Hiya,

I'm looking at these fangled PCM recorders, with the aim to purchase one for filed recordings, and the Zoom H4n looks very tempting due to the feature set. However, when listening to the noise floor audio example at Wingfieldaudio page for the external condenser Mic input, I can hear a high pitched noise ( no it's not my tinnitus) and I'm wondering if you have noticed this noise on your recordings.

Other recorders have the usual white noise/hum present to a greater or lesser extent, but none I've listened to (Sony, Marantz, Edirol) have that high pitched noise (on top of the white noise).

I'm wondering if perhaps the H4n they used for resting was faulty. I don't know. As a user what do you say? What is your experience? Many thanks for your feedback.

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www.electric-himalaya.com
VST and hardware synth sound design

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I'm wondering if perhaps the H4n they used for resting was faulty

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I meant testing.

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www.electric-himalaya.com
VST and hardware synth sound design

We have a bunch of H4Ns, and it hasn't happened with any of the ones I've used. It does happen with my Blue Mikey though (which Blue promised to repair).

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madtheory creations
Synths and pianos for Kontakt

Have had a Zoom H4N for 3 months and they are the absolute business.
No reports of high pitch noises here.

A/

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I love my Zoom H4N too!

Had mine for one year now and experienced no such problems! Just crystal clear recordings everytime!



Sthum..........




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Hi Raph!

Same here - bought mine a few days before Christmas and have since recorded plenty of things (for my forthcoming Alchemy sound library).

No nasty background noises at all!


Martin

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YewTreeMagic

Thanks friends, that's reassuring to know. Perhaps they did use a faulty unit then. However, one user reports that, quote "when you record with one XLR input, the right channel (which should only have plain noise) has that high pitch tone" end quote. Is this something you can confirm? I suppose this noise would not be audible during a recorded passage, so you'd need to check for it in silent moments, in between the recorded stuff.

Quote Martin Walker:

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Hi Raph!
Same here - bought mine a few days before Christmas and have since recorded plenty of things (for my forthcoming Alchemy sound library).

No nasty background noises at all!
Martin

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Bought it before Xmas, didn't wait for Santa?
Have you used it with both, the internal and external (condenser) mics? I'm hoping to use my Rode NT5 matched pair with whatever recorder I buy.

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my forthcoming Alchemy sound library

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Excellente!

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www.electric-himalaya.com
VST and hardware synth sound design

I also have one of these wonderful doohickeys.

Never used it with an external mic, but the internal ones definitely don't exhibit any kind of whine. . .

Unless my housemate is in the room. . .

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Composer;
www.ogonline.org

I actually do know exactly what your refuring too. the first H4n I owned was always a little flakey when powering mics via phantom power, the input woulc click in & out if not held correctly (problumatic when operating a boom pole) just under 18 months after getting the H4n, the units abuility to deliver phantom power failed altoegther, of which all recordings made with this on, incurred the hi-frequency pitch you refure too (slightly problumatic when attempting to run an Rode NTG3)

seems my unit was actually faulty. I've since replaced it & the newer one has not suffered from the same symptoms.

hopefully this thread post will be logged by google so the fault is refurable for other users.

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visit www.stoltz.co.uk now

Quote himalaya:

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Thanks friends, that's reassuring to know. Perhaps they did use a faulty unit then. However, one user reports that, quote "when you record with one XLR input, the right channel (which should only have plain noise) has that high pitch tone" end quote. Is this something you can confirm? I suppose this noise would not be audible during a recorded passage, so you'd need to check for it in silent moments, in between the recorded stuff.

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as mentioned above, I had the same fault, tho mine occured on the left XLR channel, sounds like radio-interference tuning in & out, progressed on to savere clicking as the phantom power snaped in & out.

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visit www.stoltz.co.uk now

Excellent info, Simple, thanks very much.

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www.electric-himalaya.com
VST and hardware synth sound design

Quote oggyb:

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but the internal ones definitely don't exhibit any kind of whine. . .

Unless my housemate is in the room. . .

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Housemate? Normally it's the wife who gets the blame....

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www.electric-himalaya.com
VST and hardware synth sound design

Quote himalaya:

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Quote Martin Walker:

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Hi Raph!
Same here - bought mine a few days before Christmas and have since recorded plenty of things (for my forthcoming Alchemy sound library).

No nasty background noises at all!
Martin

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Bought it before Xmas, didn't wait for Santa?

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I placed it on my Amazon Wish List in early December,and the next time I looked it had jumped up in price by £10, so I bought it straight away to avoid any more nasty surprises

Quote:

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Have you used it with both, the internal and external (condenser) mics? I'm hoping to use my Rode NT5 matched pair with whatever recorder I buy.

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I've only used the internal ones as yet - I bought it primarily for 'in the field' recording when I wanted to take as little gear as possible. I've also bought a pair of Sennheiser CX300 II ear buds to save me having to pack my HD650's

I've got a nice matched pair of SE3's at my disposal, but use these through my Audient Mico preamp in the studio.

Quote:

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my forthcoming Alchemy sound library

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Excellente!

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Not long to release time now - it's weeks rather than months


Martin

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YewTreeMagic

How are your Sennheiser CX300 II ? I'm looking to get new earphones for exactly the same reason as you did, and have looked them up on Amazon, but there are too many negative reviews stating problems with sound in one earphone (after a few month's use).

I do have to say that the quality of my Sennheiser HD280 Pro's is also questionable with the plastic casing breaking off... So off topic. This shall remain a thread for things that break.

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www.electric-himalaya.com
VST and hardware synth sound design