Zoom H4N as audio interface for Voice Overs

[Angelo Lorenzo]

I answered this exact question a few weeks ago: https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/3/934503

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Angelo Lorenzo

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[Andrew Sheppard]

Thank you so much. I did change the input into windows. It’s now at 4 out of 100 so I think I really need a pre amp at some point. Does the Zoom not act as a pre amp itself? Is there any point adjusting the input on the H4N itself?

Thanks again for the reply

[Angelo Lorenzo]

All a preamp does is raise mic or instrument level to line level. The zoom has an integrated preamp but it should also take a line level from the 1/4″. I don’t particularly like using the phantom power off the Zoom so that’s a situation where I’d use a preamp.

Regardless, a preamp fixes the signal too low problem when you have a signal too high problem.

Here is what I would do: Play some static into your microphone. From the radio or whatever as long as it’s a solid constant volume. Look at the H4N and adjust the input until it hits -12db (arbitrary, you’ll see why in a second). In your sound recording program on Windows, watch your input levels and adjust Windows recording level until it matches what the zoom says. At this point Windows and the H4N are at unity, Windows isn’t adding any gain to the signal.

From there, just concentrate on adjusting the input level on the H4N as you need for each particular person’s voice level.

——————–
Angelo Lorenzo

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Introducing ProRes Helper, an awesome little app that makes it possible
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[Andrew Sheppard]

Thanks for the advice. Did this and my levels in windows had to be dropped to 4. Not sure if that is normal but 4/100 in terms of input seems to give me a good level. Thanks for the advise. Now however I’m finding more problems. Will start a new thread I guess.

[Ivan Myles]

To expand on Angelo’s linked post, try troubleshooting each component to identify the root cause:

Zoom H4N:
– What are the settings for mic level, frequency/bit-depth, Phantom, Comp/Limit, Level Auto, and MS Matrix?
– Which input lights are on (MIC, 1/2, or all)?
– How does a sample sound if you record to an internal SD card?
– Do the clip meter lights come on during recording?

Cable:
– Assuming you are using a USB cable, have you tried capturing a sample with an analog Line Out cable?

Windows Audio:
– In Windows, open Recording Devices > Properties > Advanced to check the settings: typically 16-bit and 44100Hz or 48000Hz; enable both items under Exclusive Mode.
– Is the Recording Devices > Properties > Levels tab what you used to set volume to 4? If not, what is the setting? Is there also a Microphone Boost setting? For the time being, set the microphone level to around 60-80 and, if applicable, set boost to 0.0 dB.

Audio Card Software:
– Look in Windows Control Panel and the Start folder to see if there is a software application for the computer’s audio card. If so, open it and check the settings.

Audio Capture Software:
– Use a few different types of software to capture audio: Premiere Pro, Windows Sound Recorder, other (QuickTime, Adobe Audition/Soundbooth, etc). Before recording, check settings in the software for frequency, bit depth, volume/gain/trim, etc. Capture a few samples and compare recordings to audio recorded on the Zoom memory card:

1) Zoom internal mic recorded to Zoom SD card
2) Sennheiser mic recorded to Zoom SD card

3) Sennheiser mic, USB cable, Windows Sound Recorder
4) Zoom internal mic, USB cable, Windows Sound Recorder
5) Zoom internal mic, USB cable, Premiere Pro
6) Sennheiser mic, USB cable, Premiere Pro
7) Sennhieser mic, USB cable, Audition/Soundbooth/QuickTime/other
8) Zoom internal mic, USB cable, Audition/Soundbooth/QuickTime/other

If the issue still exists, take a few samples using an analog Line Out cable to see if it makes any difference.

[Campbell Wilson]

I’m having trouble getting audio into PP CC with my H4n.

I’m on Mac and have the I/O working and PP CC is seeing the H4 in audio hardware, but I’m not able to get it to my timeline

all suggestions welcome.

Thanks

[Dan Mcdermott]

I had this exact problem in Windows 7 64 bit. The issue was the Windows generic driver. It read the H4n as a microphone and there was no way to switch it and have Windows see it was line level. The solution is to download the driver from Zoom and it will show up and work fine.

https://www.zoom-na.com/products/field-video-recording/field-recording/zoom-h4n-handy-recorder#downloads