Zoom H4N User manual

Digital Recorders
as shown by the example of H4n and H4N Pro

Digital Recorders
2022
IMPRESSUM
Herausgeber:
Radiofabrik - Verein Freier Rundfunk Salzburg
Ulrike-Gschwandtner-Straße 5
A-5020 Salzburg
www.radiofabrik.at
Projektleitung: Alf Altendorf
Redaktion: Carla Stenitzer
Illustrationen & Layout: Annika Statkowski
Übersetzungen: Ronnie Rohrecker
Lizenz: CC BY–NC–ND
Namensnennung – Nichtkommerzielle Nutzung – Keine Bearbeitung
Gefördert aus den Mitteln des

DIGITAL RECORDERS
STEP 1: ASSEMBLING THE DEVICE � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4
STEP 2: TURNING ON THE DEVICE AND FORMATTING THE SD-CARD� � � � � � � � � � � � 5
STEP 3: CHECKING THE SETTINGS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5
STEP 4: CHOOSING YOUR MIC � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6
STEP 5: VOLUME ON HEADPHONES AND RECORDING� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6
STEP 6: RECORDING � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 7
STEP 7: TRANSFERRING FILES� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8
TROUBLESHOOTING � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9
TIPS FOR RECORDING � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 10

Digital Recorders / Seite 4
Mobile recorders can be used for recording audio without a studio and
creating radio shows from lots of different locations. H4n and H4n Pro are
both affordable devices with a wide array of functions.
In this manual, we will use these devices as examples to describe the use
of digital audio recorders. These basic functions are the same or at least
very similar when dealing with other recorders.
STEP 1: ASSEMBLING THE DEVICE
Each set of equipment for making an audio recording consists of:
1x ZoomH4n, 1x Handheld Microphone AKGC1000(S), 1x Pop Screen,
1x Headphones, 1x XLR cable, 1x USB cord, 2x AA-batteries (recharge-
able)
This is how you assemble the device:
1. Put the batteries into the back of the recorder (leave the piece of
string under the batteries – like that you can easily remove the batte-
ries by pulling the string).
2. Plug in the headphones on the left side of the device where you’ll
nd the symbol for headphones
3. Plug the XLR cable into the left plug on the underside of the device
and
4. plug the other end of the cable into the handheld microphone.
5. Slide the “On/Off”switch of the microphone upwards into the
“On” position.

Digital Recorders / Seite 5
Attention! By doing this you will
delete all les from the SD-Card!
Only do this after you’ve checked
whether there’s nothing on there
that you still need and haven’t
saved yet!
STEP 2: TURNING ON THE DEVICE AND FORMATTING
THE SD-CARD
All the way down on the left side of the device you will nd the “On/Off”
switch. Press it for 1-2 seconds until the display lights up.
If this is your rst time turning on the recorder, we would advise you to
format the SD-Card in order to delete old recordings made by the people
who used it before you.
On the right side of the device you’ll nd the “Menu” button. Press this
and use the small wheel above it to scroll through the list until you nd the
item “SD-card”.
Press the wheel to conrm your selection. This will bring you to the next
menu, where you’ll choose the item “format”. Press the wheel again to
conrm and once more to answer “Yes” to the Pop-Up asking “Are you
sure?”. Now the entire memory of the SD-Card has been wiped.
STEP 3: CHECKING THE SETTINGS
Storage Location: Press the button on the left side under the display mar-
ked “Folder”. Select “Folder 1” by
scrolling with the small wheel on the
right side of the device and con-
rm your selection by pressing the
wheel.

Digital Recorders / Seite 6
Audio format: Press the button all the way on the right under the display
marked “WAV/MP3”.
Choose either MP3 320kbps for small audio les of good quality or
WAV44.1kHz/24bit for an uncompressed audio le of excellent quality.
STEP 4: CHOOSING YOUR MIC
Before each recording, you need to choose the right microphone (Input).
If the uppermost button (Mic) is
activated (you’ll know because the
button emits a red light), the integ-
rated mic at the top of the recorder
is on.
If the two buttons below (1/2) are
glowing red, the handheld mic is
active.
STEP 5: VOLUME ON HEADPHONES AND RECORDING
You can change the sound volume on your headphones on the left side
of the recorder (under the headphone jack). Use the “Vol +/-” buttons to
adjust the volume.
The volume of the recording is not related to the volume on the headpho-
nes and has to be adjusted separately. The level of the recording shows
you how loud the recording actually is. This is crucial for every recording!
MP3s: small les; if they are
processed a lot (e.g. EQ) the
lower quality, as compared to
WAV, will get more noticeable
WAV: very big les in high
quality
Internal mic: records in a (semi)
sphere and thus is perfect for
recording ambience. All sounds
at the place of recording will be
audible on the recording.
Handheld mic: is directed, so
especially suitable for recording
voices or specic sounds.
Surrounding sounds are more
quiet.

Digital Recorders / Seite 7
Important: Check the sound
level before every recording!
If it’s clipping (“Input” buttons
are ashing red), decrease the
recording volume.
Attention: If the “Rec” button is
ashing, this means the device is
paused and not recording!
Tip: Remember the name of the
recording so you can nd it more
easily later.
Attention: Press
the “Stop” button
after each recording!
This is the only way to save the
le onto the device! If the device
is switched off during recording
or in pause mode, the current
recording will not be saved!
Please note! Wearing rings can
also lead to unpleasant noises
when you accidentally tap on the
mic with them.
You can adjust this level with the buttons mar-
ked “Rec Level +/-” located on the right side
of the device.
The spoken word should register between
-12dB and -6dB. Sound level and dB are
visible on the display.
STEP 6: RECORDING
The recording will start as soon as you press
the “Record” button on the front of the device
2 times. You’ll know that it has started if the
“Record” button emits red light and the timer
on the display is running. At the same time
you’ll also see the name of the current le on
the display.
To pause the recording, press the “Pause/
Play” button to the left of the “Record” button.
The “Record” button will ash to show that the
recording is paused. Pressing the “Pause/Play”
button again continues the recording.
Pressing the “Stop” button ends the recording
and saves it as either a WAV or a MP3 le.
To capture voices as well as possible and at the same time have as little
background noise as possible, the handheld mic should be held about a
st’s length apart from the mouth.
To avoid cable noises when moving the mic, hold the mic cable in a loose
loop (see picture for better illustration).

Digital Recorders / Seite 8
Attention: Always
use the USB cord to
transfer your les. Even
though it is also possible to
transfer them directly from
the SD-Card, the card will wear
out much faster like that. The
SD-Card should only be taken
out of the recorder and put back
in again, if there is absolutely no
other option.
There are also some handy tricks for the positioning of interviewers and
interviewees: When positioning people, make sure that any interfering
sources of noise (like roads, fridges, computers…) are off to the side. This
way, both people can talk into the mic and the background noise from the
side will be toned down by the handheld mic.
Always wear headphones while recording, so you can immediately
identify interfering noises and, if needs be, change position or room.
STEP 7: TRANSFERRING FILES
To be able to transfer your recordings to a computer, you’ll have to switch
off your recorder. When you connect it to the computer with a USB cord,
the display switches on automatically. Now you can choose between the
options “Storage” and “Audio I/F”. Select and conrm “Storage” using
the little menu wheel.
Now the recorder is connected to the computer.
The File Explorer/Finder should open automatically and show you which
les are on the recorder. Choose the “STEREO” Folder and then, in the
next step, “FOLDER1”. Copy all audio les onto your computer. Don’t be
alarmed by the dates and times. These are always wrong because for
them to be right, you would have to put them in manually before recor-
ding.
Now your les are ready to be edited with an audio editing program.

Digital Recorders / Seite 9
TROUBLESHOOTING
The device won’t switch on?
Are the batteries in? The right way around? Have they been charged?
You can’t press any buttons? All that the display shows is the icon
of a lock?
That means that key lock is active. This happens when the “On/Off”
switch is in the up position. Just slide it back down into the middle (neutral)
position to unlock the device.
You can’t start recording? All that the display says is “SD-Card
protected”?
In this case, you need to check the SD-Card. Turn off the device and take
out the SD-Card. On its left side there’s a little bit made from plastic that
can be used to lock the card. If this bit is next to the writing saying “lock”,
carefully slide it upwards. Now put the card back into the recorder. Watch
out that the piece of plastic doesn’t slide back into the “lock” position!
The “MP3/WAV” button under the display doesn’t work?
This means that stamina mode (power saving mode) is on. You’ll nd the
switch to change that under the lid of the battery case. Switch stamina
mode to “Off” and turn the device off and on again to be able to use all
the functions.
You don’t see the sound level move on the display when using
the handheld mic and you can’t hear anything?
There are two possible explanations. Is the handheld mic switched on? It
has its own “On/Off” switch that needs to be slid up to turn it on.
The mic is on but it’s still not working? That means the phantom power
(mic gets its power from the device) is turned off. Press the “Menu” button.
Select “Input”, then “Phantom” and set it to +48V.
The level only moves on one side? Your recording is only recor-
ded on one side?
That means “Mono-Mix” is deactivated. Press the “menu” button and
select “Input”. Go to “Mono-Mix” and turn it to “ON”.

Digital Recorders / Seite 10
TIPS FOR RECORDING
Before the Recording
• Double check your recorder and the functions you’re gonna need
(Do you have everything? Extra batteries? Do you need a tripod?).
• Use wind screen/pop screen for indoor and outdoor mics
• Outdoor interview: avoid busy roads, construction sites, crowds of
people and other unwanted sources of noise/don’t record in their
direction.
• Indoor interview: try to nd a quiet spot and avoid background noi-
ses like computers, fridges, neon lights, coffee makers etc.
• Try to help your interviewee be less nervous and get over their fear
of microphones in a pre-interview chat.
• Hold the mic the right way, tie a loop into the cable so it doesn’t
ap around.
During the Recording
• Be sure to wear headphones for optimal control during recording
(Remember, you are also the director!), this is the only way you’ll be
able to identify background noises.
• Double check if the device is actually recording.
• Always keep an eye on equipment, sound quality and volume!
Too loud: clipping causes heavy distortions, making the audio useless.
Too quiet: when you enhance the volume during the editing process,
you’ll get noise.
• Adapt the use of the mic to the situation and never hand it over to
someone else.
• Maintain eye contact and nod etc, don’t react with sounds or com-
ments (“mmmmh”, “yes of course”, “really?”).
• Each place has its own ambience! It can often be useful for the edi-
ting process to record 30 seconds of room sound before starting the
interview.

Digital Recorders / Seite 11
After the Recording
• Save the recording (by pressing “Stop”) and always turn off the mic.
• Before giving back the equipment: save the les to your own compu-
ter and delete them from the recorder!
• Never transfer the les directly from the recorder to the editing pro-
gram. You could lose your les!
• Before giving back the equipment you borrowed, check whether
everything is there (batteries etc.).

Digital Recorders / Seite 12