Two wired lavs and one H4n?

A

au8ust

Active member
Hi everyone,

I just bought the Audio-Technica ATR-3350 to use with my H4n. The question is how could I connect two lavs or even three lavs (using 3.5mm connector) the an H4n? Is that possible? I've tried using 3.5mm male to dual female adapter but it won't work. Any suggestion would be appreciated.
 
I just had the exact question over on 2 other boards... The general consensus was that the Zoom 1/4 inch input are LINE IN only, mean the only take a high impedance mic (Hi-Z). Most mics are Low-Z. The AT3350 puts out 1,000 ohms, which falls in at about a medium impedance, so the assumption was that you could probably get a quiet signal with that mic, going in with a 1/4 inch converter. Is that what you tried? If so, how did it work? Another alternative discussed for recording 2 AT3350's into a Zoom H4n is to use a L/R Y adapter and go both into the 3.5mm jack on the back. This wouldn't be the most preferred set up, but should work. My decision is to go with 2 AT803's, which are about $130 each, and are XLR so there won't be any trouble recording into the Zoom. It's pricier than ordering 2 AT3350's, but seems worth it in the long run, over having to work the 3.5mm splitter adapter I mentioned. Though that alternative should be doable. You'd just lose the ability to control individual levels. Here are the two threads for more detail.

http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?43921-Lavalier-mic-for-H2/page4

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/all-things-audio/502779-options-wired-lav-into-zoom-h4n.html

Scott
 
STEproductions said:
I just had the exact question over on 2 other boards... The general consensus was that the Zoom 1/4 inch input are LINE IN only, mean the only take a high impedance mic (Hi-Z). Most mics are Low-Z. The AT3350 puts out 1,000 ohms, which falls in at about a medium impedance, so the assumption was that you could probably get a quiet signal with that mic, going in with a 1/4 inch converter. Is that what you tried? If so, how did it work? Another alternative discussed for recording 2 AT3350's into a Zoom H4n is to use a L/R Y adapter and go both into the 3.5mm jack on the back. This wouldn't be the most preferred set up, but should work. My decision is to go with 2 AT803's, which are about $130 each, and are XLR so there won't be any trouble recording into the Zoom. It's pricier than ordering 2 AT3350's, but seems worth it in the long run, over having to work the 3.5mm splitter adapter I mentioned. Though that alternative should be doable. You'd just lose the ability to control individual levels. Here are the two threads for more detail. ...
Scott
Click to expand...

"Line-in" does NOT mean it takes a high Z mic. It means it takes a line level signal, which is much, much higher than the levels output from any mic. Plugging a mic directly into a line level input without preamplification will likely be totally inaudible, What you are thinking of is the fact that the 1/4 inch "line-in" on the Zoom isn't really a line level input. Instead it is what is called "instrument level" intended for guitar pickups, keyboards, and such - it expects signals hotter than a mic level signal but not quite so hot as conventional professional and consumer line levels (yes, there are two different definitions of "line level").

To the OP, a dual 3.5mm mono female to 3.5mm stereo male "Y" cable should allow one to successfully feed two of these lavs into the 3.5mm mic input on the Zoom with one mic showing up on the left channel, the other on the right. If you "adapter" didn't work it's not wired as a true stereo to dual-mono splitter.
 
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Thanks for all inputs. I've just tried using a mixer and it seemed to be working just fine except the noise is quite high. Thanks :)

BTW, the Y splitter for 3.5mm won't work.
 
au8ust said:
BTW, the Y splitter for 3.5mm won't work.
Click to expand...
The cable need to be have two mono inputs and one stereo output. One good thing is that you're using a condenser lav (battery powered) otherwise I'm not sure if it would work: the recorder provides power (on the H2, you can turn it on or off) but I doubt it would work if you split the signal. But one user on another forum use it on a Tascam and never experienced any problem doing such. Reference here.
Be sure to have the proper cable, like this one.
 
Yep, come to think of it, if you're relying on the "plug-in power" provided by the recorder on its 1/8 input to power the mics, the splitter cable probably won't work. A couple of battery powered lavs, OTOH, should work okay with the "Y" cable.
 
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