Sound for Video Session - ZOOM H4essential first test & Q&A
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- Опубликовано: 10 июл 2024
- The ZOOM H4essential is a new version of a very well known handy field recorder. The original H4 was my first audio recorder back in 2007. It was super convenient and affordably priced and a great way to get a start in recording sound for podcasts and video. But it had some major weaknesses, too: Preamps which didn't supply much gain and were quite noisy when pushed to higher gain levels, odd controls, and not the greatest build quality. But the newer versions have become progressively better and, astonishingly, the newest version H4essential is still priced at only $200 USD. So we bought one to try it out. Oh, and they added 32-bit float recording which a lot of prosumers, in particular, find quite useful.
We'll also answer your sound for video questions.
If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses at school.learnlightandsound.com including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. We have a course on sound for live-streaming with the ATEM Mini, Introduction to Izotope RX for Dialogue Audio, and Mixing fundamentals in DaVinci Resolve Fairlight.
Gear I often use or that we mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
- ZOOM H4essential audio field recorder - Amazon geni.us/Nqcmdr
- ZOOM H6essential audio field recorder - Amazon geni.us/IQuRT
- ZOOM H1essential audio field recorder - Amazon geni.us/Cc6r9dM
- Mackie DLZ Creator XS adaptive audio mixer - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/6lDtu69
- Mackie DLZ Creator adaptive audio mixer (the original, bigger one) - B&H, Amazon geni.us/42KrX0
- Earthworks ETHOS microphone - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/8G8UdBB
- Allen & Heath SQ5 digital mixing board - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/sRxFU90
- Sound Devices 888 field recorder/mixer with Dante - B&H, Sweetwater geni.us/zAryW4J
- Sound Devices MixPre II Series Recorders - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/O8e0
- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Amazon geni.us/InspOl
- Teleprompter Ikan 17" high bright - B&H geni.us/RcuXD3
- Canon C200 Camera - B&H geni.us/9Zi4m4a
- Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 lens - B&H, Amazon geni.us/kZyU7e
- ATEM Mini Extreme & Extreme ISO - B&H, DVE Store, Amazon geni.us/b8my
- Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channel, pre-amp, EQ, compressor - Sweetwater, B&H geni.us/9ZfE77
- Universal Audio 6176 channel strip pre-amp, EQ, compressor - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/505L55n
The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself: geni.us/G7by
Copyright 2024, Curtis Judd
00:00 Start
02:42 Beginning of stream
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I loved this video, I recently purchased my Zoom h4e and it’s awesome for what I do. Just a quick note, press the stop button to exit from all menus. Have a great day!!
I've been waiting for this video since Zoom announced this "Essential" product line
I totally agree! Can’t wait to hear his thoughts!
Hopefully the full review will be useful for you. 👍
Thank you for taking the time to educate me. I hope you have a great day!
Hi Curtis. Following my comment during the ‘live’ concerning noise, you pointed out to me that the noise I was getting on the H1e is indeed, mostly due to the mics.
When I first got the H1e, ‘me being me’ …. Pushed the poor recorder too hard with tiny sounds and massive boosting in post. Just to test what 32 bit actually does. That’s where 32 bit just can’t rescue it because the noise is there at the start of the chain.
32 bit really isn’t the great audio ‘saviour’ that is sometimes touted around on RUclips.
So I played around today with it while making a video, using it more ‘normally’ and noise levels weren’t too bad at all. Great little starter mic.
I see now that Amazon are putting out the older H6 cheaper than the H4n. I rather like the H6 and at around £190 it’s quite a bargain; all because of the H6E release!
Thanks for such a great ‘live’ broadcast. I watched on a large 4K screen and boy have you got the quality of the stream up to a high level!!
Thanks for the follow-up, for sharing your experience, Ian. Its a pleasure to hear from you and I hope you're staying well!
Im glad i saw this. I had the H4e and recorded my band’s rehearsal with it. I normally use a small Roland R-07 on a stand in the middle of the room. With the H4e i thought the quality was nicer, but after a while i started to hear low end rumble. Almost like someone was touching the stand. Non one was near it and it wasn’t always when the full band were playing. I sent it back and got a H4n Pro, but sending that back as it runs out of power too quickly. I was about to get another H4e, but not sure now.
Yes, these handy recorders have to make sacrifices somewhere...
I like mine. Works as expected. Only thing I’d change is better preamps.
I use the h4e as an Interface on my MacBook to make VoiceOver in Davinci Resolve and Gerry impressed over the Performance if i got. the handling of the 32bit files right.
Special thanks for showing the boot time. Boot time on H4n Pro is terrible. This one boots in 2 seconds!
What is the noise floor for the H4 essential?
Hi, I just purchased H4 Essential when I transferred files on pc the audio levels are to low
Also, the audio sounds like it is compressed. Am I doing something wrong? What do you recommend?
I have H4n Black and it is built like a tank. How does this feel?
Hello Curtis, where does the Zoom R4 MultiTrak recorder fall in between these two? Thanks.
I'm curious if this has an output limiter similar to what the F3 has (I think the F3 has that?). When recording in 32 bit float on a MixPre the limiter on the headphone output is a really nice and useful feature; it means you won't have to hear horrible distortion if the mic is bumped if you're moving it around or there's something loud that peaks the L/R mix, and it can be used if you're recording something very dynamic and just want to squash the dynamic range a bit for ease of monitoring. It also protects your hearing in highly dynamic situations which is very important.
We'll see!
On the Zoom H4Pro you could Mark an audio file as it was recording, return during editing on the unit and hit Mark again. Can you do the same on the H4e?
With the Zoom H4 essential be able to record low frequencies below 20 Hz? what is the minimum it can record?
Can you compare it to the Tascam Portacapture series? Especially noise floor for the xlr and capsules. Thanks!
I don't have a Portacapture on hand, but I can run all the regular tests and see where it comes out.
Thanks@@LearnLightAndSoundSessions
so is it the same preamp as the zoom f3?
Hi Curtis. Sorry I missed this. I'd even set the notification. So what say you? Granted this was the 4. The 1 I'd get would be the 6. But well especially if you've used the H4N and newer H4N Pro do you agree with dark corner studios? What say you to the blind even if it is the case it's the same old preamps and what not?
Seems like better preamps than the previous H series recorders and the accessibility features - seems like a solid option!
Ah got ya. Good how would you say the pres compair to those of the H8? To me they seemed with my 8022 to sound 2 to 3 times more studio then those of the original 6. I recorded my 18 year old neighbor's friends's car, and it sounded 3 times more correct fuller and what not.
So maybe Aden was being nitpicky or maybe he wants the H recorders to get F guts.
There are those people.
But I guess you seem to have found that they are better.
Agai n though if you could just to see compair to the H8. Thanks a lot Kurtis.@@LearnLightAndSoundSessions
@@hamitcampos4989 The preamps are pretty neutral. It is the mic that makes a bigger difference to my ear.
How Do you change the frame rate ?
On of the down sides to Zoom is the timecode support. I recently did a musical where I recorded stage mics and got a noticeable drift. Looked into the UltraSync but its both expensive and clunky to work with. $750 to add timecode to 2 cameras and a recorder.
And also, timecode does not prevent drift, it just provides a starting sync point. Also note that cameras have a tendency to drift so watch for that as well.
@@LearnLightAndSoundSessions Yes I would need cameras with GenLock. The Canon XF605 has Genlock port but its $4,200 per camera so yeah. I believe you still can do genlock to any camera but you need the external generator to write timecode to one of the audio channels then softwares to change audio track to meta data (Da Vince Resolve). But again the amount of effort isn't worth it and I'm not sure if that is actually Genlock. This isn't a movie set so time stretching the audio is still best solution. Most performance aren't over 1 hr per half so even if cameras are out of sync a few frames it's not visually noticeable.
with battery doors - wonder if people can make a 3d print model for if they broke
Its the same audio quality how on Zoom h4n pro? Or on Zoom just h4n?
Seems better to both of those to me.
Ah what a shame. So it won't play stuff.
What about the F recorders? Could they? I think the only Zoom I've heard of that could was the H2N.
can record a track and listen to another track at the same time ?
Hoping they update the H5. I don't need a fancier screen. Just gives us 32 bit, combo jacks, and great battery life.
What would you like to see in an updated H5 that the H4e does not have?
Is this the best recorder under $500? If not can you pls educate me. Thx.
I'd look at the ZOOM F3 instead: ruclips.net/video/THEBOa0UUJo/видео.html
I do not have time today… what you think about a Europe adventure travel to the only UNESCO Biosphere Danube Delta in End of April to middle may? We take our sound gears and more with us.
Sounds fun!
@@LearnLightAndSoundSessions you can show the pictures in the Sunday Q&A … we have free places still. And for those that have trouble to sleep on a boat because sea sickness. There are Accomodations in normal appartements available. Target is fieldrecordings and to learn how to make nature melodies and rhythmns. Basics you can see each Saturday 9.00pm Berlin time (never announced just there) at the Pluginguru RUclips Channel. You saw a private video I send you. Beware I am a hobby user. Some flight prices I did check from Europe London and Paris from 50.-€ just. At least but not now the Fairlight EVO will be there in 1 or 2 years. If we get it programmed for remotely. This time we bring there Servers Keyboards Controllers microphones tripods etc.
Can the 3.5mm input stereo left and right channel be spilt in mono inside the recorder?
Not in the recorder, but in post.
@@LearnLightAndSoundSessions Thank you.
I'm guessing the tascam x6 is a better buy?
That'd probably be my preference, if it is everything that the X8 is with two fewer XLR inputs.
Has to be the most boring review ever
Definitely a contender for the all in one and done no fuss, no muss recorder. Quality of construction and reliability are curious factors. The XLR connectors now locking are nice. Neutrik? Unknown. Looks like a competent performer overall. Buries the 24 bit under the bragging 32 bit float, no so attractive to those adhere to the 48khz 24 bit standard. Will be curious on your review Curtis.
Thanks Vincent.