Zoom H4n Pro User manual

Zoom H4n Pro
Audio recorder
Kit contents
1. Zoom H4n ro recorder
2. SD memory card (SanDisk Ultra, 32
GB) already installed
3. Battery charger (Duracell) for AA
batteries
4. USB cable (Mini-USB to USB-A) for
le transferring
5. Two (2) rechargeable AA batteries
already installed
6. Manufacturer's operation manual
7. Zoom plastic container
8. Carrying case
Please ensure these contents are included when you return the device.
Kits with missing items will not be accepted.
Version 1.2.0 (2022-08-30)

1
Table of contents
Before using the device 2
Instructions 3
1. Turning on the Zoom H4n Pro recorder 3
2. Setting up the Zoom H4n recorder 3
3. Adjusting the recording volume 4
4. Adjusting the playback volume 5
5. Start recording (from standby mode) 5
6. Stopping a recording 6
7A. Transferring audio les to a computer by USB cable 6
7B. Transferring audio les to a computer by SD card 7
After using the device 8
Helpful tips and usage notes 8
Attribution 9

2
Before using the device
1. Determine how many sources/directions of sound that you want to
record.
1.a. To record one source (e.g., one person), twist the knobs of the built-
in twin mics to their 90 setting. This setting uses a narrower, 90-
degree recording area. For best results, place the recorder parallel to
the ground and point the twin mics at the sound source.
1.b To record audio from multiple directions (e.g. two people), twist the
knobs of the built-in twin mics to their 120 setting. This setting uses
a wider, 120-degree recording area. For best results, place the
recorder upright between the sound sources.
2. Consider using wired headphones to listen while recording. Any
headphones with a 3.5 mm plug is compatible.
3. Know the difference between recording volume and listening volume.
Recording volume is the volume of recorded les. Listening volume is the
volume you hear in the recorder’s speakers or your connected headphones.
These volumes are independent of each other.
4. P repare for a ma x imum battery-life of about 3 hours. Y ou might need to
bring e x tra AA batteries for e x tended recording sessions.

3
Instructions
1. Turning on the Zoom H4n Pro recorder
1. Locate the power/Hold switch on the left side of
the recorder, near the bottom ( ig. 1a).
2. Slide the switch downwards and hold it there for
1 sec. The display screen will turn on and read
“Now Loading.” The recorder might take 1-2 min to
load.
2. Setting up the Zoom H4n recorder
1. Use the Menu button and scroll wheel to select a
recording mode:
1.1. Locate and press the Menu button on the right
side of the recorder (Fig. 2a). The “Menu”
screen will appear.
1.2. Locate the scroll wheel near the Menu button.
1.3. Turn the wheel to highlight “Mode” and press it
inward to select this option (Fig. 2b). The
“Mode” screen will appear.
1.4. Use the wheel to highlight and select
“Stereo,” which is recommended for general
cases (Fig. 2c). The recording screen will
appear.
1.5. Ensure that the Stereo light on the front of the
recorder (towards the top) is turned on.
2. ( A lternati v es) In step 1.4, y ou can select “ 4C H”
or “M TR ” on the “Mode” sc reen .
2.i. “ 4C H” (Four-channel) mode lets you record up
to four channels onto two tracks at once. O ne
track has audio from the built-in twin mics. The
other track has audio from one or two e x ternal
de v ices plugged into the bottom.
2.ii. “M TR ” ( M ultiple-Track R ecording) lets you
play up to four tracks while recording two
tracks.
ig. 1a. P ower B utton
ig. 2a. Location of
Menu B utton
ig. 2b. Location of
scroll wheel
ig. 2c. “Stereo” option
and Stereo light

4
2. Use the Input buttons to select an input source:
2.1 Locate the three Input buttons (Mic, 1, and 2)
on the front of the device (toward the left side)
They form a vertical line (Fig 2d)
2.2a. Press the Mic (microphone) button to use the
built-in twin microphones (on top of recorder)
2.2b. (Alternative) Press 1 or 2 to use any external
mic(s) plugged into one of the recorder’s two
bottom ports
3. Put the recorder in standby mode:
3.1. Locate the Rec (Record) button on the front of
the recorder (toward the right side, Fig 2e)
3.2. Press the Rec button once to enter standby
mode The button will continuously flash The
screen will flash a ‘paused’ icon (two vertical
bars) in the top-left corner
3.3. Ensure that the screen shows a generated
lename of the upcoming recording (Fig 2f)
3. Adjusting the recording volume
1. Position the recorder as i f actually recording:
1.1. S pea k into the device The screen will show
moving “ L” and “ R ” bars to represent the
recording volumes of the left- and right-
channels (Fig 3 a)
2. Use the Rec L evel buttons (+ and -) to adjust
recording volume as needed:
2.1. Locate the Rec L e v e l (recording level) buttons
on the right side
2.2. Press the + and - buttons to ad j ust the
recording volume The screen will show the
“ Mic L e v e l” value (Fig 3 b) The max is 1 00
2.3. (Recommended) Ad j ust the “ Mic L e v e l” so the
“L” and “ R ” volumes pea k between the “- 12 ”
and “-6” mar k ers on the recording screen
F ig. 2d. Mic 1 and Mic 2
F ig. 2e. Record (Rec)
button
F ig. 2 f . Recording
screen
F ig. 3a. M oving “L” and
“ R ” bars
F ig. 3b. + and - buttons
affect “ Mic L e v e l” value

5
4. Adjusting the playback volume
1. Use the Vol buttons (+ and -) to adjust playback:
1.1. (Optional) Locate the 3.5 mm port on the left
side.
1.2. (Optional) Insert your wired headphones into
this port (Fig. 4a).
1.3. Locate the Vol (listening volume) buttons on
the left side.
1.4. Press the + and - buttons to adjust the
listening volume. The screen will show the
“Volume” value(Fig. 4b). The max is 100.
5. Start recording (from standby mode)
1. Press the Rec button (or Play/Pause button) to
start recording from standby mode:
1.1. Ensure that the Rec button is flashing, which
shows that the recorder is ready to record.
1.2. Press the Rec button or Play / Pause button.
The former will stop flashing and the screen
will show the recording duration, which
increases while recording (Fig. 5a).
2. ( R ecommended) L ock the recorder w hile
recording:
2.1 S lide the power switch upwards to the H ol d
label (Fig. 5b). The screen will display “ K e y
H ol d. ” This feature disables button presses to
prevent accidental input.
3. ( O ptional) Press the Play/Pause button to pause
an active recording or to resume a paused
recording.
4. ( O ptional) Press the Rec button w hile recording
to create (book)marks w ithin the recording. The
screen will display “ Mark [n um b e r] ” for each
button press.
F ig. 4a. H eadphones
inserted into 3.5 mm
port
F ig.4b. Vol buttons
F ig. 5a . R ecording
duration on display
screen
F ig. 5b. H ol d (“ K e y
L oc k ”) button

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6. Stopping a recording
1. Use the Stop button to stop recording and create
a recording le:
1.1 Press the Stop (square icon) button (Fig. 6a).
1.2 Ensure that the screen shows a “Please wait”
message. After some time, it shows the
lename of the recording (Fig. 6b).
7A. Transferring audio les to a computer
by USB cable
1. Connect the recorder to your computer by using
the mini-USB to USB-A cable:
1.1. Insert the mini-USB end of the cable (smaller
plug) into the USB port on the recorder’s left
side (Fig. 7a).
1.2. Insert the USB-A end of the cable into a
compatible port on your computer.
2. Use the recorder’s Menu button and scroll wheel
to enable its USB mode:
2.1. T urn on the recorder and press the Menu
button. T he “ Menu” screen will appear.
2.2. Use the scroll wheel to highlight and select
“ USB” - > “ St o a g e . ” T he screen will show an
image depicting a recorder-computer
connection.
3 . F ind the recorder on your computer’s operating
system:
3 .a. W indows 10/11 (Fig. 7b) 
L oo k for H4N_ S D as an e x ternal de v ice / dri v e 
F ile Exp l o e - > Th is P C - > D e v i c es an d D i v es
3 .b. mac O S (Fig. 7c) 
L oo k for H4N_ S D as an e x ternal de v ice / dri v e 
Finder window sidebar and / or mac O S des k top
F ig. 6a. Stop button
F ig. 6b. Screen after
pressing Stop button
F ig. 7a. L ocation of
mini-USB slot
F ig. 7b. H4N_ S D in File
E x plorer ( W indows)
F ig. 7c. H4N_ S D in
Finder window (mac O S)

7
4. Find your desired le(s) and copy them to your
desired location(s):
4.1. Open the recorder (its avatar) on your
computer. Its three primary folders will appear
(Ste eo, 4CH, and MTR).
4.2. Open the relevant primary folder based on the
recording mode(s) that you’ve used.
4.3. Open the relevant secondary folder(s). Each
primary folder has 10 secondary folders
(Folde 01 to Folde 10).
4.4. Cut/copy and paste les as needed.
7B. Transferring audio les to a computer
by SD card
1. Ensure that the recorder is turned off.
2. Remove the SD card from its slot on the right
side:
2.1. Locate the SD card slot (cover) on the
recorder’s right side.
2.2. Open the slot cover.
2.3. Press downward/inward on the exposed side
of the SD card. It will release from the slot.
2.4. R emove the SD card.
3. I nsert SD card into your computer ’ s compatible
slot.
4. Find the SD card on your computer ’ s operating
system as an e x ternal device / drive:
4.a. W indows 10/11 ( F ig. 7 b) 
Loo k for H4 N_ S D as external device/drive 
F i le Exp lo e -> T his P C -> D e vic e s an d D iv e s
4.b. macOS ( F ig. 7 c) 
Loo k for H4 N_ S D as an external device/drive 
F inder window sidebar and/or macOS des k top
Fig. 7b. H4 N_ S D in F ile
Explorer ( W indows)
Fig. 7c. H4 N_ S D in
F inder window (macOS)

8
After using the device
1. Digitally remove (safely eject the recorder (H4N_SD) from your
computer.
2.a. Physically remove the USB cable your computer.
2.b. Physically remove the SD card from your computer and insert into the
recorder.
3. If applicable, turn off the recorder:
3.1. Slide the power button downward and hold it there for 1 sec. The
screen will show a “GoodBye! See You” message before it turns off.
4. (Optional Remove and recharge the AA batteries:
4.1. Locate the battery compartment on the back of the recorder.
4.2. Slide the door/cover to the right and remove it.
4.3. Pull the ribbon to remove the two AA batteries.
4.4. Place the batteries into the provide charger and plug it into an outlet.
Helpful tips and usage notes
1. For extended recordings, consider stable positions that don’t require
holding the recorder.
1.a. Try placing it upright or lying on a flat surface.
1.b. Try attaching it to a tripod. The recorder has a 1/ 4 in screw thread on
the back.
2. For intervie w s, consider using the (boo mar function of the R e c button
(section 5 , step 4 .
2.1. Press the R e c button whenever you ’ re going to ask a noteworthy/
pertinent q uestion. This action creates a mark.
2.2. W hile playing the recording , skip among your marks using the
Previous/ R ewind button and N e x t/ F orward button.
3. Y ou can use the F o l de r and Fil e buttons (on front and belo w the screen
to more quic ly navigate among  les saved on the recorder.
3.i. F o l de r shows the 1 0 secondary folders within the currently selected
recording mode ( S t e r eo , 4 C H , or MTR) .
3.ii. Fil e shows all  les within the current secondary folder (F o l de r01, etc ) .

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Attributions
1. Contributors
Media Creation ab / York University Digital Scholarship Infrastructure
Maykel Faragalla, photographer & contributing writer
Tim Huynh, editor, contributing photographer, & contributing writer
Raa Naz, lead writer
Ananth Putcha, contributing writer
BonaFide Communications, York University Writing Department
Nicole Bednarski, consultant
Charlotte MacDowell, consultant
Sophie Morgan, consultant
Amanda Naoum, consultant
Lorena Urican, consultant
Patrons of the Media Creation ab
This work is licensed under a Creati v e Commons
Attribution - NonCommercial 4.0 I nternational License .