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.
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.
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 |
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| Then, select the USB source (perhaps named H4 or Zoom, etc.) in your DAW. |
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| 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. |
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