Why I Still Use This Handy Recorder (And Maybe You Should Too?)
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- Опубликовано: 23 июл 2024
- This is the Zoom H4n Pro and right now this is my main way to record everything.
The simplest way to do something is often the best and quite often I want to record with the least amount of friction as possible.
It's not always the best option to record into the computer with an audio interface. For some of you especially if you're just starting, you might want to think about a different way.
ZOOM H4n Pro:
Europe: www.thomann.de/intl/zoom_h4n_pro_black.htm?partner_id=71630
USA: sovrn.co/58ki2fr
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Also check out Josh Turners videos. He's often using his old Zoom H2 for his recordings and they sound REALLY good!
ruclips.net/video/IKYn2_44exY/видео.html
You can do a tutorial on configuring the microphone to sound like you
I have been playing guitar for 30 years. About 70% of my time is spent on the acoustic. I started out recording myself on a cheap little tape recorder when I was a kid. Today I use this. Never had any interest in using advanced software to record myself. I prefer the sound of a live recording in one take. I love this device. Great video.
Hi, thanks for the comment. I love the fact you just use this to record!! Sometimes people can get too obsessed with which plugins and editing software to use when most of the sound is coming from you and your instrument. These little recorders simplify things and let you focus on what's important when recording.
@@FabianHollandGuitar My main guitar is a Taylor 414ce. Digitally altering the sound of such a beautiful instrument would be like throwing tomatoe soup over a Picasso.
So inspirational sound and performance!
Great video, and lovely playing in the demos. Thanks for putting this together.
Hi, thanks for the comment. No problem, glad you enjoyed the video!! 🙂
This is a fantastic video. Great voice, great play, great comparison!
Thanks for listening :-)
I record every single video I make on this guy and its my go to for everything that isn't on tape!
Such a great video and guitar play. Thanks for sharing!
Hi, thanks so much! 🙏 glad you enjoyed the video. 😊👍
I've had a Zoom H4n for almost 15 years and I love it! I used it all the time for recording band sessions and shows. I loved how you could attach multiple mics to it. I used that feature to mic up different parts of the room during our jams and it almost sounded like a studio recording. I think I placed the device near the drums, one mic for the vocals and one mic near the guitar and bass amps. I haven't used it a while, but I might bust it out again after watching this.
Hi, thanks for the input. Yeah absolutely it's such a great, little handy recorder! I still record into the DAW sometimes but lately more and more often I find myself going for the Zoom! Thanks so much, glad you liked the video! 😊👍
Great review.. my god the sound is lush without any production. And the sound you're making with vocals and guitar is exactly what I'm aiming to capture. Thanks!
Hi, thanks so much! I really appreciate you saying that. Glad you enjoyed the video. I talk a lot about simple recording approaches for singer songwriters in my videos so you might find some of my other videos also interesting. Thanks 👍
This is super helpful. I’ve been considering grabbing a zoom recorder for just those same reasons. Also, I love the song!
Hi, thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it. :-)
omg !!! came for the test and stayed for this sooooo beautiful guitar playing and voice :o
Hi, thanks so much!! I really appreciate you saying that. Glad you enjoyed the video!!! 🙂
Totally agree! I'm old school! 😊
Thanks a lot for this review! Feel the same about just recording without long preparation. Also I will record now and then on the fo to later listen to it to work it out.
No problem, thanks for watching! Yeah absolutely the more you record yourself then the easier it will be and the better you'll get. Having said that it's also a good idea to spend some time setting up the mics and getting the best possible sound that you can get as well.
Audio sounds great, thanks
Beautiful guitar playing
Thanks! 🙂
Any of the zoom recorders are great mics for a musician. I started with the h1, and still use it, especially for background vocals (but it's good for anything really). The sound quality is something you should not be able to find in mics that cost 100-200 bucks. But they sound so crisp!
So especially if you're a musician who's starting up, my advice is to ignore all the fancy condensers until you know what you're doing, and start with any of the zooms. You can hook them up to an interface and a DAW just like any other mics. A bonus is, that if you have an interface without phantom power, you can still use the zooms, because they are battery-powered.
The only thing that is kind of a con, is that they're super sensitive, so you have to be careful with background noise, learn the acoustics of your room, learn how to gate and gain the signal, proper singing/playing technique, shock mount etc... But as a counterpoint, these are things you'll have to learn anyway, and the solution is not to 'cheat' with a 'higher quality' mic that lets you get away with more mistakes.
So yeah... No reason not to use them. I'll promise you that if you're a starter musician, and insist on buying a mic for recording in the 100-400 euro range, it's 99% likely that the zoom will actually sound better, and you just wasted your money.
I don't work for zoom I promise 😅. It's just that people are sleeping on these mics, and I don't want amateur musicians wasting their money on some 600 euro condenser when these would work JUST AS WELL, and are a fraction of the price, especially on the used market.
Cool man thanks for this, Seriously looking at one now👍
Stumbled on your video. Love it. Just what I need and a ton of features I will definitely use. Wonder why it is not more popular? No worries. Order up! Thanks so much for enlightening me. Cheers from Sandy Eggo
Hi, thanks for the comment. Really appreciate you saying that. Glad you enjoyed the video!! 😊👍
Love it! Appreciate you
My guy!
Thanks so much! :-)
Superb review. Terrific performance
Thanks so much!! 😊🙏
Great content. I have the H6 and thats also a great recorder. Another recorder i used for 'Demo-ing' ideas is the Tascam DP008ex. Its a very small 8 track recorder, comes with a really decent built in stereo mic but also options to plug a mic into the back with Phantom Power if you want to. Its so quick and easy to use if as a songwriter, you just want to get an idea down, but theres also lots of room with 8 tracks so you can add BV ideas or other instruments to a quick idea if you wish.. it also comes with a very simple and nice onboard reverb too. I cant praise it highly enough.
Hi, thanks! Oh yeah the H6 is also great! That's for the recommendation, I've seen these little Tascam multitrack recorders around, they look great! I'm looking at the Tascam model 12. It's a mixer, multitrack recorder and audio interface all in one. Handy that the DP008ex has a built in mic so you can easily record ideas, I like that. Thanks 😊
@@FabianHollandGuitar Yes it's a really handy machine for just throwing in your bag if you want get ideas down when travelling. Funny you should mention the Model 12, I have that too for 'final' recordings! It's great whichever way you look at it. I got it because, like you, I grew tired of staring at computers but that option is still there with the M12 if you want to do that. The only thing I'm not sure about with it though is the fact that there is no Aux Send. So you cant put effects through the mixer.. unless you use one of the line in channels.. I thought that was a bit naughty. Both the Model 16 and Model 24 have Aux send options. But I got it for its smaller size and I really like it a lot. Theres always ways around these things!
That 1st condencer mic sounds amazing, great review also
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video!
I have one and I love it on acoustic guitar. Very 3d stereo sound.
Sounds incredible
Thanks 😊
I had a Zoom H2n and it was quite good for what it was, but this sounds better. I miss being able to capture ideas on the fly and being able to refine them later. I even used it to test sets of strings on new guitars because it’s hard to remember what one set sounds like compared to the others once my ears adjusted to the new. Thanks for the review- I think this device is super great considering how long it’s been on the market.
Hi, thanks for the comment!
Yeah the H2n is also great! And that's a good idea to record new sets of strings compared to others, I've got to try that next time! 🙂👍
Thanks for this. I hate switching the computer on, loading up my DAW, setting the inputs... just switch on one of these bad boys.
Hi, thanks. Glad you enjoyed the video! Yeah exactly, I love using these little recorders!
This is so good. Aap Ki voice Aur gitar acha ❤ hai. Zoomh4n pro buy. Kanolige nahi hai. Aaap bata sakte hai. Aap ki video Achi hai. Mic level kitna hai (25-30-40) ? Vaulam level (70-80) kitna hona chiye ? 48 bit 16 par ya 44.1 bit 16 kon se sahi hone chiyea. Perfect voice ke liye. Aap ne video meh batya nahi..plz reply jaroo kare
This Recorder is a powerhouse. I use it to record "live" performances / concerts; along with my video set up and it is amazing. Full Sound, as well as the way I have it set up, it eliminate a lot of the crowd noise and picks up more of the band / group. Highly recommend
hey man! how do you set it up? im triying to record my live perfomances as well and eliminate the crowd noise
How do you set it up?
I would think that you would make sure the gain on the xy mics never gets over -12 dbs or lower and plug an XLR directly into the out of the mixer from the band. That should get you the clean sound of the band and limit the sound picked up from the xy mics and the room noise. Then when you mix them together you can
Tweak out background noise to your preference. Just a guess though.
@@jameskozlowski5496 That is true, and a great way to get good mix. I have tried that several times. Many of your Sound Companies and Techs generally set their foh on the side now instead out front or towards the rear of the room, and use their pads to work around from there. So that would leave me having to run a cord from my location to the board. If I can set up my camera and all next to the board then I can use that type of set up.
ruclips.net/video/D2txco0r9ZU/видео.htmlsi=XkROS2vtZcgljIXG
Great video well done
Thanks ☺️ 🙏
Very informative video. Thanks. Do you know how it compares to H1N?
I bought one a few years ago and it's good for recording live performances or even going direct in to get a DI of my electric guitar, but I've had issues trying to use it as an interface with both my laptop and desktop computers where the audio would stop outputting completely or drop out and glitch from time to time. I normally use a focusrite scarlett, which seems to work fine on both computers without the dropping out issues.
Hi, thanks for the comment. I've never experienced any problems when using it as an interface but I'm really not using it as an interface very often at all. I mainly just use it as a stand alone recorder and If you're recording onto a DAW more often then yeah probably best to use the focusrite for that. cheers :-)
I used an H5 for a long time but I recently acquired an H8 as I need the extra inputs for recording audio drama. These handheld Zoom recorders are amazing devices, so convenient and, unlike the fans on my PC, totally silent. The built-in mics are pretty good as well. When I started taking recording seriously I bought a couple of decent XLR mics but, in hindsight, acoustic treatment for the room (which I still haven't addressed properly) would have been a better investment.
Yeah the Zoom H5 and H8 look great, never tried them myself but I've heard great things about them. With regards to acoustic treatment, I just made my own acoustic panels and they seem to do a good job but my room is not professionally treated by any means.
@@FabianHollandGuitar Other than the detachable fixed-position mic module, I think the H5 is very similar to the H4. I get the impression that the preamps on the H8 have a bit more gain, but I can't hear a noticeable difference in audio quality. It's the input capabilities and features that set the H8 apart. Only a hundred quid more than the H5 - but where do you stop? I know you haven't used them but adding affiliate links would be a safe bet.
I can stick the H4N in the middle of the room and get a super clear recording of the whole band. I never knew the mics turned like that.
Also with an adaptor you can use this to record audio onto a phone or tablet, bypassing Apples resistance to doing any such thing.
Hi, thanks for the comment! Oh yeah this is great for capturing a band for sure! 👌
Thank you Fabian. Great video!
Have you tried orienting the H4N vertically, to separate the vocal track from the guitar track for selective processing of each?
Hi, thanks! No I haven’t tried that actually but that’s a great idea, I can’t believe I never thought of that before 🤦♂️
great song man 🤘
Thanks so much 😊🙏
That's an awesome way to record a performance outside.
Oh yeah, I’d love to do more outside recordings! 😊👍
great stuff, I just bought H4n Pro, for live outdoor and indoor performances. I still don't how to record but I will looking at your vids for more info, thank you.
Hi, that's great! If you'll be recording outside then look into getting a windscreen for the mics, you can get these specifically for the H4n and it stops the wind making noise on the mics. Let me know how you get on and if you have any questions then please feel free to ask. Thanks 😊
@@FabianHollandGuitar Yes, I got the windscreen too. Tomorrow I'll take a feed directly from my mixer and also record thru the 2 mics on the recorder and blend it in together so to get the audience and the clean feed together.
Can this be used with the 24DPSD??
I actually preferred the way the Zoom sounded!
This is so good... I have the h4n pro for 4 years, now, and I love it. And this video with a calm voice and soft guitar (on background) makes even better, while talking about this h4n pro. Thank you, Fabian.
I would love to hear you about this recorder settings. Do you have it?
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video!
Do you mean the settings I have when I record on the H4n Pro? It's just very basic settings on the actual device, no EQ or any effects and I usually have the gain so I'm hitting somewhere between -12db and -6db.
I find a lot of getting a great sound is to do with mic placement, especially if you're recording guitar and vocals together.
Maybe I'll do another video on how I go about doing that? ☺👍
@@FabianHollandGuitar perfect! Thank you, one more time! For answering and for invest your time preparing and recording these videos. God bless you!
@@dantipremium no problem at all. Glad you got some inspiration out of the videos 😊
I bought one of these and would love to hear your settings for recording the guitar because there are a few options for gain/ pre amp etc.
Hi, thanks yeah absolutely! I’ve had a few people ask this so I’ll probably do a separate video on this soon! Thanks 🙏
You look so kind
I use h4n pro an audio interface with external mics and guitars along with the built-in mic.
Does zoom h4npro give better sound of the record from mixer with aurolevel or zoom h5 with limiter?
Hi Really enjoyed this video. I have a h4n and would like to record a saxophone quintet using 4ch mode. Soprano, alto, 2x tenor and baritone. Any help I can get re: h4n settings, microphones and microphone placement would be great. It will take place during a rehearsal in a modern church with good acoustics.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Jim
Hi, thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed the video. Ah nice, yeah that sounds like fun, are you using external mics for the recording?
So I still have a zoom Q3 that I have used for many years and I also record on a Fostex 16 multi track recorder that I have been using for many years as well. I also own the zoom Q8 which I use for pretty much all my youtube videos these days and I love it. But i have been looking into this Zoom H4n as well. I am a keep it simple stupid kind of musician hense why I still love a good multi track recorder and truly dislike a computer DAW.
SO I 100% agree with you and just to let you know there are many of us out here that would rather just hit that play button and record then spend years trying to learn how to use everything that is on a DAW and do not want to keep having to update said DAW as well. Keep it simple and make great music that is my motto.
This is great, thanks so much for your comment!
Yeah there's also something very nice about using hardware over software. It's that tactile thing of using a peice of physical gear I just love.
Also knowing the fact that all my outboard gear and guitar pedals will never have to be updated and they'll last me a lifetime is a great feeling.
The Fostex 16, is that a reel to reel tape recorder?
I've been thinking about getting more into the world of analog tape recently.
I came here for a recorder review and discovered a new favorite musician
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed the video, and the music :-)
Great review! Just got my Zoom H4n pro and will be eventually recording guitar and vocals on separate mics to produce to separate tracks. While experimenting I've tried a different arrangement of the two crossed mics facing the 12th fret with the one (headed toward the sound hole) turned to the 120 degree position. Directly next to the two Zoom mics I added an additional Shure Super 55 (the Elvis mic) also facing the 12 fret next to the one at 120 degrees. In this configuration I seem to get a wider sound. I have yet to try any post processing to see the overall results. Any thoughts about this type of configuration? Thanks in advance.
Hi, glad your Zoom arrived. Yeah that sounds like an interesting setup. I don’t have much personal experience with the super55 but I know which one it is. It’s a dynamic mic right? I think as long as the sound is hitting both mics at the same time (roughly) then you shouldn’t have any phase issues, but you can also check this in post by zooming in and looking at the frequency waves to see if they are in phase with each other or not.
whish i had an old fashioned sturdy shoebox cassette recorder with internal mic to record some guitar and voice. Very easy to use.
I use the H4n pro . butCan I record in 2 separate channels at the same time ? guitar and add an external mic for vocal? I would like to mix it later in post production .thanks in advance
Hi, thanks for the question. Yes, absolutely you can record 2 separate channels, you have to select in the menu that you want to record them as separate channels and not as one stereo channel and then you're able to edit them separately as 2 separate audio tracks. Hope that helps!
Let me know what your thoughts are on this topic? I'm really interested in everyone's thoughts on this. And also let me know if you also use one of these handy recorders?
Man, thank you for making this vid! Exactly what I was looking for. It’s between this and the Zoom H6 - any experience with the latter?
Hi, no problem. Glad you enjoyed the video! I haven't tried the H6 but I've heard great things about it. I'm sure both are great but I guess it depends on your needs?
@@FabianHollandGuitar Makes sense. I would be using it more in the context that you've been utilizing it. Seems like the H6 has more tracking options. Thanks again 🙏
Just subscribed based on this review of a great recording drive!
I had the original one and the Pro version is so much better on levels. These are cheap used and worth every penny. I take the SD card and insert into PC for Reaper processing. Wish the effects could be applied to the originals recordings but frankly they are not as good as my DAW.
Hi, thanks for the comment and the sub. Glad you liked the video!
Yeah absolutely! I'm a big fan of these recorders. I'd love to more on location recordings and make use of its portability. Yeah I also use Reaper for further processing as well 😊👍
What I hear is the neumann is more quiet. the self noise you can hear specially in the end. Anyway it's a really nice recorder. Also with the sterio mice. The record gear doesn't matter. It's the sound and music you make that make the record great.
Hi, thanks for the comment. Yeah for sure the Neumann definitely is a little quieter but it’s still a very impressive sound for those small onboard mics! 👍
I've had a Zoom H2n for YEARS and only now am I starting to think about recording acoustic. It's a little daunting. I have previously used Tracktion DAW and Toneport UX2 interface for recording electric guitars and that's fine. But coming to which mic, how many and placement for acoustic is another ball game. I have no idea how to connect the H2n to my computer. I have a Rode NT1 so was thinking I could do a stereo recording by using that. But this means two separate tracks which I have to sync up (which is no issue if I can hook both the Zoom up to my DAW and the Rode at the same time). Else the H4n looks to be an easier solution. Great video!
Hi, thanks for the comment. Yeah I'm not sure about the H2n in terms of what connections it has? The H4n can connect via usb and you can basically use it as an interface which is cool. Are you wanting to use the Rode NT1 and the H2n at the same time? If you can't connect the H2n to your interface then I guess you could always just record it directly onto the H2n and then transfer the file onto the DAW after. Something like that could work maybe?
@@FabianHollandGuitar Very cool that the H4n can be used as an interface... and because the dual-mic is there, no need to mess around with setting up two separate mics regarding phasing issues. Just plug it in, you get two stereo tracks and both those files can be sent separately (and in sync) to the editor, right? I will have to watch your video again- this really seems like a complete winner and also so much cheaper than dedicated high-end mics.
@@tommysixstring5094 sorry I must have missed this comment. Yeah when you record with just the on board mics it's records it as one stereo track, you can't control each mic separately. But the way that they're positioned it's designed to capture as one stereo track anyway. And then of course you can add other external mics to it as well if you wish. Hope that makes sense? Cheers
@@FabianHollandGuitar Ah that's great info and top marks for getting back to me on that point
I want to get stereo mic to use on top of camcorder for everyday and youtube and mic to sample sound outdoor and indoor for music and game sounds, my plan is to get Sennheiser MKE 440 stereo mic but seem like Zoom M3 can do it and also be a shotgun mic for sampling, and from what I understand, shotgun and small diaphragm pencil condenser mic is just different with and without the side vents, is this mean I can just cover up the side of shotgun mic, maybe leave above expose a bit because pencil condenser mic do have, then it will become a pencil condenser basically? And I also thought to get Line Audio CM4 with Zoom F3 but I haven't found a angled adaptor to make the mic straight plug into the recorder to become a small stereo mic, is there something like that? Should I just get the M3 for everything? Or remove the MKE 440 but add the CM4 when I'm indoor or still remove it?
Hi, sorry for not replying right away. I'm just getting through my comments now. Yeah that sounds interesting, I don't have much experience with that Sennheiser mic or the Zoom M3 but both look great!I always feel that the simpler the better, especially if you're recording outdoors. Maybe the M3 for everything could be the way to go?
When you recorded with the Neumann KM-184 how did you connect it to the zoom, via the EXT MIC on the back, or through one of the two ports at the bottom? Also, if you connect the microphone to a port, will it be MONO or STEREO? or does it depend on the microphone? Thanks!
Hi, thanks for the question! I plugged the mic into one of the XLR ports in the bottom, you have to use these ports if you’re using a condenser mic.
You can choose it to be mono or stereo on the HN4 Pro, most people would probably choose stereo. :-)
Great video and tune! I'm wondering if this recordervhas an instant playback that doesn't require headphones while I'm writing songs trying out different vocal keys and constantly stopping and starting takes and evaluating the singing. Thanks Fabian.
Hi, thanks for the question. Yeah absolutely you can listen back instantly to what you’ve just recorded for sure 👍 what it’s not so good for is if you want to do punch in and punch out type of recording, in that case a DAW would be better.
@FabianHollandGuitar Thanks Fabian, it's a big help.
Thank you for your video ! What is you WAV settings?
Hi, no problem! I think I have it on 16 bit and 48khz. Thanks
I would like to record electric guitar that is not amplified. At the location of the pickups Do you think this zoom may be able to do so? I have tried an SM57 very close to the bridge and cranked up the gain but it just has to much noise. Thank you.
Hi, what kind of electric guitar is it? if It's some kind of hollow body then it may work fine but if you're trying to record a solid body electric with a mic and no amp then you're just going to get the sound of the strings which I don't see much point in recording? thanks for the question :-)
Great informative video, but also a really good song! Your singing and playing is great 👏What's the song called?
Hi, thanks so much!! Glad you enjoyed the music. It’s an original song called ‘Another Monday’ 😊👍
Yeah! Standalone recorders are awesome! The learning curve of computers is so high, with a standalone recorder just press record!
Exactly, Glad you agree🙂 Thanks for the comment!
HI Fabian 👋 What mic level do you recommend when recording voice and guitar? (Just like what you did)
Hi, I try and aim somewhere between -12 and -6 db. I find that gives me lots of head room so if I happen to get a lot louder at any point there won't be any clipping. Cheers🙂
I started multitracking in the 80s with the PortaStudio. I still prefer actually recording with a standalone recorder because of the simplicity…mixing is better on the iPad or computer, but I do not like a complex set up distracting from performing. I have found Zoom recorders have better clean levels.
Hi, thanks for the comment. Nice! Yeah I also love these handy recorders for their portability, I often take my zoom with me when I’m away from home 😊
Hi Fabian,
Congratulations again for this video. The song is very beautiful.
I have a question, when you record with the H4N pro, there is no effect on your voice? Are you in stereo or MTR mode?
Thank you for your advice, I'm trying to record myself with my the H4N pro that I just bought and I find your recording incredible. I want the same ! ..even if I don't have your talent :))
Take care!
Hi, thanks for your question. if I record using just one mic then I’ll have it in Stereo but then if I’m using 2 or more mics then I’ll use the multitrack option. I don’t use any effects that are on the H4N Pro, sometimes I’ll run a mic through an external preamp and then through a reverb unit and then into the Zoom recorder. I don’t always do this though, and if I’m using just the mics on the zoom then I won’t use any effects when recording but I may add effects later in the DAW for further processing. Hope that helps?
thanks a lot for your answer ! :)@@FabianHollandGuitar
A last question : ). Wich format do you use for recording ? Wave 44, 48 ... ?
Hi bro. Can you share the audio settings for zoom h4 please. Because I cant use witouth deep sound. There is always bad deep sound. Love from Turkey😊
Hi, thanks for the comment. Yeah absolutely! So most of what I’m doing is in the mic setup. So I’m not using any effects or EQ in the Zoom at all. I spend my time positioning the mic until I get the sound that I want. The only thing I might change on the zoom is the way it records (mode) so if I’m using one mic then I’ll just use the stereo mode and if I’m recording with multiple mics I’ll record in the multitrack mode. Are you using the onboard mics to record or are you using external mics?
Hi ! Thanks for the video. Can you plug in your electric guitar and then record both the guitar and the voice at the same time in one recording? Thank you !
Hi, thanks for the question. I’m not sure? I’ll have to find out and check! Usually I record either just the onboard mics or just use the preamps. I think it might be possible but I’ll have to check and let you know .
Hello Fabian and thanks for the video, which I find very helpful and quite empowering in convincing a couple of musicians out there that you don't have to go for the expensive set up to start recording yourself. Quick additional question: may I ask with what you are holding your recorder? Are you using a tripod or a mic stand? Looking online for the right tool and I could not make up my mind just yet. Thanks!
Hi, thanks for the comment. Glad you enjoyed the video. I’m actually using a small mic stand with a little thread converter that fits into the zoom. The thread converter also has a little ball join so I can angle the recorder in different positions. I’m not sure what it’s called? But the thread on the zoom is the same that fits any camera gear which is slightly smaller than what’s on a mic stand. Hope that helps?
@@FabianHollandGuitar Thanks for taking the time to answer. I see very well what kind of piece of hardware you are refering to, and it's very helpful to know about your setup. I was actually contemplating doing the same but with a "regular" stand-up-position mic stand.
Zoom seems to give more crisp audio. I like your channel. And then is there any mobile that records close to zoom? I have Note 10 but I don't like my guitar recorded with it. Yes I tried the mobile so close to the guitar - not satisfactory
Hi, thanks. Glad you like the channel. I think the problem with phones is the mic has to be so small that it's very hard for it to compete with the quality of larger mics. I think there's some mics that are made to be plugged into phones that apparently aren't too bad, but I haven't heard them personally.
Thank you.. I have zoom h6 but I don't use😢😢 .. I will start 😊
Oh yeah H6 is great! I hope this inspired you to start using it ;-)
is it good for recording world sounds to be used for putting in my music? eg. rain, water, train, birds, transport?
Hi, oh for sure! I think a lot of people use the Zoom H4N Pro for this very purpose!
Have you used the R4 from Zoom yet? I just got one but it seems the older H4n does more in terms of sound capture.
Hi there, no I haven't tried the R4 yet. It looks more set up for multitrack recording. Yeah I see there's a very small mic on the R4 but it's probably not going to capture sound the same way as the H4N mics. Will you be using external mics with the R4?
I just got an old H4N, i love recording my AJ220S for my acoustic music. I hate sitting behine a screen and play. It's much nicer to sit with this recorder and just play!
Hi, thanks for the comment. Yeah absolutely, that’s one of the reasons I love these handy recorders 😊👍
What mic would you recommend for this for recording acoustic guitar or banjo
Hi, to start with you can absolutely use the mics that come with the Zoom. They’re great for acoustic instruments. It gets a little tricky when it comes to recording vocals and guitar, still possible though.
The song in the end is very beautiful! can i listen to the full version?
Hi, thanks so much! Yes absolutely! I have the full version on my channel and also on all streaming platforms. The song is called “Another Monday”
@@FabianHollandGuitar thank you, great job!🔥
btw happy new year!🎄☃️🎁🎅🤶🎉
Hey Fabian, new subscriber and just have a quick question. Which stand would you recommend for the HN4 pro, desktop and full size?
Hi, thanks for subscribing!! I don't use any desktop stands, I just use normal microphone boom stands with mine and I have these little adapter threds which allow me to fix it onto mic stands. Hope that helps!
@@FabianHollandGuitar magic, that’ll do nicely. Cheers
the sound i,s great !! but how do you do after ? what do you use as card sound ? how do use as sofware ? do you add effect after or not ? I SEARCH how make easy video and recording tutorial ?
Hi, thanks! I usually use Reaper as my DAW. I sometimes add effects after and sometimes before. What do you mean by "card Sound"? do you mean audio interface?
@@FabianHollandGuitar YES AUDIO INTERFACE like scarlett etc
Sounds great…what about mic distance and mode?
Hi, thanks! For mode I'm just using the stereo mics on the top and I usually start with about 6 inches from the source and then listen and adjust from there. Maybe I'll do another more in-depth video on this in the future?
Hi Fabian. Are you using the stereo mode for this? Any setting tips? Great video thanks
Hi, yes I am using Stereo mode for this. I just try to not have my gain up too high and keep the mics a little closer to the sound source, but I’ll be doing lots more videos on this topic in the near future. Thanks!
@@FabianHollandGuitar Great advice thanks again Fabian! I will subscribe and i can't wait for more videos on this topic!
Hello there and thanks for the video. I have a question if you might be of help. Have you recorded line level signal straight from an amp to your zoom recorder? And if so, did it feel good enough to your ears? (Based on this video I can tell I trust your ears)
Hi, thanks for the question. Glad you enjoyed the video! Do you mean an electric guitar amp or acoustic?
@@FabianHollandGuitar I found the answer I was looking for, Fabian, thanks for responding. Plus you got a subscriber and a follower on spotify, I'll be listening to your records on my summer roadtrips. Wish you all the best
@@nkzagas no problem, glad you found the answer. Ah great, thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed my music as well. Cheers 😊
@@nkzagaswhat was the answer can you record straight from an amp to the zoom and is it cleaner then the xy mics picking up the sound in the room? I would think so without any room acoustic noise from rooms without sound treatments.
hi thanks for the content. question: after recording - can i process the file? so its actually replacing mic+daw?
Hi, thanks for the question. Yes you can render an audio file just like you can on a DAW but then obviously you still have to get it onto a computer if you want to share that file in any way, which is also very quick and easy with an SD card reader.
@@FabianHollandGuitar ok. can i refer this situation like in videography? that if you are not taking the file to a pc - its like on shooting in auto mode, and youre letting zoom decide for you? instead of shooting c-log/raw file and proccess in primiere or something? what im trying to undestand - its if the zoom file will be good enough as it is
@@yosefco I think so yes, you can export it as a WAV file which is a high quality audio file.
The Zoom sounds natural in fact better than the Neumann IMO. But i am curious how to include a click while recording?
Thanks, yeah those zoom mics are amazing! I think there's an option to have a click in your headphones whilst recording on the H4n, I haven't tried it though so I don't know for sure?
Are you recording with some effects or everything on the device is off? I am trying to figure out what is the best setting to record vocal with acoustic guitar.
Hi, thanks for the question, sorry for my late reply! I’m not recording with any effects, I don’t find the effects in the zoom to be very good so I always record without them. I’ll add effects usually after in the DAW.
In which mediaval tabern i can go and see you perform?
😂
Hey i want to record train sounds, animals sounds, nature. Would you recommend this for professional beat and sound making?
Hi, yeah absolutely! This would be ideal for that. 👍
@FabianHollandGuitar appreciate you man. You got a new sub and like.
What's the song you starting to play at 6:47?
I like it. I would like to hear it by you in a full length.
OK... I just found it😀
ruclips.net/video/S-DCd_uV4_A/видео.htmlsi=jM6RWkwdSt8MThze
Hi, thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. I think that one was my own original song called “Another Monday” you can find it everywhere online.
You plug your headphones into the recorder? How to sync the audio with the video?
Hi Jasper, yeah headphones go right into the recorder. I can control the volume of what I'm hearing separate to the recording volume level. What do you use to record? I had a look at your channel by the way, what's that song "old hotel room recording"? Really beautiful song!! did you write that?
Oh and I sync the audio with the video in Adobe Premier Pro, but that can be done with any video editing program.
Would you recommend this for talking/podcasting? Does it need to be plugged into a wall or does it run on batteries?
Hi, yeah you can absolutely use this for podcasting. It runs on batteries and you also have to option to plug it into mains power as well. Also if you decide to get a different mic later on to maybe a sm7b then you can do that and still use the zoom to record everything.
@@FabianHollandGuitar so this recorder has enough power to provide the 60db gain that the sm7b needs? I'm not a singer but would like a simple and portable solution for podcasting and later on with an external XLR mic like the mighty sm7b.
@@patricklacson I haven't tried it but I'm sure it would be fine. You can get mic boosters that are little preamps that go in between the recorder and the mic that provide extra clean gain. They're designed for mics like the sm7b. I use one when using my ribbon mics because they also require lots of gain.
Thank you Fabian for the help and this great review!
how do you get such clear crisp sound out of that h4n pro with no treatment?
what's the gain you use to record?
do you use the built in compressor to get that signal/noise ratio up?
my recordings using gain = 70 sounds horrible i can't barely hear that
Hi Luiz, thanks for the question. I try to have the level somewhere between -12 and -6 dB when I record. I can't remember how high I had the gain for this recording but I do try and get the zoom mics pretty close to the source so I don't have to have the gain too high.
I tend not to use any of the on board effects on the zoom and almost always just record it clean and then if I feel I need to I will add EQ and Compression...etc after in the DAW.
I really experiment with mic placement before I record and sometimes I'll spend 30 or 40 mins getting the mic placement just right before I do a take.
Are you recording just guitar or guitar and vocals with the zoom?
@@FabianHollandGuitar hi Fabian . Tnx for the detailed explanation . I only record my acoustic guitar.
@@Dodge5100 No problem! ah okay, then it should be a little easier to get a good sound if you're just recording acoustic guitar. Do you have the H4N Pro? You making sure you have fresh strings on and your guitar sounds good before you record? Sorry, I know it's obvious but a lot of people overlook this so I have to ask.
Wow, the zoom sounds very impressive. To my ears very comparable with the Neumann although perhaps a little darker. Is it easy using this device for audio whilst using my phone for video? Can I somehow marry the two, would anyone be able to recommend some straightforward software that can do this. 🙏 Beautiful song mate 🎶
Hi, thanks for the comment!! Glad you enjoyed the video! Yeah absolutely you can connect the zoom to your phone! I’m actually about to do a video about this very topic 😉. You can connect it via a usb cable (you do need an adapter though that allows you to send extra power to the zoom because just a phone can’t give it enough juice, but you could use a power bank for example)
And then your phone will automatically use the zoom as an audio input when you do any kind of recording with your phone! You could even do live streams using this setup!! Pretty cool 😎 thanks 🙏
@@FabianHollandGuitar ah awesome! Good to know. Thanks
Anyone used one for a drum kit? It looks like the right call for a portable recorder nowadays, just curious how it'll handle the harshness and attack of cymbals crashing
Hi, thanks for the question! Ive never used it with a drum kit but hopefully someone else has on here that could let you know! :-)
Great song cat n’ thanks for you r work. God bless you!
SOLI DEO GLORIA
(To The Glory Of God Alone)
Father, Son & Holy Spirit
-Ronnie
Hi, thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed the video 😊
can I record play along drumless, straight from zoom h4 recorder ?
Hi, could you rephrase the question? Do you mean can you play along with a drum track? Or without any drums at all?
@@FabianHollandGuitar . I heard It's possible to set a drumless track in the h4 than I can record the drums from the h4. With a earphone plugged in the h4 I listen to the drumless track play the drums and record the drums over. .. is understandable? Thanks 👍
Can I use it with phone as a mic without SD card?
Hi, sorry for the late reply. Yeah you can! Just make sure you have the right cable from your phone to the Zoom. You also an adapter that connects to power as a phone is not strong enough to power the Zoom.
Hi Fabian
Thanks for the review.
I have wrote quite a lot of my own songs and wanted somthing good to record them on. I have found an unused empty chapel that gives great acustic's, which I thought would beca great place to record my songs. It is just my voice at the moment while I learn finger picking on my guitar. Do you think this recorder would be good for in an chapel, eventually, which has a lovely echo sound. I would like to put them on CD later through a CD writer. I I look forward to your reply.
Many Thanks Teresa
Hi Teresa, sorry I thought I had replied to your comment but looks like I didn't?
Yeah this could sound great in a chapel for sure! I've never tried it though so I couldn't say for sure? Also If you wanted to you could always upgrade the mics and get some external mics and use them.
Thanks Fabian! Like many others, I did start off - just as you said - with mic, interface & DAW.
My biggest problem was that I wasn’t going to carry my amateur home studio with me everywhere I went + the time it takes to set it all up including presets.
Especially when jamming or simply experimenting, I’d be like, “Oh that sounds kind of cool” but then I wouldn’t go and record it b/c of the setup hassle.
So, field recorders like h4n are great for that, especially since you could plug in two better mics. I find myself concentrating more on mic placement than setup parameters which is great. Later on, if I want to, I can just download the file to the DAW and work with mixing/mastering. I personally prefer that work flow.
Hi, thanks for your comment. Yeah exactly! I feel the same way. I always take my Zoom with me when I go away on holiday because it's great for that.
I also often take the recording and move it into the DAW after I record. But I find the more time I spend getting the mic position right and finding the sound I want before I hit record then the less tweaking I have to do in the DAW after.
@@FabianHollandGuitar Exactly! Being able to spend more time positioning the mics and not having to worry about the interface & DAW settings takes a load off my mind, allowing me to concentrate more on the recording process.
On top of that, had I known back then what I know now, you don’t need to purchase an audio interface right away. The h4n can also be used as an audio interface. So instead of setting up that initial studio by getting mic(s), interface and DAW … you can get mic(s), ZOOM h4n and DAW.
That way you can save some $. Especially since you can just get 1 mic and use the h4n’s integrated mics as the 2nd one.
@@YouGuysAreAmazing yeah exactly this is why I think the H4n is a great way to start because it's very simple and easy to start recording right away but also allows you to expand and build apon that when you need to 😊👍
You got that right, computers, unless you are very VERY knowledgeable with them are not for the musician. I am a computer expert, using them for graphic design and video editing since 1980s when we used expensive mainframes for graphic design and lithography. Today I use MACs and PCs for my business work in graphic design and video. But for music I am 100% hardware recording studio including the recorder, a 24 track recorder. All my clients for graphic design use a computer, but are nearly totally incompetent with them, I ended up becoming a computer repair man for them all as well as their graphic designer. Most people are so horrible with computers they can't even store and recall files or understand the file hierarchy system. There is NO WAY these people can record their music on a DAW without extreme stress, while troubleshooting problems kill their creativity and recording sessions. I am a witness to that stress from all my clients.
If you are a professional musician, there is very little to fix when a track is completed, and no need for computers fancy plug-in fix it all technology. Prepared musically for the recording process is all that is necessary. I started recording my music 55 years ago on 2 track reel tape. Then in the 80s tried the 4track cassette for about 3 months and quit, awful sound quality. Then used MIDI recording for keyboards for a while, until buying the Roland VS880 hard disk recorder 8 track. Then used computers for a while, but hated it. Then I bought a SD hardware 24 track recorder and never looked back, this was it. Recorded music should not be seen and edited to perfection like building a brick wall of clips, the music isn't human. Music needs edited by only the ear, recorded by the ear, mastered by the ear, and listened to by humans.
Hi, thanks so much for your input on this! I totally agree! Which 24 track SD recorder do you use? I still use a DAW for some post processing and sometimes I record directly but I like to do as little as possible in the DAW. The more I can do for the sound before I hit record then the less I have to do after.
ZoomR24, no longer in production. I will replace it with the new Zoom L20, I don't overdub anymore, record all in one take, it will be nice to have 20 tracks to mix down. I use a DAW to prepare my own samples, and will probably buy a standalone mastering software for solo piano. @@FabianHollandGuitar
Were the external mics plugged into the zoom?
Hi Hans, yes the Neumann km184 which I was comparing the zoom mics with was going directly into the zoom with no EQ or any post processing, and the same with the Zoom mics. Just the raw WAV file directly into my video editing software.
@@FabianHollandGuitar crazy how good it sounds
I rewatched this just and realized you did put that the mics were direct into the unit. ..oops. Anyway great video and great advice. Being someone who mostly recorded in a studio i emphasize with others who try to record themselves and your wisdom and advice is spot on! I am curious, have you tried a ribbon mic into it?
@@hansstorsberg2022 no worries at all 😊. Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video. I have tried ribbon mics directly into the zoom but I have to use a mic booster to get any real gain out of it. I use the Triton Audio FetHead. Cheers Hans 😊
i have scarlett 2i2 and shure mic but i want this to record loud vocals in the car instead of home so noone will bother me
The H4N would be perfect for that 😊👍
i went from stand alone to daw then back t0 stand alone. i have a boss micro br br 80 i l0ve it gets the ideal down fast and d0nt have t0 deal with lag 0r deal with re set buffer as i record have not l00k back.
The only question I really have is does the zoom hold the same quality for strumming as it does for fingerpicking or do you lose some of the quality as the intensity of the dynamics increases?
Hi, thanks for the question. In the small amount of strumming that i've tried I didn't hear any lack of quality but as soon as I get a chance I'll do a more in depth test and get back to you. I only fingerpick myself so I haven't really tried much strumming with it at all.
Zoom H4n pro has an insane ammount of features, it's actually harder to learn than FL studio, for example.
Yeah If you want to learn all of its features that's true it's quite a lot. I just use it for my very basic needs though and with that I find it much easier than recording on my computer.
@@FabianHollandGuitar Yeah, one take recordings are easy, but the multitrack recording is more complicated. Singer Jack Broadbent said he recorded his whole album only with a zoom h4n pro. The result is not bad.
@@thiagocursinomusic definitely one take recording is less complicated than multitrack recording but I wouldn't say it's easy. Getting the perfect sound with a minimal setup and a great performance all in one take with no edits definitely has its challenges. I've gotta check out this Jack Broadbent's album, sounds interesting.