At its default setting, you can expect around six hours of continuous WAV recording. The H4n runs off two AA batteries, and includes internal settings to maximize performance from either alkaline or rechargeable batteries. Some users will find value in the H4n's ambitious MTR mode, but from a general usability perspective, we feel that the mixing board-style interface of the MTR mode is awkward to operate using the included controls. In essence, MTR mode lets musicians layer compositions in multiple passes (first drums, than guitar, and so on). This mode is similar to four-channel recording, but treats each channel as a distinct track, with individual settings for panning, volume, and effects. The third recording mode of the Zoom H4n is MTR, or multitrack recording. To hear a comparison between two-channel (stereo) and four-channel recording, take a listen to the sample recordings in the Performance section of this review. The result is a more professional-sounding recording that leaves some creative wiggle room when the files are mixed together later on. In the real world, this means you can record the stereo sound of a music performance and the direct sound of an instrument (say, a closely-mic'd acoustic guitar, or the line output of a keyboard) all at the same time. With four-channel recording, the H4n lets you record from the built-in microphones and external microphone inputs simultaneously as two separate stereo files. While most people will only use the H4n's stereo mode, the recorder's four-channel mode distinguishes it from the competition. Microphone gain adjustments are made using a clearly labeled rocker switch on the right side of the recorder, and features such as auto-level adjustment, multiple compressor, and limiter settings help to prevent recording levels from overloading.
ZOOM RECORDER XLR 320KBPS
Recording resolution ranges from a maximum of 24-bit/96kHz, to as low as 48Kbps MP3, with selections for just about everything in-between (such as 320Kbps MP3, or a Pro Tools-friendly 24-bit/48kHz). By default, the recorder is set to stereo recording mode, letting people capture stereo-audio recordings from the H4n's built-in mics, or external microphone inputs. Dedicated LED indicators for each of the recording modes are found just above the H4n's screen, making it easy to determine which mode you're using. The H4n can be set in three main recording modes: stereo, four channel, and multitrack recording. We only have a few paragraphs, however, so let's just go over the main details.
ZOOM RECORDER XLR MANUAL
The H4n comes with a 150-page printed manual that clearly explains each and every aspect of operation. For us, Zoom's everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach feels refreshingly generous, offering more features than recorders that cost twice as much. If you value simplicity over flexibility, you may find the hundreds of settings and configurations offered by H4n overwhelming. We also would like to have seen a dedicated track-divide button on the H4n, similar to the one found on the Sony PCM-D50. Placing the input on the back makes it impossible to lay the H4n on a table while recording with an external minijack microphone, unless you stand the recorder on its end. For one, it seems a little odd that Zoom placed the minijack microphone input on the back of the H4n, instead of putting it on the side like its competitors do.
Granted, the menus themselves offer a dizzying amount of options and features, but the ergonomics of jumping in and out of menus to manipulate those features is as smooth as can be.
ZOOM RECORDER XLR PORTABLE
Using a simple menu button and a scroll wheel off to the right side of the recorder (where your thumb naturally falls), the H4n offers the easiest menu navigation we've ever used on a portable recorder. However, our favorite unsung design feature is the H4n's menu navigation system. Little details such as an offset record button that's easy to feel out in the dark, or the built-in speaker on the back that lets you listen back to recordings without having to plug in a pair of headphones, demonstrate that Zoom's designers really did their homework designing the H4n. The stereo microphones included on the Zoom H4n are anchored into a solid chunk of aluminum and rotate around for 90-degree and 120-degree recording patterns.ĭesign features such as microphones encased in solid aluminum and a spacious 2-inch screen may be the first details to catch your eye, but its the small things that really have us loving the H4n.
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