The Zoom H4N Recorder, included in on of our mobile podcasting kits, allows a podcaster to record with or without a laptop computer. The H4N can store audio signals in an .mp3 (or other format) audio file on an internal storage card, or can pass the audio on as a digital signal via USB to a laptop. Both possibilities are discussed below.

In addition to the below tutorials, the podcasting kit contains the Zoom H4N manual, which provides everything you see here as well as other options.

Basic Operation

On the H4N, menu navigation, option selection, and of course operation is by the provided buttons.

To navigate menus, you will usually use the scroll wheel and "Menu" button located on the H4N's right side. The "Menu" button opens settings menus, as well as provides (prompted on screen) a "back" button. Turn the scroll wheel above the MENU button to scroll through the menus. Press the wheel to make menus selections.

mp3 is a good format for recording podcasts. Here's how to check to make certain the H4N is set to record in mp3:

Microphone Options

The H4N has built in microphones that do a good job of recording. However, the microphones provided in the kit will do a better job of isolating the podcasters' voice, and should be used for maximum quality recording.

If you have plugged in external microphones before powering on the H4N, it should default to using those microphones. If it does not, you can select use of those microphones using the "1" and "2" buttons on the front of the unit.

Using the H4N as an Interface

To use the H4N as a digital audio interface, that connects analog microphones to a laptop PC, do the following:

Connect the H4N to any external microphones you wish to use, external power, and lastly, to your laptop.
If you plugged in the H4N while it is powered off, it may power on by recognizing the USB connection and showing, on-screen, the Interface option. If so, use the side scroll wheel to highlight the AUDIO I/F option, and select the Interface Model. Then, scroll to and select CONNECT
Then, select the USB source (perhaps named H4 or Zoom, etc.) in your DAW.
You should now be able to record audio into your DAW from the microphones, through the H4N. You can plug monitor headphones into the H4N to monitor while recording, but more useful is probably plugging them into your laptop to listen to test clips.