Audio question

[mrpink89]

Hi everyone I got another question. I have heard the if you are going to be recording dialog it is best to record using a mono microphone. I have ordered a Rode NTG-2 and my recorder is a ZOOM H4N

I have seen a number of videos yet I am still confused on how I am able to record DIalog in Mono on the ZOOM H4N .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jwh_5Nr1YQ&feature=share&list=PLJmd_FmEn2bixko1fcG-nfLV416EY9Gr6

In the link Above the guy has the same equipment as I do and says that when You plug in the Mic you are recording from only One channel. Then you do some setting stuff and you are able to record into both channels at the same time. What does that mean? Are one of the channels Mono and the other is Stereo? if so what would a person benefit from, from recording in Both channels.

 

[Zensteve]

what would a person benefit from, from recording in Both channels.

You can set each channel to record at a different level, which is a safety buffer for editing. If you screw up one channel & record it too loud so it distorts, the other (if recording at a lower level) will probably be salvageable.

 

[Alcove Audio]

how I am able to record Dialog in Mono on the ZOOM H4N...

If you plug one microphone into one of the two input channels of the H4n you will record audio only on that channel - that's a mono dialog track; the other will not record anything except maybe hiss. In audio post you will have to split the stereo recording into two mono recordings and delete the "blank" track.

It's been a long time since I've touched an H4n, but if I remember correctly you can, as ZenSteve mentioned, record in Dual Mono Mode. This sends the audio from the single input to both audio channels, and I also believe that it is possible to set each channel to different levels. You usually set the second channel to a lower level as a safety in the case of loud transients - yells/screams, nuclear explosions, etc.


You need to change your thinking. You don't have Left and Right any more, you have Channel 1 and Channel 2, which, in unique circumstances (as far as field recording is concerned) can be linked so they can be used in stereo mode. It's just a PITA that the unit probably defaults to Stereo Mode when you boot it up.