Best Audio Recorder for Video: Zoom H4n vs Tascam DR-100mkII

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, that's the cross-dissolve transition in CS5.5 which works the same in CS6.

[@SMustafaSabir]

Hello Curtis, I am Mustafa from Pakistan and to be honest I am very happy that I found your channel and seriously you have won my respects. A guy like you is a blessing for newbies like us who want are looking for good advice and guidance but having very tough time in getting it, thanks.

[@curtisjudd]

My preference is the Rode NTG-2 but not for the reasons you might expect. The video mic plugs directly into the camera. This is less than ideal in most cases for two reasons: 1) the mic is usually mounted on the camera which is often too far away from your actors and 2) most cameras record 16 bit audio which is a fine output bit depth but gives you less room for volume changes than 24 bit, i.e., you get more clipping distortion. NTG-2 and the Tascam have worked well for me.

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Hazem: 1) Tascam Lo Cut on at 40Hz, 2) No, not really needed since the Tascam takes care of that, 3) It depends on the voice but I often find it helps male voices to cut a little bit in the 1khz range. Not a lot, maybe 1 - 4 db.

[@curtisjudd]

I actually use my shotgun and a different lav mic with the Tascam. I'm using the Audio Technica Pro-70 with the Tascam which has a battery pack with XLR connector. I don't believe it is possible to adapt the 1/8th inch mics and expect to get good sound but I haven't really researched that mainly because they're two pretty different things. It might be possible but I wouldn't think it would be worth the trouble. I'm plenty happy with the Giant Squid into the Zoom H1 and plan to keep them both.

[@curtisjudd]

It depends on how many mics you need to record at one time but does not make that much of a difference. In both cases, you can plug in 2 XLR mics at a time. In the case of the Zoom H4n, you can record 2 XLR mics plus the two built-in mics at the same time. You cannot do that on the Tascam. If you foresee a situation where you might want that, you may want to consider the Zoom instead of the Tascam.

[@curtisjudd]

For recording, 24 bit WAV is best because it does not compress the signal. For final production (online video), MP3 can be fine, as long as you use a bit rate that doesn't impact the final sound too much. I like to stay at 320K if I have enough disk/bandwidth, but even 192K can be decent.

[@ttian2]

Nice review Curtis! There is one more thing that the Tascam DR-100 Mk2 is doing better than H4n-the quality of playback through headphone out and line out. I am kind of surprised that none of the comparison videos on KZbin stated this. Anyway, the play back quality from DR-100 Mk2 is pretty good. It drives headphones up to 50ohms impedance nicely even without an amplifier. while with the H4n, the playback/monitoring quality is crap. The DR-100 is an awesome head-fi player for the money.

[@curtisjudd]

Awesome, I hope you love it!

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Ting--thanks, that's a great point! I didn't monitor with the H4n (used it only a couple of times) so this is great to know for those that will be filming with it.

[@curtisjudd]

The Tascam will capture 2 channels simultaneously--it has two xlr inputs with preamps. It will save the two channels as a single audio file with a left and right channel. If you need more than that, the Zoom will allow you to record up to 4 at the same time but only "sort of". What I mean by that is you can have two mics plugged into the two XLR inputs plus you can simultaneously record to the two built-in mics. If you need more than that, you'd have to look a much more expensive gear.

[@curtisjudd]

I haven't used the DR-40 yet but I have heard from others that it has the first genration pre-amps in it--noisier and less gain. So I can't say that from experience but you might want to check in on some other reviews of it before buying...

[@curtisjudd]

No but I just checked it out on Amazon and wow! Looks like I got it just in time... I really think that they pretty neck-and-neck unless you really need that line level input so that may make the Zoom a little more appealing--it looks like it is at an all-time low on Amazon.

[@IkeyTV]

The lighting in this video is excellent. Great job

[@kencur9690]

IkeyTV not really. Some fill light is needed as the right side is too dark, especially for this kind of video.

[@curtisjudd]

I think H4n and NTG-2 sound great together in the tests I've seen. I don't have any experience with the Giant Squid into the Zoom H4n but it looks like the same issue as the Tascam where there isn't a 1/8th inch powered mic input jack. It may be possible, but I haven't been successful yet--I'll definitely have to look further into it... Tascam just released (last week) the DR-60D which does have powered 1/8th in and XLR inputs. That may be a better choice for you.

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Amr, I don't connect my recorder to my camera but instead record to my Tascam separately and then sync the sound when editing. I have a video titled "Syncing Audio and Video". My opinion is that you can get better sound this way.

[@curtisjudd]

I haven't run into that issue on my Nikon D600 or Canon 60D with clips up to 10 minutes in length but it might be an issue with sample rate (44.1k vs 48k, most cameras record audio at 48k). I'd have to guess it would be the person's camera thats doing the drifting, but that's just a guess since I don't know anything about their actual setup.

[@curtisjudd]

Check my channel--I have several episodes on lighting, including a review of the ePhoto lights I use.

[@BenJordan]

Time for a DR-100mkIII review?

[@curtisjudd]

It is on the list.

[@amosqiang]

waiting for dr 100 m3 review

[@husainali1408]

Waiting for mk3 review 😁

[@RinconDev]

@@curtisjudd still waiting u_u

[@curtisjudd]

Another great point--thanks Ting.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Sparkie! Happy New Year to you too!

[@IkeyTV]

The lighting is interesting. and it makes me focus more on what he's talking about. But thats just my opinion

[@rockclaudiagb]

Thank you so much, the DR-60D looks perfect!

[@ttian2]

Yea exactly. The H4n and H6 produce a little bit weird noise to the headphones, while those noise are not in the actual recorded file. It is alright for dialogue monitoring, but worth mentioning. For the Tascam DR-100 Mk2, just throw a wav music file in the folder, plug in a pair of decent headphones, and enjoy.

[@curtisjudd]

Great, I think they lowered the price with the introduction of the DR-60D.

[@RamonGarciaVideos]

I already have an H4N and am relatively happy with it. But it's always good to know what other options are out there and their relative strengths and weaknesses. Thanks for a nicely produced and informative video post. P.S. I had a less than satisfactory experience going from a sound board to the H4N and wasn't sure what I was doing wrong. So thanks for the comment about its weakness in that area. I wasn't doing anything wrong -- I'm still perfect ;-)

[@R580NZ]

Great video, subscribed. Never been a music person so have often overlooked sound aspect until I started working with local musician. Now understand how critical good-sound is and have started looking around at these devices but so much to choose from. Nice style and very informative video, thank you.

[@ttian2]

a very practical scene would be, say at a wedding. You may want to wear up your client with a wireless lav using XLR1, and plug the on camera shotgun mic or the boomed mic into XLR2. In this case, the 4 channel mode from H4n can allow you to record ambient sound from the crowd using its X/Y mics on board, which with the tascam you have to choose between xlr and on board mics.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Ikey.

[@garycurtis]

Curious your opinion on zoom H6 vs Tascam DR-100mkIII

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Gary, I haven't used the Tascam DR-100DmkIII so I don't have an opinion but I suspect the Tascam's preamps are likely a bit cleaner at the least.

[@curtisjudd]

Which cameras are you interested in?

[@tsweeney8734]

Enjoyed it. In a review of these two someone mentioned having the experience of the audio running 1 sec faster than the video when they went to sync it over a 1 minute recording. Full second off made it impossible to sync. what would cause that, and have you ever experienced that? Thanks

[@TheFandangovideoguy]

THANKS A MILLION!! (in Canuck money-not Pesos!)...I guess the Tascam Dr-100 MkII has better pre-amps than its predecessor because I found so many "complaints" about the combo...I already have the older Rode Video Mic but I think the NTG-2 is a bit sturdier..your audio sounds clean and I watched your video to see the set up. I think I will try it and will get a Rode Mini boom to go with it..thanks and all the best to you. E

[@curtisjudd]

Good luck and thanks a million Canuck dollars to you too! Also, congrats to your hockey team--they kicked our tails!

[@Haza3137]

i have the rode ntg2 and tascam dr100...im shooting my first short film and want my audio to sound as clear and film like as possible.....so my settings are at 96khz 24bit i believe...i have a few questions 1) do u have the low cut filter on or off on the tascam? 2)is the high pass filter set on the mic? 3) whats the best eq settings for the male voice with this equipment

[@amrkhalil84]

dear Curtis great video but how can I connect between DR40 with Canon 5D Mark3?

[@boysherman]

nice review. Any ideas why the Dr100 is eally jumping in price lately?

[@TheFandangovideoguy]

hi Curtis...I may be a little late to the party!! but I'm planning to shoot my first short film soon with my new Canon 70D and I realize that I need a decent but affordable mic- I own a G3 Senneheiser lav and a Tascam DR-100 MKII and for interviews this combo has worked fine-I even run audio from the line out of the Tascam into the DSLR (with a special cable that attenuates the signal to avoid overloading) etc but for narrative work-even amateur- I was thinking of the Rode NTG2 but read several reviews complaining about the low level of the NTG2 (something to do with the voltage output) when paired with the Tascam DR-100 (but maybe the DR-100 MKII is better)- I listened to your audio and it sounds clean -no hiss- did you have to crank up the gain all the way with the Tascam? do you use Soundtrack pro to clean it up? or is your audio on your videos just as it was recorded? The NTG3 may be better but out of my budget for now...How would the NTG2 be with the Tascam DR-100MKII for dialogue for amateur short films? I know I will need a boom pole too with a shock mount but can't afford more gadgets...thanks for your opinion E

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Eric, When I work with the NTG-2 in at the normal working distance of 18 to 24 inches, I have the gain switch on the back of the Tascam DR-100mkII set to high and the input level dial set to 4 or 5 out of 10 depending on the talent. It definitely does not seem like I'm pushing the pre-amps too hard. I don't do any cleanup aside from normalizing and possibly a little bit of compression. I hope that helps!

[@casperanemone2769]

oh wait that is just L R channel. what do you mean by two track? from line-in on side of recorder and the XLR channels? How can I record live sound from mics and sound board? thanks

[@mikeburke1348]

Always good Curtis. Thanks

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Mike. Wow, this was an old video. :)

[@FullTekAuto]

Wow you are a composer/musician too? What is your software for music? Nice, what is your advice for filmmaking enthusiast/ musician looking to get a tascam dr-mark100 mk3 to use with a gh5? What do you recommend for external mics, headphones and software? Can you do a tutorial on the mk III? Thanks

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Andrew. I'm only a hobbyist musician at best. I have the Tascam DR-100mkIII on my list for review. Looking forward to getting into the details!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks you toob!

[@rockclaudiagb]

I'm switching from still to video with my D800 and am looking for an audio setup to match the visual quality. I'm thinking of the Road NTG-2 and Tascam DR-100mkII, but I'm only a student so my budget does not then stretch to the AT Pro-70! Would you recommend the Tascam DR-100mkII with Road NTG-2 or Zoom H4N with Road NT-G and some Giant Squids as an audio set up for short films and documentaries? I've have heard of many NTG2 + H4N issues, do you have any experience? Thank you so much.

[@rockclaudiagb]

The lav mics that you review are jack plugs, are these still compatible with the Tascam DR-100mkii? There are jack to XLR converters, are these needed and would this still produce as good sound? Thanks.

[@satyaki-sitarsengupta9076]

and sir if i may ask .. is zoom h6 could be considered the best recorder for recording live and indoor acoustic music ? or what would be you suggesting please.

[@brasilfx]

hi Curtis. i want to buy a zoom h4n or a tascam-dr100 mk2. but i have one doubt. the recording zoom in 4 channels and the tascam are 2 channels. which the importance of 2 or 4 channels for videos?

[@ItisImarko]

Question: What model of field recorder would you recommend with "lowest base nose, preamp,.." or signal to noise ratio because i will use to record nature sounds and piano. I would like to stay under 1000€ range and i will use se Sennheiser ME microphone.

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Jean Luc, I am most familiar with those in the $500 US and lower range (Zoom H6 and less expensive). In that range the DR-60D seems to produce the cleanest sound in terms of noise floor in my experience. However, there are some people that are quite fond of the Fostex recorders. I believe they have a couple in the 1000 EUR and under range. The DC-R302 is a mixer/recorder with 3 XLR inputs and records two channels. I have not used this so cannot personally recommend it, however there are many positive reviews which highlight the quality of the preamps. You may wish to look into this mixer/recorder: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/846034-REG/Fostex_DC_R302_DC_R302_3_Channel_Audio_Mixer.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/FODCR302/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xFODCR302

[@mjy2006]

hmmm i lol'd when you said the H4N has a clean preamp... it has a terrible preamp and low signal for my ntg 2.. I dont know how you set yours up.any advice?

[@curtisjudd]

Getting the mic within 18-24 inches is the most important thing for the NTG-2. Do you still have issues when you have it that distance?

[@SparkieWaller2009]

Great video as always and I like the music as well. Stepping out a little in the Synthesizer arena are we. I almost got one for before Christmas but backed out. I still want to get one. I hope you had a great Christmas and Holiday Season. Best wishes for a wonderful 2013. Sparkie

[@BeamingVideo]

Quick question, when you set the dr-100 to line 2 and you're recording from a field mixer, is any of the uni or omni directional mics on? I know it's a 2 channel recorder but I am wondering if it only applies with uni, omni or XLRs

[@curtisjudd]

No, unfortunately that switch is exclusive--when you set it to line 2, that's the only input that is active.

[@AOJOPhotography]

What's the better shotgun mic rode video mic pro or rode ntg-2

[@boaztech]

Hi, great video's and howto's! How do you do that transition in this video? is that a video transition in CS6?

[@CrossfeetGaming]

Pretry late to the party here, but can I use the Tascam DR 100mkii as an audio interface too?

[@curtisjudd]

No, It is just a recorder. The Mark III might, though I'm not sure about that. Haven't had a chance to work with it.

[@CrossfeetGaming]

@@curtisjudd thank you for the reply.

[@emengistab12]

Hi Curtis. Thanks for the review. I'm in a situation where i would need to interview 2 or more people at the same time and what would you recommend i buy? I like the Tascam but it can't do what i want it to do. Is there any other recorder out there that's as good as the Tascam but can record more than one track (channel) at a time? Thanks.

[@davejones4740]

Curtis do you do a how to use zoom h6

[@schweinhund227]

Thanks Curtis! Great info

[@KARTHIKSODYSSEY9966]

jadd m xpectng more camera reviews i think it wll help me alot in purchasing a best one

[@DreamingOfReality]

I currently have a Tascam DR-100 mkII is the zoom h6 worth getting for use with a shotgun microphone? spesickly the sennheiser MKH 416? was wounding how the pre amps compared - Thanks!!

[@curtisjudd]

Hi, the H6's preamps are a bit less noisy but not by a huge margin. A Zoom F4 would make a noticeable difference.

[@DreamingOfReality]

thankyou so much!

[@christheofanopoulos9128]

hello there i always find your videos really helpful... keep up the good work. i have a question though about the dr40... i have heard people complaining about the clock and long recordings. they say that a recording of an hour or longer will not sync up with the camera audio. what is your experience on this ? thanks in advance

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, that can definitely happen. The Tascams are pretty decent but some lower end cameras are notoriously bad so there are two factors to consider.

[@casperanemone2769]

hey curtis need your help asap! I film live bands. I would't mind recording XLR and MIC, BUT can I just do an XLR mic and a XLR line in dual recording? off the Tascam two XLR input? also it is a gooseneck mic i'm thinking of and needs phantom power. BUt my query is mainly, can I select Mic and Line-in for each plug or is Mic/Lin-in toggle on the bottom just designate both inputs for recording. I figure they both have preamps so maybe can designate each? thanks

[@curtisjudd]

No, I think that the switch on the bottom switches both XLR inputs to line or mic, and doesn't allow one to be one and the other the other. Also, cannot use the built-in mics at the same time as the line or mic inputs. Definitely a limitation of the DR-100.

[@samdarkling8623]

Curtis Judd thank you for the clarification. besides the H4n is there anthing you would recommend? I have looked at the tascam DP 006 or 008 but it is not clear whether the internal mics can be simultaneously tracked with line in. thanks for the review :)

[@thetreverpitts]

i know you could use this for podcasting

[@alwil89]

Hi, Curtis! I was wondering, could you record audio with the built-in mics on the h5 while simultaneously recording sound via external mics?

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, the H5 is a 4 track recorder so you can record with the two in-built mics plus two external mics.

[@satyaki-sitarsengupta9076]

thanks much .. needed this ..

[@spiros06]

Dear Curtis I am a clarinet player and i need a recorder for my playing. I need to hear what i am playing. What recorder do you suggest me?

[@curtisjudd]

Hi, I have not recorded clarinet before but can say that the Tascam DR-100 mkII has been quite nice on the sources I have recorded with it--voice, piano, and violin.

[@1989AlexFriedrich]

Hi ) What you advice of this 2 recorder if I use RODE ТЕП 4+ . ? Thanks in advance )

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Alex, I would recommend the the Tascam DR-60DmkII or higher. Best wishes!

[@1989AlexFriedrich]

Curtis Judd well roger that) Many thanks for your advice!

[@1989AlexFriedrich]

Curtis Judd and maybe You know the Marantz PMD660. If so- is it good enough for NTG 4? Cause I have chance to get it for cheap price

[@curtisjudd]

@@1989AlexFriedrich Hi again! I haven't used the Marantz PMD660, unfortunately so I'm not sure, but it does have the XLR inputs you'll need! Best wishes!

[@1989AlexFriedrich]

@@curtisjudd Thanks for your support and interesting videos! Wish You best regards!

[@billyboyproductions6225]

I have this question..The scenario is that I need to interview 3 ppl and I want to connect a lapel mic for each of them (total are 4 lapel mics, including myself), can DR-100Mii work for this scenario? Thanks in advance..

[@curtisjudd]

No, you'll want to look at the Tascam DR-70D or Zoom H6 for that. They each have 4 XLR inputs.

[@billyboyproductions6225]

Thanks man!

[@MegaBananenmus]

Which one would be better to record a piano without external micros?

[@curtisjudd]

Well, neither of these recorders are still in production. But the mark III version of the Tascam would probably be my choice over the H4n Pro.

[@RBdigitalTeleVision]

Hi Curtis, I Have a Nikon d7100 and a rode videomic pro, but i need more quality, what is your recommendation for me !

[@curtisjudd]

Any of the Sound Devices mixer/recorders and a Schoeps CMIT 5 shotgun mic! But that is very expensive! Do you have a specific issue you are trying to solve?

[@RBdigitalTeleVision]

need more quality because with the rode videomic pro and my nikon D7100 an unwanted noise is recorded, i need a best production recording into my camera ! What Can I Use !

[@curtisjudd]

Luis Daniel Palmillas Moreira First question, where do you place the mic relative to the talent you are recording? If the mic is more than 2 feet away (30-40cm), then the first thing to do is move the mic closer. Check out this episode on getting the best sound from your shotgun mic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYaUhKquZqmrjKc

[@RBdigitalTeleVision]

always on top of the d7100, for interviews and events !

[@SomethingRandomInc]

Is the Tascam DR-100mkii a better model then the Tascam Dr-40?

[@curtisjudd]

I have heard others say that the pre amps in the DR-100 mkII produce less noise than those on the DR-40.

[@boysherman]

Got lucky and it came down to $235 today for the DR100MKII. Pretty stoked!

[@flowidafilms]

Can I connect a RODE PinMic on the TASCAM DR 100 MK2 ? Thanks!

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, if you use the XLR Micon connector with the PinMic. The DR100 mkII does not have a 3.5mm mic input.

[@flowidafilms]

thanks!

[@MrMysterious2008]

thank you Curtis , what is best quality wav or mp3?

[@theamericantransylvanian]

wav for the love of all that is good. if no one answered that for you i m here after seven years to answer this mysterious dilemma.

[@amiesart]

Hi there! I have a H4N recorder that I would like to stick with. I am planning to shoot interviews, and wondered which microphone is best paired with this for the best quality?

[@curtisjudd]

***** Hi Amie, How many microphones will you need, will the people be moving during the shoot? What's your budget? Lots of options out there.

[@amiesart]

+Curtis Judd Hi! Ideally I only need one (on a boom I'm thinking) I have a sound operator to follow the talent. The two scenarios are people sitting, and them showing us round their house. There also may be scenes in a busy area (at a convention). The most people I have at a time in an interview is two. I was hoping of keeping the budget at around £200 (so $300). But would happily go to more if it was a good investment for the future. I will look forward to hearing your advice :)

[@curtisjudd]

***** I would like to recommend one of the sub $300 shotgun microphones but it is a little tricky with the H4n. I have the RODE NTG2 and quite like it with other recorders, but a number of people have complained that because this microphone needs a lot of gain, it requires setting the gain quite high on the H4n which results in a pretty noisy recording (microphones and pre-amplifiers create noise, some are just better than others). So it is hard to recommend that. If you can stretch the budget to $329 USD, the Sennheiser MKE 600 shotgun microphone is a good choice and far more sensitive than the other sub-$300 mikes. You can read more about it here: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/878340-REG/Sennheiser_MKE_600_Shotgun.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/SEMKE600/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xSEMKE600

[@amiesart]

+Curtis Judd thank you for the help Curtis! Would the MKE 600 be ok with the H4N then? Or am I fighting a loosing battle and may be better off upgrading from the H4N...? Thanks!

[@curtisjudd]

***** No, the Sennheiser will be good with the H4n because it is significantly more sensitive than the less expensive mikes in a similar class. That means you won't need to push the gain on the H4n and you'll get great sound.

[@Rphbalubaid]

What's the difference between tascam dr-44 and dr-100 mk . If I'm going to buy, which one is the best?

[@curtisjudd]

+hassan mohammad Recorders have improved quite a lot since I recorded this in early 2013. For film and video, I would recommend the Tascam DR-60DmkII which also costs less than the DR-44WL: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioPSeoCGfbhsZ7c

[@julien2625]

sound board is a audio device or juste a audio editon software ?

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Julien, a sound board or mixing board usually refers to a piece of hardware. But there are software mixers.

[@karimjordan394]

What do you think is a better choice, the Zoom H2n or the Tascam DR-07 mk2?

[@curtisjudd]

Depends on whether you want surround recording or just directional stereo. The H2n has surround recording, the Tascam does not. Aside from that they're pretty similar in terms of audio quality from my experience.

[@karimjordan394]

Thank you! I will probably go with the Zoom then.

[@SkintSNIPER262]

How long does the Ion battery charge in the DR 100mkII?

[@curtisjudd]

Hi, I upgraded to the Tascam DR-60DmkII a while back so I don't have the DR-100mkII but my recollection is that you get about 1.5 to 2 hours from the lithium battery. Not a lot, but not bad when combined with a set of AA batteries as well.

[@SkintSNIPER262]

Curtis Judd What specs does the DR60 have that makes it better then the DR100?

[@curtisjudd]

***** Mainly cleaner preamps. Some people also prefer the form factor, but I'm fine with either one. Here's a review of the newer version you might find helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioPSeoCGfbhsZ7c

[@maxccc86]

On my DR-100mkII more than 6 hours!

[@curtisjudd]

Max That's amazing. Are you phantom powering a mic?

[@SkintSNIPER262]

How long does it last on AA and Ion Batteries?

[@curtisjudd]

About 4 hours But you can also swap in a new set of AA batteries when it switches over to the Li-Ion battery so possibly closer to 6 hours.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Raymond--good luck!

[@emforty2]

i gave your review a thumbs up

[@Haza3137]

thank you

[@larry50]

DR100 MKII can be bought for $225 new.

[@thetreverpitts]

damn you al ways seem to have good audio

[@96TeenSpirit]

I think WAV

[@yemayaseashell486]

How dare you put thumb down go to hell be GRATEFUL

[@curtisjudd]

Hahaha! Thanks!