Watch this before using the LIMITER on the Zoom H1n!!!

Be carefull when using the limiter on the H1n. Under certain circumstances it can increase the noise floor up to 12dB!!!
In this video I show you how the limiter affects the noise performance of the H1n and what to watch out for when using the limiter.
Amazon | Zoom H1n: amzn.to/2YUg0fi *
Support the channel on Patreon: / juliankrause **
* Affiliate links from which I receive a commission for sales. This doesn't generate any additional cost for you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
** Patreon is a platform where you can voluntarily choose to support the channel by purchasing a monthly subscription.

[@jiajang9120]

I had a lot of worries about white noise. A lot of false setting information has spread in Korea. So I found this video while searching foreign KZbin for the right setting information. This video helped me a lot. Thank you.

[@kalebarancelovic]

Hi Julian, thanks so much for doing this video. I filmed an important dialogue scene last weekend and the footage was ruined by poor, noisy audio. I had no idea why this happened, but it's because my limiter was turned on. You have saved so many people from experiencing the same. Thanks again!

[@hunkhands]

Thanks buddy! I'm just ordered 3x H1ns with dead cats for a run-and-gun podcasting setup. I'll 100% use this information, cheers!

[@JamesEastWalking]

Thanks for the info. I was trying to figure out why my newer recordings had more noise than my older ones. I didn't even think to check the limiter.

[@StevePickeringIsHere]

Julian, thanks so much for the heads-up regarding the limiter on the Zoom H1N. Greatly appreciate your objectivity while discussing the problem and the solution.

[@livetravelwithMaryandMom]

Thank you for the tips. Just got H1n recently. I m so annoying about the noise. Still learning and hope to make the best of it over time as still new to this YouTubing. Subscribed to appreciate your effort!

[@encellon]

Thanks for the heads-up! Fortunately, the added noise of the limiter manifests at higher gain settings (lower sound levels) where I would not normally use a limiter. I typically only use a limiter when sound levels are moderately high and I am expecting inordinate peaking levels -- a gain setting range of 1 to 5 where the limiter (according to your tests) does not add any noise. Specific takeaway... don't combine the limiter with gain settings of 6 to 10. Bottom line... don't use the limiter when you don't need it.

[@optimalreview8368]

A very useful information buddy! I will recommend your channel to get more information about this product, when i'm makin my review, because you seems more competent about the technical side than i am. Great work. Thanks again.

[@LukasBreitzzz]

You're a champ. I was wondering where the noise from my h1n was coming from. Thanks so much!

[@irisolympia]

oh wow I've been having this problem thanks so much!

[@kalebarancelovic]

Same, this video has saved me from future pain and heartache!

[@OMTEKNO]

Useful tips. Thanks Julian

[@rjh]

Thank you very much...was a great help

[@RozelyLindim]

thanks for this crucial info.

[@allisone8452]

Fantastic, thank you for sharing!

[@1solorainforest]

Just got my H1N, thanks for the info :)

[@leswalker2207]

Thanks for your findings

[@famjams4697]

JK, you are awesome. Helping me learn so much

[@chrislam1341]

it is counter-intuitive. i always think that the limited is reducing the noise, it is very useful info! thanks

[@rakeshmoktan]

awesome info...thanks

[@3ccdmike]

Thank you. I will use a on-camera mic mixer and use the quieter range of the recorder.

[@meanderIse]

Good research

[@MrJaasanchez]

This is such a good review video! Thanks for this!!!

[@andreim.v.8576]

Thanks!

[@wil46nl]

I tested the limiter by using it in a repetition cabin of loud playing funk band whit very heavy bass and loud drums.The result was amazing perfect, no distortion at all. So this takes care of distortion when they turn up the bass to much in a rock concert recording. When using this in a quit club environment then , the problem will be noise at the beginning until they start palying. But then the need for the limiter is not there so you should turn it off then.

[@sirgum3116]

Legend !

[@natancopeincraft]

I'm having a ton of fun with the Zoom H2N. It's a very capable recorder with alot more parameters...SBN RESONATE

[@i.syntaxerror]

I'm looking for something like that but about infamous Zoom f6 (infamous due to consumer line out).. Could you please to cover this topic in your style?? Regards

[@earlybirdasmr]

What's the gain and input for asmr videos. Pls help

[@DroseMr]

Nice video. The noise is bad w no peaking. I set to 5 and camera to - low as go.

[@healthyfats9017]

That's insane, what the heck. Thnks

[@natancopeincraft]

Is there any way to change the amount of low cut? Or is the low cut and other effects just one setting as they are?...SBN RESONATE

[@jovanmagyaya8329]

what do you mean by mic is shorted? please explain?

[@UrbanAstray]

Got my Zoom H1N today and just noticed this myself. There is a clear difference when turning off the limiter and I was kind off surprised to be honest how much more noise it presents. One thing I'm trying to understand now is which gain to use. I feel that the volume is really low of any recording so I assume I have to do some editing in post?

[@henrykg]

Always. Post editing is a must. Always. ;-) However post edit is not a cure for bad recording... Be closer to the sound source, use directional shotguns, etc...

[@wahabdilawar]

Very interesting video. I am an occasional vlogger and want to upgrade to a recorder. So far...I have to decide between the Tascam DR-05x and the Zoom H1n. Which one do you recommend or would you recommend another newer device in the similar price range? Thank you very much for your time and effort.

[@brilliant13675]

Tascam dr07x

[@LearnWatercolorPainting]

I tried the limiter and it was a big mistake. It muffled my voice and increase the level of background hiss. I was using a lavalier mic. It was so depressing. I'll never use the limiter again. Why is it so difficult for them to make a mic that captures voice and filters out everything else. It's easy to hear a hissing noise, why can't that be eliminated by a smart machine. Anyway, thanks for this video.

[@iancraig]

Thanks Julian. Another problem with the limiter to add to ‘noise’ is the fact that it only limits anything that exceeds zero and then goes back to the original volume set. This means that if you ever get int9 a situation where you have set the audio level too high, you get a ‘pumping’ effect to add to the noise because it continually goes on and off. It almost acts like an automatic gain in this respect, which switches in and out when the volume gets too high. In comparison, the Tascam DR05 limiter drops the volume on peaks and then stays at that volume, so you get no ‘pumping’ in the recorded sound. I find the Tascam limiter much better in this respect.

[@JulianKrause]

Hey, the limiter on the H1n has a threshold of -6dBFS and limits every signal going above it. Once the signal drops below this threshold the limiter releases again. As you said, this can result a sound that is audibly pumping. But that's the normal operation of a limiter. I find it surprising that the DR05 works differently.

[@iancraig]

Yes, the DR05 sets a new volume level overall, based on the peak and then stays there, so no pumping.

[@reinulf656]

Then that's not a normal limiter in the Dr-05. I'd hate to find a recording with too low levels just because of one short sound that was too loud. This should actually be a warning to all Tascam users. It's not a limiter but an gain setting helper.

[@iancraig]

No, it’s not a normal limiter. I actually do use it to get a good level sometimes! In reality, it’s not as bad as it sounds on the face of it.

[@iHorus]

Why input is shorted? On my h1n I have noise level at maximum gain up to 50dB. Is it normal? When monitoring at 10 gain it's unbearable.

[@itacatv2146]

Is it normal that with the headphones and using the built in microphone, I can’t hear any noise until level 6? Above level 6 I can hear the noise in a silent setting. I just bought it yesterday.

[@_stellasolitaria_]

The same problem with me. As soon as I turn up the gain wheel over level 6, the background noise starts to be too much. From level 7 is unacceptable! I don't understand why my H1N is so noisy compared to many other which were tested by KZbinrs in many videos..

[@xlimitx0725]

Hi, this video was really helpful for me to buy this recorder! but there's one problem.. I usually use this recorder individually so I need to check which record is what only by reading the name of the record. So I connected it to my PC and renamed the records, but when I try to play the record in the recorder, it says the file does not exist.... Is it impossible to rename the records in this recorder?:(

[@cineaviation3220]

Somehow the filename of the file is directly connected to the H1n on how they read the filename, such as ZOOM0001.WAV or the other counter like the YYYY-DD-MM. Otherwise it won't read that. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's my speculation. Just get a pen and jot down or type what is the filename then the description of the recorded sound. Hope that helps :)

[@xlimitx0725]

Dronezz thanks for your answer!!! Sad that I cannot use other names..:(

[@cbcsurvivalguide]

My zoom h1n now produces a loud buzzing noise when I connect it to my computer via usb to record audio. Didn't notice this issue before. Any suggestions on how to fix this?

[@henrykg]

First try to change usb cable to a better one or replace it if it is old. Second thing is proper computer grounding. If it will not help then my guess is that one of filtering capacitors died... Check with other computer.

Hi Julian, accidentally I turned on the auto level for a concert recording and it messed it up because there is no dynamics. There is a way to reverse that?

[@Sambanime]

Hello, i have a problem, of interferences when i talk i use the internal microphones, and i use too the adobe audition to postprocesing here you can hear the interferences with headphones kzbin.info/www/bejne/qofYfoKchdmGkNk what is the problem?

[@MotorSwapDan]

Unglaublich!

[@JulianKrause]

Aber wahr!

[@Deniz-cm3er]

Kannst du mal dazu ein deutsches Video bitte machen? Kann man da einfach das Rode Smartlav+ reinstecken und schon loslegen aufzunehmen?

[@JulianKrause]

Das SmartLav+ hat einen TRRS Stecker. Um das an den H1n anzuschlieeßn brauchst to wahrscheinlich den Rode SC3 Adapter.

[@Deniz-cm3er]

@@JulianKrause ich habe mir diesen Adapter bestellt, danke dir. Wie genau bearbeitest du dann die tonqualität? Das wäre mega nice oder so Video darüber. Kann man mit dem Zoom h1n in .wav aufnehmen?

[@JulianKrause]

@@Deniz-cm3er Hey, so bearbeite ich meinen Ton: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYfSp4upl6idoLc Ja, der H1n kann in WAV Aufzeichnen.

[@Deniz-cm3er]

@@JulianKrause bester Mann! Danke dir. Hast nen Abo ❤

[@henrykg]

If I would have money for low noise mic, I would have money to use it with F3 ;-)

[@saulohenriquef]

I don't understand the levels in this video. At level 10 my recording clips every time.

[@JulianKrause]

Hey, I have a tutorial for the H1n, where I show you how to set your gain properly. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKXVn32fiquAmdU

[@nonchalantd]

!

[@RedBearAK]

As Curtis Judd has explained, this happens because the limiter is essentially “fake”. It lowers the recording level by 10dB or so and then amplifies everything that doesn’t go above a set limit. The same effect can be achieved by setting the dial to the 0-5 range and then limiting peaks, compressing and normalizing in post processing. The digital limiter works out better in the Zoom F4/F8/F8n because the preamps are much quieter. In these cheaper recorders with noisy preamps the limiter is basically useless.

[@KarolMurawski]

"It lowers the recording level by 10dB or so and then amplifies everything that doesn’t go above a set limit." is not true. The limiter affects gain - it can limit recording level by more than 12 dB. There are test on YT that this limiter is crazy overloaded and it performs well. This -12 dB headroom is probably needed for time to react.

[@iancraig]

I don't see why it doesn't just limit the peaks and then leave the gain alone in order to avoid the pumping. That would be easier to fix in post than the pumping effect. The Tascam dr05 is way easier in this respect. I would suggest not using the limited on this and keep the gain low, using 24 bit.

[@harrij.9542]

Can you link to the video where Curtis Judd explains this please? I have understood from his videos that the limiter in H1N is actually functional.

[@chrismaccio4249]

I don’t like the product. Not pleased with its functions.F👎🏽