Zoom H4n - If you plan on using Phantom Power...

Luis Caffesse

Luis Caffesse

Admin
A thread came up recently discussing the rate at which the Zoom H4n goes through batteries, especially when using phantom power.
I made a few comments in there regarding that - but figured a quick test would be the best way to illustrate this.

So - the H4n can deliver some great results...as long as you properly feed it.
What I mean is - it needs power... ESPECIALLY when using phantom power.

Battery power works fine, but I have found that once the batteries are only 1/2 way spent, the Zoom will start making a high pitched squeal.
The squeal sounds much worse in the headphones than it does on the recording... but make no mistake, it IS on the recording.

This is why if I'm using battery power on the Zoom I will never let them get past the halfway mark.
Alternatively (and more secure) I will use the AC adapter whenever possible (shooting interviews, etc).

So - here is a quick audio file to show you what I'm talking about.
I have an Oktava MK-012 going into the Zoom and pulling phantom power.
The batteries are duracell disposables (which I've found to be the more reliable, YMMV).

The rest is pretty self explanatory....

LISTEN TO THE SAMPLE HERE

Note: Depending on your speakers, the high pitched tone may be difficult to hear. I can hear it loud and clear on the monitor speakers at my editing station, yet I barely hear it on my laptop (but I do hear it). And keep in mind, the batteries were only HALF way spent... the added noise becomes more prominent as the batteries get closer to the end of their life.
 
... adding to Luis info some options for situations without power outlets

Denecke PS-1A - Portable Single Channel 48V Phantom Power Supply

Price LINK

Good info LINK

ps1a_small.jpg
 
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Just a heads up, the power ac adapter on the H4 induced noise, it's better on the H4n but still there.

I read a thread on a audio board about a guy who solved the problem by buying a large battery and wiring it to the power input plug, can't remeber if it was a 9v or 12v battery but the power adapter will say the voltage. It'll give you power all day without any ac induced noise or need for a 110v plug.

I'm not sure if the ac induced noise was there when using an external pre amp.
 
ChipG said:
I'm not sure if the ac induced noise was there when using an external pre amp.
Click to expand...


Without seeing your friends test results I would hazard a guess and say it was the on board preamp in the zoom. I ran tests on my unit and the zoom preamp sucks. My own setup I feed line level to the zoom. As a line level recorder that is inexpensive - it 's very good, any other capacity its not great.
 
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I think my ears are going, i cant hear it. But it could be the room im in, its got some fans
 
aren't these kind of "consistent" tones pretty easy to clean up in post? Sure its still a problem but you don't have to throw out the audio.
 
Low pass, and high pass depending on the tone should do the trick, also some more advanced stuff out there.
 
good thing im going directly from the SD302 to the H4n, has it's own phantom power. :) Would be interested in still checking tghis out to hear the issue you're having.
 
drk3p said:
I think my ears are going, i cant hear it. But it could be the room im in, its got some fans
Click to expand...

When I first listened with my Grado SR60's I couldn't hear it. I had to pump up the volume. But it was still barely noticeable.
Then I borrowed my audio engineers Sony 7506's and I could hear it right away. I also had him listen.
According to him, he says it can be rolled off in post and is not a big deal.
 
roxics said:
According to him, he says it can be rolled off in post and is not a big deal.
Click to expand...

Absolutely - I guess my thought was simply that if you had the choice between AC or Battery power the tether might be worth not giving yourself more work in post.

It also gets worse as the batteries slowly drain - but he's right, it's a high enough frequency that it can be filtered out.
 
Definitely. Might as well save the extra step in post if you can run it off the wall while recording.
It's an interesting test and I'm glad to hear it. Thanks for putting it up. :)
 
Been doing the sound editing on a film and this has been driving me nuts. I am officially (ooooh scary) no longer recommending the H4n for any work, and I will be avoiding it whenever possible.
 
I've only had issues with it when using phantom power on battery power - when taking a line input or running off AC power it's been fine.

That said, a low pass filter should take care of it.
 
Low pass got most of it, to get all of it it was throwing out an unacceptable range of frequency...I settled for a bit of noise but richer audio. Anyway, most of the time we were using battery powered mics but I think we still heard it. I am going to be avoiding the zoom whenever possible....it just isn't full featured enough to be a good on set recorder. Gonna stick to a Marantz PMD660 or something like that. My H4 doesn't seem to have the same problem although for some reason it records much much quieter than the H4n. As for AC power I usually can't be tethered to a wall. This is one of the whole reasons I was using a portable recorders instead of just running XLRs into the camera even before I was using HDSLRs...it gives the boom guy some freedom to move around. Anyway, it's absolutely unacceptable for a company selling audio equipment to allow for this level of problem during basic operation of their recorder...absolutely unacceptable, and should be addressed either by a hardware (H4na) or firmware update.
 
Question

Question

Do you need a phantom power adaptor box whern connecting a shotgun condenser mic to the Zoom H4n?
 
EvilHomer said:
Do you need a phantom power adaptor box whern connecting a shotgun condenser mic to the Zoom H4n?
Click to expand...

If you want to take the Zoom H4N + shotgun mic solution, try to get a mic with option for own power(like ntg2 for instance) as the H4N is a power hog.

I strongly suggest you use rechargable batteries with high mAh like those used for flashes for the zoom, but if you use the H4n's own phantom its still drains fast.
 
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Thx for your response


I want to use it with a Seinheiser ME66 which requires a phantom power.

Fortunatly the enironment i'll be in, I can us a AC adapter to power the zoom.


Does the Zoom H4n provide the phantom power or will I need a phantom power adapter?
 
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The zoom can provide phantom power but it drains its battery fast. You can put it on stamina mode but it will only record 44khz not 48khz. But 44 is fine for my work.
 
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