Monitoring Audio Levels on the H4n

[vladwolodarsky]

I feel like a such a knucklehead. I am going to be monitoring audio levels and I just need to eyeball the meters. I won't have enough room to have my headphones on and to handheld operate the camera at the same time.

When I unplug my headphones from the H4n the audio meters disappear. I did a factory reset, checked the manual, and even after a few google & DVXuser searches I still can't figure it out. Any help will be mucho appreciated. It's gotta be something simple.

 

[Steve House]

I feel like a such a knucklehead. I am going to be monitoring audio levels and I just need to eyeball the meters. I won't have enough room to have my headphones on and to handheld operate the camera at the same time.

When I unplug my headphones from the H4n the audio meters disappear. I did a factory reset, checked the manual, and even after a few google & DVXuser searches I still can't figure it out. Any help will be mucho appreciated. It's gotta be something simple.

Can't comment on the peculiarities of the H4n or help you with its setup, but ... Someone HAS to be listening to the audio as you record unless you really like living life out on a limb. Swap out your headphones for a pair of In-Ear Monitors (they look like earbuds but are more capable) - most camera ops that have tried them find they don't get in the way as much as conventional headphones do. Etymotics is a respected brand on the concert stage. If you absolutely can't wear anything for some reason, get a pair of earbuds, tie 'em in a small package that won't be in the way, plug 'em in so the meters are active and just let them dangle.

Watching the meters can help with levels but it won't help you catch that barking dog down the street or the freeway traffic in the distance or an on-looker whispering in the background or the RF brapppp of someone's Blackberry phoning home, all things the naked ear filters out but the mic hears just fine and that will intrude into the audio track to spoil it yet don't make the meters even quiver.

Neat trick keeping one eye on the viewfinder and giving the scene the 100% full concentration required to catch any flaws in the image that would require a retake while simultaneously watching the audio meters several feet in another direction and giving the audio the 100% full concentration required to catch any flaws in the audio that would require a retake while keeping both eyes and ears on the event or performance so as to give the sceen the 100% full concentration required to catch any flaws in performance etc that would require a retake...

 

[gpforet]

I started using in-ears when I was mixing FOH. They provided the isolation I needed to solo instruments as well as keeping my ears from being exposed to high SPLs for the entire show. When needed, I would pop them out to listen to the house, but also had room mics (these were also used to mix in with the talent's in-ears) that I could solo thru the in-ears to hear the house.

When I migrated to location sound work, the in-ears fit the bill perfectly. The fidelity was far greater than any headphones I had used, as the isolation was better. I'm using the M-Audio IE-30s which are manufacturered by Ultimate Ears. Additionally, I've had custom molds made so the fit is very comfortable for all-day wear. Also, because of the better isolation, I can monitor at much lower levels than using headphones.

Can't comment on the peculiarities of the H4n or help you with its setup, but ... Someone HAS to be listening to the audio as you record unless you really like living life out on a limb. Swap out your headphones for a pair of In-Ear Monitors (they look like earbuds but are more capable) - most camera ops that have tried them find they don't get in the way as much as conventional headphones do. Etymotics is a respected brand on the concert stage. If you absolutely can't wear anything for some reason, get a pair of earbuds, tie 'em in a small package that won't be in the way, plug 'em in so the meters are active and just let them dangle.

Watching the meters can help with levels but it won't help you catch that barking dog down the street or the freeway traffic in the distance or an on-looker whispering in the background or the RF brapppp of someone's Blackberry phoning home, all things the naked ear filters out but the mic hears just fine and that will intrude into the audio track to spoil it yet don't make the meters even quiver.

Neat trick keeping one eye on the viewfinder and giving the scene the 100% full concentration required to catch any flaws in the image that would require a retake while simultaneously watching the audio meters several feet in another direction and giving the audio the 100% full concentration required to catch any flaws in the audio that would require a retake while keeping both eyes and ears on the event or performance so as to give the sceen the 100% full concentration required to catch any flaws in performance etc that would require a retake...

 

[Soundie76]

I believe that the meters on the H4N don't show up when it's not in record or pre-record mode, and you have external sources plugged in.
Try pressing record, than pause quickly to put it into a pre-record mode, and this should bring up the levels.