Zoom H4n Recorder

I just received my new Zoom H4n recorder. Looks like it has a lot of capability.
THE SETUP SUCKS!!!!!
Ok now that I've got that out of the way. The setup and registration is absolutely the worst steps, procedures and instruction of any piece of computer equipment I've ever owned. Even after inputting two different sets of registration numbers it a $#*&^%$#$$.

Then after finally getting it registered so it will work, the USB connection to my computer would not work. The instructions are completely screwed up and gives no help. In order to use it and make the computer see it the menu on the Zoom must be used. The instructions say Win will automatically see it .... WRONG. There is no telephone number to call, just e-mail and expect a 72 hour wait. SUCKS!!!!

So now to see if it works better than the setup. Sure hope so. Anyone else using this &&^^%$#%? After setup does it do as good as it claims?

I have the zoom H4. But I never connect it to my computer. I take the card out and plug that into my card reader to get the audio files off.
What are you doing that you have to connect it to the PC?

Heck I dunno, it says it can connect so I was just tryin to set it up like the instructions say. To use the supplied software ya have to register the system and that was a royal pain. Now I blew off the steam I can now start to learn how to use it and yup taking the card out is the easiest. The h4n looks like it has a lot of capabilities. I knew you got the h4 a year or two ago and didn't hear any complaints so I thought I'de give it a try.

Do you mount it to the hotshoe? I don't think you can use it to feed directly into the video can ya?

I don't mount to the hot shoe, usually when I have used it, I put the recorder in a pouch that would hang on your belt and plugged in a boom mic on the end of a pole over the actors heads.
Or I have a wireless mic setup that I plug in the wireless receiver to the H4 and using Lav mics on the actors.

I don't think you can feed directly from the camera to the recorder.
I really like the H4, it always sounds good. I haven't really used all the features the thing can do.

I've got the H4n and I like it. Throw away the manual and forget about linking it to the PC. Using the H4n comes completely intuitivly, it's really easy and self explaining. Forget about the extras it comes with, you don't need them anyway.

You can hook it up with the camera by the way. IF you camera allows for a direct line-in while recording. However I find that recording sound seperately on the H4n and recombining it later gives you better sound quality. Obviously it's more work, too. (This goes for shooting with DSLR - the Panasonic comes with really superiour sound recording options. Never needed to use the H4n with that one.)

I've the H2 and i never had any problems. Connecting with the PC is the easiest way. Without switching on the H2 Win detects the card automatically as a drive.
Can't imagine what there will be more worse with the H4.

Got my H4n last weekend - the registration debacle is for cubase OEM software registration I think.

I just take the SD cards out and use my card reader to transfer files.

heres something interesting about using the h4n as a monitor and recording directly to the camera


http://vimeo.com/groups/7dlabs/videos/11329136

Just got mine! No issues. I'd avoid installing any software that it comes with.

Man, I'm digging this thing and I'd be lying if I said it's ease of use/fun didn't concern me. I need to remind myself that my hulking, heavy and expensive rig is what records better quality stuff than this, but damn if I'm not tempted to take this thing out more often.

I'm actually looking forward to doing a shootout this weekend against my legit portable rig.