TromboneChat

I've got a brand new H4 essential, and I've used it to record a couple simple informal recordings. One was just me and another was my quartet. The sound was pretty good, and it did what I needed it to do. But when you're new to something, you don't know what you don't know.

What am I missing if I'm just pushing the record button?

What you’re missing depends on what you’re trying to accomplish, which may mean you’re missing nothing if you’re getting what you want out of it. It sounds like you are?

Placement relative to the source(s) will be the most important factor in your results, if you keep it in 32bit and use the built-in mics.

bitbckt wrote: Thu Jan 08, 2026 5:57 pm What you’re missing depends on what you’re trying to accomplish,

Well, I'm pretty ignorant about what is possible with this thing. Maybe I should have asked what other people do with it. Right now I'm just making sample recordings, or just practicing to make sample recordings.

I perused the SOS review of the H4e, and it sounds like Zoom really minimized choice. As Ron Popeil used to say, “set it and forget it.” I use an F6 as a drop rig to record rehearsals. The H4e in Pre-Mixer mode is equivalent, but with fewer inputs and fewer options.

I don’t typically care for the sound of coincident techniques, but you should probably stick with the built-in X-Y pair until you feel you have a grasp of where to position it for stereo image and direct/ambient ratio. After which, you could add a couple of low cost Line Audio/Rode/sE condensers and play with other techniques.

For the Zoom H4 Essential, ignore the mics it comes with, and attach a stereo pair of large condenser or ribbon mics with XLRs to the two XLR ports. Set the device to 32 bit float if you have a decent sized SD card in the thing, to avoid having to worry about ever having the signal clip. Use proper mic placement for the space you are in. Press record!

For your BQ you can experiment with using the onboard mics for the main image, out in front on the group, and room mics attached with the XLR further out, recording in four channels. But it will likely be better to just put up a high stereo pair in front of and higher then the group using just the XLR inputs.

The H4e apparently can't record in anything *other* than 32 bit - they removed the choice entirely.

bitbckt wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 7:30 am The H4e apparently can't record in anything *other* than 32 bit - they removed the choice entirely.

I mean, with modern systems and storage capacity, given the ability to use 32 bit float, the other bit depths only make sense for your final output file, once you've finished the mix and levels. You don't need 32 bit for listening, but you "need" it for editing. I can get with that.

harrisonreed wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 9:33 am I mean, with modern systems and storage capacity, given the ability to use 32 bit float, the other bit depths only make sense for your final output file, once you've finished the mix and levels. You don't need 32 bit for listening, but you "need" it for editing. I can get with that.

Agreed - I wasn’t passing judgement on it either way. Given the option, I’d keep it in 32 bit permanently. The streamlining of this recorder is the “feature” of the thing, and a good approach to this market segment.

Yeah, I watched some videos and think I understand it. When you get something technical as a gift, you're never sure how well it will fit your situation. I think it's the perfect thing for what I'm trying to do. I'm not interested in "turning all the knobs" too much. I think this is set by default right where I need it, and gives me a little room to experiment later if I want to.

That's the whole point of 32bit float -- the gain knobs are meaningless.