Zoom H4n - best settings for recording dialog

The H4n cannot record a secondary/safety audio track.. at least not w/o splitting the mic to multiple channels. The Tascam DR-40 can.. however.. I would not advise using either as a 'single' all-in-one microphone/recorder, as least for dialog. In addition, the stock pre-amps in all the under $500 devices are not exactly.. 'stellar'.. .
 
Robert at JuicedLink just made a video touting his preamps, but it also shows how noisy / not noisy a lot of recorders are.

Awesome Jingle at the end too!
 
I use my H4n all the time. First thought.....I would prefer a unit without external mics. Unless you are close miking, they are useless. So......out goes 4 track recording. Feed it with a mixer into stereo or dual mono if your firmware is updated to do so. A safety can be created using the mixer. Make one channel slightly less gained than the other through panning.

Mixer on the front end of your rig eliminates the noisiness of your recorder. I use a Rolls 442, not the quietest on the market, but I get good results.
 
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Don't have a H4n, but according to the manual, the 'mono mode' does not record a single-channel file, it internally combines both input channels tracks both tracks. In which one input is not connected (and unloaded) additional noise would result. Unlike the Tascams, which can record a single-channel (mono) file from just one input.
 
How did using the G3s into the external microphone jack of the H4n work out? I ask because I'm going to try the same thing with a pair of G3s this weekend (will be testing this arrangement in the next day or so, as time permits). I need to use the XLR inputs on the Zoom for a pair of microphones that will be rigged overhead from an arbor. I hope to record 4-channels and utilize all four (separate them in FCP into distinct channels) in post. Anyway, if you find time to respond please let me know, that would be great. Thanks for your post!
 
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