Zoom H4N with a Direct Box

T

tdragisics

Member
Has anyone used a Zoom H4N with a direct box taking a signal from a soundboard? Does it solve all your issues with clipping and allow you to record clean audio? Any information would help me. Thanks

-I was planning on taking a 1/4 line signal from the soundboard -> direct box -> XLR out into the Zoom H4N
 
No, it will not solve ALL your issues with clipping. The first thing to determine is what level the soundboard is putting out? What soundboard are you connecting to and where, specifically, are you taking your signal from? What is it you are trying to get the direct box to do? Direct boxes are typically used to convert a high impendance signal to a low impendance signal for the purpose of sending the signal down a long line without degradation. Direct boxes typically do not convert line level to mic level (unless your direct box has a switchable -20 pad built in). It sounds to me like what you want is some type of attenuator. But is it really needed?

The H4n accepts line level input via the 1/4" part of the combo jacks at either -10dbm for balanced lines or +2dbm for unbalanced. Many have reported distortion when using this approach and the solution has always been to attenuate the signal by -20db. A pair of attentuation cables has become a necessary evil when trying to get it to work with line level signals.
 
gpforet said:
No, it will not solve ALL your issues with clipping. The first thing to determine is what level the soundboard is putting out? What soundboard are you connecting to and where, specifically, are you taking your signal from? What is it you are trying to get the direct box to do? Direct boxes are typically used to convert a high impendance signal to a low impendance signal for the purpose of sending the signal down a long line without degradation. Direct boxes typically do not convert line level to mic level (unless your direct box has a switchable -20 pad built in). It sounds to me like what you want is some type of attenuator. But is it really needed?

The H4n accepts line level input via the 1/4" part of the combo jacks at either -10dbm for balanced lines or +2dbm for unbalanced. Many have reported distortion when using this approach and the solution has always been to attenuate the signal by -20db. A pair of attentuation cables has become a necessary evil when trying to get it to work with line level signals.
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Thanks for the quick response.

The type of board I am waiting to find out still. I was planning to take a 1/4" line signal because I was recommended this Direct Box http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/275634-REG/Behringer_DI20_ULTRA_DI_D120_DI_Box_Splitter.html

I figured if I used a 1/4" signal into the DI Box then flipped on the attenuator at -20dB or -40dB I would get balanced XLR out into my Zoom at a usable level.

I had read that a lot of people were still having problems with just an attenuator at -40dB with the H4N on a 1/4" line signal. So I was hoping a DI Box would be the easier/better solution. Maybe this information is incorrect and a -20dB attenuator would be a good solution.
 
The direct box you indicated should do the trick. I have one in my kit from when I was using the Tascam DR-100 and had the same problem you're having and the inline attenuators worked fine.
 
Haha I actually use Behringer DIs at my church all the time. They're "decent" for live sound... And this is coming from a guy who owns $$$ in API gear. Doesn't mean much though! Heh!
 
Turns out I didn't even need the DI Box for the shoot because it had balanced XLR outputs. The DI Box will definitely come in handy for plenty of other situations.
 
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