Can the Zoom PodTrak P4 Handle Gain Hungry Microphones?

[@BrianMeloche]

I, too, am really impressed with the P4. All of the microphones sounded really good. Zoom's new microphone is also impressive.

[@GoldenSpiralMedia]

I really loved using the ZDM-1. The only issue I had with it was I found it to be more sensitive to desk noise than others like the SM58 and even the Rode PodMic. You'll see in the video I'm using the ZRAMO TH106 shock mount that I picked up on Amazon for under $12. I got it b/c it was cheap and I just needed something quick to see if it would help. I didn't want to make a big investment on a mic I wasn't keeping. However, the TH106 worked SUPER well! It not only got rid of all the desk noise, but it has such a low profile, I decided to use it as my daily driver shock mount for my RE320.

[@joshuasheats]

Hey Darrell! Was so glad to find this review! I currently use a Zoom H6 paired with my Shure SM7-B for most of my recording. I want to swap out the Zoom H6 for the Zoom P4 so that I can simultaneously record to an internal SD card while sending the digital signal out to my computer via USB. (This will allow me to simultaneously use the Zoom P4 as an audio interface for live-streaming while still recording my audio file to an SD card for backup and for easier audio management. I can't do this with the H6.) I was researching whether the Zoom P4 would be able to handle the Shure SM7-B without a Cloudlifter, and from your video it seems like the answer is a clear, "Yes!" Thanks for the very useful video.

[@GoldenSpiralMedia]

Hey thanks, Joshua! Always great to hear from you!

[@cwengelking]

Awesome review, super helpful! That Zoom mic sounds great, really warm and smooth but also clear. And the P4 sounds like a winner all around. Great review, Thank you!

[@GoldenSpiralMedia]

Thanks for watching!

[@Resourcefuldesignerpodcast]

Great review Darrell. If I had to buy a mic today I'm not sure which one I'd choose. Luckily the Heil PR40 you recommended to me many years ago is still working well for me.

[@CinemaSteve]

As an owner of now 3 RE320's, I will say that it's a fantastic microphone but mainly for people with a more bass voice. I went with the RE320 over the Sm7b simply because my voice, and those who use the microphones sound way too boomy with the Shure compared to the clean bass that the RE320 has. It is a much more balanced mic imo and makes bass voices sound clean compared to the sm7b where it feels like the bass is overwhelming when you already have a deep voice. The biggest drawback of the RE320 is when someone who is nasally uses it and it almost can sound shrill at the high ends (listen to Podcastage's mic test of it and you'll see what I mean).

[@theoutsiderjess1869]

This is really helpful because I didn't like the 320 for a long time because alpt of the voices I heard it on sounded terrible

[@CinemaSteve]

@@theoutsiderjess1869 glad to help! Yeah I really didn’t like the RE320 after watching KZbin videos funny enough because I’d say the majority don’t have bass heavy voices which is where it shines. Shrill voices really sound awful on it. But I’ve recorded VO that sounds amazing on the 320 because my voice is naturally deep and so is my talent’s voice. So it’s a perfect mic for us because it comes out balanced and clean.

[@paanongaba5867]

Great review! i can’t wait to get my hsnds on the podtrak p4. i hope zoom will release more in the market soon 👍👍👍

[@Keir333]

Great comparison video! The only questions I have are: Was it a "pipe" or a "pipe organ" that rusted while new, and since it happened while new, is it covered by the manufacturer warranty?

[@Lightylight]

Surprised that you didn’t feature the Samson Q2

[@mdmiller2394]

Thanks for the overview of microphone options. One more vindication of my choice to buy the zoom P4

[@GoldenSpiralMedia]

I think you'll love the P4.

[@mrlnsfrt]

Great review! I appreciate how you went about this with the info regarding name and price etc. the one thing that I think would be super helpful is a time stamp for each time you begin the Harvard sentences. If you had that in the video description it would allow us to easily jump from one mic to the next on your video and compare the sound. Thank you for this video.

[@UniqueDancerTay]

Hello thank you for sharing this review. Love it. Honestly I found this recorder online and instantly thought we don't need a microphone with the handy recorder... I'm a little lost. Is this the case?

[@B2BEnergy]

Great advice, thank you - I'm going to look at buying the Shure SM 58 for mobile podcasting and travelling - I have the Shure MV7 in my studios

[@roypatterson7866]

I have PD-70 Presonua dynamic broadcast microphone with a focusrite solo audio interface.. I have tried USB Microphones with out any good results.

[@mylifeisbroken34]

Zoom p4 + behringer xm8500 I'm going to podcast with this setup, but I'm looking for a nice xlr cable. If I change my microphone in the future, I would be very happy if you could suggest a brand that I can continue without having to buy an xlr cable again. Thanks :)

[@Filmiercoles]

Yo! I have 2 xm8500 plugged into the podtrack and it works flawlessly. And I have 2 more in case I make a podcast with 3 more people, I really recommend this mic and recorder, is the best budget setup for a podcast!

[@musiccollection9694]

Awesome, detailed video as usual. Big question, link or make and model for the shock mount you have the Zoom ZDM-1 on???

[@GoldenSpiralMedia]

It's the ZRAMO TH106 I picked up on Amazon.

[@bradl2636]

Thank you for this review. I'm wondering how these all compare on the PodTrak P8...? Shoot-out on P8 vs PodCaster..? Call me crazy but I don't hear a $300 difference between the cheapest and most expensive. The SM58 sounds good as do the ZDM-1 and PodMic... It's great to have choices.

[@GoldenSpiralMedia]

I will have several videos comparing the P8, P4, and Rodecaster out in the upcoming weeks.

[@bradl2636]

@@GoldenSpiralMedia Looking forward to it..!!!

[@TheAudacitytoPodcast]

Nice review! Would you consider posting the raw audio recordings of each mic? I want to test some things.

[@HyPeDCommando]

Loved all of the mics. In your opinion which is the best sounding mic around 100. Will need the shock for the zoom, but need a better filter for the rode, thoughts?

[@GoldenSpiralMedia]

In the $100 range, the Zoom ZDM-1 was my favorite.

[@DavidBrackett385]

Great vid . Just bought a p4 and noticed when adjusting the gain there is a noticeable ‘pop’ at certain levels. Is that Normal with this p4?

[@CrisCozy]

Call me crazy but the zoom ZDM1 sounded the best.

[@GoldenSpiralMedia]

You’re crazy! ;) I love the ZDM-1 too. It’s now my favorite mic at the $100 price point.

[@MontenegroRealEstate]

Just bought the Podtrak and 3 podmics along with my current Aston Stealth. Do you know if the P4 gives the same gain whether 1 or 4 mics plugged in?

[@GoldenSpiralMedia]

As far as I've been able to tell, there's no difference.

[@MontenegroRealEstate]

@@GoldenSpiralMedia that’s great to hear. Thanks

[@Anar-hk5rv]

Would the ZDM-1 be ok for recording acoustic guitar

[@yankeh]

Thanks for the video(s)! Quick question: can I use a PodTrak P4 with a Blue Yeti USB mic? Will they connect easily?

[@GoldenSpiralMedia]

No. It’s not possible to connect a USB mic to the P4.

[@yankeh]

@@GoldenSpiralMedia Thanks for the reply. Bummer if true! I was thinking the USB input on channel 4 would work. What am I not understanding there? zoomcorp.com/media/documents/E_P4_gyZbKRz.pdf

[@GoldenSpiralMedia]

@@yankeh That USB port is for bringing in a signal from your computer. That signal is coming from a USB port that is carrying power. I THINK that's the difference. The Yeti is powered FROM your computer via USB. The USB port on the P4 is not capable of power output, therefore it can not deliver the power to the Yeti that it needs in order to function.

[@yankeh]

@@GoldenSpiralMedia Thank you! That makes sense.

[@ThecrosseyedTexan]

What type of shock mount did you use for the re320 because I cannot stand the one that comes with it it's ridiculously large

[@GoldenSpiralMedia]

I used this one: amzn.to/3p1VuRg

[@CeebtsheejEntertainment]

Good

[@thethunderbulll]

One question - I use Zoom H4n pro for podcasting...but i don't want stereo effect....how can i do that ?... meaning left and right should sound similar thanks in advance

[@Airs8tronic]

In settings, if using one mic, enable MONO MIX If using two mics it's best to keep the stereo pan so you can have the separate audio

[@thethunderbulll]

@@Airs8tronic thanks

[@GadesChannel]

Tge hiss of sm7b is very frustrating 😔 I have this mic and had a hope that with Podtrak this hiss will disappear... It didn't 😣 but very nice comparison by the way!

[@chunkylover54]

what is your mic stand setup. i need something better

[@arlenharcrow2383]

Try the Blue Compass! Amazing mic stand

[@zebroon]

Did you use cloud lifter?

[@GoldenSpiralMedia]

No

[@zebroon]

@@GoldenSpiralMedia thank you cos I ordered some

[@gabrielglory5602]

Hello Derril! I just bought the podcaster p4 with the zoom mic (zdm1) and note that for the voice to be heard with good volume I have to set the gain dial to 7. However I hear a lot of white noise, even if I reduce the gain level to 5 Is there a way to eliminate the white noise or is it a feature of the podcast p4?

[@gabrielglory5602]

Hi Derril. I see in the video that you recorded the audio at the beginning with the zdm1 on gain weel 6 and I don't hear any noise, how did you do it? :( in my case using the same connections that you used in the video if I hear a lot of white noise

[@GoldenSpiralMedia]

Are you hearing the noise in your headphones, or is the noise also present in your actual recordings? The headphone preamps are a bit noisy, so you’ll hear more noise in your headphones than will actually show up in the recording.

[@gabrielglory5602]

@@GoldenSpiralMedia Indeed, in the recording, you hear less noise than in the headphones, but you can still hear it. In the audio of your video I do not hear anything even though I turn up the volume

What shockmount did you use with the ZDM-1 ?

[@GoldenSpiralMedia]

It's the ZRAMO TH106 from Amazon.

@@GoldenSpiralMedia Thank you!