Zoom H4 and T1® Usage

Using a Zoom H4 Recorder via Two T1 ToneMatch Audio Engines to Record your Gig

This is a “how to” narrative on using a Zoom H4 Handy Recorder and two T1 ToneMatch Audio Engines to record your gig, while performing through an L1 System.

The Products

Zoom H4 Handy Recorder

MSRP: $499.99 Street Price: $299.99

Features

Mobile Field Recording

• Fits in the palm of your hand
• Ideal for infinite variety of mobile recording applications
• Records 24-bit/96 kHz digital audio as well as MP3 format with bitrates up to 320kbps
• Two studio-quality X/Y pattern condenser microphones for true stereo recording
• Two combination XLR-1/4-inch input jacks with phantom power
• On-board studio effects compression, limiting and mic modeling
• 1/8-inch headphone jack provided for monitoring
• 512MB Secure Digital (SD) card included
• Using a 16GB SD memory card provides 24 hours of stereo WAV file recording in 44.1kHz/16-bit mode with CD Quality sound
• Up to 280 hours recording in MP3 stereo mode
• USB mass-storage interface
• Four hours of continuous recording operation from 2 AA batteries
• Back-lit, 128×64 pixel LCD provides the visual interface
• AC adapter, windshield cover, USB Cable and tripod adapter included

4-Track Recording

• 4-track audio in CD quality 16-bit PCM, 44.1 kHz sampling
• Combination high-impedance phone inputs for vocals, guitars, bass or keyboards.
• Built in guitar amp modeling equivalent to the Zoom G2

Audio Interface

• Records directly to your computer as a USB audio interface
• Bundled with Cubase LE, 48-Track Digital Audio Workstation software

Bose T1 ToneMatch Audio Engine

MSRP: $499.99 Street Price: $499.99

Features

• Digital multichannel mixer designed for use with Bose® L1® sound systems
• Features over 100 proprietary ToneMatch presets for instruments and microphones
• Includes Bose zEQ, storable scenes and a suite of studio-class effects
• Presets and firmware updates available free online

The Basics for Recording

I record our gigs with the Zoom H4 Recorder while using two T1 ToneMatch Audio Engines. Using two T1s enables me to record separate channels (left and right) into the Zoom H4 Recorder. With two guitar cables, I run one T1's AUX OUT to the Left Channel of the H4 Recorder and the second T1's AUX OUT to the Right Channel of the H4. Thus, I end up with 8 T1 channels running into my Zoom H4 Recorder with the ability to record all 8 channels, or a mix of them.

(If you are using a single T1 to record from, you may need to split your single T1's AUX OUT signal into two signals as Left and Right inputs into your H4. There may be others options available here. I haven't given any thought on how to accomplish recording left and right channels into the H4 using a single T1 AUX OUT connection.)

Step by Step Instructions

Enabling the T1 AUX output (per channel)

1. Turn your T1 Master selector knob to “AUX”.
2. Press the CH Edit button of the channel you wish to route to the AUX connector. (Remember, you must do this for each channel you wish to record from the T1.)
3. Check the T1 display. If Level says "MUTED", the channel is currently muted going to the AUX connector. If muted, simply press the knob button underneath the display to un-mute the channel.
4. Use the knob button to adjust the percentage of the signal you want at the AUX connector. This range can be between 0% (no signal) to 100% (the entire signal) routed to the AUX connector. Think of it as a volume knob to control the channel's volume. Use this method to control each individual channel for your “recording” mix routed to the T1’s AUX connector.
5. Refer to your T1 ToneMatch Audio Engine manual for information regarding the “TAP” button options. Tap settings can be: pre-fader, post-EQ and effects, or post-fader.

Here's a quick video on enabling the AUX out capability of each channel on the T1 ToneMatch Audio Engine.

Click here to view the YouTube video.

• With the Zoom H4 connected and used as a recorder in this configuration you can expect to get exactly what you would hear from the T1 AUX OUT connector. Provided you have enabled the AUX output on each T1 channel, you’ll hear what is plugged into the input of each channel, whether it’s a microphone, iPod, guitar, etc.

• Setting the "recording mix" of all you T1 channels requires you to listen to the AUX output by some method, or to leave each channels Level mix at its default setting of 50%. The easy approach is to leave everything at 50%. This insures nothing ends up too hot in the mix. (It appears you can taylor your recording mix by adjusting the Level percentage of each channel, but I haven't taken the time to experiment with this capability, as of yet.) NOTE: Changing this Level setting does not change any MAIN output levels from your T1.

Enabling the Zoom H4 inputs

• Be sure to change your inputs on the Zoom H4 from the default "internal mics" to Input Connectors 1 & 2. Refer to the Zoom H4 Users Manual for details on selecting inputs, if needed. This enables you to plug in the cables from your T1 ToneMatch Audio Engines to the H4 for recording, otherwise, you'll still be recording with the internal mics of the H4!

L1 Configurations

The Lodge Brothers use the following combination of Bose equipment for our engagements. Our equipment consists of:

• 1 - L1® Model II
• 2 - B1 Bass Modules
• 2 - T1 ToneMatch® Audio Engines

A unique thing about our band is that we are a dynamic band! Sometimes, we add a second L1® system to our configuration when there are more than three of us playing. We generally book gigs with just three of us playing. But sometimes, there are as many as five “Lodge Brothers” playing a gig! So, due to our personnel configurations, the job, or the request of the person hiring us, our band configuration can change. Generally, when the fourth and fifth persons get added, we add another Bose system. When that happens, our configuration is as follows:

• 1 - L1® Classic
• 1 - L1® Model II
• 4 - B1 Bass Modules
• 2 - T1 ToneMatch® Audio Engines

(I haven’t used the Zoom H4 Recorder when we have used two L1® Systems yet.)

The general flow diagram would look something like this when we are using just a single L1® System:

• Microphone / instrument -> T1 -> T1 AUX out -> Zoom H4 Recorder (L or R input)
• T1 MAIN out -> L1 System

Recording Comments

I have only accomplished two recordings of our band using this method of recording. The things I have noticed so far, are:

1. Be careful with your channel mixes on the T1. Ensure they are correct for your overall "live sound" mix on the L1 system. Also, be aware you can change the "recording" mix by utilizing the AUX OUT level settings in the T1. You can have between 0% and 100% of a channel going to your Zoom H4 recorder for recording. This will affect your "recording" mix, but not your "live" mix.
2. You’ll record whatever is picked up by your microphones. This will be dependent on the types of microphones you use, their polar patterns, etc. Just be aware, you’ll “record” what the microphone hears!
3. After the gig, use the playback feature of your H4 Recorder plugged into your L1 System. You’ll be amazed that you’ll be hearing what your audience heard at the gig! It’s a real eye opener, if you've never listened to yourself through the L1 system!!!

What I like about the products

• On the Zoom H4 Recorder I particularly like the fact it has two XLR/Phono plug inputs for Left and Right channels. This allows you to use a guitar-type cable from the T1 AUX OUT connectors to the H4. Nothing complicated. Just simple cables. The recording quality I have gotten from this unit meets or exceeds my standard for something of this nature. It’s not a multiple-thousand dollar recorder, but for the price I think it does a respectable job. And, in combination with the T1, provides the musician with a very portable and quality recording device for good recordings.

• I like the fact the T1 ToneMatch Audio Engine offers the ability to output each of its channels to a single connector on the back of the T1. Having this ability has allowed me to accomplish this procedure and for it to work I as I thought it should. In addition, you can route just a single channel from the T1 to the H4, if you so choose. This offers the gigging musician multiple solutions for getting output from the T1. It’s a very flexible and intuitive product offering many alternatives to shaping and recording your sound!

What I do not like about the products

• The Zoom H4 Recorder has a VERY small menu screen. At times, it is hard to read, depending on the lighting in the room, glare, etc. In addition, the User Interface (method to select options, change values, etc.) takes some “hands on” time before you can become comfortable with it. The thing I have found is if you don’t use the H4 for some amount of time, you have to go through a small re-learning curve on how to negotiate the menus. This is a quirk in the design of the product. In my opinion, it could be more user friendly!

• Bose T1 ToneMatch Audio Engine - It takes a while to become familiar with all the features and functions of this product. It can be overwhelming for the first-time user. But, once familiar with its operation and options, you should have no problems.

Review Summary

If you have a Bose L1 and T1 ToneMatch Audio Engine, then recording your music can be as easy as purchasing one of these new digital recorders (with external input capability), hooking it up and playing some music! A recording of your gig has the potential to let your hear where you need a little extra practice on a song or two! Who knows, you might also be able to use this to record your first “live CD”, with very little effort on your part! Good luck and if you have questions about this procedure, hook-up, or anything related, please let me know. I’ll be glad to answer your questions via the message board or email.

Review Date

Last Revised: 10/10/08

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