The Zoom H4n "Handy Recorder" is very versatile. Not only does it function well as a mobile field recorder, it also doubles as a USB computer interface. What's the point of that? Well, since it has built-in condenser mics (and you can also attach external mics via XLR), it's very convenient to record your voice, as I've done across many videos with my Mac.
What's even better is that it has built-in effects which are quite usable. For instance, there's a limiter which prevents digital clipping, and while I wouldn't put it in the same "creamy analogue" class as some of my fave DAW software limiters, it can still protect you from overloads. There's also an amp simulator which can colorize instruments you record, or in my preferred case, my voice. I took some time to tweak that today and came up with an effects setting which has deeper bass and greater presence. No doubt I'll continue to adjust it as I find more room for improvement, but as this video makes clear, it's sounding very broadcast-friendly already.
If you have a Zoom H4n and want to try out the settings, here they are. Keep in mind my male voice is fairly low, so you should adjust to fit yourself (and your environment) better.
- Start the H4n while it's plugged to your computer via USB and connect as AUDIO I/F. (I presume you've done this before; if not, consult the manual.)
- Press MENU button.
- Select EFFECT (click the wheel).
- Go to a blank effect (like No.50) and click EDIT.
On EDIT:EMPTY screen, edit each of these sections:
PRE AMP EDIT
- OFF/ON: ON
- TYPE: AG MPRE (short for Acoustic Guitar mic preamp, I find it sounds thicker than the VOX MPRE which is supposedly for vocals)
- COMP: 1
- DE-ESSER: OFF
- LOW CUT: OFF
- BASS: 0dB
- MIDDLE: 0dB
- TREBLE: 3dB (boost of sharpness — note this isn't in the video I did above, I changed it after, it's subtle)
- LEVEL: 80 (I find going higher starts to result in unpleasant distortion)
- ZNR: 3 (raise this to reduce noise in noisy surroundings, like a computer with a loud fan)
EFX
- OFF/ON: ON
- TYPE: LIMITER
- THRSHOLD: 10
- RATIO: 7
- RELEASE: 10
- LEVEL: 90 (I'm experimenting with this; if I notice too much distortion I'll drop back to 80.)
LEVEL: 80
Then…
- Choose RENAME from the EDIT:EMPTY screen and give your setup a fitting title, like "AWESOME".
I named mine "LIMIT3" for the time being, after an earlier revision. - Make sure to click STORE and click EXECUTE to save it into No.50 or another empty slot.
- Now try auditioning before/after to compare the difference.
What about using those effects on the road?
Good question! I haven't yet checked this in-depth, but I know the H4n has a somewhat different effects config when it's acting as a truly mobile recorder, so try adapting the above if you're on the go and want to record with such effects.
I find setting up these effects is a great timesaver…
so I sound pro voiceover-ready directly into the computer, and I don't have to mess around with an app's audio tools. (Nor does Screenflow, the most common prog I record Mac videos into, have such a way to do this.) And of course, if you plug your H4n into another computer, you can also access these same settings, making it even more convenient.
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