Recording two separate tracks with the H4N?

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Filmkid2003

Well-known member
Hey everyone. I have a Zoom H4N, a Sound Devices Mixpre, and a GH1. I want to hook my Mixpre up to the H4N with a single XLR cable and record mono left/right audio AND I also want to record the sound being picked up by the mics on the H4N, straight into the GH1 for synch referencing. How do I go about doing this? I tried hooking the Mixpre up to the H4N with my XLR cable but, I was only getting audio on the left channel. Also, it seems no matter how far down I took the "recording level" on the H4N, it still sounded distorted! I set the level at -20db when I did the 1Khz test tone on the Mixpre and it still sounded distorted and crappy. Can someone please help me? Thanks.
 
If you're just looking for a reference track on the camera, the GH1 does have a built in mic, trying to kludge together some ugly mess of cables and adapters.

As for the mic to recorder connection, are you just using a single XLR out of the mixpre into the h4n?
 
Filmkid2003 said:
Hey everyone. I have a Zoom H4N, a Sound Devices Mixpre, and a GH1. I want to hook my Mixpre up to the H4N with a single XLR cable and record mono left/right audio AND I also want to record the sound being picked up by the mics on the H4N, straight into the GH1 for synch referencing. How do I go about doing this? I tried hooking the Mixpre up to the H4N with my XLR cable but, I was only getting audio on the left channel. Also, it seems no matter how far down I took the "recording level" on the H4N, it still sounded distorted! I set the level at -20db when I did the 1Khz test tone on the Mixpre and it still sounded distorted and crappy. Can someone please help me? Thanks.
Click to expand...

If you're using a single XLR cable from the MixPre you're only sending a mono signal to one of the recorder's inputs. You need to use both XLR outputs on the MixPre and both inputs on the recorder or use MTR mode in the recorder to send input 1 to both track 1 and track 2. As for the distortion, the MixPre puts out a professional line level (0dBu to +4dBu) signal while the Zoom expects a consumer line level (-10dBm) on its inputs. You're overdriving the recorder's inputs and turning down the recording level will have no effect on that. You need to put a minus 10 or 15 dB pad inline between the MixPre and the Zoom.
 
Thanks, guys. Steve, this is the first time I've used the H4N and hooked the Mixpre up to it. What is a -15db pad and how do I hook it up?

Is this what you're talking about?

http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-XATT20...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1278265978&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-XATT30-Line-Attenuator-20dB/dp/B0028SMHR6


I'm guessing I would hook everything up like this:

Mixpre output>XLR cable>-15db pad>H4N input


Is that the correct way to hook it up? Do you suggest I get the -10db or the -20db attenuator pad? Thanks.
 
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Filmkid2003 said:
Thanks, guys. Steve, this is the first time I've used the H4N and hooked the Mixpre up to it. What is a -15db pad and how do I hook it up?

Is this what you're talking about?

http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-XATT20...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1278265978&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-XATT30-Line-Attenuator-20dB/dp/B0028SMHR6


I'm guessing I would hook everything up like this:

Mixpre output>XLR cable>-15db pad>H4N input


Is that the correct way to hook it up? Do you suggest I get the -10db or the -20db attenuator pad? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's the gadget and that's how it's used. I'd suggest getting both the 10 and 15 dB pads, two of each for stereo, so you'll have some flexibility. They're staples in any kit.
 
Thanks, Steve. Do I have to put the attenuators between two XLR cables or can I just hook the XLR cable up to the attenuator and then plug the attenuator into either the Mixpre output or H4N input? Does it matter?
 
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