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The H4n has a very compact 280 g lightweight design, equipped with high quality stereo condenser
microphones arranged in an XY pickup pattern, a built-in speaker, SD card recording, mixer and
internal effects. Any type of microphone (including condensers), electric instrument (guitar, bass,
keyboard) or line level source can be connected to the H4n.
Battery Installation
Note! Make sure the power is off!
Whenever you open the battery compartment or
plug-in/unplug the AC adapter, make sure the
power is off. Otherwise, recording data could be
destroyed.
1. Open the batter compartment cover.
2. Insert two, new AA batteries, matching the
polarity markings ( + and –) as shown above.
3. Set the Stamina mode switch to ON. This
puts the unit in Eco-power mode when using
batteries.
4. Close the battery compartment cover.
When “Low Battery!” indicator appears, immediately switch off the
recorder and replace batteries or switch to AC power. Approximate
life for a pair of alkaline batteries is 6 hours in general use and
11 hours in STAMINA mode use. (Actual battery life may vary
according to how you use the recorder.)
You can supply power to the recorder by USB only when using as an
audio interface or copying files.
SD CArd
The Zoom H4n comes with a 1 GB SD card. Please do not remove this card. If you need to use a larger
card (up to 32 GB), please use care removing and inserting memory cards. Don’t forget to replace
original memory card when returning to Media Loan.
Make sure power is off before installing or removing SD card. 1) Insert the SD card as shown, label
up, to install. 2) To remove, push card gently and it will pop out. Remove and place in protective case.
2) With
power off,
remove SD
1) With card by
power off, pushing
install SD gently. Pull
card with card out
label up and and place
“cut” corner in protective
to right. case.
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Zoom H4n Media Loan
Set Date/Time 1. 2.
You will probably have to reset the date and time on the
H4n each time it is checked out from Media Loan. To set:
1. Press the MENU button. (On right side of recorder.)
2. Rotating the DIAL, select <SYSTEM>
by pressing the DIAL in. 3. 4.
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Media Loan Zoom H4n
Windshield
When recording out in the field, covering the built-
in microphones with the provided windshield can
reduce wind noise.
Mic stand
How to Mount to a mic stand adapter
Using the provided mic stand adapter, you can
mount the H4n on a mic stand with a mic clamp.
To attach, screw the provided adaptor into the
threaded tripod mount. (Do not overtighten.) Make
sure the H4n is secure and the microphone stand
stable.
Recording Flow
The following is the basic recording flow using the H4n. You can select which recording mode and
audio quality setting is right depending on the application of the recording.
Connect Setup
to other Switch Select Playback Re- Edit /
audio ON MODE recording Record & confirm record Output
devices method
1. Connect to Other Audio Devices - As well as built-in microphones, the H4n has two
input jacks (XLR/Standard Phone) with phantom power for use with any external microphone.
2. Switch on
3. Select Mode - There are four different modes to select from: Stereo, 4CH, Mtr, Stamina.
Choose modes depending on input sources and output file formats.
4. Setup recording method - So many to choose from! Auto Rec, Rec Level Auto, Lo
Cut, Comp/Limit, Mono MIx, Tuner, Metronome, Effect/Patch, and so on and so
forth...
5. record - this depends on your MODE.
6. Playback & Confirm - There are convenient ways to swiftly review/playback a recording as
well as marking/finding specific sections and repeating sections of te recording: PLAY MODE, AB
REPEAT, SPEED, MARK LIST, and so on and so forth...
7. Re-Record (or record from scratch) - In MTR MODE, the punch-in/punch-out function
enables you to re-record only the section you want to correct.
8. Edit/output - The recordings are saved as files and projects. There are various ways
to edit them: File INformation, File MP3 Encode, File Stereo Encode, Divide,
Move, Bounce.
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Zoom H4n Media Loan
Selecting a Mode
1. Press the MENU button on the right side.
2. Using the DIAL, scroll down until MODE is selected and press the dial
like a button.
3. Use the DIAL to select STEREO, 4CH or MTR.
4. To engage STAMINA mode, use the switch located in the battery
compartment.
About Modes
In STEREO mode, you can select 2 different inputs either INPUT [MIC] or
INPUT[1] and INPUT[2], and operate them as one stereo file. The resulting
FILE is saved in one of the ten sub-folders of the STEREO folder.
In STAMINA mode, the functions are limited to maximize the battery life time.
In 4CH MODE the H4n records two stereo WAV files: one stereo WAV file for the built-in microphones
and one stereo WAV file for the inputs. These files are saved in one of the ten fixed folders.
In MTR mode, you can record tracks in MONO or STEREO from INPUT [1], INPUT [2] or the internal
microphones. You can combine them with tracks recorded in other modes or <OVERDUB> additional
tracks. Project data and settings are saved as a PROJECT in the MTR folder.
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Media Loan Zoom H4n
Built-In MicropHones
High quality microphones in an XY pattern
ensure a natural stereo image when
recording sounds. Stereo recording is often
done by placing two microphones in a V
shape. Pointing microphones outward will
result in stereo separation, however the
recording will lack defintion around the
center position, resulting in a poor stereo
image.
The H4n utilizes an X Y stereo mic
configuration. By placing two microphones
in a crossed pattern (opposing angles), the
H4n can cover a wide area and capture
sound sources in the center with clarity
and definition. Sounds reach both mics
simultaneously, and therefore no phase
cancellation occurs between right and left
channels.
Recording Format
Press the MENU button and then select REC. Select REC FORMAT and then choose the format you
wish to use.
The WAV FILES with no compression are used for high quality sound recording. Because data is not
compressed, the volume of the file will increase compare to MP3 format. 44.1/48/96 kHz indicates the
sampling rate of the analog-to-digital conversion. 16/24-bit indicates the bit depth of the analog-to-
digital conversion. The larger the number, the higher the sound quality, but the files that are created
are larger as well. The WAV files recorded on STEREO/4CH/STAMINA mode correspond to BWF
(Broadcast Wave Format) and include marks and production date.
MP3 FILES decrease the sound quality because of data compression, but are useful to save SD card
capacity and to record much more sounds. Select the bit rate which indicates information volume per
minute. The bigger the number, the lower the rate of compression and the higher the sound quality.
The higher compression MP3 will occupy less space on an SD card VBR (Variable Bit Rate) means the
bit rate (recording quality) is automatically adjusted based on input information.
File Transfer
You can output individual files and folders containing files. Select folders or files from the MENU.
With the file/folder selected, press the DIAL to view options such as DELETE and MOVE. To put
files on a computer, with the unit powered OFF, attach USB cable to recorder and computer. Select
STORAGE. The H4n will show up as an external hard drive on your computer. From there you can
drag files over to copy. Be sure to eject H4n before disconnecting USB cable.