post.
Seems like if I could get things peaking at maybe -6dB on the Zoom (without yelling), that’s more ideal, no? And, if so, how to do it?
Thank you!
–Kelly
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7 Replies
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What are you mic levels? I’ve used H4N for the last 3 years with no problems on interviews, docs, podcasts etc. Its a great tool for the price.
1. Mic levels set at?
2. What brand of lavs are you using?Thanks,
T
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As my audio instructor used to say, you need to remember that you are recording in a digital format. You don’t need, or want, to record that hot (-6db). When analog clipped, it would degrade gracefully. When digital clips, the audio is severely compromised and sometimes ruined. If post processing brings up noise levels, a good denoiser can remove the noise. I have not had any problem with volume on my H4N, but my standard setup uses a mic preamp which feeds the audio to one of my video cameras and to the H4N.
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Thomas–
I’ve got the REC level on the H4N at 100%, and a normal talking voice is coming in at about -12 or -14. Maybe that’s normal/typical?
I’ve got Sennheiser wireless and an Audio-Technica condenser shotgun mic, going straight into the H4N.
–Kelly
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I would also check to see if you have the Zoom set up for Line or Mic level in. If your wireless is using a mic level out into a line level in on the Zoom, this could be causing the problem. You would like to see either mic level out/ mic level in or line level out/ line level in. I hope this helps! — Don
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Kelly,
Likewise, check the line/mic setting on the Zoom H4n. Just did a shoot with a Rode NtG3 and was able to record gorgeous sound to the H4n.
1. Do you have another Audio cable to test?
2. Can you record clean sound direct into a Mic input on another camera system?
3. Check line/mic settingsT
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Hi,
m going on location in mountains… its a Documentary film in INDIA
what headphone should I use?which headphones will give me a proper and exact output..
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[Hiren Upadhyay] “Hi,
m going on location in mountains… its a Documentary film in INDIA
what headphone should I use?which headphones will give me a proper and exact output..”
Sony MDR7506 headphones are an industry standard for location recording professionals.
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