smaller field recorder bag for (e.g. Zoom H4n)

flintmich

flintmich

New member
Scoured B&H Photo today for some kind of bag/strap that will support the Zoom H4n as to sling it over the shoulder and use it is a field recorder while booming. Portabrace stuff is great but way overkill for such a little box. Ideally it would have open front, sides and top for access to switches, XLR inputs and SD card swap-outs.

Suggestions?
 
big problem with sticking that zoom in a bag is that you aren't going to be able to see your levels and have quick access to its level controls.

i've some people mount the zoom to their boom so that while they are booming they can just glance up at the unit and possibly be able to ride the levels a little bit.
 
Hi I'm new to the forums, but I've been a long time lurker. I wanted to chime in with my $0.2 on the Zoom H4n bag issue as it's something that I spent a fair amount of time on.

I emailed Samson a couple of months back asking for tips on field cases etc.
They replied saying that there is no dedicated bag for the unit, and suggested I look into small camera bags instead....great.

The person who comes up with a dedicated and affordable design for this machine is going to make a small fortune!

Anyway I use the H4n with a Rode NTG-2 mic and a pair of Sony MDR headphones, so I wanted a bag that could both protect all the gear in transit and be as accessible as possible on location.

After a lot of searching and trying bags in various stores in London, I ended up going with the Kata T-212 Torso Pack (some images below).

ManglerBMX is right in saying that burrying the H4n in a bag is not ideal in terms of recording level access, but then again I do find that in the majority of my recording work, I set the levels at the beginning of the session and rarely change mid-way through. So a lot is going to depend on how you use the recorder.

The bag I chose had a couple of advantages over others. First of all it's built like a rock. Secondly you can wear it both front and back and I usually wear it on the front on location. This makes H4n access a lot easier. Thirdly it's light weight and very comfortable and I'm able to get the recorder, the phones and the mic (with deadcat) inside along with batteries, moleskins, digital camera, mobile phone and other paraphernalia.

I've devised a method whereby the mic and phones wires exit through either side of the main pouch zippers. The main pouch has a divider and I added another piece of foam that allows the H4n to lie flat so I just undo the zipper slightly and I can see recording levels...

It's not ideal, but it works for me. That said, if anyone has found a better alternative, I'd love to know. I'd also like to know what solution you found Shawn...any chance of an update?

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I bought one of BlackRapid's RS-4 straps to hold my Zoom H4N. I haven't actually done any filming with it, but it seems to be a nice solution for a shoulder strap that still lets you get at everything on the Zoom.

http://www.blackrapid.com/product/camera-strap/rs-4/

Course after I got it I decided I liked it better on my GH-1(plus it dodges the broken strap problem) so now I need to buy another one.
 
msorrels said:
I bought one of BlackRapid's RS-4 straps to hold my Zoom H4N. I haven't actually done any filming with it, but it seems to be a nice solution for a shoulder strap that still lets you get at everything on the Zoom.

http://www.blackrapid.com/product/camera-strap/rs-4/

Course after I got it I decided I liked it better on my GH-1(plus it dodges the broken strap problem) so now I need to buy another one.
Click to expand...

That's a great idea, albeit a fairly costly one. I saw another forum thread elsewhere with a similar idea but the strap wasn't up to the same standard as the RS-4. Going to have to check that out.
 
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It has a screwhole in the back so you can screw a little clip ito it and just clip it on your pants/ belt... not ideal but workable.... it's odd the way the cables come in out so you would need some bag that keeps the display facing up. I set the levels and throw the damn thing in a jacket pocket.
 
Shawn Chittle said:
Scoured B&H Photo today for some kind of bag/strap that will support the Zoom H4n as to sling it over the shoulder and use it is a field recorder while booming. Portabrace stuff is great but way overkill for such a little box. Ideally it would have open front, sides and top for access to switches, XLR inputs and SD card swap-outs.

Suggestions?
Click to expand...

Not quite what you are looking for but looks like more products to come for the Zoom type recorders...

http://www.portamount.com/
 
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Hello Everyone,

My name is J.S. Lawrence and I am a filmmaker who has been making short films on Canon DSLR's and using the Zoom H4N for some time now. I have recently teamed up with a company to create a shoulder pouch which will support the Zoom H4N for Field Recording Engineers that will allow you to keep everything organized in a neat little pouch. It will not cost anymore than $50 but as soon as we our done creating the first model, I will show you all an awesome product for you all who are looking for this kind of support.
 
We have something new at K-Tek that might work for this but it would mount the H4n to your pole, and not over your shoulder. It's not even on the market yet.

Basically, it's designed to work with our camera poles, but I think you can use it on any of our poles.

What it is, is...it's a clamp that clamps onto the the bottom section of a pole that has a male thread that allows you to put small video monitors on it. It might work with the H4n, but I haven't tried because yet. It's not on our website yet, so I can't even point you to a link. If you are interested, PM me your e-mail and I can send you a picture.

But again, I haven't tried this, so I don't know if it'll work. I'll actually be out of the office for the rest of the month getting ready for my move from Vegas to Cali, so I won't be able to actually try it out until the beginning of March.
 
dano said:
Not quite what you are looking for but looks like more products to come for the Zoom type recorders...

http://www.portamount.com/
Click to expand...

That's an interesting solution.

The harsh truth here is that these little recorders are not bag-friendly. They aren't designed for that, but rather to be used hand-held or table-top or stand-mounted. Bagging them means you cannot see the display, which isn't good. It also means that controls are not easily accessed, which can cost valuable time on set and on location.

Putting them in a bag also risks bumping buttons, and it's not worth the chance of accidentally stopping recording mid-take. If you need to run with a bag, get a baggable recorder. FR2-LE, HD-P2, FR2, DR680, SD702/702T/744. There are solutions for all budgets.
 
C2V said:
Putting them in a bag also risks bumping buttons, and it's not worth the chance of accidentally stopping recording mid-take.
Click to expand...

I don't know about the Zoom but the Tascam DR-100 has a lock switch to prevent any accidental pressing of buttons once you've determined the settings.
 
Now I run a field mixer in front of my H4n, so this may not work well if you don't, but I had this small monitor mounting plate (one of those 5.5" monitors) for a C-stand. I took it, mounted it on the back of the H4n, and used it to clamp it to my mixer bag strap. It works great. Immediate access to all controls, sits on my chest, can even monitor recorder meters with a glance. Used short XLR cables from the mixer to the H4n.

Just an idea........if you wear anything with a strap already. Maybe I can snap a pic of the mounting plate tomorrow so you can identify it. My description could be off.
 
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