Still a useful video. In summary: Input level

@curtisjudd

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Simon. Wow, you dug up an oldie.

@simon_patterson

6 жыл бұрын

Curtis Judd my Zoom H1 just arrived, and this video has instantly become useful to me! Thanks again.

@factsverse9957

5 жыл бұрын

I always keep my Zoom H1 at 37. I increase it to 55 if necessary.

@factsverse9957

5 жыл бұрын

For using microphone inputs, the level should be 16 with no amplification.

@FunWithGuns

5 жыл бұрын

I just got one today. I havent used it but a few minutes and noticed feedback at 36 through the headphones.

Love the short attention span bit! 👏

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

👍

@Stefan-ps6tl

3 жыл бұрын

The what ?

I love the short answer at the beginning of the video. "Viewer dismissed" hahaha way more tutorials should do this. All in all, great video!

@curtisjudd

8 жыл бұрын

+ThreeDotNaught Thanks! That was in response to some people complaining that some of the episodes were getting too long. :)

Thanks for this vid. Very helpful. I have the H1 and never knew quite what to set it at. Cheers!

Curtis, thanks for doing this! Very informative!

I've watched quite a few of videos on video and audio and I find myself stuck on yours a lot. You're a very good teacher and I like how you cover low to high-end products in the same level of detail. Loved this video and the one where you talked about the Samson CO2 mics which are an unbelievable deal. Thank you for your time and help.

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Felisha!

Hi Curtis. First of all, a huge THANK YOU for your fantastic videos. They are truly superb and I always look forward to the next one. You really have guided me in a big way concerning the improvements that can be made to my home videos. With regards to sound, I have fairly recently discovered the delights of way better sound on video since getting a camera with an input and then it wasn't long before I moved on to the Tascam DR 05 and Zoom H1 and followed your microphone tips. Noise remains the biggest issue for me over the actual quality of spoken sound if I'm honest. In home videos, I don't mind 'room, sounds etc but I don't like hiss at all. One method that I have used in quieter moments with my files is to actually record quite loud, but in post, reduce and widen the dynamic envelope to follow the voice sounds much more accurately than auto levels would do. Then I can reduce noise levels enormously when nothing is being said so that for all intents and purposes, noise becomes virtually invisible. It is the quieter moments that are difficult to capture without noise and the decision to raise the input gain or keep it at say, 50 is difficult to hear in the final result. Certainly using my 'changing the envelope' to suit the sound makes it virtually impossible to tell. It's just that if post processing is going to be necessary in either case, the louder settings are then not as bad as far as I can tell on a TV screen. Just a workaround in these days of cheaper lav mics etc., which do give out noise and is one of the most common complaints that I see regarding both of these recorders. Thanks to you, I started to use the Rode lav but hiss is still around but thanks to post processing of the sound envelope, I can now manage it pretty well so that it is virtually not there with no sampling of noise and removing it, which I often find alters the quality of the audio quite badly. One day, I'll get a 'posh' mic, but I bet there is still noise!!! ;) Once again, a huge thank you for your help and advice. My videos have taken off since I watched your channel.

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

Good work Ian. Creativity is often born of limitations (in gear).

Thanks for sharing this that is very insightful. I just got a Zoom h1 and started to record aiming for the -12d which required really high input level of 80 and 95 with a lavalier mic, of course I ended up with a LOTS of noise, which I could clean easily clean with audition though. So I started to think about recording a lower level and then normalize and found your video ;) confirming what I was thinking without having to do the hard work, thanks ! I tried listening with earplugs what's happens from 36 to 37 input level and it is true there is a click noise and then in my case noise is definitely lower at 37 than 36 (in the earplugs real time), this is weird. Thanks again

Thank you! I just bought one of these so this is very timely for me.

Hi Curtis, just a huge thanks for your vids, purchased 4 sets of Zoom H1s & Mic-J 044s for this seasons work, the setup is awesome, thanks for saving me a lot of wasted time & money, Kind Regards

@curtisjudd

9 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@veegee1974

7 жыл бұрын

Me too, exact same thing. Thanks CJ!

The signal noise on this little device has been driving me nuts for years. So hearing more info about it in a video like this is very helpful for me, understanding better how it works. Thanks!

@curtisjudd

2 жыл бұрын

Happy recording!

Who would give Curtis a dislike? He's like the audio guru of all youtubers geez.

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

21 people at the time of this comment. It's ok, in some cases it helps me improve. In others, they're just unhappy people. Maybe some day they'll make a better video than this. :)

@BiswasArt

Ай бұрын

@@curtisjudd 2024 and still finding this video really helpful.....dislike is up to 52 sad peoples now....still 1.2k like your video so lets dismiss them

Very helpful video. I watched the whole thing but loved the attention span idea. Wish more people would have that in their videos for when we just want a quick answer. Thank you!

@curtisjudd

6 жыл бұрын

👍

Great info thanks Curtis Judd

Very much appreciate the first part!

fantastic. totally what I needed.

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

Glad it helped. Good luck on your recordings!

Really helpful and thanks for the advice. I just got a rodelink wireless kit and a rode videomic pro. I'm thinking of using my h1 as a preamplifier on this whole setup. What do you suggest? Thanks!

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

I would definitely encourage you to experiment with the H1 as the recorder for either the VMP or the RODELink. Also test your camera and see which one produces better sound. Always trust your ears! Good luck!

hi, i am a big fans of your channel, i watched almost all of them. now i am using h1n now and i just order myself a laver mic from HMN but one thing i am facing now is, i am recording only with h1n without any mic i am recording at wav 48/24 , input level 40 . i still can hear the noise when i didnt talk. is there any solution?

@curtisjudd

9 жыл бұрын

Hi Tunway, The built in mics pick up a pretty wide area so that is one factor. Also a lavalier will help a little to remove noise because it will be attached to a person and the person's body with block/absorb some of the sound from behind. But from there, it is also important to find a relatively quiet place to record. Sometimes I even hang blankets on walls to help absorb sound and prevent echos. I hope that helps.

Enjoy your videos Curtis, thank you for the efforts you put into them. As a newbie, it occurs to me that using the H1 with a lav replaces then need for a wireless lav (though perhaps with some sync issues if too far from the camera mic to pick up the clap). Am I mistaken in this, because it is a lot less expensive to go the H1 + Giant Squid, than a Sennheiser wireless setup. Would appreciate your input. Thanks again.

@curtisjudd

10 жыл бұрын

That's exactly what I do. Not only is it less expensive to go this route, it also avoids some of the issues that sometimes arise with wireless systems including interference. Wireless systems also require more batteries. Someday when I have the budget I'll get a good quality wireless system, but for now this is working fine for me.

Hi Curtis! Really helpful as always... Please let us know which app you use on your iPhone to generate "pink" noise.

@curtisjudd

10 жыл бұрын

Hi Stephen--thanks! The app is called "Sleep and Noise Sounds". I don't necessarily recommend it but used it because it was free and the other more professional apps were pretty pricey.

I use the Mic J 044 plugged into a Zoom H1. What will give me a more noticeable improvement in sound quality, upgrading the zoom h1 or the lav mic itself? Which recorder do you recommend? And what are your favourite higher end lav mics for dialogue? Thanks!

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

Hi, I think the biggest upgrade would be the microphone. The Sanken COS-11D is good and I also like the Countryman B6: kzread.info/dash/bejne/fpxl07iocszLhqw.html And you can find the Sanken here: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/606469-REG/Sanken_COS_11D_PT_BK_EW_COS_11XPT_Omnidirectional_Lavalier_Microphone.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/SAC11WNSETRB/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xSAC11WNSETRB

@vegetablepolice

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks, I'll check them out! Is it worth upgrading the zoom h1 at all if using a lav mic? Would the h5 do anything?

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

The H5 will be a much larger piece of kit to hold or stick in a pocket and unless you plan to use XLR microphones, doesn't buy you anything with 3.5mm lavalier microphones. Best wishes!

@vegetablepolice

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much!

@Music-Matters

7 жыл бұрын

I actually have the same question which doesn't seem to have been answered clearly. When choosing between the Zoom H1 and possibly another recorder as well as choosing an external lav mic, which factors go into determining the way to get the best possible sound? First, if using a lav mic, does the recorder even matter as much at that point? For example, if you get a top of the line lav mic, will you get essentially the same sound regardless of the actual recorder? Or does the recorder still make a very big difference in this equation? Second, with all things being equal, which recorder/lav mic is likely to produce the best sound ... particularly when recording music? In doing my research, I've had difficulty determining what to spend my money on to really find the most improvement. Thanks!

Really helpful video buddy! It would be great if someone did something similar with the new H6 too! ; D

Thank you, this was great!

@curtisjudd

10 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

for my input level I use 66. it would be very grate if you can make a tutorial on how to use H1 and adobe Audition.

This is a very interesting video. I wish I knew how to use Audition so that I could've done this myself, but you explained it very well. I'm just concerned that my lower input lav mics won't sound good if I were to record at 40 and normalize to -6 in post. I generally don't like boosting the levels in post and try to get the most "normalized" sound when I record directly.

@curtisjudd

10 жыл бұрын

That was definitely my thinking as well and I think it depends on recording at 24 bit where normalizing a low-level signal is not much of an issue vs normalizing a 16 bit signal.

@randomgeocacher

10 жыл бұрын

Yup with 24bit PCM you have so much more levels than the the export needs to be (a perfect CD mastering at 16bit PCM is beyond many peoples ability to distinguish from reality, and with 24bit we got 256 times more digital information. Audition default converts file to 32bits floats when working internally which is extremely useful - you don't really loose much information by changing the amplification. 32bit float is probably not a random choice either - it has 24bit precision and 8bit exponent. So anything up to 24bit PCM can be perfectly represented with this scheme. And that's a very forgiving format. In Audition you can peak (have signals above 0db) and then de-amplify or hard limit to get below 0db again. That's why 32bit floats are awesome for working with sound. I haven't tested but the opposite should work too, de-amplify like crazy (-50db or so) and you still ought to be able to amplify it back up without noticeable loss. Very very useful to be working with 32bit floats instead of integers :) just remember that when you save to a PCM file, it is probably using integer maths, so peaking or close to zero => data loss because the output file cannot represent the 32bit float signal you got internally in Audition. So never hit save if you derped the levels completely (fairly obvious I guess) :)

I use 8 zoom H1 and 8 mics for my acoustic outdoor sessions ... the top level I found is between 25 and 35 (mics = Sennheiser ME-2)

@curtisjudd

10 жыл бұрын

Thanks--helpful to know this!

Thanks for the video. I just got an H1 a week ago. Found a new red one on sell for $72 after tax... seemed like a good deal. Anyway, I'm new to all of this and have been trying to figure it all out. My first tests were way up in the 80s. Yeah, definitely tons of hiss and stuff. You could hear things a mile away though...lol. My best recording so far was at 63. It came out perfect. Until I seen your video, I hadn't even considered doing any below 60. I feared it wouldn't be loud enough. I'll have to try a few down in the 40 and 50 range and see how it goes. Thanks for giving me at least a clue on how to fiddle around with this thing.

@curtisjudd

8 жыл бұрын

+101perspective Thanks! Definitely good to experiment. I've found it depends on the microphone as well. Some of them actually do better with the Zoom up in the 60 or 70 range in the end.

Heard a reduction in noise from 36-37 on mine too. Perhaps once you go below 37, then gain of the preamp is turned up thus raising the noise floor with it.

@curtisjudd

8 жыл бұрын

Yes, something going on there.

@MakarkinPRO

6 жыл бұрын

For myself recording in quite room I need record for 40 input level or 36 for best quality?

Curtis, I hope you take notice and can answer my question - it may or may not be off topic from this video. You see, I am planning on buying a lavalier mic after seeing some of your videos, but I am going to be recording through a voice recorder (much like your Zoom) in my backpack. My question is, do you think a lavalier mic would grant any audio/clarity benefits if it is enclosed together with the voice recorder? I know that having the voice recorder and mic inside a backpack is not very good for the quality, but that's where I need to have it for certain reasons. I ask this because it seems to me most lavalier mics get their benefit because they can be clipped close to the mouth, so I wonder if they grant any benefits at all if they are together with the voice recorder. Furthermore, I would greatly appreciate your recommendation on which kind of mic I can use to improve the clarity while recording through my pack. Thank you in advance!

@curtisjudd

10 жыл бұрын

It depends on whether your recorder uses omni-directional or cardioid mics. If it uses cardioid or direction mics, you might find a tiny improvement with an omni direction lav, but otherwise, not much difference. Can you mount a lav under your shirt? That would likely improve your dialogue.

@Darkhearted84

10 жыл бұрын

Curtis Judd Thank you! It is the Sony AX412, I think it uses omni-directional mics. I can't have the lav mic under my shirt, needs to be in the backpack as well. I guess that answers my question, thanks again.

god bless you video resolution is amazing i have a lot of problem when i upload my video they lose a lot of quality , any tip how you compress your video or how you upload thank you

@curtisjudd

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Felix. Which video editing app do you use? If premiere, here are some tips: kzread.info/dash/bejne/aIOmuNFsqsK1nLA.html

Excellent Tutorial.

@curtisjudd

8 жыл бұрын

+Allan Thompson Thanks.

Hi Curtis, very impressed with your videos, thanks a lot for sharing! I am using the combo of Zoom H1 and ATR3350. What I notice is that I need to put the input level on the Zoom up to 80 to get sufficiently loud sound. However this creates significant hissing (when I record into the H1 directly I can keep the level on 60 and there is a lot less hissing) So my question is: how can I get loud crisp sound without hissing? Should I record with a lower input level and push up the volume in post production somehow? I haven´t normalized the sound yet (just about to go check out your video on this topic). And should I get rid of the hissing with noise reduction or some other tool? I am using Audacity - Thanks a lot for your help!

@curtisjudd

6 жыл бұрын

Hi Stan, yes, I usually run the input gain a little lower for two reasons: 1) to avoid excessive self-noise (hissing) and 2) to leave plenty of headroom in case the person talking suddenly gets much louder. Then in post I normalize to a loudness standard (-16 LUFS stereo if going to web, -23 for European broadcast, -24 for US broadcast). I try to avoid noise reduction as it can degrade the quality of the audio, but if you must do some, here is a tutorial using Audacity: kzread.info/dash/bejne/qKB-tbaapqy_Y84.html Best wishes!

@StanCerulus

6 жыл бұрын

Curtis Judd Ok, so I will run an experiment, recording with input level 40 and 60 and then seeing if I can push up loudness in post and trying to avoid noise reduction. As I am using Audacity, I will follow the tips in your Louder Dialogue with Audicity video. Thanks for your fantastic content!

Interesting, Curtis, thanks for posting this -- it's a great topic. For video narration, I've been setting the Zoom H1 to 55, with a Giant Squid or sometimes Rode SmartLav+ (with adapter), then normalizing to -3 afterward, which I thought worked pretty well. But now I find you're right, taking it down to 40 helps prevent a bit of distortion. I do find 37 too low, at least when normalizing with Audacity, but maybe you can get away with it better using Audition.

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Dan. I agree, 37 is generally not enough for most mics.

Curtis, great videos! How do you achieve the black background?

@curtisjudd

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Leonard! Here's an old piece on the black background look: kzread.info/dash/bejne/la17yMaYccvVlrg.html Best wishes!

Excellent thanks

Hi Curtis. You get impressive sound out of this equipment. Did you use a denoiser after the normalize process?. Thanks.

@curtisjudd

9 жыл бұрын

Hi Alejandro, no denoiser used in this case, just normalize. That's the amazing thing about this little Zoom H1--not bad at all.

@jdogmcnasty1980

8 жыл бұрын

+Curtis Judd i agree! I just picked up one and used it for the 1st time last night. I imported my audio into Audacity gave it a quick denoise and normalize and exported it. Probably could've gotten away w/o the denoise. Best $100 ive spent in a while

“Aim for 40-60 , once you bring in normalize to -6 dB” We had a Zoom H2 in a youth workshop used with the internal mic of the Zoom. So I it was very silent in its recording level and subjective loudness. I just thought that the input level has to be much hotter. I am not so audio skilled yet, but trying to learn regularly new stuff also through your videos and material. I am very grateful for all the stuff and help you offers for audio lovers - Thank you. What I asked myself when you talk about the input level you mean the gain/trim is set at 60-40dB or that the average volume is set to 40-60dB? I also will read on this myself, but sometimes as a soundie-noobie I get confused with terminology.

@curtisjudd

2 жыл бұрын

In this case, I meant an input setting of 40 - 60 (not dB). Thanks!

Thank you

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

Thanks Curtis. So the fact you are pointing out is that SNR is not a constant through the different recording levels. There is a sort of a "sweet point" and that, if the recording is 24 bits, there is not going to be any noise added in post through the normalize process, did i understand correctly? and, do those SNR variations happen only with this model or with any other recorder you have tested?.

@curtisjudd

9 жыл бұрын

Thanks Alejandro, the noise floor will rise up when normalizing, even when recording at 24 bit, but since the SNR is greater when the input level is set to 40, it isn't as pronounced. It works well enough that I do not find myself doing any sort of noise reduction in post.

@alexbormanbou

9 жыл бұрын

Curtis Judd Thank you Curtis for your explanations. Great channel you have built up. Congrats.

good stuff Curtis, thanks

@curtisjudd

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks

@HealthRenegade

6 жыл бұрын

if you fancy critiquing my channel, do let me know!

@curtisjudd

6 жыл бұрын

Hi Simon, your newest videos are sounding good and you're a natural at presenting. Keep up the good work!

@HealthRenegade

6 жыл бұрын

Curtis Judd thanks pal! That's very motivating:)

Thanks for a very informative video. I am considering buying a H1mb, but wanted to know a little more about its mic/line input. Namely, if I plug a stereo mic (a battery powered Audiotechnica 822 condenser) into the H1 input, does the H1 automatically record the incoming signal faithfully in stereo? (To connect the 822, I use a cable with a female XLR at one end for the mic, and stereo mini-phono plug on the other end to enter the machine). And what happens if I use a battery-powered condenser MONO mic where the input cable now replicates a regular balanced mic input? Does the machine now automatically read the input as mono and, instead of recording stereo, record a duplicate mono input on each of the two tracks? Finally, is the input system of the H1mb model any different/improved from the input of the H1? Thanks upfront for any info.

@curtisjudd

8 жыл бұрын

+dovis miller It is my understanding that the H1mb does not differ from the original H1 in terms of operation, functionality, or internal components. The case color is just matte black. In my experience the H1 always records a stereo track and if your microphone feeds a mono signal, it will record the signal to the left channel and leave the right channel empty so you will need to remove the right channel in post. If you feed it a stereo signal via a TRS 3.5mm plug, it will record the two channels faithfully to left and right.

Have you tried to plug in your zoom h1 into your dslr to use as an external mic for your camera? I've seen your video a half dozen times and each time I get something new out of it. I just picked up a zoom h1 and used it on my canon 5dM3. I turned down the pre-amp on my camera to one click above completely off and adjusted the audio levels on the zoom to fall between 6 and 12 db. Just curious if you've done any tests with the Zoom like that.

@curtisjudd

9 жыл бұрын

Hey Bobby, I tried with another recorder, the Tascam DR100mkII and that works decently. Now I have a Tascam DR60D and it works really well with that camera though I must admit, I usually just record with the Tascam and then sync it in post. Here's the episode from a while back where we did this with the Tascam DR100: kzread.info/dash/bejne/rIaVyqlyopq9nag.html

Hey Curtis, Awesome videos I had a question about field recordings with the H1. I've heard some great recordings of Birds, Leaves falling, nature sounds etc with the H1. that seem to have come out with minimal white noise. Unlike mine, I know there could be a possibility they processed their recordings in a DAW or had a separate line in possibly but would you say the 40 - 60 input range would be good for field recordings of those caliber? and you wouldn't recommend the H1 for recording foley right? sorry for the noob questions

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

Hi Vaughn, There is a good possibility that the other recordings were processed with noise reduction processing plugins. Yes, I would probably go for an input level somewhere in between 40 and 60 in most cases. You might also try the Lo Cut switch on the back to help manage the hiss/white noise. Usually foley is recorded in mono. You could use the H1 and just drop the left channel in post. It is actually a decent recorder to start with and I think it would be ok for foley if one didn't have the budget for a shotgun microphone. I hope that helps and good luck!

@vaughnrussillo7516

7 жыл бұрын

Awesome thanks for the speedy reply!

Hey Curtis, what device WOULD you recommend to record a concert like you were discussing at about minute 6:00? We're planning to record a live show at a local pub in the next month or so. (Boise, ID) Would you risk running a wireless unit into camera? I've got a C200. As of now, the only audio recorder I have access to is a Zoom H1. However, if you can recommend something, I am looking to purchase something of higher quality. (not crazy... think mid to higher level)

@curtisjudd

6 жыл бұрын

And ideal setup would be a microphone with a 10dB pad and a preamp that has a wide range of gain/input level settings (that are actual gain settings - I assume this is the case on the C200). What is the lowest gain setting on the C200 (not just 1 out of 10 but may have to look at the camera specs to see how many dB of gain is applied at lowest setting)? As for microphones, the RODE NT55 is worth a look. It has a pad that reduces the sensitivity of the mic by 10 or 20 dB so you've got a good range of protection to work with. I'm assuming that the concert you will be recording will be something like a hip hop or rock band and very loud? RODE NT55: amzn.to/2IUIbNS

@mfmg1000

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the reply, Curtis. I've got a Sennheiser MKE600, but wasn't planning on using the mic to record the "show". I was looking at plugging into the sound board with a wireless transmitter and putting that into the camera from the wireless receiver... or purchasing an audio recorder that can operate at settings low enough. Do you know of a recorder that is capable of what you're describing? I will check the C200 manual and see if I can find anything. (to be honest, the manuals kinda stink, but hopefully I can figure it out) I will be needing a higher quality recorder eventually, but this isn't for a paid gig, (personal project) so if I can figure out a work-around, that might be nice. Thanks again, love your videos. I am going to purchase your dialogue courses.

@curtisjudd

6 жыл бұрын

Ah, ok, you might just want to have an in-line pad and then you can send the signal from the board wirelessly or to any recorder without fear of overloading the recorder. I've run into many situations where the line level signal coming out of the board is so hot that it was impossible to record without a pad. Fortunately they're not terribly expensive: bhpho.to/2HDaNvq You will want to make sure you can get an XLR line level feed from the board. In some cases they have 1/4" TRS outputs instead of XLR in which case you'll also need an adapter or adapter cable something like this: bhpho.to/2H5vU8E You'll also want to work out with the engineer at the board beforehand if possible so you're sure you have all the right cables/adapters. Good luck!

Thanks for this Curtis! Still really useful to noobs like me after all these years. Sorry if this is a dumb question, but is it possible to use the internal mics AND an external lav mic (3.5 mm plug, with its own power) at the same time, and split the tracks later in post? I seem to remember being able to do this on the H5 with XLR mics, but I don't see an option for this in the H1.

@curtisjudd

6 жыл бұрын

Hi Mica, thanks. I don't think there's a way to do this on the H1. Once an external mic is plugged in, the built in mics are disabled.

@micapapa8647

6 жыл бұрын

Curtis Judd Thanks Curtis. That was truly helpful. Love your videos. Cheers from the Philippines!

Ive bought the zoom H1 specifically to record metal concerts, with the on board mics. I have not tested it yet in this environment. I have verified the information of the sound level under 20, and it looks like the level below which it does attenuation is 16 (like zoom claim), and not 20. I verified this with a very simple test: just blow in the mics when you are at level 16, and you will peak, but if you go to level 15, you will not peak (the led will not blink) but you will hear the distortion from peaking. The 36 to 37 click is correct though. Anyway, do you have any tips for how to record in that situation?

@curtisjudd

9 жыл бұрын

Ideally with another recorder but one other option is maybe attach a cardioid lavalier mic? Something with less sensitivity than the onboard mics. Haven't tried that myself but it might be worth a try.

Hi Curtis, I want to record nature sound with the H1. Do you think that the input level of 40dB is still the best average level? Sorry for this question but I'm a beginner with audio and sound and I'm trying to give my nature-/wildlife-videos better sond quality...do you have some recommendations? I have the Zoom H1, Rode VMMicro and Shure VP83....It should be very handy when hiking through nature...Thank you for your help! ;-)

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

Hi Snappy1010, I'd encourage you to experiment. Find a place to record and try a 15 second clip with the input set to 40, then another with the input set to 60, and another with the input set to 80. See what you get and which you prefer. Of course you'll need to watch the meters. If the peaks jump above -12dB, then you'll need to decrease the input level. Good luck and happy recording!

@shb6910

7 жыл бұрын

Hi Curtis. Thank you so much for your response...then I will go outside and make some tests ;-)

@shadyramzy2879

6 жыл бұрын

I was looking at the comments and then willing to ask the exact same question as I also do wildlife/documentary filmmaking but still beginning. So thanks Curtis ! And generally this was the most cohesive and educating video i found about the zoom h1 out there !!

Curtis good tips! i have only 1 question that will be very helpfull if you answer... i already have a expensive Lav mic and good camera. which settings are the best for prank videos with H1 zoom? i need the best settings to get the car sounds and wind away when i chat with people from a distance about 2 meters.

@curtisjudd

9 жыл бұрын

Xasma Tv Try and input level of 60 and see how that goes. Depends on the microphone.

Perhaps that click sound at 37 is some sort of filter being activated to remove the noise floor at the higher frequencies.

@curtisjudd

4 жыл бұрын

Could be.

Very informative video as usual. With good microphones I think you should consider a better recorder anyway. Such as H5/H6 och one from Tascam.Why mess with the recorder if you got expensive camera, tripod and other gear.But the H1 is very good as a complement of course. And you are telling us the best way to use the amplifier! I think the best advice is to hold the level to -12 dB with a lot of headroom for peaks.

@curtisjudd

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Jan.

What should my settings be if I'm singing loudly and close to the mic?

I just bought one of these. What input level would you use for a live band in a small nightclub? Also.....with the live band being so loud, do I have to worry about handling noise? Many thanks for posting this video. Very helpful and informative.

@curtisjudd

8 жыл бұрын

+Tom Kaszuba Thanks Tom, I would experiment adjusting the input level until the peaks are hitting -12dB. Handling noise will still be an issue so you'll want to find a way to mount it to reduce that.

@TomKaszuba

8 жыл бұрын

Many thanks to you Curtis.

Thanks!!

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

Great video.....thanks! I have my Zoom H1 connected to a Canon Vixia HF R72 (mic input from Canon to Line Out on the Zoom) and used it this past weekend to record my band live......I had to bring the Output level on the H1 all the way down to 15 and it was still occasionally hitting the "red line" (camera mic was low at 15-20)......I never thought to touch the input level on the H1 (DUH) but it was up around 50.....I am guessing by pushing that down to 35-40 would have resulted in not having to crank the output all the way down to 15? Just seemed weird that it was that low......video came out great but audio did not sound as full as I would have expected.....thanks!

@joevenezia1822

7 жыл бұрын

....and now I am thinking is it better to have higher Input/lower Output or vice versa?????

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

+Joe Venezia with the H1, I'd put the input at 40 and adjust the output level to work with the camera, watching the camera meters to keep a healthy amount of headroom.

@joevenezia1822

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Curtis.....gonna be trial and error guess and I am sure each room will be different.....

Hi Curtis, would you recommend the same input level settings for the updated H1n recorder? (i.e. set the gain knob to around the 3.5 - 4 mark for the best signal/noise ratio?) Big thanks from Australia!

@curtisjudd

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Robbie, it doesn't seem to work the same way on the H1n. I'd adjust the H1n's gain until the meters top out at about -12dB. Happy recording!

@robbiehaltiner2706

3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd Thanks mate! I should add that I’ll be using the H1n in combination with the VideoMic NTG so I’m assuming it’s best to adjust the Rode’s built in gain while keeping the Zoom’s input level at that low end before the digital attenuation kicks in? Apologies for all the questions!

@curtisjudd

3 жыл бұрын

@@robbiehaltiner2706 Yes, that's right! Happy recording!

Do you recommend the same input level when using just the recorder itself? Because I just bought it and a mic is out of my budget for now.

@curtisjudd

8 жыл бұрын

No, in that case just adjust the input level until the peaks just touch -12dB.

One problem with the Zoom recorders is that the Line in port is NOT line level in it is Mic in. So as Curtis states, recording from a mixing board the output is too hot, it's line level. Line level is x100 times more than Mic level so you need to use an inline attenuator between the line level output of the mixer and the Zoom input. -25 or -40 will bring the level down to a more usable level.

@curtisjudd

5 жыл бұрын

Great point, thanks for that!

Hi Curtis! Great video👍🏽. I've been using the H1 to record my band practices for the past 1 year. Been experimenting with input level of 20-25 but I'm still getting distortion. I appreciate if you could give a recommendation on what microphone to use for one mic band recording.

@curtisjudd

5 жыл бұрын

Hi Omar, The problem with the H1 is that it doesn't work well with loud sound sources as it does not have a pad. Unfortunately, the best thing I think you can do is move it farther away from the band.

@omarmasohood

5 жыл бұрын

I'm sorry I don't quite understand what is a pad? At present that's what I've been doing. Placing it slightly away from the drums coz that's what's distorting it most. But then I'll lose a lot of the guitar amp and vocals. Will the Zoom H2n or the H5 be a better option?

@curtisjudd

5 жыл бұрын

Not really - all of the Zoom recorders will have the same issue. It sounds like the drums are much louder than everything else. A pad attenuates the overall sound pressure levels (usually for live music that is very loud) so that it will not distort when recorded. There are quite a lot of pro level mics with pads, but then you'd also need a separate recorder. Not sure it that is what you had in mind...

@omarmasohood

5 жыл бұрын

Curtis Judd Rode Stereo Videomic Pro + Zoom H1? good idea?

@curtisjudd

5 жыл бұрын

@@omarmasohood The Stereo VideoMic Pro has a 10dB pad. It might work. Placement will still be very important as will be balancing the levels of guitars to drums.

Great video! im New in this, I was wondering if I use the lavalier mic conected in to the zoom h1. Can i get the same audio quality than using only the zoom h1 direct?

@curtisjudd

8 жыл бұрын

Yes, definitely, especially if the lavalier you use is higher quality than the in-built microphones.

Extremely interesting

@curtisjudd

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Great explanation, Can you please tell me connect to connect ZoomH1n and Boya BY M1 lav mic to my smartphone so that I can record Audio and Video in together

@curtisjudd

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Sudhir, it would probably be easier to just connect your microphone to your phone. You will just need a TRS to TRRS adapter if your microphone has a TRS connector.

Hi sir, For H1n recorder, appreciate your inputs whether the audio quality maybe affected in using 1meter or 2meters (longer) length type c to mini usb cable to record directly into smartphone usb port? For realtime audio and video recording. Thanks

@curtisjudd

4 жыл бұрын

No, I haven't had any issues with a USB cable up to 5 meters in length.

Does this video apply with the zoom h1 by itself only, or does it still apply if it's connected to another mic, like my rode videomic pro? I'm wondering if I'm better off keeping my rode videomic at 0db and zoom h1 at 60 input, or if I'd be better off if I turned up my rode videomic to +20db, and decreased my zoom h1 input to 25.

@curtisjudd

2 жыл бұрын

It refers specifically to external microphones attached to the 3.5mm input on the H1. I'd use the additional gain on your mic, yes.

@skatmanscott

2 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd thx for reply! I watched your video "syncing audio and video" 9 years ago when I was 15 :) Sry just a bit confused, so if this video applies to external microphones, attached to the zoom h1 via the 3.5mm input, then doesn't it apply to my rode videomic pro since it's an external microphone attached to my zoom h1's 3.5mm input jack? Because if I turn the gain up on my shotgun mic, I'd have to go against the suggested settings of this video, such as input level 20 - 36 not being ideal. Do you have any videos that go over the difference between increasing input on recorder, vs increasing gain on external microphones for people who pair recorders & mics?

@curtisjudd

2 жыл бұрын

@@skatmanscott Ok, in that case, I'd change the microphone's gain setting to 0 and adjust the Zoom recorder. The most important thing is to NOT use too low a setting on the H1 because it drops into a digital attenuation mode which is bad.

There is a simple test: set the level to 15 and blow into the unprotected mic. There will be now overdrive on the audio file, because of a digital limiter. If you set it to 16, there is overdrive. Oh, and I did some more testing, and I got basically the same amount of noise at 50 and 80, both better than 40

Question, how do you minimize the noise heard when a lav mic rubs against a subject's clothes? Do you normally tape it down?

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

I find it works best when you can mount the mic so that it moves with the clothes instead of rubbing against the clothes. Sometimes this involves sandwiching the mic between to layers with tape on both sides. I find the very best way is to hide the mic in the actor's hair or on the inside of the arm of their glasses (if they're wearing glasses).

Hi Curtis,what is the best bitrate/khz for recording interviews and also if I am connecting to dj mixer line out to record speeches and the music

@curtisjudd

6 жыл бұрын

Hi RAY Light, I usually record at 24 bit, 48kHz for sound for video.

Hey Curtis, do you reckon it would be possible to record on the Zoom H1 using a wireless mic such as the RodeLink Filmmaker Kit? Would the RodeLink sound better than using it through a DSLR camera?

@curtisjudd

9 жыл бұрын

Paolo Massa Yes, I've actually tested that recently and it works great. It is a little better than the camera's pre-amplifier in terms of noise. Here's my RODELink review in case you're interested in that: kzread.info/dash/bejne/dYOCysWOmdyviMo.html

@PaoloMassa85

9 жыл бұрын

Thanks Curtis Judd for your reply.

Thanks - interesting. Do you think the insights from this test could apply to the Zoom H4n?

@curtisjudd

10 жыл бұрын

Possibly--I think that each recorder will be a little different. For the Zoom H1, it is a little surprising to me that the sweet spot is so low.

What about using a rode video mic pro with the zoom h1. Would you set the sensitivity lower on the rode. Say -10db and then crank the gain on the zoom h1 or opposite?

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

I'd run the RODE at 0 and adjust the H1 from there.

I have a question what is the best input level for my Zoom H1 when I want to record me speaking and immediately after that recording very loud "shot sounds" (around 100db) without the sound getting distorted? Should I just use the minimum input setting of 40 you recommend in this video and then adjust the sound accordling in my video editing software? BTW I use the RODE lavalier mic on my Zoom H1 which has a clipping SPL of 110db whatever that means.

@curtisjudd

10 жыл бұрын

Definitely try an input level or 40 but depending on how loud that gun is, it might still clip. Dialogue and gunshots are hugely different in terms of loudness. In movies and broadcast, the gunshots are usually recorded separately either with a different mic at a very different level or as foley--recorded after-the-fact and mixed in during post production.

@majormassenspektrometer

10 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your reply. Today I've tested a few settings with the Zoom H1 and the Rode Lavalier mic and the best for outdoors I've found is to bring the input level to 60 to get a clear voice and for air powered guns this is low enough. The peaks I get will be normalized with Audacity. Now for powder burners I've to figure something out, they are way too loud. I will maybe get an extra recording device and a new mic for louder sounds and mix the audio tracks together. That's the best solution I could figure out after the tips you gave me. Thanks again.

Same click happens with the zoom Q2n 4K when you increase the gain from 5 to 5.5. Has anyone figured out what that is? I found that out doing a similar test right before watching this video (weird!). I didn't have pink noise (what app is good for this?), but I did loudness normalize instead of simple normalizing. I don't know, I feel like that may level out my voice to a constant. In any case, I found that the least noisy setting on the Q2n 4K is 3.

@curtisjudd

2 жыл бұрын

In the case of the H1, it is where the unit appears to apply digital attenuation which is useless in situations where recording loud sound sources.

i dont know much about audio but i use this recorder weekly with different lav's and also my rode videomic and with the mics as close as 6 inches to someones mouth i dont think i can go below 65 anyway.

@curtisjudd

10 жыл бұрын

Yep, that makes sense for getting a strong enough signal without needing to do much normalization in post.

Nice video. How about input level when recording an acoustic guitar with vocals? And at - 12db be okay?

@curtisjudd

8 жыл бұрын

At this point, I'd probably go for seeing the input level until your peaks hit -12dB rather than all the way down at 40.

@markandapps

8 жыл бұрын

I didn't thought of that. Thanks you. God bless.

I'm a little confused and possibly because I haven't got an H1 yet, just doing some background viewing, but you refer to 30, 40 etc. Are these negative dB levels? In which case -40dBm is lower than -30dBm, yet you say higher. Any chance you could explain this please?

@curtisjudd

6 жыл бұрын

Sorry, yes, I mean -40 and -30. -30 is "louder" than -40.

@twotone3070

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks, it would probably have become clearer in my head when I get my birthday present next week. :)

Great video. Question though, I just bought the Zoom H1 and I've gone as far as setting the microphones input to 70, but the playback is still extremely low (can hardly hear it) unless I bring my face up to within an inch away of the microphone; only then is it nice and loud. Unless I was mistaken, I thought the recorder was suppose to able to record well up to three feet away without the need for an external microphone or editing software. The software and external microphone for advanced recording, but not for basic recording. Any thoughts?

@curtisjudd

8 жыл бұрын

+Mike Strasko you can certainly increase the input level to avoid having to do any post editing/normalization. The audio will have slightly more noise but if you need a quicker workflow, increasing the input level is a fine option.

What is your opinion about Zoom H1N/? could I get some advice oh your KZread channel please.Thanks.

@curtisjudd

5 жыл бұрын

Hi tapas, I did a review of the H1n here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/mp1p2peAn5fLebw.html

sir zoom h1 or tascam dr 05 , which one is best or which one can be Nice work for reduced background noise , which one sound best ? please tell me

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

Are you going to use the built-in mics or an external mic via the mic input? The Zoom H1's external input is cleaner than the Tascam's in my experience.

Hey I'm doing Vlogs and I was wondering if I can use the ZOOM h1under my Tshirt too? So that I plug in an external Microfon and put it over or even better under my T-Shirt? What do you think? cheers Sören

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

Sure. It is a little on the big side for hiding under a shirt. I usually hide it in a pants pocket and hide the external mic under the shirt but any that works for you is great! Best wishes!

@Soeren_Lehmann

7 жыл бұрын

Nice! I will have a try. Tanks have a great day

What input level would be best for a mic that is mounted on a car dash to pick up engine audio?

@curtisjudd

6 жыл бұрын

I would start at 40 and confirm that the sound doesn't clip or hit higher than about -10dB on the meters. Good luck!

■ Are these recomendations valid for ZoomH4N? ■ Is there a way to control automatically the sound ( volume) in Zoom H4N? Thanks

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

+MARIO COMEQ hi, no, not valid for the H4n. I do not recommend auto levels as it usually results in very poor recordings.

Hi I want to record a audiobook with 5 people. We (5 persons) are all sitting in front of the one notebook and we are reading the text from the notebook display. Where and in which distance from the notebook and the speakers do you think is the optimal position for the H1 Zoom recorder? The problem is that the housing of the mic is not so stable and we can not give the microphone to the respective person who is talking. This would be the best.. So my idea was to do it behind to the notebook display in the center in a upright position. Would you recommend this or do you recommend a better position? Thank you in advance

@curtisjudd

9 жыл бұрын

Hi John, if the Zoom H1 is what you already have, I think your best bet is to set in on a table between everyone, having each voice talent the same distance (preferable within 2 feet of the mics). It isn't ideal but you might make that work. Best wishes!

@johnlauinger2443

9 жыл бұрын

thnx.

Wonder if the click you heard was the Zoom going to a higher voltage rail for 37 and up. Doubt it, but it does sound suspiciously like that.

@curtisjudd

8 жыл бұрын

Could be. Some say it is digital attenuation below 37 which is virtually useless because the audio can clip in the analogue stage before the attenuation is applied in the digital stage so there's no way to record really loud sound sources. But to be fair, it is an inexpensive recorder in the grand scheme of things.

Old, but gold.

@curtisjudd

4 жыл бұрын

Certified ancient in KZread terms. ;-)

Hmm.... After watching this, I watched close to a dozen clips from concerts here on KZread recorded with the H1 (all rock, and a couple being metal), and there was absolutely no distortion whatsoever. Each had the settings listed below the video- with the input levels and kHz/bit rates varying among them, and some having the 'low cut' on. Some were recorded close to the stage, some about halfway back, and all seemed to be direct from the H1's mics alone, and not with it plugged into the board. Also, earlier I had seen a couple of vids of a metal, as well as a prog band, each rehearsing in small rooms, and again, it sounded fine!

@curtisjudd

9 жыл бұрын

Hey Joe, thanks for the info. Sounds like maybe if recording with the built-in mics, this may be fine for high SPLs. It may have been that the engineer at the board at the show I recorded didn't attenuate the signal coming out the board enough or that the board couldn't do that, or he was just in over his head. I can say that he was fighting feedback through the entire show which may suggest he was just in over his head. In any case, thanks for the info. The H1 could be a fine recorder for concerts if you're using the in-built mics and want to record the sound from the loudspeakers vs. the sound board as long as you stay at or above an input setting of 20.

@JoeSzilagy

9 жыл бұрын

Thanks Curtis. I suppose recording audio straight from the board at a show might work well by hooking up a laptop, iPad, etc., somehow to the stereo line out, and using recording software, or plugging in a dedicated little multitrack from Boss or Tascam, etc. I know the other little hand-held Zoom and Tascam mics have some multitrack capabilities, but I'd rather see the bigger screens on the bigger machines!

@curtisjudd

9 жыл бұрын

JoeSzilagy Same here! Do you do concert recording? I'm new at it and find it pretty tough to get great recordings.

@JoeSzilagy

9 жыл бұрын

On February 7th I'll be recording some friends who are in a well-known Canadian band called SAGA (there are plenty of their music videos and ones people have made 'live' on KZread), and it will be the first time using the Zoom H1. They have professional live concert videos too, but this will be for fun, and to see how it works. I'm a musician too, so in the past sometimes we'd play in clubs and hook up a recorder of some sort directly to the board which worked well. But all my past video recordings of friend's bands (with mics in the camera) from a Sony RX100, Canon SX50, etc., all came out distorted. I had to finally get a mic like this which I'll use with my Lumix LX100 which is the best camera I've ever owned (out of at least a half dozen), including a Canon DSLR.

@curtisjudd

9 жыл бұрын

JoeSzilagy Very good. Best wishes on recording the show and please let us know how it goes with the H1!

i couldnt understand you very well. is better 24bits or 16bit to avoid noise? volume in 37?

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

24 bit. Input level should be 37 or higher, do not go below 37.

@thalisvalle_

7 жыл бұрын

thanks! the best value is 60 for volume? i will use a sony ecm-cs3

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

+Thalis Valle haven't tested the Sony and depends on how loudly the speaker speaks. 60 is a good starting point and I would aim for the peaks to hit -18 to -12 on the meters.

@thalisvalle_

7 жыл бұрын

thanks!

I don't know why but when I plug a lavalier mic on my zoom h1, I only have the "left audio". Is that normal ?

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

+Uramichi yes, this is the case for many lav mics.

I'm confused..my Zoom H1n goes to -48 as lowest level. What exactly are you talking about as "60 input level"?

@curtisjudd

4 жыл бұрын

When you change the input level with the rocker switch on the side, the screen will display the input level setting.

I've just bought a zoom h1 and I was wondering for film making with a boom mic (Opteka) what settings are best for the zoom recorder? Subbed you

@curtisjudd

9 жыл бұрын

Hi Paul, experiment between 40 and 60 on the Zoom H1 with the goal of getting the peaks to around -12dB.

@TheZomboni86

9 жыл бұрын

Thanks Curtis!

@curtisjudd

9 жыл бұрын

paul logan One other note, in post processing, you may find the following helpful to loudness normalize the audio: kzread.info/dash/bejne/iJeBsaSrlMWul84.html

@TheZomboni86

9 жыл бұрын

Curtis Judd Thanks again I'll look into that, I'm currently using audacity due to it being free.. I assume that can do what is needed for good audio?

@curtisjudd

9 жыл бұрын

paul logan You can do a lot with Audacity and it is a great place to start. It will handle compression and normalization, probably the most important items. There are plenty of things it does not do, but don't let that slow you down. Learn to compress and normalize with Audacity and if in the future you find you're ready to move up to an app that can loudness normalize, then you can make that move later. Best wishes!

Hello Curtis. Do you know how is possible disable the screen light?

@curtisjudd

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Walter, I don't know if there is a way to force it, but on my H1, the backlight just turns itself off about a minute after the last button or switch is touched.

@Walterconv

Жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd Thanks.

Can you do this same test for the Tascam Dr-05? Would like to know the Optimal Input level for the DR-05.

@curtisjudd

8 жыл бұрын

+Rocketcitymadman Will do, it's in my queue. Thanks!

@heylawnguy

8 жыл бұрын

+Curtis Judd I will second that request to have you do the same video about "the optimal input level" done with the Tascam DR-05 instead. Please and thank you. I just purchased the JK Mic-j 044 lav mic based on your review video of it, but am trying to figure out what the best settings are on the tascam to record "talking head" type dialogue for videos.

@curtisjudd

8 жыл бұрын

+heylawnguy Ok. Let me ask: is there a particular problem you're running into with that combination (Tascam and JK MicJ)?

@heylawnguy

8 жыл бұрын

No particular problem. I'm just trying to figure out the best possible sound quality for this combo. That way I will have the cleanest sounding file to start with. I have picked both these items based on the plentiful positive reviews for both. With the Tascam DR-05 I just found it to be a better build quality and offer way more features for less than the cost of the zoom h1. With the mic, I was previously using the atr-3350 directly into the camera, but I kept finding the long cord to be a nuisance. So I started looking for a new inexpensive lav mic with a short cord and no battery pack to deal with. Thats when I started seeing all the positive reviews for the mic-j 044. So essentially I will be using the Tascam and mic-j 044 similar to a wireless mic setup. I have been watching all your videos and they are so helpful. I am using audacity and I have learned so much about how to use noise reduction, and the proper way to normalize by first using compression then EQ. Originally I was taking the raw sound file then trying to use noise reduction in audacity and then putting it through levitator2 but would find the result too loud with still lots of noise. After watching your videos I have been able to increase the sound quality, and the resulting sound files are so much more pleasant to listen to. So a similar video to the one you did with the zoom h1 explaining the best settings and optimal input level on the Tascam DR-05 would really help out those like me with no previous experience just starting out with these two popular devices. Thank again.

@curtisjudd

8 жыл бұрын

+heylawnguy Ok, totally makes sense, thanks!

hey Judd, should i get the H1 over the new H1N if i want to put the recorder in my pocket?

@curtisjudd

2 жыл бұрын

No, I'd go for the H1n and just be careful.

@zogun

2 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd why is that? i dont want the H1N dial knob. AFAIK, the sound quality is more or less the same

@curtisjudd

2 жыл бұрын

@@zogun I don’t believe it is even available new and hasn’t been for about 4 or 5 years. The plastic on the H1n seems more rugged to me and the battery door also seems like a better design. Also, just be careful and you won’t mess with the dial.

I recorded with this and I regret it a whole interview with buzzing sounds ........how do I fix this interview?

@curtisjudd

3 жыл бұрын

How far away was the microphone? Which microphone? Was their noise in the room? Any power sources - cables or adapters - anywhere near the recorder or lavalier? There are a lot of factors.

"Music by Curtis Judd", who knew? When do you do a video on music composition for videos?

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

+RallenMan haha! I'm not very good at that so no plans for a video on music composition.

i have a lav which i connect it directly into my 5d mark III. It doesn't sound good, will there be difference in the sound quality if i connect the lav to zoom and zoom to my 5d or will it sound the same?

@curtisjudd

9 жыл бұрын

There are two factors to getting good sound--The microphone, and the pre-amplifier to which the mic is connected. Canon 5D markIII's don't have the best pre-amplifiers in my experience, they have some noise and hiss. But they can be usable with a decent mic and if you turn in the input gain to one notch above zero. The mic then, has to provide a good, strong output signal to the camera. I don't know which mic you are using, but the issue is probably mostly the mic if I had to guess.

@payalchoksi8071

9 жыл бұрын

Curtis Judd My lav is pretty inexpensive one, but when i use it with my camcorder (canon xh a1s) with attenuation i get pretty rich audio quality. It makes my lav sound beautiful. Is any such thing possible in digital recorders like tascam dr-40 or zoom? The same lav connected directly to 5d produces hiss and also becomes very sensitive and picks up lots of ambient noise.

@curtisjudd

9 жыл бұрын

payal choksi It is definitely possible to get rich sound with a lavalier and a Zoom H1 or a Tascam recorder. Many of my videos are recorded with a lavalier and Zoom H1.

Can I use an H1 to record raves/electronic music parties, where the volumes are usually VERY HIGH, with lots of low frequencies?? will it record without distortion?

@curtisjudd

9 жыл бұрын

It depends on how loud but I did NOT have good luck with this at a rock concert last time I tried. Once you go below 20 on the input, it is doing digital attenuation which means that it will still clip and distort on louder sounds.

@viajeIectrico

9 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much... I think i'll still buy one of these to record instruments and to record from another device via its Line-in :)

What volume level do you noramlly have it on? The volume on the left side of the device?

@curtisjudd

4 жыл бұрын

That depends on your headphones and how much volume you need to hear what’s being recorded. Keep it at a reasonable level so it doesn’t damage your hearing.

@camgalloway691

4 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd I meant more so that the volume doesn't go too higher than the input volume making me think it recorded at a high enough level when it really didn't, my volume was turned up really high. Or that my volume is too low therefore my input is unessarily high.

@curtisjudd

4 жыл бұрын

@@camgalloway691 Ok, now I understand. You want to set the microphone input level on the H1 first and adjust it until the peaks hit about -12dB on the H1. Then set the input level on your camera to its lowest input setting. Then adjust the headphone volume on the H1until the camera's audio meters are hitting the same level as the H1's meters, around -12dB.

You didn't dismiss the people who want to record with the ZOOM H1 and not some secondary microphone. Which Level should be used when using the default microphone?

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

Same. :)

@ochgottnochma

7 жыл бұрын

Hm, a fixed level between 50-60 basically doesn't always produces best results for me. Important is, that the LCD gauge is always in middle (neither to low nor to high), e.g. between -24 and -12, so depending on the voice volume e.g., the level needs to be calibrated. At least that sounds best for me via headphones on the ZOOM H1. So when I whisper I set a higher level, and speaking loud I set a lower level. TBH I didn't watch whole video, maybe you explained that later or I missed it.

@curtisjudd

7 жыл бұрын

Ah, yes, later in the video I explained. This is if you plan to do some post processing and normalize the audio so that it is loud enough for your final export. Setting the input level to 40 won't be loud enough straight out of the recorder, but it will be cleaner/have less noise than higher input levels. I hope that helps and best wishes!

what level should volume be at so that I can correctly monitor the sound and get an idea of what will be heard when I'm editing.

@curtisjudd

10 жыл бұрын

***** Monitoring volume should be set to a comfortable level--it's not really used to evaluate loudness, per se. To manage your levels, use the input meters and aim for your sound to peak around -12 db.

@DimAngelProductions

10 жыл бұрын

Alright thanks!

Ah didn't know the h1 had that issue. H4n has the same issue, bellow 1 is just the 1 signal downscaled with clipping. You can use h4n at level 1 and then use headphone levels to analog reduce levels further so the h4n will clip but the camera won't. Pretty weird but that actually makes the camera recording sound better than the h4n recording when dealing with extreme sounds. Also the h4n charts seem to indicate one type of amplification being enabled at 1, 10, 50, 100 so I guess between those levels it's either digital or a secondary preamp, which perhaps explain why sweet spots "magically" exists. www.kenrockwell.com/audio/zoom/h4n.htm

@curtisjudd

10 жыл бұрын

Thanks--Ken Rockwell is always fun to read!

which is best recording format: wav 48/24 or else ?

@annavakhnenko3211

6 жыл бұрын

depends on your editing program (project) settings. I mix my audio in 96K. Video standard is 48K. Audio CD standard is 44.1K