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

Anyone give an estimate how long the H4n will run phantom at 48 khz before AA batteries are half empty?
 
Thats gonna vary as batteries come in diff mAh, I use Ni-Mh AA. Others may have more powerful solutions.
A 2500 mAh for instance, won't give you an hour with phantom power on. -even with stamina.

The Tascam has better power consumption performance.
 
Just wanted to pipe in, I usually record in mono with the h4n and a mkh416 phanton powered mic. I realized (too late) that the high pitched was only coming from the unused channel. So, after countless hours of ADR, my problems could've been solved by just muting the channel volume.
 
ChipG said:
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.
Click to expand...

Just wondering if anyone had any ideas on this. I have been reading and some guy took a 6V (12Ah) rechargeable lead acid battery and attached a plug to power his mixpre. But I guess a mixpre can take a range of voltage. I am trying to figure out a way to power a tascam dr 40 cheaply. I don't know a lot about power, and have been trying to get educated but it is not easy for me. A rechargeable lead acid battery is fairy cheap if I can ensure I don't overload the tascam. Thanks.

This person built a cool solution but still ended but being over $200. http://www.danmccomb.com/posts/category/sound-bag/
 
i am not an audio pro so this might seem obvious and thus, i apologize in advance.

i have also been told of the zoom h4n vulnerability to noise when using its phantom power.

as a possible solution, can i use my mixpre between the mic and h4n?

the mixpre could power the phantom mic and then offer a clean line out/in to the h4n.

would that be a workable solution?

thanks in advance.

be well

rob
smalltalk productions
 
lsilver said:
Just wanted to pipe in, I usually record in mono with the h4n and a mkh416 phanton powered mic. I realized (too late) that the high pitched was only coming from the unused channel. So, after countless hours of ADR, my problems could've been solved by just muting the channel volume.
Click to expand...

I just want to underline this. I have discovered this myself as well. Considerably better. It also makes me wonder if there have been some distorted tests out there for the noise floor (http://www.wingfieldaudio.com/portable-recorder-noise.html and http://www.avisoft.com/recordertests.htm) because they happened before we could seperate the channels with a recent firmware update for the H4N (Nov. 2010). In which case the noise floor and the quality of the pre-amps might be much better than we think,
 
lsilver said:
Just wanted to pipe in, I usually record in mono with the h4n and a mkh416 phanton powered mic. I realized (too late) that the high pitched was only coming from the unused channel. So, after countless hours of ADR, my problems could've been solved by just muting the channel volume.
Click to expand...

I just want to underline this. I have discovered this myself as well. Considerably better. It also makes me wonder if there have been some distorted tests out there for the noise floor (http://www.wingfieldaudio.com/portable-recorder-noise.html and http://www.avisoft.com/recordertests.htm) because they happened before we could seperate the channels with a recent firmware update for the H4N (Nov. 2010). In which case the noise floor and the quality of the pre-amps might be much better than we think.
 
Member "Filmin5D" over at the site I help moderate (Cinema5D) just made this output from a test which clearly illustrates the problem. Quite astounding when you actually see it:

Spikes in the unused 2nd channel of H4N.jpg


Those spikes are on the unused channel.
 
Ted Ramasola said:
Is it also confirmed that muting the unused channel will eliminate this?
Click to expand...


Yes, just made that test. Dial all the way down the 2nd mic level to .1 (something we couldn't do before the firmware update of NOv. 10).
Or you can delete that channel in post and replace with a 2nd copy of your mono recording.
 
Ok thanks, another thing I just thought of, so what if the zoom is set to mono mix? Will the unused channel still generate noise and contaminate the mixed down sound?
 
Ted Ramasola said:
Ok thanks, another thing I just thought of, so what if the zoom is set to mono mix? Will the unused channel still generate noise and contaminate the mixed down sound?
Click to expand...
+1 I would like to know that as well, though I suppose I could just test it myself as well :)

Cheers,
Pete
 
Ted Ramasola said:
Ok thanks, another thing I just thought of, so what if the zoom is set to mono mix? Will the unused channel still generate noise and contaminate the mixed down sound?
Click to expand...

I think it will still contaminate, even in mono mode (though I could be wrong). This reported by Isilver:

Just wanted to pipe in, I usually record in mono with the h4n and a mkh416 phanton powered mic. I realized (too late) that the high pitched was only coming from the unused channel. So, after countless hours of ADR, my problems could've been solved by just muting the channel volume.
Click to expand...
 
I'm also curious to hear the benefits of recording with Mixpre or 302 preamps (for eg) vs those of the H4N. I always hear that the difference is clear...is anyone able to post a test? Thanks
 
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