Zoom H4n pro - in-a-pinch audio interface for portable rigs

[Stoneyards]

I’m on a long road trip and brought my modular. I missed being able to record, so picked up a run of the mill hand held recorder (the zoom H4n) and was pleased to find it made an ideal companion. Using it as a usb 2-in 2-out audio interface, I could output a clock to my modular, and record the stereo analog out, layering tracks at a time into ableton. It’s also handy to do field recordings, samples, etc. Cheap, durable and lightweight. Preamps and converters aren’t the quietest, so it’s no replacement for a proper studio interface, but it’s a very flexible option.

[auspice]

You generated a clock signal using the Zoom as a source? Or did you record something like a metronome and play it back as CV?

[Stoneyards]

Yep, I played a 24ppqn square wave out from a dedicated ableton clock track, using one of the outputs of the zoom.

[Garnoth]

That’s a great tip, I will definitely drag my Zoom along next time!

[kidkoexist]

Also fun with the H4N is that it can record with the mics and line-in at the same time. So if you're playing outside you can capture the sound of the speakers in the air and all the ambient sound with that along with a stereo track directly from the rack. It is limited to 48/16 in this quad mode, however.

[sicknick]

It is a great battery powered recorder...

Definitely a must-have at a gig to get room recording or FOH mix recorded.

Do get the accessories power supply and MA2 Mic Clip Adapter.