Recorded line in audio is distorted (zoom h1 recorder)

[techspark]

Hi, i have zoom h1 field recorder. The other day i took it to a live event and got line out from the mixer from the dj guy there. The music was very very loud.

So I had set the levels low (at around -12db) and everything was looking fine - the meter on the zoom h1 never showed that the sound clipped.

But, when i got back home , the audio was distorted.

The mixer guy had given me line out from the tape out ports i think.

I also did another experiment where the audio from the mixer was fed to the laptop and from the laptop's headphone out port , i fed the audio to zoom h1 and set the levels low - the result was still the same, the audio was distorted.

I am really disappointed with the results. Is there something i m doing wrong or is the line out signal from the mixer too hot for zoom h1 ?

I don't mind buying a new recorder if that solves the issue. I really want the recorder to record clean audio from the line inputs. I dont use the onboard mics or any other feature for that matter. Just need it to record line in without any distortion.

Thank you!

[JetrellFo69]

http://www.zoom.co.jp/products/h1

There is a bit of info at the link. I've never used one but I'm sure we've got some folks with experience that will be along to help. What kind of music were you recording?

[Cornucopia]

You are setting it up wrong. The zooms (all, and I have an h4n) use mike level, not line level. If you bring something in that's already line level, it's already too hot. The sensitivity/gain adjustment doesn't really go down far enough (and it's hard to tell if it might be too late in the chain anyway). The only consistently safe way to get line levels into one is with a pre-mixer that can do line->mike level stepdown on the outputs (I've used a Shure Fp33 field mixer and it helps to have a tone generator for testing purposes). Even then, you will still have to do tests to find the true point of clipping compared to tone.

Scott

[techspark]

Thank you for the reply guys.

You are setting it up wrong. The zooms (all, and I have an h4n) use mike level, not line level. If you bring something in that's already line level, it's already too hot. The sensitivity/gain adjustment doesn't really go down far enough (and it's hard to tell if it might be too late in the chain anyway). The only consistently safe way to get line levels into one is with a pre-mixer that can do line->mike level stepdown on the outputs (I've used a Shure Fp33 field mixer and it helps to have a tone generator for testing purposes). Even then, you will still have to do tests to find the true point of clipping compared to tone.

That mixer is too expensive. Also, i cannot carry a mixer withe me as i record at different places and they already have a mixer and a dj guy who handles it.

Can i get a new recorder(under $300) which uses line level so i can feed the line level directly from the mixer and need not have to worry about signal being too hot.

[JetrellFo69]

https://www.google.com/search?q=line+level+portable+recorder&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rl...t=firefox-beta

http://labrosa.ee.columbia.edu/recorders.html


A quick google search gives some options.

[jagabo]

Try an attenuating dubbing cord or adapter.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103858
http://www.amazon.com/Sescom-LN2MIC-ZOOMH4N-Microphone-Attenuation-Cameras/dp/B004U3S1JA/
http://www.epanorama.net/circuits/line_to_mic.html

[Cornucopia]

Not sure how much I'd trust those "attenuating connectors". For one, they are all unbalanced (I know My Zoom uses Balanced XLR as input, can't remember about the z1). Also, it's a good idea to have an additional layer of ANALOG gain adjustment, prior to the input to the recorder. You can't get adjustability from any of those cables.

@OP, line level to mike level is a ~40-50dB level stepdown. It's no wonder your -12dB didn't make a difference. Yes, I knew that the FP33 was too expensive for you, I was just using that as an example of a mixer. Find another mixer - Rolls & Behringer make some good ones. While you're at it, I would still strongly suggest a portable tone generator. So that would set you back about $150USD a piece. All the recorders I looked at except the Tascam DR-100 use mike level input (Ok, a few used 1/8" consumer line level, but I would never use those in a field situation).

BTW, just because "A DJ already has a mixer" doesn't mean shit if the mixer (or the DJ) isn't up to snuff. A REAL DJ with a REAL Mixer would have tested your setup and figured out to give you mike level (would also have given you tone at beginning and end).

Scott