Zoom PodTrak P4 Podcast Recorder, Battery Powered, 4 Microphone Inputs, 4 Headphone Outputs, Phone and USB Input for Remote Interviews, Sound Pads, 2-In/2-Out Audio Interface

I was initially impressed with the sound quality I heard in my headphones as I began to record with the PodTrak P4 and my RE20. It was a delight to use the P4 with the RE20 since I specifically bought it for that purpose. It wasn't long before the joy had faded. When I was recording I had an LED light for video, which had a whisper quiet fan (aka whisper loud fan), so it was difficult to differentiate between ambient noise and noise from the PodTrak's preamps. The amplified version. To make sure the unused mic inputs were all at the same level of gain as the RE20, I muted the RE20 and unmuted the unused mic inputs. I hate that. Hissing for a long time. It may be a problem with inputs that aren't connected to mics (I did not have any 150 ohm dummy loads handy), but the noise is something like amplifier hiss, not hum, so I don't believe it is that. Additionally, there is no subtly in the noise. The effect is something that will be noticed by your audience. You do not have to listen on headphones or be in a quiet control room. If you are listening to it through laptop speakers in an area with an air purifier running, it will sound stunning. The sound is that loud, even when I set the gain for the mics to The limit is 5, and it is In theory, 5 will have about 53 dB of gain if the pots are linear, which is on the lower end of what you would expect from You can sample some audio in the video below (additional footage synced with the P4 audio and video from the cell phone). The amplified version. I have found that when paired with my RE-equipped P4, the P4 actually has gain to spare You can read about all the features yourselves at the Zoom website, or you can purchase the Zoom device on Amazon. But that gain is accompanied by a good deal of noise. This sounds bad when you are using more than one microphone at once, as you would with multiple hosts and/or guests. You will be able to stream and record popular podcasts from a remote location with them. The limiters are built into each of the 4 inputs. Power is available at all four mic inputs. A cell phone can be used as a microphone. An in-guest interface (hardwired or Bluetooth) with mix minus is available. A separate volume control for each of the four headphone outputs is provided. A configurable audio pad is supported. There is a USB port with two ports and two outputs. The tracks are always recorded as stereo mix down and separate iso tracks, which are fantastic for editing in post-production, especially when you are looking for a call in. There are no options for choosing which tracks are recorded from an ISO There is no way to turn off these features as they are always available. There are a limited number of options with the P4 as it is made to be easy to use and relatively foolproof. One of the caveats is that it is only good for podcasting, and that it is not suitable for other types of recording. There is only one record This is a 1 kHz/16 bit signal Podcasts can be recorded at a bit depth of 256 bits, which is standard CD quality, but lower than the sampling rate and bit depth that professionals use for recording music, high-end In other words, it might not even be a good enough interface for working with professional voice-overs, especially with the level of noise that occurs at high The audio for video is often recorded at 48 kHz or higher, so this would also be less than ideal for audio recording. (In addition, there is no time code on the film. ) I wish the P4 was quieter overall. If it had higher sampling and bit rates, it would be perfect. While I'm wishing, it would be awesome if it had a built-in compressor so we could get a more "broadcast"-like sound out of the box. A larger screen on the meters or LED peak lights would also enhance the experience When you have such a small screen, level setting is not easy. There would then be no cost of As a whole, Zoom packed as many powerful podcasting features as it could into a compact, easy-to-use unit for just $200. Do not expect miracles from it, as it is not a miracle device. It is a $200 device, so do not expect more of it than you should.

Rodrigo Kelly

| Apr 20, 2021

The only reason I started using it is that I just started recording to my computer. I can have a number of people in person at the same time, which is not possible on my computer, and I can have separate tracks. Don't let the plastic fool you it is plastic, but you can't fool yourself. Since I have priced them, I am sure there are even more expensive recorders. I could not live without this but was forced to buy rechargeable batteries just for it. I strongly recommend adding a power cord. The battery life is great for a single input and I would suggest that you do the same. Its battery life decreases as you add inputs. I used it to record an interview through my computer (what it did was use that input for computer audio to record. 2) I have record in person with two microphones. As you add microphones, the batteries drain quickly. Ensure that you start with fresh batteries, and when you are recording, keep an eye on your levels. It's all good news that my Galaxy Note 9 charger, which is just a USB C cable, is enough to keep it going throughout the In this case, the power cord does not have to be connected. The sound pad has a socket to be plugged into, but it does not come with a power cord. It is a good device but would be more useful for my podcast if I were live streaming it. Easy to use and has many benefits. This is an awesome thing, all in all. My only regret is that I didn't take the time to get to know you better.

Leroy Simpson

| Jun 22, 2021

I don't like the way the plastic feels on the unit, but then again I am only really complaining about the plastic. I would still declare this a very big win in my book regardless of the plastic. The cloud lifter still makes sense if you are using a mic such as the SM7b or a gain hungry mic. Despite the fact that the amp in this setup is powerful enough to drive those types of mics, there is a little noise floor that is still manageable. It should be cut from In terms of workflow, I highly recommend getting a 128GB SD Card or even 64GB to save up to 4GB of recordings in an hour. In the worst case scenario, simply snag yourself an Onn and stop by your local Walmart for the card. We bought brandnew SD cards for dirt cheap, then transferred the files via USB. We set it and forgot it! The H6 and H8 also have incredible field recorders and I'd love to see how they compare to this on par with the C port. 11/10 would recommend to those starting out in Be careful not to cheap out - it may cause you headaches in the future!.

Autumn Tran

| May 22, 2021

This is a great unit for a reasonable price. It works It would be nice if it included more instruction information & It is supplied with electricity. Still, it's a good start. I love how well it works.

Bodie Curry

| Nov 27, 2020