Zoom H4n Covers Your Field Recording Needs

Smartphones fill the role for most people who need to do some field recording here and there, but travelers might need a solution that doesn’t waste precious battery life. Journalists, photographers and musicians also need a device capable of better sound quality and more storage space.

Enter the Zoom H4n , a 96kHz/24-bit stereo recorder that features two microphones, two XLR inputs and two quarter-inch inputs, making it a versatile device that can record to WAV and MP3. Unlike the H4, Zoom’s updated model packs more controls to make it easier to operate, including a scrolling click wheel for the menu, placed on the upper right corner of the device, so you can change any setting you want with just your thumb.

The best part of this field recorder is the large, two-inch LCD screen. The wide meter makes it easy to check levels and switch between folders. The SD card slot can support up to 32 gigabytes, useful in multitrack mode where musicians can layer sounds together without the use of a computer.

The H4n also allows you to mix the microphone and cable inputs for a combined sound, useful for recording performances with the crowd sound. There’s even an option to cut out low frequencies from 80Hz to 237Hz when you’re recording places with a lot of rumble.