zoom h4n & 5d mkII

M

mariomattei

Member
Seems pretty simple, but this isn't working for me! I've got a zoom h4n (vol 55, rec level 80) plugged into the mic jack on my 5D via the proper attenuating cable with a monitor line. The side that's labeled camera is in the mic slot on the camera, the side that's labeled line is in the line jack on the zoom! The audio settings in the 5D are set to manual and I've tried various manual levels. The mics on the zoom are not saving audio to the camera. Why not? And is there anyway to have my camera's on/off record automatically start and shut off the zoom h4n? Or do we always have to hit two buttons to begin filming.

many many thanks!
 
Well not going to suger coat this, your description is quite confusing, but...

1) Line OUT from the h4 should be plugged into the 5d, not line IN. "line in" is for INCOMING signal to the h4, and will not send it out that way.
2) Why are you sending audio from a halfway decent recorder into the crapy electronics of the 5d?
 
Sorry. It's confusing b/c I've been up all night & I'm a newbie---bad combo.

1. My line out from the h4 is plugged into the 5D's mic. On the h4 there's an icon of headphones and then /LINE. I"m assuming that's line out. The line-in would be the XLRs, right?

2. Most of the time I will record audio separately, but in some run and gun situations I'm must looking to get better audio than the 5D's native audio. And I'm hoping I won't have to hit two record buttons.

Thanks for responding :)
 
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mariomattei said:
My line out from the h4 is plugged into the 5D's mic. On the h4 there's an icon of headphones and then /LINE. I"m assuming that's line out. The line would be the XLRs, right?
Click to expand...

The XLRs on the H4n are mic-level input. The 1/4" connections embedded in the XLRs may be labeled as "line", but they are actually for instrument level input, which is a very different beast. Line-level signals will overmodulate those inputs.

So, you have the 1/8" headphone/line out of the H4n connected to the 1/8" mic in of the 5DmkII, using the attenuation cable, and you aren't getting any sound into the camera. Two simple questions:

1) Do you have the headphone level turned up on the H4n? That will certainly affect how much, if any, signal makes it to the camera.

2) Do you have the H4n in record standby, or the monitor function turned on? See page 71 of the H4n manual. You have to have signal passing through, and to do that either the H4n must be in record standby or the monitor function must be set to "on".
 
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Correct, I have the 1/8" headphone/line out of the H4n connected to the 1/8" mic in of the 5DmkII, using the attenuation cable, and I'm not getting any sound into the camera. I I plug my studio headphones into the attenuating cable. When I put the h4 on standby I hear what it's mics are picking up. The signal is there. I have the vol at 55 and rec level at 80 after watching tutorials on this on youtube for 'optimal settings'. I did not have the monitor function turned. I looked at page 71 and turned it on. I just did two tests, but that didn't change anything.

My 5D has "manual" audio enabled and I've tried various levels. One tutorial said to set the audio to the first tick mark, another said turn it to zero, then click the wheel one notch so it's barely on. Nothing works. I have this ominous feeling like it's something simple!

I appreciate the help.
 
Just curious... how are you checking your 5D footage to see if sound was recorded?

Also, you say you plug your studio headphones into the attenuation cable? How do you accomplish this? These are all male connections. Further, this should make it difficult for the Zoom to drive the headphones. You should check headphone monitoring before you plug the attenuation cable in, to ensure that audio is leaving the Zoom.
 
I'm checking by removing the CF card and watching/listening to it on my iMac in QTime. I record verbals queues as to when I'm recording with the h4 and when I turn it off. There's no change in sound quality in the .MOV.

The attenuator cable has a female headphone tap. Just like this one on B&H http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...NL3_5MON_WHH4NL3_5MON_Line_to_Microphone.html

I'm pretty sure audio is leaving the zoom. Files get recorded on it's SD card and I hear a signal with headphones. I think the issue is in my 5D settings. I could be wrong though! And I have no solution. Thanks for helping.
 
Ryan-Guy, things have been written a lot more clearly since my first question. Do you have any ideas. I'm still stumped. Thanks.
 
still no answer

still no answer

Some good chit chat here, but I still have no answer. Not on this forum or the other two. Is it really that difficult to use the h4n as a mic for the 5D. Most of the time I'll capture separate audio, but in the times I need to shoot fast or casually I really want to use the h4n to recored directly into the 5D. Any wise guys out there who know how to configure this set up? Thanks :)
 
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