Zoom H4n Configuration Question

C

crot0019

Well-known member
Hi all!
This is my first post so go me! I hope my question is an easy one and that it can be answered. I have a zoon h4n recorder which i plan to use as my audio recorder for movies. How I have actually configured it is using a rode ntg2 shotgun mic plugged into the number 1 xlr input of the recorder. Now my problem is that I can only get the sound to go through one channel as I am not using the second xlr input. Basically I want to know if there's a way for one input to receive both the left and Right channels? If so what mode will I need to be in? I am currently using stereo.
 
You can just do as you do now, but when you drop it on your timeline, put it on a mono track or if it is on a stereo track just pan it to the right and you will have 2 channel output.
 
There is a Mono Mix Setting, but I'd recommend against using it since you'll need to boost your levels when you do (compared to just recording regular mono). And that can translate into more noise.

Another thing is to compare the noise levels between your left and right XLR inputs. Some have reported that the right XLR has a higher self-noise level than the left XLR input. That's the case with my H4N too. The difference is quite noticeable.
 
Thanks for the reply. It is a stereo track isn't that better? If so how do you pan to the right? my audio capabilities in FCP aren't comparable to my video stuff lol
 
Well it seems like the Zoom is setup such that it wants you to use 1 and 2 input as 2 mics recording stereo...so what you end up doing in post, if you're only using 1 of the inputs, is to take the track without audio and throw it out. Double-click on the track with audio, and set the pan from "-1" to "0".

Somebody else suggested using a XLR splitter, and feeding the mic into "1" and "2" -- setting the volume on "2" lower than "1" -- that way if you should happen to peak, you have a backup audio track. Not necessarily a bad idea since you'll be burning through the disk space anyway.
 
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