H4N Recording Issues

[digitalskylight]

Hey everyone,

I've been using an H4N for some time now, and I want to know what's going wrong. For the past few weddings I've shot, I've been instructed to plug into one of the line outs via XLR into the H4N. Things sound great during vows etc., but then later on into the reception, I always run into an issue where the audio is peaking (and Line 1 blinks), even when I bring the levels down to 0.1. What I don't understand is that it shows it's peaking on my end even when things are at -24db or lower, and the audio board I plug into always shows levels in the green.

Should I be using 1/4" inputs instead? I've not had a problem with using XLRs out when using wireless lavs, though, so I'm baffled on this.

 

[wjauch]

The H4n XLR is microphone level input, the 1/4" TRS input (in the center of the XLR input) is "sort of"line level. I'm assuming you're getting a line level XLR feed, connect this to an attenuator (I've used a Hosa variable XLR attenuator set to -20dB), connect that to an XLR to 1/4"TRS adapter, plug into H4n.
The common Sennheiser wireless lavs allow you to set output level attenuation so you can use XLR microphone level input on H4n.

 

[Gohanto]

Basic Info:
The signal that comes directly out of a microphone is extremely low level (called mic level), then runs into a pre-amp to increase the signal signal strength and get a cleaner sound. Other than plugging directly into a microphone, most audio outputs (CD players, mixing boards, etc.) are all going to be line level.
Microphone level: -30 dBu
Pro gear line level: +4 dBu
Consumer gear line level: -10dBV (converting from dBV to dBu, pro gear is, on average 11dB hotter signal than consumer grade)

Try to avoid lowering the H4n input below 1.0. The H4n gain setting 0.9 - 0.1 are actually just running the audio through a cheap compressor (very bad in sound for film).
The H4n's 1/4" input, as wjauch mentioned, is sort of a line level input. Really it's just a padded down mic input (takes a high level signal, and knocks it down in level since the electronics are expecting to see a lower level microphone input). Issue is, the H4n's padded 1/4" input doesn't knock down the signal enough for pro or consumer line level (poor design only gives about -12 dB of padding if I remember right).

Easiest solution I would suggest is a single XLR pad and keep using the XLR input (with the gain level set to 1.0). You're looking for a XLR pad labeled something like -40dB (not sure exact level you'd need).
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/IMPpad40/
Whirlwind makes good cables (haven't used their pads specifically), but you might want to grab a 10dB, 20dB, and 40dB pads just to cover any input level tweaks you want to make. Always try to run the H4n inputs at 1.0, and adjust level with pads instead.