Zoom H4n - latency?

skiltrip · 25th July 2009

How is the latency on the Zoom H4n when monitoring in multitrack mode and overdubbing another part?

SANDS · 27th November 2009

yeah bump on this topic

I bought the h4 the day it came out and love the thing to death, probably the best product I have bought in years, that thing is certainly "handy"

I use it for field recording, practice, tracking, fx etc...

the thing is awesome for it's price and size.

My only problem is when using it as an interface the drivers end up crapping out after high track counts and the latency isn't that great, the update they put out a year ago or so was great, but it didn't help the latency side of things.

If this thing has better drivers please let me know, because I want it.

aortizjr · 28th November 2009

In multi-track mode (MTR, and not as an interface) I haven't really noticed any latency. It is probably about the same as any amp modeler if you are using the built-in FX.

I easily detect any latency above 5ms. So it must be less than that.

I mean I wouldn't do an album with it or anything. But laying down song ideas in layers has been just fine. The interface is a little bit cumbersome to mix on. But again, just fine for laying down ideas.

SANDS · 28th November 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by aortizjr

In multi-track mode (MTR, and not as an interface) I haven't really noticed any latency. It is probably about the same as any amp modeler if you are using the built-in FX.

I easily detect any latency above 5ms. So it must be less than that.

I mean I wouldn't do an album with it or anything. But laying down song ideas in layers has been just fine. The interface is a little bit cumbersome to mix on. But again, just fine for laying down ideas.

Yeah, I use my old h4 for writing, which is great, but I would love to plug it in as an actual interface to my laptop. It works but it's not great, if the asio drivers were a bit better I could lose my additional interface that I have to lug around with my laptop. Just wondering if the drivers have gotten any better since the original h4.

carayo · 28th January 2010

Hi:
I also Looove my H4. It´s the best inversion I ever made.
I have the same issue when using it as interface. Huge latency, plus I get a distorted sound.
It also sucks that you can´t use it as a microphone (or can you?). I mean, plug it into an interface and use the mics. I have a couple of decent mics (modded Oktava and a Newmann) and I prefer the way the H4 sounds when recording acoustic guitars.

It´s a shame not being able to use it as an interface because a laptop and the H4 is all I´d need.

skiltrip · 31st March 2010

Just wanted to add that I've tried a few time getting the H4n with my laptop as an interface with Presonus Studio One and Samplitude, and the latency is pretty bad. I can deal with the usual tiny bit of latency you get, but this is too much. I also notice they haven't updated the ASIO drivers for this since 2008. It's actually the same H4 driver I believe. No update since a year and a half ago as far as I can tell.

cartrouble · 1st April 2010

I'm a huge h4n fan. I've had mine for just under a year now and I've recorded at least 30 shows and who knows how many hours of me noodling on the piano. I had high hopes for it doubling as a mobile interface but the latency is too noticeable and inconsistent for practical use in overdubbing parts (both with and without the ASIO driver)

25th July 2009	#1
skiltrip Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2007 Location: New York Posts: 2,425 Thread Starter	Zoom H4n - latency? How is the latency on the Zoom H4n when monitoring in multitrack mode and overdubbing another part? __________________ 2011 MacBook Pro i7 (2.0GHz Quad, 8GB RAM) \| Studio One Pro 2.0.5 (64bit) \| Pro Tools 9.0.6 \| ProFire 610

27th November 2009	#2
SANDS Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO. USA Posts: 630	yeah bump on this topic I bought the h4 the day it came out and love the thing to death, probably the best product I have bought in years, that thing is certainly "handy" I use it for field recording, practice, tracking, fx etc... the thing is awesome for it's price and size. My only problem is when using it as an interface the drivers end up crapping out after high track counts and the latency isn't that great, the update they put out a year ago or so was great, but it didn't help the latency side of things. If this thing has better drivers please let me know, because I want it. __________________ It's just fun. "OH! There's air in my Hi Hat! I like that very much!

1st April 2010	#7
cartrouble Gear Head Joined: Dec 2009 Location: Laramie, Wyoming Posts: 39	great for everything but an audio interface I'm a huge h4n fan. I've had mine for just under a year now and I've recorded at least 30 shows and who knows how many hours of me noodling on the piano. I had high hopes for it doubling as a mobile interface but the latency is too noticeable and inconsistent for practical use in overdubbing parts (both with and without the ASIO driver)

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28th November 2009	#3
aortizjr Gear maniac Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 158	In multi-track mode (MTR, and not as an interface) I haven't really noticed any latency. It is probably about the same as any amp modeler if you are using the built-in FX. I easily detect any latency above 5ms. So it must be less than that. I mean I wouldn't do an album with it or anything. But laying down song ideas in layers has been just fine. The interface is a little bit cumbersome to mix on. But again, just fine for laying down ideas.

28th January 2010	#5
carayo Gear interested Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 26	Hi: I also Looove my H4. It´s the best inversion I ever made. I have the same issue when using it as interface. Huge latency, plus I get a distorted sound. It also sucks that you can´t use it as a microphone (or can you?). I mean, plug it into an interface and use the mics. I have a couple of decent mics (modded Oktava and a Newmann) and I prefer the way the H4 sounds when recording acoustic guitars. It´s a shame not being able to use it as an interface because a laptop and the H4 is all I´d need.

31st March 2010	#6
skiltrip Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2007 Location: New York Posts: 2,425 Thread Starter	Just wanted to add that I've tried a few time getting the H4n with my laptop as an interface with Presonus Studio One and Samplitude, and the latency is pretty bad. I can deal with the usual tiny bit of latency you get, but this is too much. I also notice they haven't updated the ASIO drivers for this since 2008. It's actually the same H4 driver I believe. No update since a year and a half ago as far as I can tell.