Zoom H4n Tutorial Review 4 Channel Recording with 2 stereo WAV files

[@dalesnale]

Note. The H4n will not go into 4 channel mode while in 'Stamina' mode (Stamina switch tucked away in the battery compartment). This was driving me nuts as I have used it in 4 channel successfully in the past. The video was a great refresher. Thanks.

[@samuelhatton6335]

dalesnale WOW! I've been trying to figure this out for AGES! Thanks :)

[@dalesnale]

Me too. I hate wasting batteries.

[@AlbertMaruggi]

+dalesnale thank God you commented : )

[@dalesnale]

Albert Maruggi That issue was why I came to this video too :)

[@AnxiousCowboy]

jesus christ ive been pulling my hair out. thanks.

[@chriswoodvine9370]

I noticed you have to restart your h4n once you turn stamina mode off in order for mode select to appear in the menu.

[@kyegibbon9663]

thank you so much!!! this was doing my nut in.... why does Zoom not mention this in their manual.. so frustrating!!!

[@Glen_Hoban]

Thank you for the video; I almost always find it easier to learn from a demonstration rather than reading the manual. :-)

[@MichaelgambinomusicVideos]

Kamibambiraptor So true. Good advantage of You Tube here.

[@YouGuysAreAmazing]

Thanks! Most other videos show overdubbing which I can already do via DAW and interface. I was more looking into 4-channel recording at the same time. The H4N is capable of basically 3-channel-recording whereas however, the built-in mic will render you a stereo file … so lets just say the H4N can record 3(4) channels at the same time. So, I could have a mic plugged into input 1, a guitar into input 2 and use the built-in mics to pick up the room or ambience sound (in stereo) which I can later mix in when mixing the channels from input 1 & 2. I’d find this really helpful for recording @ home or on the go if I have 1,2 or 3 of these devices … then you could theoretically have 3(4), 6(8) or 9(12) tracks recorded … of course this would mean 3(6) of the tracks are ambient sound removing the doubled tracks you’d end up with 3(4), 5(6) or 7(8) tracks to work with. You could simply take the room sound you like the most and mix it or use the L channel from the H4N that’s furthest left and the R channel from the H4N that’s furthest right. This will give your stereo ambient room sound more stereo pan.

[@lorcanmeister]

I use the Zoom H2n for my youtube channel (not the H4n) but you should find that if you open your two stereo tracks in a DAW (wavelab comes with the H2n) you should be able to work with the two stereo tracks as if they were four mono tracks

[@billkeyes9237]

Thank you for this! It's the only place I could find out about how the H4N stores the 4 tracks on the sd. Took me 4 hours to nail this post. Since it only has stereo outs I didn't want to take a chance on having to mix them on the zoom first. I wanted at least some 4ch separation for use in Sonar. I have been doing recording in my piano studio for over 30 years so I'm familiar with a lot of this stuff. I do have 2 zooms and a tascam but only 2 tracks. I don't want to lug a pc/sonar to my casual Jams with friends. Looks like this might work. Thanks again for your help, Bill

[@SimonMalcolmProductn]

Thanks so much. This had me beat, but no more. I really love your presentation style. I think you could teach people anything.

[@mrolifel]

Hello how did you get 4mono channels? I always find two stereo track in the stereo mode and not 4.. Thanks a lot!

[@VishalBondwal]

Thanks. Exactly what was needed, and no wasting time

[@brianhawkins]

Is it possible to use the mic for all four channels, but at different levels? Say I want to record an interview and have mic assigned to channels 1 & 2 at a certain level, and then for safety in case the interviewee laughs loudly or shouts, I also assign mic to channels 3 & 4 but at -6dB. Can this be done? Looking to mimic the dual recording feature of the TASCAM DR-40.

[@SharonKlinkenberg]

Can you do this with one external mic in monomix mode?

[@jackraindance717]

How do I get the two 4 channel files: I & M, to become one file I can output to my tablet and onto a CD or Flash drive

[@sybexstudio]

How do i monitor audio on the input channels seperately from the mic channel. when i place my mic set on, i can hear both mic and input audio, i want to mute one or the other.

[@danlewis331]

while in 4 channel mode, can you set separate levels for each each of the inputs 1 and 2?

[@ashleythaaatsme]

Yes, but you have to go into the menu and unlink input 1 and 2. Otherwise, the recording level will be the same for both.

[@echopathy]

BOOM. Right to it. Thank you!

[@thecianinator]

The video starts at 0:31 for anyone who's wondering.

[@Aupbayev]

How I can monitoring quality 4 chanels on headphone?

[@colhutchins]

Hi are input 1 and 2 here stereo? It appears input 1 is L and input 2 is R, is that correct? Can you do this with one external mic in monomix mode? Thanks.

[@gimmegoosebumps]

How can I record with 2 xlr lav mics and have them be independent channels? If I record in stereo or 4 channel they are mixed together I think? I want to record using two different mics for two different people that discrete channels...i.e. basically two monoral tracks. Can I do this on the zoom H4nPro? Thank you.

[@JD..........]

As far as I can tell, the H5 does NOT have "4 Channel" recording. Is this because it was replaced by "Multitrack?" Thank you!

[@SeanDIY]

Can you use an XLR to 1/4" cable and then use phantom power or will it not work without XLR to XLR? I can't get the former to work.

[@The_Sound_Side]

Why does you zoom browse through the menu so fat. Mine and another as well have a lag time and take time to open menu options. Mine takes around 30 sec+ to start up as well. I have a 16 gb card; would this be relevant ?

[@AtlantaTerry]

Larger memory cards take longer for the Zoom to start because it checks the memory card and prepares it for recording. I would assume the Zoom checks the empty space for remaining amount and any potential errors. Actually, to me, this is a good thing.

[@bestmoviesever1]

What happens if you record 4 Channel with two XLR mics and one stereo 3.5 MM mic? Would it mute the built in mics or would both the 3.5mm mic and the built in mic record onto the same stereo track? Or would it record three stereo tracks? Or if none of those what would happen?

[@edgarin]

Is it possible to plug in both a lav mic and a condenser mic into the Zoom H4N and get it to record different tracks, which can be adjusted later individually in FCP? For example, can I put the lavalier mic on my main 'subject' during a public event to get his voice clearly, plus plug in my Rode NTG-2 into the 2nd XLR output....and get 2 different audio files? Thanks!

[@FernandoYairdAlanis]

Hi, I have tried different SD cards and I have noticed that if it is of a smaller capacity it starts faster, and that is a result of the machine reading and preparing the card, hope this help.

[@BryanConover]

What if you want 4 mono channels?

[@brassXphotos]

Super helpful. Thanks for posting!

[@lowlandcrofter9251]

Thanks for the great instructions

[@sEbdesrosiers]

Thanks for your explanation !!

[@marrowstudio2567]

Thanks so much! THis saved the day!

[@phantazzor]

Is it possible to record 1&2 + external mic at the back, maybe in MTR

[@jftvrwk]

my question exactly

[@tomcykman]

did you find an answer for that?

[@darrencampbell638]

Awesome. Thank you very much

[@a123386]

How do we integrate the two separated files though? For example, when I record Input and Mic, I want them to be a single file on my computer instead of a separated file, does anyone know how to do that? Thank you.

[@rychubil]

a123386 Manual, page 113 explain how to integrate two separate files. After that you have to move integrated file to STEREO MODE folder.

[@a123386]

Will try out later, thank you! Ryszard Biliński

[@a123386]

By the way, if we want to record with our computer instead of using H4n, can we use it as a mic connected to our computer instead of using an actual mic?

[@rychubil]

No idea, I didn't try this configuration.

[@a123386]

Okay, thanks!

[@AlbertMaruggi]

I can't seem to get my two XLR inputs to record on separate record input levels. I'm recording an interview with two people on separate mics.

[@CarlosHernandez-pi5te]

Albert Maruggi did you figure it out

[@albertmaruggi8936]

oh you're so kind to ping me with this. It was the stamina mode that got me off my footing. Yes, and I love this recorder. I have to use it more, but it has some many features. And I love Willis, learn something new every time I watch these. thanks

[@AlbertMaruggi]

i figured out how to get to 4 ch but I can't figure out how to get two separate record levels on ch1 and ch2. So for example I'm doing an interview with two people one on each channel, I want record them separately. I'm on 4ch I'm in record light flashing, I hit mic and all the lights stay on.

[@MikeyBharj]

Lifesaver! Very helpful.

[@guitarjcw]

I just purchased the zoom h4n and am intending to use it mainly for music videos in 4 track mode. The problem I've been having is imputs 2 & 3 in the bottom (not the internal mics) will only record audio balanced either to the left or the right, and wont blend the two. I've seen videos where all four tracks are being used and all all audio is balanced left and right together. Do you have any suggestions?

[@ChrisRichmond]

MTR mode instead of 4CH mode?

[@azubuikedike2454]

Any body can tell me how to do this on the zoom h4n pro?

[@elliottb301]

Great tute! Cheers

[@echoes626]

is there any way to isolate those 2 input tracks into their own track or are they automatically bounced into 1 track?

[@yaroslooove]

They’re in stereo, so they’re pretty much isolated

[@miguelbubo]

Thanks man you helped a lot:)

[@ivanmartelanc479]

Thank you

[@keithkuhn9365]

I HAVE NOT FOUND A WAY TO SET ALL MIC LEVELS INDEPENDENTLY. THE ONLY TWO THAT CAN BE SET AT DIFFERENT LEVELS ARE THE ON BOARD AND THE EXTERNALS, NOT ALL 4 AS YOU ASKED. KEITH KUHN

[@KevsGuide]

thanks

[@johnmichaelvital8433]

good

[@munirsheba9537]

thank u so much

[@The_Sound_Side]

indeed

[@wildbunchmedia]

If you have 'stamina mode' switched on you will not have 4 channel option.

[@Jamminyea]

Can i plug 4 mics into this at once? someone help meow

[@alan-muscat]

Don't be so catty.

[@ultimateinfinite]

Well that isn't true, I have a fucking 4 channel Wav that I am having to deal with today. Not fun.

[@blesswilliams]

thank you