Zoom H4nPro/UK Handy Recorder

Product Information

Finally, despite the H4n’s limited functionality it is still a tad larger than the H5 which could be important if you’re trying to keep your gear setup light and compact. I would recommend this to anyone looking to make decent recordings on a small, robust and portable device.

Zoom H4n Pro vs H5: A Subtle Improvement - JuicedLink Zoom H4n Pro vs H5: A Subtle Improvement - JuicedLink

And its punch-in and overdubbing capabilities and studio-grade effects turn the Zoom H4n Pro into a veritable handheld multitrack studio. For journalism and podcasting, the Zoom H4n Pro can't be beat, giving you the portability, miking versatility, and professional audio quality you need for impactful storytelling.

Flip from stereo to 4-channel mode, and you can sweeten a board feed with live room ambience in real time. Channel Mode: 4-Channel Mode records with the built-in X/Y mics and two external inputs to capture live room sound and a stereo board feed at the same time. The H4N is justifiably a little pricier than its H‑series predecessors, given the improvements that have been made, but although there's a lot of 'bonus' functionality I can't imagine using, you're not paying a premium for it. This is much more than you can imagine for a small device, that will go Anywhere, as your sole input for recording DI.

H4n Pro Four-Track Audio Recorder | ZOOM H4n Pro Four-Track Audio Recorder | ZOOM

In terms of ergonomics and functionality, then, the H4 has undergone quite a transformation to acquire the extra 'N' (which stands for 'next' — probably my only real gripe! There are a ton of other features on this that I doubt I'll ever use, such as four-track recording and (apparently, but I can't find it) a guitar amp-sim. While the stress of running out of batteries can be avoided by remembering to bring spares, the fact that the H5 gets a 2. Not only does it have a solid look/feel, the size is reasonable, and the resulting sound/recordings are well within my expectations.It means you don't always need to use headphones or external speakers to check things are operating as they should, or to locate a specific track or location within a track. This product is also aimed at a very different market, where it compares very favourably with the competition. Perhaps there is a firmware update out there that I have yet to install, but with other users reporting this issue on the H4n Pro as well as the H5, I will leave this as a word to the wise. The preamps have been upgraded; they're not high-spec by studio standards, but are perfectly adequate for this sort of device. PRO: The ZOOM h4N pro manual is online and free to download and written in real English and plenty of images.

| ZOOM

OUTPUTS | Monitor your performance with headphones or connect to external devices using the stereo 1/8” line output with dedicated volume control. Stereo Mode: Stereo Mode can be used with the built-in X/Y microphones or external mics, and is convenient for recording live performances, acoustic instruments, and more. With onboard X/Y microphones, two combo input jacks, overdubbing, effects, and more, the H4n Pro is packed with features that allows musicians to create songs from start to finish. Like the H4, you can record in different file formats, with a range of MP3 and WAV options, from the cruddiest, media-efficient MP3 to 24-bit, 96kHz WAVs.Other striking visual changes include a slightly clearer screen (the one on the H4 was already pretty good) and a new control layout.

Zoom H4n Pro Black – Thomann UK Zoom H4n Pro Black – Thomann UK

The H4's four‑track mixer enabled you to do basic overdubbing, and to apply effects to your recordings, but despite having two mics and two external inputs, it wasn't capable of simultaneous four‑track recording. As I haven't yet bought a dedicated wind sock I used instead a pair of spongy pop filters that came with a pair of Behringer overhead mics (useless on their own when tested against a fan), and a child's mitten tucked over the mics. The onboard XY microphones capture a stunning stereo image, and two combo input jacks let you use your favorite mics as well. Speaking of SD cards, one of my least favorite things is waiting for my Zoom H5 to format a partially full SD card.Choose from a variety of effects, including EQ, compression, reverb, delay, amp and cab emulators and more. Very pleased with quality of product build which appears to be quite robust and with the results produced. It comes with a protective plastic shell case, which is nicely sized to the device and not overly bulky. With the mics set at 90 degrees (can be twisted to 120 degrees for wider field) it gave great stereo imaging and a sense of space, albeit with an occasionally strange telescoping effect of far away things sounding near. It’s actually quite odd how much better the battery life of the H5 is since they both use 2 AA’s and use the same type of screen.