4 Track

J

Jim Simon

Veteran
Is anyone aware of a field recorder than can record four inputs to a single .wav file, as opposed to two stereo files?
 
I can confirm that the zoom H4n also has this capability.

On another note though, it should be a straightforward operation to switch four mono tracks into a single four-track .wav using most editing software, I know it takes about 10seconds in Premiere Pro via 'interpretation' settings, or even just linking.

Good luck, jason
 
I know my Zoom F8 records either multi track poly or individual mono tracks (I usually do poly unless someone specifies they want mono tracks). It also spits out a stereo mixdown if you want that, as well.

I would imagine the Zoom F4 does the same thing.
 
jasonbrooks said:
I can confirm that the zoom H4n also has this capability.
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You sure? I use the H4n and in 4 channel mode I get two .wav files for each "clip", one from the inputs and one from the mics. In MTR mode there doesn't seem to be a way to record all four input simultaneously.
 
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Some Tascams support polys of more then two tracks> The Zoom F series does as well. (I doubt the H series does).
Otherwise, SD's free Wave Agent software can transcode multiple mono PCM files to a poly multi-trk.
 
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Jim Simon said:
Is anyone aware of a field recorder than can record four inputs to a single .wav file, as opposed to two stereo files?
Click to expand...

Do you mean 4 mics to 4 individual tracks? If so my Zoom F4 can do that. And I imagine most of the pro 4-track recorders can. Actually the F4 can record 6 individual tracks plus one stereo track, although 2 of those individual tracks do not have pre-amps.

Or, do you mean 4 mics into one track? I know of no recorder that does that.

By the way, as I understand it by panning those stereo tracks on the hand held recorder hard left and hard right, you can isolate them pretty well, and separate them in post. Never done that myself, understand, so reporting hearsay.
 
graywolf said:
Or, do you mean 4 mics into one track?
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Yes, that. Davinci Resolve 14 has a great feature whereby it can remove the camera audio and supplant it with the good audio automatically. But the feature doesn't work correctly with two stereo files (nat sound and board feed).

The idea is to generate a single, 4 channel .wav file for the process.
 
Wait...hold on a sec...

A single 4 channel wav file and having four tracks mixed down to one track can be two different things:

Most semi-professional and professional audio recorders can record broadcast wav monophonic or broadcast wav polyphonic files. To learn the difference between these types of files watch this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8pt_czuWBM

Ok, so now that you've watched that (sorry if you already know that info, but I figured I'd share it just in case you didn't):

So, you either want a 4 track broadcast wav polyphonic file, OR, you want a single audio file that has one audio track, but that track has 4 separate audio tracks that were mixed down to that one audio track, right?

If Resolve 14 can handle a 4 track BWF.P file, then you can go with a Sound Devices MixPre-6 or Zoom F4 or any other of the myriad of production audio recorders that can generate BWF.P files that can do 4 tracks or more.

If you want a single file that only has one actual audio track, you need to do the following:

Have a 4 track recorder that has the 4 isolated audio tracks that can also mix those down to a two channel stereo mix. Pan all 4 of the iso tracks to either the left or right stereo mix track so they are all on one individual track. Record BWF.M files (broadcast wav monophonic). When you see these files on your computer, you will see each take you record has an individual file for each recorded track. One of those files will be your mix track. THAT would be the individual file that has all 4 inputs recorded to one individual track that you import into Resolve.

If Resolve can handle BWF.P (broadcast wave polyphonic files) then just record a 4 track BWF.P file on an audio recorder and import that. It's WAY easier as it saves time and there is less room for error when you do that. If it can't, then do the BWF.M method and just grab the mix track.

I'm currently working on finding out what kinds of audio file formats Resolve 14 supports so I can help give you a definitive answer to this.

In the mean time, there are some questions I have in regards to what your needs are for the audio recorder. Do you need 4 individual XLR inputs with mic pres? Do you need timecode? Does this need to go in a bag or cart or handheld? Do you know how you want to power it?....and more.
 
No he is talking about a 4 track poly WAV file. Four channels one file.

Another option is using WAVE AGENT from SD to merge the two files into a poly WAV.
 
davefisk said:
you either want a 4 track broadcast wav polyphonic file
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Yes. A single file on the hard drive that will show up with four editable audio tracks in DAW's and NLEs. The suggested offerings are just too pricey for me. I was looking to find something in the under $300 range.
 
davefisk said:
Do you need 4 individual XLR inputs with mic pres? Do you need timecode?
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Yes to both.

It will end up sitting on a table, or if a 1/4 20 thread is underneath, on a monopod. Power is ideally AA battery, but other battery options would be considered. But it does have to be some kind of battery.
 
So 4track recorder with 4 XLR inputs and TC for under $300....
Oh and battery powered and camera mountable.

Double your budget and there are some possibilities. And it is truly amazing I can say that since not many years ago it would have required adding a zero.
 
Jim Simon said:
Yes. A single file on the hard drive that will show up with four editable audio tracks in DAW's and NLEs. The suggested offerings are just too pricey for me. I was looking to find something in the under $300 range.
Click to expand...

As someone mentioned earlier, could you perhaps take individual files and combine them into a polyphonic WAV file in post (or on a laptop on set) with the nice and free Wave Agent utility from Sound Devices?

"[Wave Agent is a] WAV file librarian designed for Production Sound Mixers and Post Production Editors. Wave Agent provides a comprehensive and indispensable range of tools for preparing audio files for problem-free passage through complex production workflows. 788T Control Mode provides 12-track metering, time code view, start and stop recording and take list with meta data editing."

https://www.sounddevices.com/products/accessories/software/wave-agent

That might make it easier to keep under your hoped-for budget...

And check out Tascam's line. The DR-701D is a bit over your budget and I'm not sure it does all you want. But if you can find one used?
http://tascam.com/product/dr-701d/

Or up your budget. Buy once, cry once.
 
I've seen a few pre-owned Tascam DR-680 on eBay for around $300, they can record up to six ISO and a stereo mix track in a poly BWF format. Unfortunately the 680 eats AA batteries.. eight at a time, so AC power or an external battery system is recommended. Otherwise a nice cart or bag friendly recorder. Though I would not recommend it for a OMB operation.
 
If you need timecode, I think the cheapest one with TC in and out is the Zoom F4.

A poly file is kind of a wrapper for the individual track files. Zoom F4 (I have one) allows a poly file of all the mono tracks, or of the mono tracks and stereo tracks, or just the stereo tracks. You can pull the individual tracks from the polly file.
 
graywolf said:
If you need timecode, I think the cheapest one with TC in and out is the Zoom F4.
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I don't need Timecode to go in or out. It just needs to be recorded. Even using the actual time as the timecode works quite well for my needs. Every clip starting at 0 would not.
 
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