• Welcome to the Pipe Organ Forum! This is a part of the open community Magle International Music Forums focused on pipe organs (also known as "church organs"), organists, organ music and related topics.

    This forum is intended to be a friendly place where technically advanced organists and beginners (or even non-organists) can feel comfortable having discussions and asking questions. We learn by reading and asking questions, and it is hoped that the beginners (or non-organists) will feel free to ask even the simplest questions, and that the more advanced organists will patiently answer these questions. On the other hand, we encourage complex, technical discussions of technique, music, organ-building, etc. The opinions and observations of a diverse group of people from around the world should prove to be interesting and stimulating to all of us.

    As pipe organ discussions can sometimes become lively, it should be pointed out that this is an open forum. Statements made here are the opinion of the poster, and not necessarily that of the forum itself, its administrator, or its moderators.

    In order to post a new topic - or reply to existing ones - you may join and become a member by clicking on Register New User. It's completely free and only requires a working email address (in order to confirm your registration - it will never be given away!). We strive to make this a friendly and informative forum for anyone interested in pipe organs and organ music.

    (Note: If you wish to link to and promote your own website please read this thread first.)

    Many kind regards
    smile.gif

    Frederik Magle
    Administrator

    Krummhorn
    Co-Administrator

Best Mics etc for recording

JONESEY

New member
Hi,
I've just ventured into the world of YouTube, and my current recording device (Zoom H2) is not giving the results I'm after.
So, I'm thinking of either a Zoom H4N Pro, or a Zoom H5.

First question - does anyone have any experience of either?
I'm thinking the H4N Pro is fine, but then saw the H5 had entered the picture, at £30 extra.

Secondly - using external mics.
Some people are recommending a matching pair of NT5's.
However, are there any others that are less than £400 for a pair that will yield better results?

Thanks.
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Hi Jonesey,

I've owned the Zoom H4 since 2009 and have been thrilled with the results of my recordings made with it. What you hear when recording is what you get during playback ... absolutely phenomenal, imho.

What I like about it is the option to simulate several different types of microphones using its own pair of built in mics. Options are for simulating:
  • SM 57 (Shure dynamic)
  • MD 421 (Sensheiser dynamic)
  • U 87 (Neumann condenser)
  • C414 (AKG condenser)

I mostly use the Neumann U 87 simulation for organ music.

Here's a piece I recorded in the UK at Wimborne Minster in 2010:
View attachment Aria_Wimborne.mp3

The Zoom H4 has a number of options for recording that I've never used (yet) and its storage medium is a SD card (2 GB) that allows me to record about 37 hours of MP3 format.

I can also record in WAV format at 44.1 Khz, 48 Khz and 96 Khz with varying 16 to 24 bits.

In MP3 format (which is fixed at 44.1 Khz with variable bits from 48 to 320 Kbps.

I also have an MP3 editor from NCH Software (Australian outfit) that is very easy to use and split up tracks, etc.

No problem with the unit since owning it and I have used it weekly for the past 5 or so years recording church services.

It can be operated with 2 AA batteries that will last about 4 hours of continuous recording time.
 

JONESEY

New member
Hi Krummhorn,

I bit the bullet yesterday and purchased a Zoom H5, after spending a LONG time reading and listening to reviews.
The difference between the H2 and the H5 should be night and day ... although it will expose even more the odd duff note, so will try to minimise those!!!!!

Assuming it arrives today, I'll be doing a test recording tonight to see how it sounds and will pop it up on my youtube channel.

Cheers!
Tim.

Hi Jonesey,

I've owned the Zoom H4 since 2009 and have been thrilled with the results of my recordings made with it. What you hear when recording is what you get during playback ... absolutely phenomenal, imho.

What I like about it is the option to simulate several different types of microphones using its own pair of built in mics. Options are for simulating:
  • SM 57 (Shure dynamic)
  • MD 421 (Sensheiser dynamic)
  • U 87 (Neumann condenser)
  • C414 (AKG condenser)

I mostly use the Neumann U 87 simulation for organ music.

Here's a piece I recorded in the UK at Wimborne Minster in 2010:
View attachment 3470

The Zoom H4 has a number of options for recording that I've never used (yet) and its storage medium is a SD card (2 GB) that allows me to record about 37 hours of MP3 format.

I can also record in WAV format at 44.1 Khz, 48 Khz and 96 Khz with varying 16 to 24 bits.

In MP3 format (which is fixed at 44.1 Khz with variable bits from 48 to 320 Kbps.

I also have an MP3 editor from NCH Software (Australian outfit) that is very easy to use and split up tracks, etc.

No problem with the unit since owning it and I have used it weekly for the past 5 or so years recording church services.

It can be operated with 2 AA batteries that will last about 4 hours of continuous recording time.
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Hi Tim,

Will be anxious to hear your recording and how you like the zoom product.

Lars
 

pb05

New member
does anyone have any experience of either?
...
Some people are recommending a matching pair of NT5's.
However, are there any others that are less than £400 for a pair that will yield better results?
I don't have experience with the specific brand and models that you mention. However, I am also using for my recordings external microphones.

Specifically, you can go to my YouTube channel and check the results for yourself. In the beginning, I had a low end organ and I was using the built-in sequencer and a direct connection to a computer to record the sound output. As you can verify, the result is quite flat if you go that route.

From Das alte Jahre vergangen ist, BWV 614 onwards, I abandoned this solution and I started using an external recording device, the Roland R-26. Some time later I added a pair of MXL V67N. The last preludes and fugues, and my harmonisations starting on 2015 as well, have been recorded with this 6-channel setup. There is a variety of organ stops used there, from the high-pitched Scharff to the rumbling Soubasse 32' and Fagott 32'.

From my experience while processing the audio files, I noticed that the contribution of the V67N is quite substantial. The sound becomes more full and rich in a distinct way.
 

John Watt

Member
Mikes, not just Mike Douglas, make me mike-sensitive, a hard comfort zone for me, very specific.
I used to come home from school in grade three so I could watch the Merv Griffin show,
seeing it as very musical, with lots of studio talk, and he only used Shure SM 57 for vocals,
with Shure SM 58's for instruments.
Those were the industry standard for so long, so much equipment and studios,
have been built to those standards, and... and... that's all Elvis and Jimi used.
And they're all that I have ever used, all that I've owned, except for found mikes.
That's right. I carry a mike in my guitar case, with a cord of my choosing.
Thick, soft rubber. Double grounded. Shielded when shielding meant something.

I just hafta ask.
When did audiophiles become audio files?
 
Last edited:
Top