Zoom Q4 User manual

© 2013 ZOOM CORPORATION
Copying or reproduction of this User
Guide in part or in whole without
permission is prohibited.
User Guide
Safety and Operation
Precautions must be read
before using the unit.
Q4

1
Included items
s,ITHIUMIONBATTERY
"4
s,#$UNIT
s53"CABLE s(AIRYWINDSCREEN s
(AIRY
WINDSCREEN
ATTACHMENT
SCREW
s5SER'UIDE
THISDOCUMENT
© 2013 ZOOM CORPORATION
User Guide
Safety and Operation
Precautions must be read
before using the unit.
Q4
Included items
s MAINUNIT

2
0ARTSOFTHERECORDER
EXT IN
HDMI OUT
DC5V
Tripod mounting
screw
Accessory
mount
INPUT
LEVEL
LED Remaining SD LED
Remaining battery LED
VOL
+/–
keys
MANUAL
GAIN
switch
POWER
button
HDMI
connector
External
input
jack
Headphones
jack
USB
port
XY mic
Lens
LCD unit
connector
Operation buttons
REC
button
GAIN
switch
Charging LED
LO
CUT
switch
Battery/SD card
cover
Battery lock
SD card slot
Battery slot
Parts of the recorder
Remaining battery LED
Green 50% or more remaining battery charge
Orange 20-50% remaining battery charge
Red 20% or less remaining battery charge
Blinking red Almost no remaining battery charge
Charging LED
Red Battery charging
Unlit Charging complete or not charging
Remaining SD LED
Green 50% or more SD card space open
Orange 20-50% space open
Red 20% or less space open
Blinking red No space open or unusable
Unlit No SD card loaded
Right side view

3
0ARTSOFTHERECORDER
EXT IN
HDMI OUT
DC5V
Tripod mounting
screw
Accessory
mount
INPUT
LEVEL
LED Remaining SD LED
Remaining battery LED
VOL
+/–
keys
MANUAL
GAIN
switch
POWER
button
HDMI
connector
External
input
jack
Headphones
jack
USB
port
XY mic
Lens
LCD unit
connector
Operation buttons
REC
button
GAIN
switch
Charging LED
LO
CUT
switch
Battery/SD card
cover
Battery lock
SD card slot
Battery slot
Parts of the recorder (continued)
)NSTALLINGTHEBATTERY
Open the battery/SD card cover. Make sure the battery is facing the
correct direction and push it in completely until it locks.
After confirming that the battery is locked, securely close the battery/SD
card cover.
Unlock the battery before removing it.
Bottom
EXT IN
HDMI OUT
DC5V
Tripod mounting
screw
Accessory
mount
INPUT
LEVEL
LED Remaining SD LED
Remaining battery LED
VOL
+/–
keys
MANUAL
GAIN
switch
POWER
button
HDMI
connector
External
input
jack
Headphones
jack
USB
port
XY mic
Lens
LCD unit
connector
Operation buttons
REC
button
GAIN
switch
Charging LED
LO
CUT
switch
Battery/SD card
cover
Battery lock
SD card slot
Battery slot
Top

4
0ARTSOFTHERECORDER
EXT IN
HDMI OUT
DC5V
Tripod mounting
screw
Accessory
mount
INPUT
LEVEL
LED Remaining SD LED
Remaining battery LED
VOL
+/–
keys
MANUAL
GAIN
switch
POWER
button
HDMI
connector
External
input
jack
Headphones
jack
USB
port
XY mic
Lens
LCD unit
connector
Operation buttons
REC
button
GAIN
switch
Charging LED
LO
CUT
switch
Battery/SD card
cover
Battery lock
SD card slot
Battery slot
EXT IN
HDMI OUT
DC5V
Tripod mounting
screw
Accessory
mount
INPUT
LEVEL
LED Remaining SD LED
Remaining battery LED
VOL
+/–
keys
MANUAL
GAIN
switch
POWER
button
HDMI
connector
External
input
jack
Headphones
jack
USB
port
XY mic
Lens
LCD unit
connector
Operation buttons
REC
button
GAIN
switch
Charging LED
LO
CUT
switch
Battery/SD card
cover
Battery lock
SD card slot
Battery slot
Parts of the recorder (continued)
XY mic
Raise when recording.
Back
LCD unit
Front

5
0ARTSOFTHERECORDER
Attaching and detaching the LCD unit
Parts of the recorder (continued)
6
!TTACHINGTHE,#$UNIT
1. Align the LCD unit with the guide rail
and push it in until it is attached.
$ETACHINGTHE,#$UNIT
1. On the menu screen, select SETTING
and press .
(See "Working with menus" on page 7.)
2. Use /to select "Remove LCD".
3. Press .
4. Use / to select "Yes".
5. Press .
The LCD becomes blank.
6. While pressing the UNLOCK button
in the recorder connection area, slide
the LCD unit off.
NOTE
Recording is possible when the LCD
unit is detached.
32
54

6
-AINSCREEN
Monitoring volume
Mic gain
Status icon
Navigation
buttons SCENE setting Input settings
LO CUT setting
Level meters
Video quality
setting
Audio quality
setting
Timecode
Remaining battery
charge
Status icon
This shows the current operation
status.
Level meters
These show the volume of the input
audio. If the volume is too loud, peak
indicators will stay lit.
Timecode
When recording, this shows the
recording time.When paused, this
shows the possible recording time.
Remaining battery charge
This shows the amount of remaining
battery charge.
Monitoring volume
This shows the volume level (when
using the VOL +/−keys).
Video quality setting
This shows the video size and
number of frames.
Audio quality setting
This shows the audio format and bit
rate.
Navigation buttons
These icons show the functions of
the LCD unit operation buttons. They
change according to the operation
state.
SCENE setting
This shows the camera SCENE
setting (VIDEO menu).
Input settings
This shows the audio input setting
(built-in mic, external mic or line
input).
LO CUT setting
This shows the use of noise reduction.
Mic gain
This shows the recording level setting.
Main screen
NOTE
You can use the / navigation buttons to change the angle of view.
: Make the angle of view narrower.
: Make the angle of view wider.

7
7ORKINGWITHMENUS
5SETHEMENUTOMAKEDETAILEDSETTINGS
Open the menu screen
Working with menus
1. Press while the main screen is
open.
This opens the menu.
1
NOTE
If the LCD unit is turned, the
navigation button display will
change according to the positions of
the unit operation buttons.

8
7ORKINGWITHMENUS
Working with menus
21
Working with menus
1. Use / to select a menu item.
2. Press to confirm a menu selection.
The setting item list opens.
3. Use / to select a setting item.
4.
Press to confirm a setting selection.
The setting value list opens.
5. Use / to select a setting value.
6. Press to confirm a setting value.
A check mark appears on the selected
setting value.
7. To return to the main screen, press
several times.
43
67 5

9
#HARGINGTHEBATTERY
Charging the battery
1. Turn the off.
2. Connect to a USB power supply
(running computer or ZOOM AD-17
AC adapter (sold separately)).
The Charging LED stays lit while the
battery is charging.
3. After charging completes, disconnect the
cable from the USB power supply.
After charging completes, the Charging
LED becomes unlit.
2
2
NOTE
Charging a battery to 100% requires about three hours when connected
to a computer and about two hours fifteen minutes when using an AC
adapter.
(The amount of time required will vary depending on the conditions.)
CAUTION
UÊ /iÊÀiVÀ`iÀÊ`iÃÊÌÊV>À}iÊÜiÊÌÊÃʰ
UÊ/iÊÃÕÀÀÕ`}ÊÌi«iÀ>ÌÕÀiÊÃÕ`ÊLiÊLiÌÜiiÊxcÊ>`ÊÎxcÊ
{£cÊ>`Êxc®ÊÜiÊV>À}}°ÊÌÊÌiÀÊÌi«iÀ>ÌÕÀiÃ]ÊÌiÊL>ÌÌiÀÞÊ
could become hot, damaged or weakened.
UÊ ÊÌÊi>ÛiÊÌiÊV>LiÊViVÌi`ÊvÀÊ>Ê}ÊÌiÊ>vÌiÀÊV>À}}Ê
completes.
UÊ 9ÕÊÕÃÌÊ>ÃÊvÜÊÌiÊ>`}ÊÃÌÀÕVÌÃÊ "Warnings and
ÀiµÕiÃÌÃÊÀi}>À`}ÊÃ>viÊL>ÌÌiÀÞÊÕÃi¸ÊÊ«>}iÊÎä°

10
3ETTINGTHETIME
7HENTHEDATEANDTIMEARESETTHERECORDERCANSTOREACCURATE
RECORDINGDATEANDTIMEINFORMATIONINlLES
Setting the time
46 5
32
1. On the menu screen, select SETTING
and press .
2. Use / to select Set Date.
3. Press .
4. Use to select each item.
5. Use / to set the values for the
current date and time.
6. After completing the setting, press
.

11
&ORMATTING3$CARDS
À>ÌÌ}Ê-ÊV>À`Ã
54
32
3$CARDSMUSTBEFORMATTEDBYTHE FORUSEWITHIT
1. On the menu screen, select SETTING
and press .
2. Use / ÊÌÊÃiiVÌÊ-ÊÀ>̰Ê
3. Press .
4. Use / to select "Yes" .
5. Press .
The SD card will be formatted.
Select “No” to return to the SETTING
menu.
After formatting completes, "Done" will
appear and the SETTING menu will
reopen.
NOTE
If the SD card’s write-protection
switch is ON, the card cannot be
formatted.
CAUTION
UÊ ÊvÌiÀÊ«ÕÀV>Ã}Ê>ÊiÜÊ-ÊV>À`]Ê>Ü>ÞÃÊvÀ>ÌÊÌÊÕÃ}ÊÌiÊ to
maximize performance.
UÊ iÊ>Ü>ÀiÊÌ>ÌÊ>Ê`>Ì>Ê«ÀiÛÕÃÞÊÃ>Ûi`ÊÊÌiÊ-ÊV>À`ÊÜÊLiÊ`iiÌi`Ê
when it is formatted.

12
!DJUSTINGTHERECORDINGLEVEL
9OUCANADJUSTTHERECORDINGLEVELTOSUITTHERECORDINGCONDITIONS
Adjusting the recording level manually
Adjusting the recording level
1. Slide the GAIN switch to the MANUAL
position.
This turns automatic recording level
adjustment off.
2. Use the MANUAL GAIN switch to
adjust the recording level.
H High sensitivity (for field recording)
M Medium sensitivity (for solo and
chamber music performances)
L
Low sensitivity (for band
performances and concerts)
NOTE
The MANUAL GAIN setting also
affects external mics and line inputs.
1. Slide the GAIN switch to the AUTO
position.
The will automatically set a
suitable recording level.
Adjusting the recording level automatically
1
12
NOTE
Use the AUDIO menu Auto Gain item to set how the recording level is
automatically adjusted.
(See "AUDIO settings" on page 15)

13
2EDUCINGNOISE-ONITORINGAUDIO
4UR NTHELOWCUTlLTERONTOREDUCEWINDSOUNDSANDOTHERNOISE
5SINGHEADPHONESYOUCANMONITORTHEAUDIOBEINGRECORDED
Reducing noise
Monitoring audio
1
1. Slide the LO CUT switch to ON.
NOTE
Cover the mic with the included
windscreen to further reduce
noise.
1. Connect headphones or other audio
equipment to the headphones jack on
the back of the recorder.
2. Use the VOL +/– keys to adjust the
monitoring volume.
1
2

14
6)$%/SETTINGS
Resolution: resolution and frame rate used when recording
Setting Picture
dimensions
À>iÃÉ
second Main applications iÊÃâi
£änäÉÎä £ÓäÊÝÊ£änä Îä Playback on HD TVs Larger
HD720/60 1280 x 720 60 Recording fast movement
ÇÓäÉÎä 1280 x 720 Îä Playback on HD TVs and
computers
WVGA/60 848 x 480 60 Saving SD card space and
recording fast movement
76ÉÎä 848 x 480 Îä Saving SD card space Smaller
Scene: Camera setting for lighting conditions when recording
Setting Main applications
Auto Adjusts to lighting conditions automatically.
Concert Lighting Best setting for live shows, concerts and other situations with
bright lights.
Night Best setting for night and other dark situations.
Upside Down: Reverse vertical orientation when recording
Setting Main applications
On 6`iÊÜÊLiÊÃ>Ûi`ÊÜÌÊÌiÊ>}iÊÀÌ>Ìi`Ê£näc°Ê
Use when the is recording upside down, for example.
Off The image is not rotated.
23 1
VIDEO settings
1. Use / to select an item.
2. Press .
3. After completing the setting, press
.
9OUCANSETTHERESOLUTIONFRAMERATEANDOTHERRECORDINGSETTINGS
)NCREASINGTHERESOLUTIONDECREASESTHEPOSSIBLERECORDINGTIME

15
!5$)/SETTINGS
À>Ì\Ê>Õ`ʵÕ>ÌÞÊÜiÊÀiVÀ`}ÊÛ`i
Setting Description iÊÃâi
76ÊÈâÉÓ{LÌ
Record in an uncompressed WAV format when
audio quality is important.
The higher the sampling frequency (kHz) and bit
rate, the better the audio quality.
Larger
76ÊÈâÉ£ÈLÌ
WAV 48kHz/24bit
WAV 48kHz/16bit
WAV 44.1kHz/24bit
WAV 44.1kHz/16bit
ÊÎÓäL«Ã
Record in a compressed AAC format when you
need to save SD card space.
The higher the bit rate (kbps), the better the audio
quality.
AAC 256kbps
Ê£ÓL«Ã
AAC 128kbps
AAC 64kbps Smaller
Plugin Power: supply power to an external mic connected to the external
input jack
Setting Description
On Activate plug-in power
Off Deactivate plug-in power
Auto Gain: setting used to adjust recording levels automatically
Setting Main applications
Concert Use for band performances, concerts and other loud situations.
Solo Use for solo performances and other quiet sounds.
Meeting Use for meetings and field recordings.
23 1
AUDIO settings
1. Use / to select an item.
2. Press .
3. After completing the setting, press
.
9OUCANSETTHEAUDIOQUALITYTOUSEWHENRECORDINGVIDEO
)NCREASINGTHEAUDIOQUALITYDECREASESTHEPOSSIBLERECORDINGTIME

16
2ECORDINGVIDEO
1. After preparing to record, press .
This starts video recording.
2. Press again to stop recording.
Recording video
H
M
L
–
+
INPUT
LEVEL
GAIN
MANUAL
AUTO
LO
CUT
SD
CARD
ON
OFF
BATT
CHG
NOTE
UÊ vÊÌiÊÌÀ>ÃviÀÊëii`ÊÌÊÌiÊV>À`ÊÃÊÌÊv>ÃÌÊiÕ}Ê`ÕÀ}Ê>Õ`É
video recording, “Low Speed Card!” appears on the screen and
recording stops. To avoid this, we recommend using cards that
are Class 4 or faster. Information about SD cards that can be used
with this unit can be found at www.zoom.co.jp.
1, 2
&ROMTHEMAINSCREENYOUCANSTARTRECORDINGVIDEOBYPRESSINGA
SINGLEBUTTON

17
0LAYINGRECORDINGS
&UNCTIONSOFOTHERBUTTONS
Play previous/next recording … Press / during playback
Search backward/forward …… Press and hold / during playback
Pause …………………………… Press during playback
End pause ……………………… Press when paused
Adjust the volume …………… Press +/–
NOTE
UÊ /iÊ can only play back videos that it recorded.
UÊ ÞÊViVÌ}Ê>ÊÊV>LiÊÃ`ÊÃi«>À>ÌiÞ®ÊÌÊÌiÊÊ"1/]Ê
video can be output to an external device. (See "HDMI output" on
page 21)
UÊ /iÊÊiÕÊÃÜÃÊ>ÊÌÕL>ÊÃÌÊvÊÛ`iÃÊÌ>ÌÊÞÕÊV>ÊÕÃiÊvÀÊ
playback selection. -iiʸÊÃ̸ÊÊ«>}iÊÓ{®
1
3
Playing recordings
9OUCANPLAYBACKRECORDEDVIDEO
1. Press on the main screen.
This starts playback of the last recorded
video.
2. Use / if you want to play a
different file.
3. Press to stop playback.
The main screen reappears.
2

18
$ELETINGRECORDINGS
Deleting recordings
1
9OUCANDELETEVIDEOSTOINCREASETHEOPENSPACEONTHEMEDIA
1. Press on the main screen.
A list of videos appears.
2. Use / to select the video that
you want to delete.
3. Press .
A check mark appears on the selected
video.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 to add check
marks to multiple videos.
4. Press .
5. Use / to select "Delete
-iiVÌi`Êiø°
6. Press .
You can also use "Play File" to play a
selected file.
34 2
65

19
$ELETINGRECORDINGS
Deleting recordings (continued)
7. Use / to select "Yes" .
8. Press .
The selected video will be deleted.
Select "No" to cancel.
9. Use / to select "Exit Trash"
and press to return to the main
screen.
10
.Press .
8
7
10
9
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