How to Use a Zoom H4n: Record Pro Audio in 12 Easy Steps

Looking to use your Zoom H4n to record yourself, an interview, or a podcast? The trick to capturing good quality audio with the H4n is to use one or more external microphones, either clip-on lavalier mics or professional XLR mics.

This is the approach that helped me produce a New York Festivals award-winning entry and many client videos.

You can use this step-by-step guide as a quick start guide by reading the opening of each section, then jumping forward. But if you require more detail, treat this article as a Zoom H4n tutorial by reading the full section before moving on to the next step.

Step #1: Use fresh batteries for each recording session

The Zoom H4n takes 2 AA batteries, which can be alkaline or rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH).

Step #2. Turn on the Zoom H4n recorder

TIP: The boot-up time depends on whether there is an SD card in the H4n and the capacity of the SD card. Without an SD card, the H4n is ready in about 10sec. With a 16GB card, it will be ready in about 30sec. If you are just making changes to your settings, remove the card before turning on the recorder.

Step #3: Set the Zoom H4n to STEREO MODE

By making sure the recorder is in STEREO MODE, the audio will be saved to normal 2-track stereo files, with a left and right channel.

TIP: You can quickly check which mode the H4n is in by looking at the STEREO/4CH/MTR mode indicator lights above the display window. The LED that is lit up, and the text below it, indicates which mode is currently selected.

Step #4. Choose the file format and audio quality

You can also get to the REC FORMAT screen by pressing the menu button on the side of the H4n and navigating MENU > REC >REC FORMAT.

TIP #1: WAV 48kHz/24bit is a good choice for your original recordings. The audio files can be converted to any lower quality you require. The final quality for radio and podcasting should be WAV 44.1kHz/16bit. For video work use WAV 48kHz/16bit.

Tip #2: You can easily check the quality at any time. It is displayed on the left of the display, immediately before the file name. You will see an outlined box with the quality setting inside it. For example, 48/24 will be shown for WAV 48kHz/24bit and 192kbps for mp3 192kbps.

Step #5: Format the SD card if it is new, or to delete the recordings on a used SD card

If you are using a new SD card you will need to format it before using it. Formatting is also the quickest way to delete numerous old recordings on a previously used SD card.

TIP: Although SDHC cards of up to 32GB can be used in the Zoom H4n, I recommend using a 16GB SDHC card (or 8GB if you can find one). This is because the formatting time will be shorter, but more importantly, when you turn on the H4n, the boot-up time will be quicker, and you can start recording sooner.

Step #6: Select the folder where you want the recordings to be saved

There are ten folders in which you can save your recordings, they are named FOLDER01 to FOLDER10. Once you have chosen a folder, all your following recordings will be saved in that folder. Changing the folder can be useful, for instance, when you want to keep files for the same project together.

The H4n automatically names the files, starting from STE-000, and increments the numeric part of the name for each new recording.

WARNING: The naming system is not global. By default, the first recording in any of the ten folders will always be STE-000. To be even more confusing, if you start recording in one format (wav or mp3), then switch format, the first recording in the new format will start from STE-000. So you could have two files in the same folder with the same name, albeit with a different file extension.

Step #7: Plug in an external microphone or microphones

The Zoom H4n has built-in X-Y stereo microphones, so the recorder could be used like a handheld interview microphone. However, using external microphones makes it easier to record better audio. You can use microphones that are suited for your recording, place the microphones where they need to be, and avoid handling recording any handling noise.

When using the Zoom H4n in STEREO MODE there are two scenarios for using external microphones. You can either record with one lavalier/lapel microphone or record with up to two XLR microphones.

Strictly speaking, you could record with two lavalier microphones, but you will need a Y-splitter adapter with 1-male and 2-female connectors. With this basic setup, you will not be able to control the level from each lavalier mic independently.

I will cover the two scenarios: using a lavalier microphone and then using XLR microphones.

CONNECTING A LAVALIER MICROPHONE

To connect a lavalier/lapel microphone to an H4n, plug the microphone’s 3.5mm jack into the EXT MIC input socket on the rear of the recorder. The input uses a TRS connector, so you need a lavalier mic with a 3.5mm TRS jack or one that has a switchable TRRS jack, such as a Boya BY-M1 or MOVO LV1 mic.

If your lavalier microphone does not work, it could be because it requires plug-in power.

Lavalier mics that have their own battery power and on/off switches need to be turned on.

CONNECTING XLR MICROPHONES

XLR microphones should be connected to the XLR sockets on the base of the H4n using XLR microphone cables. Input 1 is on the left and input 2 is on the right. Dynamic microphones do not need phantom power, but condenser microphones do.

Step #8: Select the Zoom H4n Inputs to match the microphones being used

There is a column of three INPUT buttons on the left side of the recorder, you use these are used to select the microphone input.

Step #9: Activate MONO MIX to have a dual mono output

Most lavalier microphones produce a mono signal, where the speaker seems to be in the middle of the mix. However, this is not the case when using XLR microphones on the Zoom H4n.

The audio from XLR mic 1 will be entirely on the left channel and XLR mic 2 will be entirely on the right channel. If you record yourself with a single XLR mic the result will sound odd. Your speech will only come from one loudspeaker or one side of the listener’s headphones.

To make the speech appear in the center of the mix we can activate MONO MIX in the menu settings. The resulting audio files will be easier to edit and mix.

Step #10: Set the zoom h4n recording levels for each microphone

According to the operation manual, the microphone levels can be adjusted from 1 to 100. However, on my Zoom H4n with firmware 1.90, the record level can be adjusted from 0.1 to 100. Between 0.1 and 0.9, one press of the REC LEVEL buttons changes the level by 0.1. From 1 to 100, each button press changes the level by 1.

The best recording level for the Zoom H4n is, AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, due to the noisy preamps. Ideally use higher output mics or add inline mic preamps. You can then use recording levels of 30 or less to avoid boosting the H4n mic preamp self-noise. Aim to peak the audio at about -18dB or -12dB.

Step #11: Do a test recording to check there are no problems

To avoid having to repeat a recording due to a fault, do a test recording. I usually incorporate this into the previous step of setting the recording level, but if you are new to content creation you may wish to keep the steps separate.

In the test recording, get each person to speak normally. I often get them to say their name, the organization they represent, and their position within the organization. Then stop the recording and listen back. Do not listen on the built-in speaker, which is not good enough to hear any details. Instead, plug in headphones and check the recording for faults, such as hum, distortion, background noise, etc.

If everything sounds fine, go ahead with your recording.

Step #12: How to transfer your audio to a computer for editing

If the H4n was switched-off before connecting, it will detect the USB bus power and boot up to the USB screen in the menu. However, I have found that it is better if the H4n is on.

Assuming you have connected to the computer with the H4n switched on, press the MENU button to open the MENU screen. Scroll down to and select USB, then press the scroll dial. On the USD screen choose STORAGE and press the scroll dial. A connection will be established, and your computer should recognize the H4n as an external drive. Copy and paste, or drag and drop, your files to your computer.

Once you have finished transferring your audio files, press the MENU button to disconnect. Eventually, the display will return to the default H4n screen.  

Final thoughts

Despite being criticized for having noisy preamps, the Zoom H4n can still record terrific audio, especially if used with low-noise inline mic preamps. The H4n Pro, which has improved preamps, performs even better. Both provide flexibility to videographers, podcasters, and other content creators since excellent audio can be captured from either 1 or 2 microphones. More advanced users can use the 4CH mode and an adapter to record using 4 microphone inputs, with each microphone’s output being recorded onto a separate track. However, that is beyond this article.

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• Improve Zoom H4n Sound Quality by Reducing Noise or Hiss
• How to Power a Zoom H4n Recorder with a Power Bank
• MOVO LV1, BOYA BY-M1, & Vidpro XM-L, are they the same?