Thursday, September 23, 2010

ZOOM H4N Output Level Settings

Carried out a little test the other day to compare the output levels of the Zoom H4N when input to the Canon 550D. The audio output is on its own too "hot" for the 550D to handle and as the 550D has no gain controls for its audio input, a PAD cable needs to be employed. Luckily Pink Noise Systems manufacture a custom mini jack to mini jack cable with built in -25dB attenuator to prevent the input on the 550D from overdriving. I wondered however what effect changing the audio output level on the Zoom H4N would have.

With the audio output on 50 (i.e. half way), there was quite a lot of noise present, but compared to a setting of 75 and 100, it sounded far more transparent without any nasty AGC (automatic gain control) kicking on the Camera. I am not interested in keeping the audio any way as I would use separate sound recorded by the Zoom any way, it's just that I wondered how the quality of the audio recorded by the camera would be affected.

Results here: http://www.vimeo.com/15159957

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