AndyTravis Posted December 7 Share Posted December 7 (edited) Band has just bought one of these, our old h4n died on its bum last rehearsal. We bought this based on “new model, simple, easy to use” etc. So this has the much lorded “32 bit float” so can apparently auto adjust to volumes. Hand on heart… it’s crap. It distorts like a bugger and the “normalise” function which apparently sorts it - 1. takes ages to process 2. makes sod all difference to distortion 3. seems to make everything sound worse It’s a fiddly little thing to use, feels really cheap and has endless little menus and is hateful to use. I want to give it another go with the Lo Cut engaged…but I’m not overly hopeful…seems they’ve overcomplicated something that didn’t need it. If that doesn’t improve things…It’s going back, 60 day returns at thomann. Will get the old version which is similarly priced as a bundle with a case etc and has a manual input sensitivity option. So if you’re looking at these to record a band - avoid them. Edited December 7 by AndyTravis 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colleya Posted December 7 Share Posted December 7 I've got an old h5 kicking around in the 'might come in useful' cupboard if you want an extended borrow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted December 7 Author Share Posted December 7 (edited) 3 minutes ago, colleya said: I've got an old h5 kicking around in the 'might come in useful' cupboard if you want an extended borrow? We need a full time recorder - we use it for all sorts, in all honesty - I’m shocked my H4n lasted as long as it did. Will see what the singer who ordered it (using band funds) wants to do next. Thank you for the offer though xxx Annoyingly, the previous model h1n has manual input sensitivity… Still on sale - so may just exchange. Its the classic “using the latest technology to solve a problem that didn’t exist” - hateful almost AI decision making - and a proper balls up from zoom. Edited December 7 by AndyTravis 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted December 8 Share Posted December 8 Thanks for the advance info about new Zoom stuff - I've got an H2n that I've had for yonks. So "handy" (heh, see what I did there?) for recording rehearsals when jamming out songs so we can remember what the bloody hell we did! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted December 8 Author Share Posted December 8 Just now, neepheid said: Thanks for the advance info about new Zoom stuff - I've got an H2n that I've had for yonks. So "handy" (heh, see what I did there?) for recording rehearsals when jamming out songs so we can remember what the bloody hell we did! If I can find an “as new” h4n I’ll be pushing for that - I still can’t understand why what look like the same mic capsules cannot cope with the same SPL. We rehearse in our own space with settings marked at the same volumes - Drummer uses a Roland TD50kv for rehearsal to keep volume down… But it’s almost like it tries to record at near peak input sensitivity and then tries to backtrack with internal software - which isn’t up to the job. would love to get the old one fixed…but it’s properly had its day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted December 8 Share Posted December 8 Who signs off on this shyte? I'm with you - like your old H4n, my H2n can be set to manual gain and I put the wheel at minimum and it'll handle a band in a room going full chat with acoustic drums and everything. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted December 8 Share Posted December 8 Also, the H2n can still be bought new in a couple of places - Amazon and Musicstore/DV247, although I get the feeling it's on the way out so if you wanted to pounce on one, best do it soon! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted December 8 Author Share Posted December 8 I’ve fixed the old one! used a brand new memory card and got some contact cleaner under the switches… Basically good as new! well, I need to get some superglue into the casing crack…but that’s easily done 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted December 8 Share Posted December 8 Awesome news! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted December 8 Author Share Posted December 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted December 8 Share Posted December 8 (edited) Good old Super 10 to the rescue! It ain't called "magic spray" in my house for nothing... Edited December 8 by neepheid 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted Friday at 16:25 Share Posted Friday at 16:25 (edited) This is interesting as I have the H4 Essentials and I can put it clipped to the drum kit and get a clean recording (once it's in my DAW). I think the mic's are rated a bit higher than the H1 as far as levels go, but ive been really impressed with how clean it can record. I also use it to send a feed to our desk for my IEM's. At rehearsals I just put it on a chair in the room facing the PA and get decent recordings. Never had any distortion. It takes one button to start recording and the same button to stop. Neve need to touch the menus. Much easier than the older H4n Pro. I had the H4n Pro pro while and liked it, but the Essential is cleaner (I read about the Pro's clipping at low recording levels, and heard it for myself). Edited Friday at 16:26 by dave_bass5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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