[Ruben Dasilva]

A balanced mic level signal at the correct impedance is the best way to get into the XLR mic inputs of the Zoom H4n distortion “free”. Forget the TRS inputs which may be the right impedance for an electric guitar but totally wrong for a mixer output connection.

Most professional field mixers have balanced line and mic outputs. Choose mic level. Line up your tone at minus 20bB below max on the Zoom; peak your conversation at 5 or 6 ppm on the mixer and way to go. Use the mixer’s limiters if need be to make sure you don’t crunch the digits on the Zoom.

The downside is having to go through the Zoom’s mic preamps while recording, but that kind of distortion, though regrettable, is far less severe than gross level and/or impedance mismatches.