Topic: Zoom H4Essential

[Dan33185]

Question about this recorder.  New to taping and have soundboard access tonight to a regional band.  I have a zoom h4e.  I will bring a pair of XLR and TRS cables (as I am not sure what the board has available to me).  The Zoom h4e has 2 XLR/TRS inputs on the bottom.  My goal is a single stereo track recording. Is my best option to plug each XLR into inputs 1 and 2?  I wasn't sure if you recorded 2 inputs at the same time if they record 2 different tracks (that would need to be combined)?  Or do I get a Y adapter and run both XLR into input 1?

Just a little nervous and want to be prepared given I am getting SBD access.

Depends on the board, I would ask beforehand. I've had both (right has vocals, right has guitar, etc.), but most commonly it will be the full mix.

[al w.]

Question about this recorder.  New to taping and have soundboard access tonight to a regional band.  I have a zoom h4e.  I will bring a pair of XLR and TRS cables (as I am not sure what the board has available to me).  The Zoom h4e has 2 XLR/TRS inputs on the bottom.  My goal is a single stereo track recording. Is my best option to plug each XLR into inputs 1 and 2?  I wasn't sure if you recorded 2 inputs at the same time if they record 2 different tracks (that would need to be combined)?  Or do I get a Y adapter and run both XLR into input 1?

Just a little nervous and want to be prepared given I am getting SBD access.

Depends on the board, I would ask beforehand. I've had both (right has vocals, right has guitar, etc.), but most commonly it will be the full mix.

Yes, assuming the board outputs the full mix, plug each XLR (or TRS, depending) into inputs 1 and 2. Each input represents a single mono track; you wouldn't be able to use a Y adapter here in any case.

Depending on the recorder's settings, it will probably automatically create a stereo recording for you. If it's set to dual mono ,you can always combine the two mono tracks into a stereo recording later, but it's probably set to stereo by default. Good luck!

[meltycrayon]

Question about this recorder.  New to taping and have soundboard access tonight to a regional band.  I have a zoom h4e.  I will bring a pair of XLR and TRS cables (as I am not sure what the board has available to me).  The Zoom h4e has 2 XLR/TRS inputs on the bottom.  My goal is a single stereo track recording. Is my best option to plug each XLR into inputs 1 and 2?  I wasn't sure if you recorded 2 inputs at the same time if they record 2 different tracks (that would need to be combined)?  Or do I get a Y adapter and run both XLR into input 1?

Just a little nervous and want to be prepared given I am getting SBD access.

Depends on the board, I would ask beforehand. I've had both (right has vocals, right has guitar, etc.), but most commonly it will be the full mix.

Yes, assuming the board outputs the full mix, plug each XLR (or TRS, depending) into inputs 1 and 2. Each input represents a single mono track; you wouldn't be able to use a Y adapter here in any case.

Depending on the recorder's settings, it will probably automatically create a stereo recording for you. If it's set to dual mono ,you can always combine the two mono tracks into a stereo recording later, but it's probably set to stereo by default. Good luck!

The H4essential will automatically create Tr1.wav and Tr2.wav files of the two XLR/TRS inputs AND a TrLR.wav that's a stereo mix of the two inputs. (The TrLR file will also mix in the TrMic file if you're also recording with the built in mics while recording the board feed.)

To introduce another question or two: I've not had the opportunity to experiment with a board feed. I've long heard about some board feeds being too hot and the taper needing pads; I've assumed that's because the board is sending a line level out and it's being plugged into a mic level input. The H4essential is set for line level input on the TRS and mic level on the XLR, and those inputs can be recorded at 32 bit float. I figure that if a line level signal is run into the XLR input it's still going to be too hot despite the 32 bit float, because it's the preamp that's distorting, right? Could that scenario be handled with a couple XLR to TRS adapters, so you could plug into the TRS instead? Thanks! (Still a recording noob despite trading tapes for over 40 years.)

[jefflester]

Question about this recorder.  New to taping and have soundboard access tonight to a regional band.  I have a zoom h4e.  I will bring a pair of XLR and TRS cables (as I am not sure what the board has available to me).  The Zoom h4e has 2 XLR/TRS inputs on the bottom.  My goal is a single stereo track recording. Is my best option to plug each XLR into inputs 1 and 2?  I wasn't sure if you recorded 2 inputs at the same time if they record 2 different tracks (that would need to be combined)?  Or do I get a Y adapter and run both XLR into input 1?

Just a little nervous and want to be prepared given I am getting SBD access.

Depends on the board, I would ask beforehand. I've had both (right has vocals, right has guitar, etc.), but most commonly it will be the full mix.

Yes, assuming the board outputs the full mix, plug each XLR (or TRS, depending) into inputs 1 and 2. Each input represents a single mono track; you wouldn't be able to use a Y adapter here in any case.

Depending on the recorder's settings, it will probably automatically create a stereo recording for you. If it's set to dual mono ,you can always combine the two mono tracks into a stereo recording later, but it's probably set to stereo by default. Good luck!

The H4essential will automatically create Tr1.wav and Tr2.wav files of the two XLR/TRS inputs AND a TrLR.wav that's a stereo mix of the two inputs. (The TrLR file will also mix in the TrMic file if you're also recording with the built in mics while recording the board feed.)

To introduce another question or two: I've not had the opportunity to experiment with a board feed. I've long heard about some board feeds being too hot and the taper needing pads; I've assumed that's because the board is sending a line level out and it's being plugged into a mic level input. The H4essential is set for line level input on the TRS and mic level on the XLR, and those inputs can be recorded at 32 bit float. I figure that if a line level signal is run into the XLR input it's still going to be too hot despite the 32 bit float, because it's the preamp that's distorting, right? Could that scenario be handled with a couple XLR to TRS adapters, so you could plug into the TRS instead? Thanks! (Still a recording noob despite trading tapes for over 40 years.)

Hope he saw this before heading to show. Yeah, line level signals should go to TRS inputs. This bit me a few times with an F8 recording my own bands.

Manual page 31.
https://zoomcorp.com/media/documents/E_H4essential_2.pdf