Menu
  • Home
    • Contact us
    • Privacy & Disclaimer
  • Amplifiers & Effects
    • A&eAccessories
      • Bags, Cases & Covers
      • Footswitches & Controllers
      • Parts
      • Stands
    • Guitar & Bass Amplifiers
      • Acoustic Guitar Amplifiers
      • Bass Guitar Amplifiers
      • Electric Guitar Amplifiers
    • Guitar Effects
      • Acoustic Guitar Effects
      • Bass Guitar Effects
      • Electric Guitar Effects
    • Keyboard Amplifiers
    • Power Amplifiers
  • Band & Orchestra
    • Brass
      • Alto Horns
      • Baritone Horns
      • Bugles
      • Cornets
      • Euphoniums
      • Flugelhorns
      • French Horns
      • Mellophones
      • Sousaphones
      • Trombones
      • Trumpets
      • Tubas
    • Concert Percussion
      • Concert Bass Drums
      • Concert Bells & Chimes
      • Concert Cymbals
      • Concert Snare Drums
      • Concert Tom-Toms
      • Glockenspiels
      • Gongs
      • Marimbas
      • Metallophones
      • Resonator Bells
      • Steel Drums
      • Timpanis
      • Xylophones
    • Marching Percussion
      • Marching Bass Drums
      • Marching Cymbals
      • Marching Snare Drums
      • Marching Tom-Toms
    • Orchestral Strings
      • Cellos
      • Harps
      • Upright Basses
      • Violas
      • Violins
    • Wind & Woodwinds
      • Bassoons
      • Clarinets
      • English Horns
      • Flutes
      • Oboes
      • Piccolos
      • Recorders
      • Saxophones
  • DJ, Electronic Music & Karaoke
    • DJ Equipment
      • CD Players
      • DJ Accessories
      • DJ Controllers
      • DJ Digital Media Players
      • DJ Headphones
      • DJ Sets
      • Mixers
      • Tape Decks
      • Turntables
    • Electronic Music
      • Audio Samplers
      • Audio Sequencers
      • Drum Machines
      • Production Stations
      • Sound Modules
      • Tabletop Synthesizers
    • Karaoke Equipment
      • Bags & Cases
      • Players
      • Stands & Hardware
      • Systems
  • Drums & Percussion
    • Drum Sets & Set Components
      • Bells & Chimes
      • Cymbals
      • Drum Sets
      • Drums
      • Mounted Tambourines
    • Electronic Drums
      • Controllers
      • e-Drum Sets
      • Electronic Drum Amps
      • Electronic Pads
      • Triggers
    • Folk & World Hand Drums
      • Ashikos
      • Bodhrans & Frame Drums
      • Bongos
      • Congas, Quintos & Tumbas
      • Djembes
      • Doumbeks & Darbukas
      • Ocean Drums
      • Tablas
      • Talking Drums
      • Timbales
      • Udu Drums
    • Hand Percussion
      • Cowbells
      • Finger Cymbals
      • Folk & World percussions
      • Hand Bells & Chimes
      • Sound Effects
      • Tambourines
      • Triangles
      • Wood Blocks
  • Guitars
    • Acoustic Guitars
      • Beginner Kits
      • Resonators
      • Steel-string Acoustics
    • Acoustic-Electric Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
      • Acoustic & Acoustic-Electric Basses
      • Bass Beginner Kits
      • Electric Basses
    • Classical & Nylon
    • Electric Guitars
      • Electric Beginner Kits
      • Hollow & Semi-Hollow Body
      • Lap & Pedal Steel Guitars
      • Solid Body

themusicsession

Musical Instruments

Menu
  • Accessories
      • Brass Accessories
      • Drum & Percussion Accessories
      • Folk & World Instrument Accessories
      • General Accessories
      • Guitar & Bass Accessories
      • Keyboard Accessories
      • Orchestral Strings Accessories
      • Wind & Woodwind Accessories
  • Keyboards
    • Digital Pianos
    • Electronic Keyboards
      • Portable Keyboards
      • Synthesizers & Workstations
    • Folk & World Keyboards
      • Accordions
      • Concertinas
      • Harmoniums
      • Thumb Pianos
    • MIDI Keyboards & Equipment
      • MIDI Cables
      • MIDI Controllers
      • MIDI Interfaces
      • MIDI Software
  • Live & Stage
      • Bags & Cases Stage
      • Lighting Equipment
      • Microphones
      • Monitors, Speakers & Subwoofers
      • PA Systems
      • Powered Mixers
      • Speaker Parts
      • Special Effects
      • Stage & Studio Cables
  • Stringed Folk & World
      • Autoharps
      • Banjos
      • Bouzoukis
      • Dulcimers
      • Guzhengs
      • Lutes
      • Mandolins
      • Ouds
      • Psalteries
      • Santoors
      • Sarods
      • Sitars
      • Strum Sticks
      • Tamburas
      • Ukuleles
      • Veenas
  • Studio Recording
      • Computer Recording
      • Headphone & In-Ear Monitors
      • Mastering Recorders
      • Mixers & Accessories
      • Multitrack Recorders
      • Portable Recorders
      • Power Conditioners
      • Signal Processors
      • Studio Environment
      • Studio Monitors
      • Studio Subwoofers
  • Wind & Woodwind Folk & World
      • Bagpipes
      • Bamboo Clarinets
      • Bamboo Flutes
      • Bamboo Saxophones
      • Bombards
      • Conch Shells
      • Didgeridoos
      • Fifes
      • Harmonicas
      • Kazoos
      • Neys
      • Ocarinas
      • Ojas
      • Pan Pipes
      • Shakuhachis
      • Shawms
      • Shenais
      • Shofars
      • Shruti Boxes
      • Whistles
      • Zurnas

Zoom H4N Handy Portable Digital Recorder


Zoom H4N Handy Portable Digital Recorder

$ 337.49

Amazon.com
Customer Reviews


681 of 691 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Kodak Zi8 + Zoom H4n Audio Test + Review, March 6, 2010
By 
Oresti Tsonopoulos (Brooklyn, NY) – See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
  

Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
This review is from: Zoom H4N Handy Portable Digital Recorder (Electronics)


Customer Video Review Length:: 1:42 Mins

After having done a quick video test for the Kodak Zi8, I decided to do something which would focus more on its audio recording capabilities. I also wanted to test the Zoom H4n, a portable flash recorded I recently purchased… so, here I am, killing two birds with one stone.

I setup the Kodak Zi8 about 5 feet from the sound source, which is an upright piano… that’s me noodling on it. The Zi8 is mounted on a tripod.

About 15 feet away from the piano, I’ve setup the Zoom H4n recorder. This unit has an XY stereo microphone built into it. It also has the ability to record two inputs, in the form of XLR or 1/4-inch. So, we’ll be hearing the built in XY microphone on the unit as well as a pair of AKG 414s which I positioned above the piano, pointing into the open lid.

“Kodak Zi8 Internal Microphone”
Here we hear the internal microphone on the Zi8. Mono, a bit noisy and perhaps a little too close to the piano to capture a clean sound. In any case, this does the trick for capturing an idea, but definitely doesn’t cut it if you’re looking for high-quality audio.

“Zoom H4n XY Microphone”
Here the stereo image opens up suddenly. This XY microphone which is built into the unit is capturing a very natural, coincident stereo sound. It’s a very reflective room, so you hear that, as the microphone is about 15 feet from the sound source.

“Zoom H4n Pair AKG 414s”
Here we’re hearing the pair of AKG 414 microphones pointing into the piano. Because the microphones are very close to the sound source, there is significantly less “room” sound. This would be more suitable for a studio recording, while the XY sound would be more appropriate in perhaps a classical or field recording.

“Zoom H4n Mix of XY + 414s”
Here we have the best of both worlds. We have a blend of the direct signal from the 414s AND some of the room sound from the XY microphone. I believe this is the best overall option in most scenarios.

Finally we return to the Zi8 internal microphone to hear the major difference when using external audio equipment. At under 0, I believe the Zi8 does a great job capturing the visual and at under 0, the Zoom H4n does a remarkable job with the audio.

[…]

0

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No

Report abuse
| Permalink

Comment Comments (58)


307 of 316 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best field recorders out there, March 28, 2009
By 
Aaron Morris (Seattle, Wa USA) – See all my reviews

This review is from: Zoom H4N Handy Portable Digital Recorder (Electronics)

Just like the customer above me, I have a fairly early model (serial 2211). I don’t imagine them having any revisions or anything, because this unit is really solid. Let me start by saying that this device should not be considered a Mic in its own right. Sure, it has two condenser microphones stuck on top to record in stereo, but I wouldn’t use these mics in any studio unless I had nothing better. This unit is for those people who want to record in the field, and be able to capture 4 tracks of audio in a handheld device.

First, the build quality. Obviously Zoom took a lot of criticism to heart from their first H2 and H4 models. The H4n sports a “rubberized” hardshell design that’s easy to grip, and seems to stand up well to surface scratches. (Mind you, the rubber texture can attract greasy fingerprints which can get annoying if you’re a gadget freak like me). The top of the unit where the mics are is metal. There is some plastic on the unit, but definitely better designed than the previous two recorders from zoom. The buttons are easy to press, and the screen is large, allowing you to see everything you need to very easily.

The poster above me wondered why there was no metal cage protecting the microphones (like the previous H4 had). The answer to this is the switchable pattern on the microphones. Each mic can be twisted and swiveled to change the directionality that the mic pics up. In its native position the mics pic up at a 90 degree angle, giving a pretty good stereo image. But when you twist them, the mics are then a 120 degree angle. This is good for picking up sources that are farther away, or even ambient sounds for a wider stereo image. If there was a metal cage over the mics, you couldn’t reach your fingers in to twist them. Overall, I would rather have a switchable pickup pattern, than a protective cage. Just don’t drop a 0 recorder.

Second, the packaging. Inside the box, the unit came with a hardshell plastic carrying case, usb cable, foam windscreen, ac adapter, mic stand adapter, manuals and cubase le software, and a 1gb memory card. This is leaps and bounds above the competition. Most other recorders won’t come with any of this. Other companies will even make you buy your own ac adapter and memory card. And Zoom went even further and added a plastic carrying case (for those of you worried about dropping it). They were definitely thinking about the customers on this one.

Third, and most importantly, the sound quality. This is why you buy the unit right? The sound quality has to be good or nothing else matters. Overall I was surprisingly impressed with the sound quality. I am an audio engineering student, going to school for sound reproduction, and sound reinforcement. Needless to say, I know my way around a microphone. I was expecting this unit to sound average, just like a pocket (or handheld) recorder usually sounds. But in fact, the H4n sounds pretty decent. The high end is nice and defined, the microphones built into the unit sound really clear. The one thing I can say about the sound is that it is accurate. I have recorded a few tests using my voice, a guitar, and some other misc. elements. I did notice that the microphones gave off a little bit of condenser hiss when the input gain was turned up. This could probably be solved or lessened if you were to get closer to the object and turn down the recording level. But still, it worries me to have a little bit of noise floor coming from the mics, especially if I were to use the recordings for post production video work.

The other thing I noticed was a lack of bass response. This could have been because I was a foot or two away from the microphones, but the bass on the microphones was a little lacking. My voice sounded a little thin. My guitar sounded fine, but guitars don’t really have a lot of low end in the first place. Also watch out for handling noise. If you think that you’re going to carry the unit around and do interviews while holding it, forget it. All handheld recorders suffer from this (I’ve read), but its true for this unit as well. Anytime you hold the H4n and move it around, you can hear low end rumbling and handling noise. Just use a tripod, or the included hand/mic clip adapter and you should be fine. (Also get a better windscreen if you’re going to use it outside, the one included doesn’t do anything outdoors for wind noise. You should buy a fuzzy or “hairy” windscreen if you want to use it outside)

Overall I think this recorder is the best on the market right now. Although there are a few units that have better sounding built in microphones (sony), it’s only marginally better. Plus the H4 is cheaper (by about 0) and has more build in features/functionality. Like the fact that the H4n can record with two built in mics, and two XLR mics simultaneously (4 tracks at once). This means that you can record with the built in mics, but also use your own…

Read more

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No

Report abuse
| Permalink

Comment Comments (14)


192 of 197 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Impressive with minor flaws, April 11, 2009
By 
Amazon Customer (Salt Lake City, Ut) – See all my reviews

This review is from: Zoom H4N Handy Portable Digital Recorder (Electronics)

In looking for a portable handheld recorder for scratch tracks and samples, I weighed the benefits of a few of the handhelds available today and settled on the H4n. The other recorders on my short list were the Edirol R-09 and Sony PCM-D50, and also the H4. So far the H4n hasn’t disappointed.

I settled on the Zoom H4n for a couple of reasons:

1) 1/4″ and XLR inputs with phantom power – Very handy for throwing a mic on a kick and snare, and the H4n will record those plus the internal condensor simultaneously, which is perfect to get the rest of the drum kit for some quick loop scratch tracks.

2) More geeked out features than the others – They are not needed but still fun to have. The H4n is like the Leatherman of handheld pocket recorders with plenty of built in effects (which sound really good btw), built in 4 track recorder mode, tuners and metronome, playback speed control, MP3 encoder, acts as USB audio interface (both input and output), built in monitor speaker, and more. I also like the little things I’m still discovering, like when I put Ni-MH batteries in and then plugin in the adapter it recharges the batteries.

3) Build – I like the build quality compared to the H4 – Not as nice as the Sony but the thing does feel solid and substantial in your hand. The built in mics are a little exposed without a wire cage on the top like others have, it would probably not be a good thing to drop this unit and have the mics hit first.

4) Cost – This recorder was midrange even with it being brand new. It’s less than the Sony and more than the H4 or R-09. I suspect the price will come down a bit when it’s been out for a couple months down to where the R-09 is now. For what it has built in it’s amazing to be it’s as inexpensive as it is.

5) Sound quality – The H4n sounds clean. I believe turning on the built in compressor, or boosting a really weak input signal with a lot of input gain could cause hiss, but for the most part I don’t notice any. Usually the noise floor is so low on what I’ve recorded that it is not audible. Some different mics and setups might have different results, time will tell.

6) Menu and button layout – I really like the way they set this unit up. Very easy to navigate and record with, and does what I want quickly with only a few caveats mentioned below.

7) SD card format – SD cards are cheap and readily available. I don’t care so much for the memory sticks the Sony uses.

Now the downsides, maybe all these handheld recorders suffer from similar issues but I’m going to give my first impressions never having used one before and the H4n is the best I have to compare with:

1) Menu system – While easy to navigate, still feels like it could use refining through a firmware update. It feels like it wasn’t finished when the product shipped. The fonts look a little like a 5 year old put them together, Zoom could have done better with the screen they put in the H4n. A lot of products like this are rushed to market to meet revenue goals, so hopefully they will get time to take another look at the firmware and make UI improvements. Also the firmware is trying to be a little too fancy with the menus. There is a little expanding box effect that happens when you open a menu, but it ends up just looking like screen artifacts when changing the menus. It would have been better to immediately jump to the menu, it would be faster and would look better.

2) File naming (another UI complaint) – I really wish the firmware gave you the ability to delete a character in a file name. The filename can be edited, but characters can only be added or changed, not deleted. If you use divide alot, the name gets larger and larger but cannot be made smaller. This is a bit annoying when combined with the divide implementation….

3) No divide while recording – there is no divide while recording that I could find. It seems like it would have been very easy to make one of the unused buttons act like a divide when recording. Instead you can set a “mark” (non editabled btw, after one is set it is permament in that wav file). The marks let you easily jump to that point and divide it later, but when it divides the file you end up with an ‘A’ or a ‘B’ tacked on to the filename. Now, imagine recording an entire gig or practice with only marks to use to delimit the songs, and then you have to divide them later with the naming scheme and lack of delete character function I mentioned above. What you end up getting is files named something like ‘STE-001A.wav’, STE-001B.wav’, ‘STE-001BBBBA.wav’, and eventualy ‘STE-001BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBA.wav’ etc and there’s not a lot you can do on the device to fix it since the best you can do is replace the extra characters with spaces so that you end up with a file named something like ‘song blah .wav’ (you can plug it in as a USB interface later and fix all the filenames in the…

Read more

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 

Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No

Report abuse
| Permalink

Comment Comments (5)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

› See all 437 customer reviews…

v

Filed Under: Portable Recorders
Tagged With: Digital, Handy, Portable, Recorder, Zoom

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
guitar

Guitars

Full Size Electric Bass Guitar Starter Beginner Pack with Amp Case Strap Sunburst Package

About this item COMPLETE GUITAR SET: Your electric guitar set comes ready to play right out of the box?coming with 5w amplifier, electric padded bag, electric guitar cable, tuner, strap, extra strings, guitar hanger and picks, all included in one package 39 INCH ELECTRIC GUITAR: Perfect for beginner and intermediate players,ADM Electric Guitar Features SMOOTH [Description & reviews]

PylePro PGEKT50 Professional Full Size Electric Bass Guitar Package with Amplifier

The Pyle PGEKT50 Bass guitar has been styled after one of the most legendary guitar classics of all time. This Pyle Pro Electric Bass Guitar Kit is the perfect combo package, complete with everything needed to begin playing right out of the box. Its professional level construction and quality components make this kit a step [Description & reviews]

Yamaha FG720S Acoustic Guitar, Ocean Blue Burst

Pictured — FG730S TBS Yamaha FG HeadstockView larger THE YAMAHA FG SERIES Since it was introduced in the 1960’s, the Yamaha FG has been recognized as simply the best acoustic guitar in its league. Millions of guitarists recall the part an FG has played in their playing career. The FG is a perfect example of [Description & reviews]

Fender FA-100 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Bundle with Gig Bag, Tuner, Strap, Picks, Strings – Sunburst

Bundle includes Fender FA-100 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Gig Bag, Tuner, Strap, 3 Medium Gauge Picks (color may vary), and Strings. You’ll get a Fender quality guitar and all the accessories you need to hit the ground running, all at an outrageously low price. These Fender bundles represent an amazing value for the money and are [Description & reviews]

Accessories

Shubb C1 Nickel Capo for Steel String Guitar

When the Shubb capo was first introduced more than 30 years ago guitarists throughout the world fell in love with it. They’re still in love with it today. We’ve given it a few tweaks through the years, but its basic mechanical principle remains the same: a unique over-center locking mechanism that provides an unrivalled combination [Description & reviews]

Kyser 6-String Capo, Silver

The Kyser Quick Change Guitar Capo is a real quick change artist. Lots of pros use it live. One hand does it! The music world’s most popular quick-change capo, Kyser’s Quick-Change Capo is made of strong, lightweight aluminum. The spring-tensioned Quick-Change clamps firmly to hold intonation, but is quickly and easily released and repositioned without [Description & reviews]

SpiderCapo Standard Tuning Capo

SpiderCapo Standard Tuning Capo The SpiderCapo Alternative Tuning Capo gives the guitarist countless new options for making music! Leagues beyond conventional capos, the SpiderCapo Standard comes on the scene with a variety of new ways to look at guitar playing. When attached you can choose which strings you want to lock into place and which [Description & reviews]

Kyser 6-String Capo, White

Kyser 6-String Capo, White $ 11.45 Customer Reviews 159 of 163 people found the following review helpful Quickest changing capo, August 23, 2009 By  J. Kim (Orlando, FL USA) – See all my reviews    This review is from: Kyser KG6B 6 String Capo, Black I currenty use two types of capos – the Kyser [Description & reviews]

Wind & Woodwind Folk & World

Shruti Box, Electronic

Shofar Odor Neutralizer Spray

Wood Shehnai Woodwind Musical Instrument of India

1.8 Pentatonic Shakuhachi w. Root End 5 Holes – Traditional Zen Instrument

Popular now

Acoustic Alto Amplifier Bass Bell Black Blue Brass Case Controller Digital Drum Electric Fender Flute Full Guitar HORN Inch Instrument Keyboard Lacquer Marching Meinl Mendini Music Musical Natural Pack Package Percussion Power Professional Recorder REMO Series Size Snare Stand Starter Steel Strings Student Wood Yamaha

New effects just in!

Live & Stage

Zalman Zm-Mic1 High Sensitivity Headphone Microphone

1 Gal – HIGH COLOR Bubble Juice – Strong Long-Lasting Iridescent Brilliant

Behringer XENYX 1202 12-Input Mixer

Pyle-Pro PMP50 Professional Piezo Dynamic Megaphone

ION Block Rocker Portable Bluetooth Speaker System Upgraded 75hr Battery and 75 Foot Bluetooth Range

Stringed Folk & World

A-STYLE MANDOLIN SUNBURST

Roosebeck Lute-Guitar, 6 String, Lacewood, Taylor

Long Hollow Leather 71070-BN Mandolin Softy Strap – Brown

Dunhuang Pipa – Chinese Guitar / Lute

Rogue RM-100A A-Style Mandolin Black

Studio Recording

Rock N Roller Multicart Model R2 Micro

CAD Audio AS32 Acousti-Shield 32 – Stand Mounted Acoustic Enclosure

Line 6 PX-2 Power Supply

Furman M-8Lx Standard Level Power Conditioning, 15 Amp, 9 Outlets with Wall Wart Spacing, Pullout Lights

Zoom H5 Four-Track Portable Recorder

Content from Amazon Services LLC. is provided ‘as is’ and is subject to change or removal at any time.