Topic: UA5 > Zoom H4N question

[obaaron]

Hey y'all -

I would like to run a couple rigs on Wednesday for Mickey Hart Band in SOCal.    I am limited with my recorder and cable options and am trying to figure out the best way to run the following rig:

AKG ck93 actives > UA5 > Zoom H4n.

The only line in on the H4N is through the unbalanced 1/4" TRS inputs or I can run into the balanced XLR's with phantom off.  There is no digital in.  I have set of 1/4" TRS to XLR cables I can use to run 1/4" out  of the UA5 into the XLR's on the Zoom with the phantom power off.  The XLR input is rated at -10db (the unbalanced 1/4" inputs are +2db). Is this possible and will it affect the sound?  I don't have any recording units with digital ins so I always have to run analog out of the UA5 which I know is redundant.  Should I buy a set of 1/4" to 1/4" so I'll be running out of  the unbalanced 1/4" jacks on the UA5 to the unbalanced 1/4" ins on the H4N? 

My other rig is straightforward...should kick ass!

Akg 460/ck61 > littlebox w/OT > Sony m10

Maybe I'll just run my CA-14s > 9200 > h4n instead of the ck93's....I really need a dr-680 lol!

[obaaron]

i guess the main question is what will the effects of running unbalanced 1/4" TRS outs of the UA5 into the balanced XLR's on the H4N be?

[jibooer]

Have you considered using your ca-9200 with your ck93's, or running directly into the Zoom? Does the PIP provide enough power?

Seems to me that running the UA-5 would not be advantageous, and the a>d>a>d conversions are quite redundant. As far as running unbalanced>balanced input I don't think there would be an issue, but others may chime in with more expertise than I.

[F.O.Bean]

I ran XLR out of my old sax, to the 1/8" mini input of my m10 and everything was fine! I would just use what cables you have, but as always, YMMV!!!! Also I'd have a dedicated recorder for each "rig" you have. H4n for your ca14/ck93 setup and keep the LB>m10 setup for the big shows. I just LOVE running 4 channels, don't you?

And I must admit, Obarron, IMO, you have come the LONGEST collecting gear in the few months since you got into it. CONGRATS my man. Now sell it ALL, and get serious, and buy schoeps come on, EVERYBODY secretly wants them come to the dark side!!!!

[obaaron]

Thanks for the feedback fellas!  Don't see myself grabbing schoeps anytime soon but may ditch the AKG Bluelines and grab some Neumann 140's

I'll be posting my Mickey Hart pulls later this week.

[F.O.Bean]

Thanks for the feedback fellas!  Don't see myself grabbing schoeps anytime soon but may ditch the AKG Bluelines and grab some Neumann 140's

I'll be posting my Mickey Hart pulls later this week.

Thats a good route too After the Neumanns, you'll come to the dark side!

[obaaron]

hahaha. 

Never say never! 

[F.O.Bean]

hahaha. 

Never say never! 

 

[silentmark]

serious, and buy schoeps come on, EVERYBODY secretly wants them come to the dark side!!!!

This couldn't be more false 

[obaaron]

Well The show was great I put up my 460>ck61>litlebox pull here:  http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=161136.0

The ck93>ua5>zoom pull was unusable as the levels were brickwalled which I should have noticed but didnt.  After doing some research I'm pretty confident that it is due to the fact that I ran out of the 1/4" line outs on the UA5 into in the balanced XLR inputs with phantom off on the H4N which are not at Line level but rather mic level.  From what I understand I would have needed a 20-40db pad to avoid clipping/brickwalling. 

I am going to purchase a set of 1/4" to 1/4" interconnects to avoid using the XLR inputs on the H4N.   Will be testing this option next Saturday at Karl Denson.

[Karl]

I don't know how much the Zoom H4 and the H2 are alike, but the H2 that I was messing with clipped real easy, and had such a high self noise that there was no good middle ground. I was almost to the point where I would say it was good to use if it was free, but I couldn't even say that. How much could you sell your H4 for? And then buy either a Tascam or Sony?