Zoom Gear & Home Recording Forum

Well, I'm tired, but it's a good kind of tired. It's the kind of tired you get when you've been playing with the new Zoom H4 for the last few hours.

I don't have time or energy to do a full review tonight, so instead I'll give my first impressions. If you have questions, let me know.

First off the H4 comes with some goodies. There's a tripod adaptor so you can attach it to one of those little portable tripods (or a big one for that matter. There's a 128 mb SD card and a USB cable. A CD with Cubase LE. My favorite extra is the little black foam wind screen, which in a pinch could also be used as a clown nose. Always good in an emergency.

Oh yes, an AC adaptor, quick start guide, and a manual. I popped in the SD card, plugged in the power, and started it up.

There are some things I immediately liked and some I didn't like, and here are a few in no real order.
Pros:
-It's small and light, about as thick and long as the PS-04, but not as wide.
-The front panel is uncluttered.
-The stereo mics have cool looking "roll bars" in case you drop the thing.
-The bottom has a cool input that accepts either 1/4" or 3 pin mic plug. I've never seen that before.

Cons:
-The display is pretty small, and I'm not sure why, there's certainly plenty of room on the face of the H4 for more display.
-Most of the menus are navigated through a combination of the Menu key (a joystick in the middle of the front) and the Jog Dial on the side. It can be difficult to remember at times which one you're supposed to be futzing with. Also, the Jog Dial feels like if you push it too hard it might die. Incidentally, the Menu button looks a little different than the one in the picture above.
-If you're used to changing parameters with the 4 sliders on the PS-04, you will miss them sorely. It can be slow going doing things like setting recording levels using the combination of Menu knob and Jog Dial.

Ok, so those are some quick impressions. What about actually using the thing. There are two main modes, Stereo and 4-track, and things work differently depending on which mode you're in. You also have different options in each mode. I'll jump right to 4-track mode, but I want to mention that Stereo mode includes mic modeling that gives you a few choices of mics to be modelled using the attached stereo mics. The choices are SM57, MD421, U87, and C414. You do NOT have these available in 4-track mode.

To test things out, I recorded two mono tracks of guitar and then two mono tracks of vocal in 4-track mode. I only needed to follow the instructions step by step for the first track, after that I had the work flow down and was able to record the next three. You can record up to 2 tracks at a time (either two mono or one stereo) while monitoring all 4 tracks.

But what about virtual takes, you ask. Good question. Rather than virtual tracks, you have two modes to choose from. In Overwrite mode, each time you record on a track, it will overwrite anything already on that track. Danger Danger Danger. This is useful for punch-in punch-out recording, which is only possible in Overwrite mode. The other mode is Always New. In this mode, each time you hit record on a given track, it will start recording a new file for that track. The old files already recorded for that track are stored in the Project folder for the Project you're working on. So yes, in effect, you have unlimited virtual tracks (until you run out of space on your SD card. You can buy one with up to 2 gigs storage.)

One more odd thing about 4-track mode; each track is a 44.1khz 16bit wave file. (In stereo mode you have other options)

Ok, a bit more about Projects. PS-04 users will be used to the concept, but there are a few improvements on the H4 compared to the PS-04 system. First, you can now import your effects patches and tracks from one project to another. Cool! Second, each project has it's own folder on the SD card, and all settings and tracks are stored in that folder, so that keeps things a little better organized than on the PS-04.

I'll leave things there for now, primarily because I'm falling asleep at the keyboard. Let me know your questions and I'll try to post more info tomorrow.

Zo, I can’t wait to hear about the guitar effects. Are they a noticeable improvement and do they compare to the TonePort?

Also, is the 16/44 true (non-compressed)?

Great stuff, if it is no compressed you'd only be able to get around 2 tracks worth on a 128mb card

Yes, it's uncompressed. This means it's about 10 megs per minute (mono), so as Tony points out, the included 128 meg card would allow for about 12 minutes of audio (or four 3 minute tracks). Currently, a 2 gig SD card goes for about $35 - $40. That would give you about 200 minutes (mono), or four tracks of 50 minutes. (someone might wanna check my numbers here, but I think that's right).

Ok, I had some time to mess around with the H4 this morning, and I have some additional comments, as well as a quick and dirty demo:
<a href="http://www.2090.org/outlawyr/zoetrope/songs/toopuremix.mp3">First verse of Folk Implosion's Too Pure</a>

8 tracks (all mono):
2 acoustic guitar tracks
2 vocal tracks
2 clean electric guitar
2 distorted electric guitar
(all electric parts with stock patches, no tweaks)

Mixed in Acid, no effects or limiting added in Acid.

I recorded to the built in metronome. There is no drum machine, and you can't record the metronome, not that you'd really want to.

This was pretty simple to record. All in all, once you get the work flow down, it's an easy recorder to use for multitrack recording. But the Jog Dial is still a little finicky. If it isn't right in the middle, it sticks a little when you try to push it in. I've mentioned it before, but it bears repeating, a slider would be nice. Setting levels with the Jog Dial just isn't fun. I also found that the levels on all my tracks but one were too low. This was especially so with the vocals. Unlike the PS-04, on the H4 it's impossible to sing directly into the built in mics and see the display at the same time. You can sing with them pointing up and see the display, but then you won't be setting the correct level for when you record. So I played it safe and kept the level low to avoid clipping.

Transferring files from the H4 to the computer was very easy and fairly quick using the included USB cable. Oh how I with the PS-04 had that feature! Once you've transferred them there's no conversion to be done since they're already wav files. That is very nice.

I had planned on testing the H4 as an interface, but I can already see a few problems with that.
1) It is small and very light, and just has one tiny rubber circle on the back. One good tug on the mic cable, guitar cable, headphone cable, or AC adaptor and the H4 is going to go flying.
2) If you just want it as an interface, I suppose you could superglue the thing down (or rig something up with the tripod adaptor). But if you want to use the guitar effects when using it as an interface, you're still going to be playing with the little joystick and Jog Dial to work through the menus and tweak the effects. Also, setting levels will require the joystick Jog Dial tango. This would be even harder with the thing resting on a desk than it is with it in your hand.

So let me sum up my overall impressions at this point (subject to revision).
The unit has 3 real purposes:
1) Portable multi-track recorder (PS-04 style)
2) Portable stereo recorder for field recordings, interviews, etc.
3) Soundcard/computer interface with two inputs for either 1/4" or 3 pin balanced mic cables, with phantom power.

Try designing an interface that makes sense for all three of those. Given that near impossible challenge, Zoom has done a great job. But the two areas they lose points are the small display and the lack of at least one slider. Oh, life would be so much easier with a slider, even a small one. Where they got things very right is the USB port, small size, light weight (for portable use), good quality built in mics, and yes, the overall cool look of the H4.

Lee asked about the guitar effects, and while I'm no expert in that area, the stock patches I tested out sounded the same to my ear as the PS-04.

I think I've read somewhere that H4's effector is actually a "G2 inside".



.

Seems to me these devices such as the Zoom H4, the M-Audio 24/96, the Marantz PMD660, the Sony PCM-D1, and the Edirol R-09 are primarily designed to sell to the radio interviewer and field recordist. Any of them with mics mounted so you can't see the display while recording yourself seem to say "this product is for holding in the face of someone you want a sound bite from." If they made the mics on little flexible booms, you could point them toward yourself - but they would probably break off eventually...

Marketing being what it is, Zoom is probably figuring "hey, we have the chips already designed, why not put in some features and grab some home recordists?"

This reminds me of the mixing boards (they almost all do) have features suitable for live sound and studio recording applications. The problem there is that some features (like "solo") don't work well on stage, or anywhere you don't have the board in a separate control room from the sound source.

This "be all things to all people" mentality may be good for marketing, but leaves the product less than user-friendly, in my opinion. It would be like designing a spoon, that's also a fork, that's also a knife - no, wait, they have those. Let me think. Ok, how about a combination hair dryer and toaster oven? I mean, why buy both when you can have two, two, two units in one?

Kidding aside, if this unit had been out when I got my PS-04, I would have probably bought it instead, since I still lack an *easy* way to do quick recordings on the fly when my group practices. I *can* do it with the PS-04, but they don't like to sit around and wait while I create a project, select a track, set a level, etc..

Thanks Zo, for the review. I'm still pondering this one. By the way. Nice recording!

good points Howard. You've put your finger on it, for recording your whole band live (or your open mic performance or whatever) this would be a great tool. You don't even have to set up a project when in stereo record mode, you just hit the big record button once to see/hear the levels (in stereo mode you can use "Auto Level" which is very handy, unfortunately you can't use it in 4 track mode) and then hit record again to start the recording. It automatically starts a new wav/mp3 file each time you do this and automatically names them. For field recording I think this would be a great unit.

For 4 track recording what you would really want is a hybrid of this and the PS-04. If you could add the SD card, usb port, dual inputs, phantom power, and stereo mics from the H4 to a PS-04 you'd have a great portable multitrack.

I don't think this unit is meant for multi-track or anything that the PS04 does. This is a different kind of unit. The plus of this is the two mics in a XY setting, great for live field recordings, My guess is that this unit could be useful to record live bands, drums, and acoustic instruments. For the price there are better multi track options.

Thanks for the review Zoe.

Well, it does multitrack recording, so it is meant for that. It's just not particularly well suited to the task. If I didn't have a PS-02, a PS-04, or an H4, and had to choose one for a portable multitrack recorder, I'd probably end up with the H4. SD storage and USB port are reason enough. But (I know I keep repeating this but here goes again) the lack of a slider would annoy me the rest of my days.

Handy review, Zo.... but I'll stick to my 802!

Zoetrope, nice review of the H4.

I have a question.

Can you break up songs when you are recording in stereo mode? If you are recording a live set, do you have to stop the song you are recording and then start recording again to get a break or is there a way to create the breaks as you are recording?

Zoe thanks for the review.
A couple of questions.
I quickly browsed the manual on this last week and from memory it only took 2 AA batteries so how long will the unit run for.
Also does the unit have phantom power and i'm guessing not as it would kill the bateries.
Also i read something of it recording 96/24 on one track so can that be the only track in that project as bit rates would not match up with the rest of the tracks.

Do you know the retail price on them.US dollars will do if you know

I'll think of more questions as i'm intersted in one of these.

(FYI)The 1/4" or 3 pin mic plug are common as they are on the MRS and also i have seen them on many old PA systems.

EDIT}---Oh and nice recording

It does have phantom power - see here http://www.samsontech.com/products/prod ... rodID=1901

They are selling for $299 US, $551 Australian I see here http://www.guitar.com.au/effects/zoom/index.htm

Thanks Tony
I didn't even know about guitar.com.au and they have some pretty good prices.
Here in my home town we have 3 music shops but they only sell everything at RRP, sometimes thats o.k with postage costs and waranty issues but its another source for me to check out.
I'll be leaving the H4 for now until the price drops a bit but it will be handy if something else doesn't come along before hand.

And the phantom power i believe would kill the battery life but i guess it just an option that it has if you have power available.

Recording 3 tracks similtaneously would be an ideal recorder for myself.
To be able to record a stereo acoustic with the internal mics and also 1 vocal through an external mic as then i could effect the vocals later without disrupting the guitar tracks.
Anyway i'm just dreaming now

I'm not sure what your question is, but here's a stab at an answer.

You can record one looong wav/mp3 file of a band rehearsing or you could start and stop between songs, which would create a new file for each song.

I believe it records 4 hours straight on batteries. That would be without phantom power of course. With phantom power, I think you'd want to plug in the AC adaptor or carry lots of extra batteries.

The recording was a rush job so people could hear the sound of the thing. I should mention that the electric guitar is the iAxe plugged straight into the H4. I liked the clean strat sound I was able to get, which is why I did a little extra strumming at the end.


This is where things get a little (more) confusing. For reasons unknown, there are certain highly desirable things that you can only do in stereo mode, even though you wish to heck you could do them in 4-track mode. Perhaps later firmware updates will fix that, but one can't count on it. Anyway, you have a good selection of wav and mp3 file formats to choose from in Stereo mode, but you can only record 44.1 16bit wav files in 4-track mode. Mind you, that's still a giant step up from the file quality in the PS-04, but still . . .