Quote:
Originally Posted by Chippy569  I know this thread is old as dirt, so sorry about the thread bump, but I have a question about your findings. On the Zoom, with the harmonic distortion tests, they were all done with the 1/4 TRS input. Is the XLR input different? I'm curious as you switched from one test to the other. |
The problem with this unit is that it doesn't have "Balanced Line Inputs" or any Line Inputs at all.
It has 2 Balanced Mic inputs or 2 Unbalanced Instrument Level Inputs, both are really different than Balanced Line Level, that is a much stronger signal.
I'm a FOH Engineer and bought this unit so I could record the mix straight from the mixing desk line outputs and a stereo Ambience of the track with the built in microphones, this is a really good way of recording a straight up stereo mix of the gig.
Because you have the definition of the desk mix and the ambience and lively sound of the venue(more bass also) into 4 separate tracks, that you can after mix together as you wish.
The problem with this unit is that I can't connect a desk output to it , because outputs are line level, and doesn't matter how low the preamp input is or the desk output level is, it always distorts.
The Built in Ambience Mics distort also by themselves easily at a gig, the distortions is not from the recording levels but from the mics it self.
Solutions:
- Using a Line Level to Mic Level PAD (40dbs) attenuator to connect between the Mixing desk outputs and the XLR Mic inputs of the Zoom
I will try this one next, hope this will solve the problem
- Built in mics, Don't know if the foam/wind-shield zoom made for this recorder will help in preventing the mic capsules from moving too much and distorting.
Will Try this one also
Bypassing this microphones unfortunately is only possible using the mini jack/unbalanced mic inputs, that is made for mini disk stereo type microphones,
so another solution could be to use a good Minidisk microphone to see if it stands better and doesn't distort, but anyway I dont know if there are any minikis stereo microphones that are better than the Zoom's built in ones, probabaly none of them are any good.
Overall I have to say I'm a bit disappointed, and as I already carry my laptop to the gigs, I think if it was today I would by for half the Zoom's cost an external USB sound-card with 4 inputs and record the gigs for the laptop hard drive with Protools or Nuendo, just had to make sure I would take also 2 SD condenser mics for the Stereo Ambience.
The quality level would be much higher for a lower price.