ReelFilmGeek
Well-known member
What exactly does a preamp allow me to do and would I Benefit with getting one even if I have an H4N zoom? If so any cheaper end suggestions?
Pre Amp with H4N Zoom?
- Thread starter ReelFilmGeek
- Start date
makkea
Member
As much as I've understood from the topic I started (I made a lot of similar questions, you can see it here Questions about mics and preamps for H4n):
-You will use an external preamp if you want to connect a low output level exterior microphone to the recorder. That's because the internal preamps of the H4n are not very good, and the audio would sound wether too low, or if increased the gain, too noisy.
-If you use one, you will be able to use mics such as the NTG-2 or the AT897 (both have low ouput levels), and many more. Even though, many people will recommend you one of these two things:
a) Get another recorder. Good external preamps are very expensive and a cheap one will break your audio.
b) Get a mic which has high output levels, such as the AT875r (in fact it's the one I finally went for).
Hope it helped. If still confused read the topic I linked before.
PD: As I've said I'm still new in this, tried to help but if I made any error feel free to correct me.
-You will use an external preamp if you want to connect a low output level exterior microphone to the recorder. That's because the internal preamps of the H4n are not very good, and the audio would sound wether too low, or if increased the gain, too noisy.
-If you use one, you will be able to use mics such as the NTG-2 or the AT897 (both have low ouput levels), and many more. Even though, many people will recommend you one of these two things:
a) Get another recorder. Good external preamps are very expensive and a cheap one will break your audio.
b) Get a mic which has high output levels, such as the AT875r (in fact it's the one I finally went for).
Hope it helped. If still confused read the topic I linked before.
PD: As I've said I'm still new in this, tried to help but if I made any error feel free to correct me.
Makkea sums it up pretty good. The only thing a preamp does is amplify the signal, and since the h4n has pretty lousy ones, an external that isn't too cheap will give a cleaner signal, especially with low output mics.
What you may consider though is a mixer like the sound devices mix pre-D. It has very good preamps, but as important is the fact that it has good metering, limiters, and low cut filters, none of which small handheld recorders have (at least not analogue ones, which is what we want).
What you may consider though is a mixer like the sound devices mix pre-D. It has very good preamps, but as important is the fact that it has good metering, limiters, and low cut filters, none of which small handheld recorders have (at least not analogue ones, which is what we want).
