H4n for recording meetings?

[Tracey Lee]

Has anyone here ever used the H4n for recording a meeting in a large room where you need to get the over-all audio so that participants in the room can be heard? Just looking for the simplest solution rather than buying like 20 mikes to set around the tables.

Thanks.

 

[Richard Crowley]

The issue is the microphone(s), not the recorder.
Are you looking for transcription-grade recordings? Or podcast-grade? Or broadcast quality?
What are the acoustics of the room? Dead? Live? Cave?
How many people talking? 1 presenter? Panel discussion? Questions/comments from audience?
If audience participation, can you put out 1 or 2 floor stand mics and have people come to the mic for speaking?

There are a great many issues like these to be considered and you haven't revealed any details that could allow us to make any reasonable response.

 

[Peternap]

I've done it and was disappointed in the results. I am assuming you are talking about using the H4N's mics.

As Richard pointed out, there are a lot of variables.

I've gotten mu best results using two Rode M3 mics, on stands, located so they face the speakers.

When I use the unit mics in a room like that, I get reverb, fans, AC units, coughs, traffic outside and every pin drop.