Topic: Best XLR microphone for the Zoom H4n?

[metro_cubo]

Hello, I am enjoying my new H4n and trying many set-ups to define the best one. I had a CA-14 (cardioid) and a CA-9100 from my past recording devices with R-09 and I am now trying to find the best setting. Having recorded a show last night with the support act using the external microphones of the H4n and the main act plugging directly the CA-14 into the H4n, the comparison gave the main act to have a much better and clear quality than the support act.

Now I would like to try a different microphone with XLR plug, in order to test 4CH recordings but have no idea which are the ones who fit best with the H4n.

Anyone has a good suggestion based on his experience on which XLR microphone would give best recording results?

Thanks

metro_cubo

[achalsey]

Thats a pretty broad question, unfortunately.  The majority of mics out there use XLR.  And even stuff that doesn't can often use a PFA now to convert to using XLR.

What type of budget are you working with?  Are you recording openly?

There's stuff like the Studio Project C4 (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/C4mic) at the bottom end of the scale.

Then you have stuff like Neumann, Schoeps, DPA, ect... at the high end going for over 2k a set.

[harmon712]

I have a Zoom H4n and right now just have cheap Rode M5s (matched pair for $200) I'm moving away from the H4n to Marantz PMD 620 MKII with a Naiant Tinybox (will have soon) and saving for new mics, most likely Busman BSC1

I'll be using the H4n for maybe the last time tonight also here's a few recordings with my H4n. I also used an external phantom power supply (ART Phantom II Pro) or have extra batteries for each set...
Tonight I will be using an external battery and leaving the ART Phantom II Pro at home

Chicago Farmer 2014-03-28 https://archive.org/details/ChicagoFarmer2014-03-28.zoomh4n.m5.flac16
Ragbirds 2014-03-29 https://archive.org/details/ragbirds2014-03-29.zoomh4n.m5.flac16
Old Shoe 2014-03-29 https://archive.org/details/OldShoe2014-03-29.zoomh4n.m5.flac16

[hi and lo]

Hi there and welcome to the forum! As a starting point, it's better if you can describe your use case rather than a technical requirement. What does this mean? Well, we need to know what kind of music you will be recording, how you will be doing it (i.e. from the crowd? from on/near the stage? using a microphone stand or not?). Since we can only make assumptions about how the microphones will be used, we might not provide the best advice and achasley is spot on in that this is a very broad question, but we can narrow down the answers if we know a little more about how you'll be using a mic.

Ultimately, the connector used between the microphone and recorder (XLR, 3.5mm TRS, etc.) is relatively trivial. What isn't trivial is how the microphone might need to be powered, directionality of the microphone, etc. The recorder is also somewhat trivial and there's no "best" microphone to use with the H4n, although there might be some that work better than others. The microphone is the most important component in the signal chain, so it's better to find a microphone that is perfect for the use case rather than the recorder.

[metro_cubo]

Hello, thanks for your answers. I will try to narrow down a bit the scenario so you know what I am looking for.

1) I normally use the H4n to record shows, they can span from stadium outdoor to small clubs
2) However, it is mostly in clubs and small halls, where I normally place on one side, a few meters in front of the PA
3) Currently I connect the H4n to the CA-14 (tried to include also the CA-9100 but it basically gives the same results but it's one extra device to carry)
4) My CA-14 comes with mini-jack but this does not enable me to record 4 tracks (using both embedded and external micros)

So this is where my question comes: if I had to but a mike with XLR plug, giving my recording settings above, what would you recommend?
I would stay in the 150-300 $ range

Thanks

ldb

[acidjack]

^^^ Why do you care about four tracks? Four tracks of audience from the same location is generally (not always) next to useless and (just like your CA9200 that you're wisely not using) a huge waste of time.

The other real key here is if you're stealth recording or not. It kind of sounds like you are, but that makes a big difference.

If you're not stealth recording, those XLR inputs are better used for a board feed, then go CA-14>battery box>miniplug input to the H4N (I think it has one).

If you are, and as you seem to say, basically stack taping, adding additional microphones will do nothing, not to mention make what you're doing a bit more obvious. I would either stick with what you have or, if you're committed to spending tons more money, upgrade to an AKG or Schoeps active setup.  But that is a much more involved situation than what you're doing now.

[bombdiggity]

Hi metro_cubo.  I've enjoyed your recordings over the years.  In terms of your usual recording practices and budget the CA's are among the best potential choices. 

If you're satisfied with your CA's I'd agree with the others here that you're pretty much set.  The only instance where I think four channels might benefit you is if you want to run both SBD and your mics and with the necessary cables and potentially a few small adapters it would be easy to run the SBD to the XLR's.  In cases of external mics and internal mics the externals will be better every single time unless it's a really bad external (not your case) or if you have some sort of cable fault occur that ruins the external signal. 

The XLR is essentially just a different connector but it typically involves moving to a different type of mic that requires it's own power (phantom powered pre-amp or a few that have internal batteries).  The mics get much larger, the cables fatter and bigger, the power supply usually much larger than a CA9100.  It becomes a lot to haul around and set up, which may be a concern for you. 

There may be a way you could get adapters to run your CA's into XLR connectors and with the preamp perhaps have enough output signal to record that way and then be able to run the internals too.  You would however lose the compact form factor you usually want (with big fat connectors/cables coming out of the recorder) and it would likely severely limit how you could position the internals in terms of optimizing the results from them. 

[chinariderstl]

There are a pair of Busman Audio BSC1's in the Yard Sale for $400.

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=170352.0

There is also a pair of AKG SE300B/CK91's in the YS for $375.

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=167685.0

Both pairs will give you excellent results.

I have also always liked the sound of these Berliner CM-33 mics at that same price point.

http://www.amazon.com/Berliner-Diaphragm-Condenser-Microphones-Overheads/dp/B006JPA9C4

Also at that price point is the Audio-Technica AT8022.  Another fine, fine mic.

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT8022-Stereo-Microphone/dp/B001TE2MKW/

HTH.

[metro_cubo]

Thanks to all for your kind answers. Quite a lot of food for thought on how to improve my recording device.

metro_cubo