How to plug Zoom H4n into sound board

J

jordy2324

Well-known member
So at a wedding I was shooting last weekend (which was only my third), the DJ didn't have any open XLR outputs for me to hook my zoom h4n up on.

So, he instead used some combination of an adapter and RCA plugs. I asked him what he was using, but didn't hear because of the loud music.

So my basic question is -- what is the best backup/alternative to hookup sound if there's no XLR?

Thanks!
 
Most likely the only XLR out on the DJ's mixer is for the PA system, Pioneer DJM Mixers, RANE and other pouplar club brand of DJ mixers do not have +4dbV balanced XLR line outs aside from the ones going to the PA system or "sends" to the EFX board via 1/4 mono. They do however come with a secondary "booth" monitor option or other type of zone-2 master channel play out (as the previous poster mention some are labeled TAPE, to enable the DJ to record his performance), which is -10 consumer.

If the club is serious, they may also have a compressor/limiter after the mixer in the sound room that you can jack into. If this is a mobile DJ then you can talk to him and use the RCA (booth monitor output). If that DJ has a real crap mixer, than even that option is off the table.

Just take the RCA unbalanced outs from his mixer board. But word of caution, the turntable amps are very high gain, and if your H4 feeds back into the mixer for any reason with 60hz hum, that will be unplugged real quick, so try running of batteries or the Furman that the club uses.

Just use RCA to unbalanced XLR cables, no need to go all fancy with a -10 to +4 converter.

Last thing you want to do is ask to split or splice into the XLR signal path to the PA.
 
I apologize.... I know very little about sound and I don't know if these responses helped or confused me more.

So basically I need a 3.5 mm jack to RCA cable? And the RCA cable should be red and white, only, right?
 
The tape out RCAs are usually available. I would recommend that you use a pair of RCA-1/4" adapters and plug into the 1/4" jacks on the H4n. The 1/8" input on the H4n is a mic input so it has fairly high sensitivity.

You may also have issues with the level into the 1/4" jacks. I use a simple attenuator to reduce the signal from the tape out connections:

http://www.electronicplus.com/prodSearch.asp?prod_search=10-105&Submit=Search

It looks like this:

10-105.jpg


Fran
 
Be careful and learn your options. I find it very rare for the average event DJ to know there gear. They, especially older ones, have been plugging in the same way for many years and rarely change or deviate. I also find that if they have an XLR, rare as well, it will already be used. The zone option can be nice as you can ask them to turn up or down and it will not effect their sound. It can also be a nightmare when you realize they only have music routed via "zone 2" and the mic is only on "zone 1" and they have no idea how to fix it.

Rolls makes several nice options for this type of sound recording. I use the DB14b A/V Presenter for mono to send via my Evolution G2 system. The DB24 is a nice stereo option for the Zoom.
 
Thanks for the input.
I ordered an array of cables -- everything from a male-to-male XLR to a 1/4 to RCA and everything in between.
Now, I just hope I know where to stick them (..... that's.... what....)
 
jordy2324 said:
Thanks for the input.
I ordered an array of cables -- everything from a male-to-male XLR to a 1/4 to RCA and everything in between.
Now, I just hope I know where to stick them (..... that's.... what....)
Click to expand...

Just ask the club or the DJ what mixer they are using. Read up on the mixer specs.

There are very "few" mixer choices a real pro would make. Rane/Pioneer/Vestax/Techniq/Allen Heath - and only certain models to boot.
 
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