SD-302 to Zoom H4n for Great Filmmaking Audio

This is all about using line feed to get around low quality mic pre-amps in recorders and cameras. Why would you knock down a pristine line feed from a $1,300 SD-302, which has world class magnetic pre-amps, and start over using mic pre-amps in a $300 recorder? Always use a line input into a recorder or camera when you have good front end equipment. Note: My voice got really hoarse, there is no distortion at all, it just kind of sounds that way because I could not speak well.

[@rolandcomfort]

I agree, absolutely! Sell the 302 and upgrade to a Sound Devices 552. The movie was about how to get good sound out of a consumer grade recorder like the H4n with your SD 302. So far, I have 36,000 views on this video based mostly on H4n users trying to figure out how to get good sound. The answer is, you can't get great sound on of a $300 consumer grade recorder. Get the 552 and be done with it. Note: mic tech hasn't changed in 50 years. Buy the best mic you can afford & don't look back.

[@tuffcrowzer]

Roland, this is the knowledge I've been looking for, for years! Thank you for passing on this valuable knowledge.

[@Teddykhil]

G'day Roland, I've been searching, looking, reviewing so much over the Internet about sound recording from DSLR's and mic's etc, etc, I must say that THIS one is the best by far for information concerning how and what to do when recording audio to be put onto a recorded video. I'm only an amature when it comes to all this but you've given me so much of a head start with professional type information. Many thanks for your vid, Cheers, Kev.

[@bombdiggity8179]

Love it! Amazing content! Can't wait to see what else you guys come out with.

[@musicforindies]

Great "how to" thanks Roland! brilliant, amazing the recording never clipped toward the end, this is really helpful, thanks for taking the time to share and like the way it's shot.

[@TedTremendous]

Good lord it's beautiful! No clipping no need for 32bit float audio when you do it right. This sounds like a valuable piece in the sound chain

[@MacWarMedia2]

Wow this is really incredible. I always wondered if this was possible. You make awesome videos sir, keep them coming!!

[@rolandcomfort]

You're welcome. Sound is King! Best of luck with your audio journey. Audio guys rock!

[@tenchimod]

Thank you for the tutorial! I just picked up a nice used 302 for recording audio. What a difference this thing makes compared to just the field recorder. I wish I knew this a few years ago when I got into filmmaking.

[@joshua3113]

This is a pretty nice setup. I've been going back and forth with setups I like and this is definitely a decent way to go. Thanks for the ideas. As if I needed more choices.

[@rolandcomfort]

You are welcome!!!! Note, the Zoom H4n line input is somewhere between pro +4 and consumer -10 dbu. It is designed to accept the output from a guitar pre-amp. That's why you have to attenuate the SD-302. You can go straight into most recorders like a Fostex without attenuating the output using most field mixers. But for the Zoom, if your mixer won't attenuate, then you may have to buy attenuated patch cables in the range of -10 to -25 dbu.

[@Noxcrew]

This was fantastic! JUST what I needed, thankyou!!!

[@david65duran]

thanks for your response. I have no clue what I'm doing about sound but you make sense. I only have a zoom H4n but I'm clueless about the set up. I'm saving up for the SD-302 so I can just copy what your saying.... Love your videos. THANKS!!

[@mizzafroqueen]

Thank you so much Roland :) I am sorry I'm just getting back with you. I actually preordered the h6n :) I can't wait to get it... but I will definitely do more research on the G2 and G3 systems. Thank you so much... And believe it or not, I watch a lot of your videos... You guys are getting me through this :) Thanks a lot!!!

[@teckno_senpai]

hahaha omg it killed me when you started yelling LOL. but in all seriousness, thank you so much for these 302 tutorials. very helpful for my work! I'm a video producer, but my company is small so I have to learn all the audio stuff as well and this is coming in very handy. keep up the good work sir

[@monkeyxx]

gets me every time when people do that, testing limiters, have to love it

[@Ryckhart]

I've been looking at upgrade solutions for weeks, but i'm on a tight budget, thank you for this insight Roland, I've been using the H4n for a couple years now and it's been a swiss army knife for my productions, but my mind was blown when I saw your setup here, i'm tempted to spend my money on the 302 instead of a middle of the road recorder/mixer and utilise this setup!

[@rolandcomfort]

I've watched some of your videos too! DIY, how to videos get a lot of views and help people. The Sennheiser G2 wireless setup is great for your kind of shooting. The Lavalier mic goes everywhere with no wires. You can even plug the receiver into your camera for really good sound without doing the post production audio swap. Audio is more important than video, even in feature length films. Stay with it, you're gonna be a STAR!!

[@morozband]

very clear! thank you for your patience Roland!

[@NeilHynes]

Roland, you were spot on; I didn't have it set to 48. Now Im gonna watch your videos some more!

[@rolandcomfort]

The mic plugs into the SD 302 field mixer. Check out my movie "Sound Devices 302 Field Audio Mixer Overview" for more info. The mic goes into the mixer, then the mixer output goes into a recorder like the H4n.

[@chuckschillingvideos]

That's exactly right. But it's a hell of a crucible. And there's nothing quite like it when you know you've nailed both video AND audio and won't have to spend hours in post fixing countless mistakes. In any case I applaud your efforts to help other sound/video guys and appreciate your help.

[@JoaoEspancaBacelar]

Very pro level workshop. Thank you. Please more. :)

[@MerejoHerm]

Thanks for the calibration settings!

[@RiverBirchProd]

I noticed something you may not have seen in the newer 302 User Guide that makes what you demonstrated easier and makes better use of the 302 meter. In the older UG on page 20 there is Advanced Gain Structure and Interconnection. In the newer UG on page 22 there is the same heading BUT they added a previously undocumented feature called Full Scale Tone. That sets up a connection to any recorder so three things happen: there is no clipping, the 302 meter is sync'd up with the recorder meter, and the 302 meter runs to full scale (20 dB) before clipping! That last part is an improvement. This method is like what you show but even better! Anyone can download the latest 302 UG from SD. The limiter threshold stays at 20 dB. However, I did adjust the H4n record level to 70 which is higher than you recommend to get 302 full scale meter (20) to correspond to just under clipping on the H4n. When the 302 limiter kicks in, the H4n does not clip. And I suppose this is buried somewhere in the H4n manual but I assume when the the two input buttons 1 and 2 flash that means clipping? I used this exact same technique when I first used a 302 a few months ago to drive channels 3 and 4 into a Sound Devices 744 four channel recorder (which has only two mic preamps). It worked perfectly.

[@AVPROJECT1]

Thank you Roland for the answer.

[@heldermartinovsky]

Great video!!! Thanx!!!! I've seen many people saying Zoom H4n (and pro) hasn't LINE IN input, and that you have to use external XLR pad attenuators (-20db) to use input 1 & 2 for line in signal. I got an answer from Zoom saying i can use the 3.5mm back input for line in. As well as, the 1 & 2 input, but in this case i have to set the line out of the Shure FP33 mixer to MIC. I can confirm this watching your video, and the way (and cables) you make the connections. Thank you!!!

[@LoRecomiendo]

Thanks Roland, but I'm ready to get the 302. Thanks so much for this tutorial. I will follow all your steps.

[@chuckschillingvideos]

Thank you for your thoughtful response! You asked why my Zoom might not be co-located with my preamp (which is a MixPre-D). The reason is due to the logistics of my shoots. I shoot videos of rock bands in small clubs, and as a result, I have to be very adaptable as to camera placement, mike placement (lots of times this isn't even an option), etc. The acoustics can range from wonderful to horrifying, and as a result, I find myself relying on the onboard mikes of the Zoom fairly often.

[@humblepie9906]

well i experimented with the Sound Devices Mix Pre-D and Zoom H5n , I was able to do the same thing here but just didnt like the sound. its good to try and experminent and KNOW your equipment. Thank you for this video. I use the Zoom H5n for fast, LIGHT, run and gun whether attached to the camera via Sescom cable or as a separate recorder. The sound devices is a great tool , I love my Mix-Pre-D.

[@klajdi9999]

Thanks for your support! It's great help for us. Greetings

[@elcanaldepotrillo]

Awesome, a very professional solution

[@cargo4067]

Ohh i just investigated, i thought the 302 was a recorder just as the 702 but it's just a mixer, thank you for your response Roland a big salute from Mexico.

[@rolandcomfort]

You can get only mono sound out of a mono shotgun mic, however all field mixers have a pan switch on each input channel that lets you assign the the mixer output bus going left, right or center (equal on both). I always use center sending the signal equally to the left and right channel on the Zoom. That's how I did it in the movie. That is why you see two patch cords.

[@RobHuntProductions]

This is an amazing video. Thanks a lot.

[@rezOnanceUK]

Informative video. Thanks!

[@SuzaideeMohdShom]

Wow!!! that's a good demo :)

[@drflyingscotsman]

Roland... .thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@meisterslx]

This was just brilliant! Thank you so much.You helped me in preparing my next job where I'm going to use exactly the same combination, next week and the week after that. BTW: Would you recommend the same attenuation settings when plugging into a Canon XF300 camcorder for the sound recording (dropping the 302 limiter to 0 and then leveling 2dbu headroom)? Thanks in advance

[@tadatubeTV]

I see. yeah it was way too hot. I'm glad that I recorded without Mp-1 for backup. now we're using the sound instead. thank you again and i'm looking forward to check out your videos more....

[@brendanwilliams6306]

Hi Roland, Your videos are extremely helpful and informative, thanks for creating them. The thing that impresses me most about your videos is how wonderfully dry and dead they all sound--very little reflections or room echo. This is a sound that I'd very much like to achieve in my own productions. To what do you attribute this fantastic sound and what might I do to create it myself?

[@artemorbid]

great video going to have to try it

[@Polat1234567890]

Wow fast reply, thank you!

[@CarlGeers]

Fantastic! Now I only have to sell both kidneys and an eye to buy the 302. Very cool stuff! I'll be subscribing and checking out more of your vids. Thanks so much for sharing, a lot of pros just don't want to divulge so it's really great to see this.

[@TKthiagoX]

Wow ! Awesome! Thx! Is perfect áudio for film and vlog =D

[@RayGallardo]

Great video!

[@N0TKA]

Great video, thanks!

[@suryaprihadi2258]

AWESOME...thank u Roland

[@rolandcomfort]

A note about levels - front end equipment like field mixers are usually analog using VU meters that don't clip but distort somewhere at +10 to +20 dBU. They produce the best sound up around 0 dBU. Recorders and cameras are usually digital with meters that "Clip" above 0 dBFS on their scale. Therefore, when you sync a 0 dBU tone from the (analog) SD302 you should set the Zoom (digital) level at -12 to -18 dBFS. In the movie, I reduced the input by -2 dBFS; go lower for more headroom.

[@rolandcomfort]

Thanks. Yes, the Sennheiser G2 or G3 (new) wireless mic is a great set-up for run n gun audio. I was on location for a Discovery Channel shoot for a new pilot a few months ago. The sound guys used G3s wired on the actors with short shotgun mics just aimed into the room to pick up ambient sound. The next step up is Lectrosonics wireless at about $2,000. Go with the Sennheiser, you won't be sorry.

[@Phen0mable]

awesome video

[@joerockyholey]

Nice guide. Thank you :)

[@rolandcomfort]

Yes it could. The Zoom needs to stay in the sound bag with the 302. The Zoom combo jacks are unbalanced inputs when using 1/4 inch phone plugs. Once you sync the Zoom to the 302, and start recording, you need to lock its control panel and forget about it. Volume control is done on the mixer. The Zoom becomes a kind of on-board recorder for the mixer. Why would you ever put the recorder away from the mixer anyway? Thanks for watching!

[@Polat1234567890]

Hi Roland, extremely informative video great work! I'm starting to get into the field of sound mixing/recording and have recently invested in an Olympus LS-100 and an MKH-416. Was wondering if you could do a video tutorial (if possible) on connecting the LS-100 to a SD-302 as well, or provide some advice as to how one would go about setting the two up together. Regards.

[@rolandcomfort]

I just cranked up my 302 as you did, and yes, max gain produces lots of hiss, but that is normal in analog devices. Listen to me carefully! You don't play your stereo at max and you don't drive your car with the pedal to the floor. Your goal is to amplify your mic in a comfortable range so that your digital recorder gets solid 1's and 0's. You amplify the "pristine" 1's and 0's in post. It's like in photography, a perfect digital image can be blown up to billboard size and look great.

[@rolandcomfort]

I do, the MKH 415 says it all. I've got the same (30 year old) mic, but it is 12v T power, kind of a pain in the field. I use a Fostex FR 2le. for recording. It's kinda bulky but pretty good sound for the price. Actually, that's where I got the idea to use 1/4" phone plugs. The Fostex phone plug input cuts the trim controls out of the chain. It is line level straight in, controlled only by the fader dial.

[@rolandcomfort]

Thanks for your comment. The main thing is that the audio you hear never comes from the camera. I always use the Sennheiser G2 lavalier mic or a good short shotgun mic mounted close (especially for voice over) recorded separately. I use DualEyes to replace the camera sound in post. The JuicedLink guys sell equipment that lets you use external mics to record in the camera, and that works great too. Bottom line, you need to record audio no more than a foot or two from your voice source.

[@rolandcomfort]

Yes, the correct setup is to attenuate the 302 to get: 302 0 dBu tone = -18 dBFS on the Zoom with Zoom volume set at 50. The important part is Zoom volume should never go much over 50. Listen to the Zoom on a headset with no mic plugged in. Noise gets crazy when recording volume exceeds 50, go all the way to 100; hit record, then play it back. What you hear is what you get no matter what is coming in from a mic or mixer. 37,000 views and viewer input has refined the setup. Thanks to all!

[@blueskiescaptain]

cool video, thanks!

[@zoltan522]

Has anyone told you that you look like James Karen? I thought it was you for a minute there. Great video by the way thank you!

[@NeilHynes]

Thanks very much Roland. Got it new, today! On my 1st attempt I wasn't connecting any recorder like a Tascam or anything. I was just expecting to attach the mike (ntg2), get levels on the LED, and be able to monitor (hear myself) as I speak without it going into anyhting like a recorder or a camera! I will keep trying and let you know...Thanks for the videos..

[@understandyourmind]

amazing

[@rolandcomfort]

The Zoom file will be a regular stereo .wav clip with exactly the same sound on both the left and right channels, correctly phased. If you want mono, then you can separate the left and right channels into their own mono tracks or mixdown the stereo file into a mono file in post. What you never want to do is record only one side of a stereo track in the recorder. If you forget to break it out, then your video editing mixdown will send your audio to just one speaker.

[@david65duran]

I loved your video here. Very easy to understand and follow. My question is why go thru the zoomh4n and not just use a mixer only. Can I use a Ediral R4 pro only or should it go thru the zoom H4N too?

[@rolandcomfort]

You are correct, the 302, or any analogue mixer, should run up around 0 dBu vs. -18 dBFS on the receiving digital recorder. I didn't know that when I made the movie. Viewer comments pointed that out, including a comment from a guy at Sound Devices, thus the post-it notes added in the movie. I think the reason the sound was pretty good was because I got lucky and ran the H4n volume at only 55 thereby reducing its self-noise and giving me a pretty clean SNR for amplification in Soundbooth.

[@KittyFooFo0]

When Sound Guy starts yelling on set, it is still music to the ears.

[@rolandcomfort]

I think the bottom line when using a cheap recorder is to keep its volume, trim, fader, whatever, low, and input signal high, thereby knocking down its self-noise. That way, you end up with a digital file with a pretty good signal to noise ratio that can be amplified in post. Increasing the 302 volume would have given an even better SNR, but the one I got worked ok. Read some of the comments. This movie has been a real learning experience for me and others.

[@rolandcomfort]

Thank you!

[@rolandcomfort]

Yes, all of the audio geeks (including an engineer at Sound Devices) recommend -18 to 20 dBFS on the Zoom to prevent activating its limiter at 0 dBFS. However, this set up is for normal dialogue not extreme yelling into the mic. The example is to show that it would not clip when abused. I still like the higher levels that result in regular dialogue recording at -24 to -12 dBFS. Thanks for your comment.

[@mizzafroqueen]

Thank you Roland for your support :) Thanks for viewing my hair vids lol... but I wasn't doing any of this to continue that. I am actually going to shoot some drama movies. You know, the kinds of things to submit to film festivals etc... Would you still suggest the audio equipment (G3 and Mke600)? Thank you again for being so prompt in answering my million questions lol

[@tadatubeTV]

Hi Roland, Your vids are great. Thank you for sharing your techniques. I have Zoom and Sound Devices MP-1. I set the Zoom volume 50 and MP-1 is very low volume setting as well. But the sounds come out bit distorted. I really appreciate if you can give me some advices to get better sounds.

[@mizzafroqueen]

I want to say first, thank you so much for being so helpful and responsive. You give excellent advice! Ok, so I'm looking at the mics you suggested, and I came across some in the 600 range... but now I am confused about this: Sennheiser EW A Band, 516-558 MHz B Band, 626-668 MHz G Band, 556-608 MHz

[@rolandcomfort]

Yes, each input channel on the 302 has a pan switch, left, right, or both. That said, if the 302 was panned to the middle, I guess you could set the H4n to either mono or stereo. If you are using more than one mic then things get more complicated as in do you want to record separate tracks in the H4n, etc.

[@rolandcomfort]

I don't know much about impedance transformers, however, the zoom phono plug inputs are for a pre-amped guitar signal, which is somewhere between mic level and pro line level. Attenuating the SD-302 pro line output by 10 to 25 dBu matches levels. When using the phone plugs, the zoom volume control is, I am pretty sure, just an attenuator, not an amplifier; its mic preamps are cut out of the circuit.

[@rolandcomfort]

I use DualEyes, a stand alone program, that syncs the Tascam sound to the video clips. When I shoot, I usually just leave the sound recorder running while I am shooting all of the shots in a scene or at a location. So, at the end of the day, I end up with, say, 100 video clips (with camera sound) and maybe 10 to 20 audio clips. Just put everything into 1 folder, start the program, and magically your video clips end up with the new sound replacing the original camera sound.

[@Betweenlands]

Thanks for the quick reply, I found a 3-year old secondhand Fostex FR 2 at a good price, I think it would be a good buy as I can't afford the SD 552 mixer/recorder at present.

[@LoRecomiendo]

The sound device MM-1 has the same quality with the Zoom H4n? . Great video.

[@rolandcomfort]

I haven't tried a H6 yet, just experiment. However, I'm not so sure the 1/4" plug helps that much on the H4n now either. I got that idea from using the Fostex FR-2LE in which the 1/4" plugs absolutely cut out any gain (trim) allowing a pro line level input. The key to good sound on the H4n is setting up for good bars with recording volume only around 50. Read my other posts about listening to the H4n with headphones and no mic plugged in. That may apply to the H6 but I don't know for sure.

[@rolandcomfort]

You can do it that way if you want to, or if you link 1 and 2 and just use the left input you end up with dual mono which is the same sound on both the left and right channels. Actually, the Zoom can record up to, I think, 4 channels at once. For KZbin type recording, I always just use one mic with the Zoom channels 1 and 2 linked so that I end up with dual mono - the same sound coming out of the left and right speakers.

[@Betweenlands]

Hi Roland, great video, I have a SD 302 and was looking at the Zoom H4n as a cheap solution, the basic use would be for gathering ambient sound for documentary. It needs to be broadcast quality, and from the first part of the video the sound seems to be clearer than the second part. if the mic was the same i was wondering how clean the sound is from the zoom H4n.

[@johnybottle5874]

I like the Edirol R44...but like you tell about limiter. At R44 i.e. Sucks with a BIG S...even the backnoise will rise aswell...I was like what the O_o .The zoom alone is in this way similar if not worse but more handy. Thanks for the video you have shared with us.

[@SveinKB3]

Great video! You mentioned in the comments that you also own a Fostex FR2-LE. What do you think of its preamps?

[@rolandcomfort]

Yes, 2 goes to the tip, w/1 & 3 to sleeve. I am pretty sure I bought 3' Tecnec XLF-SP-3 available at Markertek for about $9.

[@rolandcomfort]

Hi Lee. I've made some changes to the movie taking into account what you (and others) have said, but I still can't bring myself to run the 302 limiter at +20 dBu, I prefer the 302 limiter at +10 dBu, syncing the 302 0 tone to the Zoom at -12 dBFS. This leaves -2 dBFS on the Zoom at the extreme top (for the Yelling!! exercise). When recording dialogue, most of it ends up at 12 to 0 dBu on the 302 and -24 to -12 dBFS on the Zoom. In the field, it's hard to get the 302 to +20 dBu, anyway.

[@alexairth]

Hi Roland I am an aspiring filmmaker and was wondering if there were any affordable field mixers that you would recommend that would let me get the same beautiful sound quality you achieved in this video without maybe all the bells and whistles im sure your SD-302 has lying inside? Also I really loved the video, im a big fan of vintage tech.

[@theworksfilms]

Great info Roland, thanks alot for this video! I am trying to apply this info to a SD 552+H4n set up. I have messed with it and got great results already. To be clear, at 4:22 in your video where you say the ultimate set up, the Zoom levels should be -12 to -18DB with zero level tone being sent to it from the mixer with the Zoom mic level btw 40 & 60, not the level at -2 and mic level at 55 as you show in the video?

[@rolandcomfort]

Yes, sound needs to be recorded at the subject, not from the camera. So, you can't get around using a remote mic. The preferred workflow is to record sound wild using a great mic and recorder (probably not the H4n). The wild sound can be recorded in long takes. In post, you use DualEyes or PluralEyes to replace the cruddy camera audio with your superior wild audio.

[@dhyangayatri6891]

Hi Roland, thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. Do you still need to make some synchronization, in post edition, between audio and video using the H4n and external mic? I'm looking at a very quick and simple way to record dialogues between 2 persons in seminars and give it to participants. Thank you

[@rur17]

Thanks for the feedback. Was setting it to center on the Zoom mentioned in this video?

[@rolandcomfort]

I don't have a Canon XF300, however the xlr inputs are switchable to line level. I suspect that the pro-level Canon will want the default +4dB line level output from the SD-302. The Canon peak limiter kicks in at +20dB, the same as the default peak limiter on the SD-302, so I think that I would just lower the peak limiter setting on the SD-302 somewhat for safety, then set the 302 trim and fader at unity. Finally, adjust the Canon trim to tone while trying to keep its fader near unity.

[@Drulian]

Thanks Roland, great job :) I recently nabbed a 302 on eBay for a pittance and hooked it up to my H4n as you've instructed. This killed two birds: I learned a lot about how the 302 works and I can extend the H4n battery life by bypassing phantom power on it :) I've read a few comments below. the MKH416 will always hold a place in my heart, but I'm getting great results from Rode mics (I use a NTG-3 in the wild). Also, I find the H4n mic pre's to be pretty good! What do you find are the qualitative differences in the H4n mic pre's as opposed the the 302's? I'm sure the 302's are better, but in what way are they better? Cheers!

[@janisgs]

Hi Roland. Thank you very much for your knowledge sharing. Went through them couple of times (: Recently I got 302 mixer and noticed when turn gain and fader all the way to the maximum I hear background noise produced by the mixer through monitoring headphones and recorded audio it self. Would appreciate if you could confirm that mixer indeed produces self noise. In that case recordings captured in high gains should be processed through audio software to remove background noises?

[@LoRecomiendo]

For monitoring the audio, do I have to plug in the headphones in to the H4N or into the 302?. In the H4N, do I have to do any other set up?.

[@rur17]

Thanks for the feedback, is this mentioned in the video about the center when you are setting up the Zoom or do you have to do something special? May I ask what the sound will look like in post, will it be in stereo, or will the audio track show the audio split (balanced).

[@CarFinanceSimplified]

Great video! In it however your tone is at -10dBu due to the attenuation. Can I also ask why you set the limiter to kick in at +4? Why not attenuate the mixer a little more and calibrate the recording levels on the Zoom such that 0 on the mixer equates to -20dBFS? Then, the full output swing of the mixer will be recordable on the Zoom?

[@Betweenlands]

Thanks for the tips, I have made an offer on it,

[@ZeginMakesMusic]

A Zoom r4 fixed the need for extra equipment. 32bit float makes peaking a thing of the past.

[@rolandcomfort]

Yes, this movie is 11 years old. I guess I'll take it down. Turns out that all was good if you kept the H4n input volume at 50% or less. Actually, same as every digital recorder then and now. Run the analog mic and field mixer hot at +0, but dial down your digital recorder to receive that signal in the -12 range.

[@EMJAYWLZ]

Rolan, thanks for the tutorial. I was wondering are you doing line level or mic level out of your 302 into the Zoom H4N? also is there a benefit to using the Mono 1/4 inch jacks to the XLR male stereo left and right? I heard a rumor that the H4N will only accept a line level with the Mono 1/4 inch jacks. Thanks for the video!

[@rolandcomfort]

David, additionally, use the SD-302 tone generator at 0 dBU while setting the R-44 bars at -12 dBUFS. When recording, keep the SD-302 bars peaking up in the 0 dBU range. Your R-44 will record at about -12 to -24 dBUFS resulting in perfect sound!

[@rolandcomfort]

The Zoom xlr inputs are mic level only and route the incoming signal through the Zoom mic pre-amps. Zoom xlrs are for plugging in a mic direct, not the line level output from a field mixer, which has its own pre-amps. The Zoom phono plugs are for inputting the pre-amped signal from a guitar, which is way hotter than mic level but less than normal audio line level, thus the attenuation at the SD-302. Read the "show more" above for more info. Thanks for watching.

[@qiancharles]

Ya, it's kinda strange. I ordered the TecNec XLR F to 1/4" from Markertek following your advice but I ordered the "wrong" one, i.e. the XLR F- SPS one--STEREO type, and I used it with G3, connected the same way as you did in the video, and it worked without any problem. I later also ordered the Mono one which will arrive tomorrow. I will try it in the same setup but I don't know if I can tell the difference. With Sound Devices mixers, there are just many ways to set it