Zoom H4n with Zennheiser G3 Lav Mic Direct Plug

Hi guys,
I have a Zoom H4n and a Sennheiser G3 wireless system. Most of the time all I need is just the lav mic plugged into the Zoom directly so I take the lav mic the G3 came with and plug it into the H4n via the external mic plug on the bottom of it. My experience with digital video and sound is limited but I still have noticed the sound isn't as clean as it could be. I still have to clean up the noise even if I've recorded an interview in a sound isolated environment. My question is - is there a better way to connect the two? Would I get a cleaner sound if I connected via the XLR ports? What is the best way to use a lav mic directly with the Zoom?

The G3 is wireless and has a 1/8th in connector. You will have less noise with a wired XLR lavalier. If you rent or borrow a pro lavalier with XLR connector, you can do a noise comparisson to see if its your G3 or a noisy environment.

What if I plug that same G3 lav mic into the XLR inputs via an adapter? Do you think that will make a difference?

pixel_junkie wrote in post #16258382
What if I plug that same G3 lav mic into the XLR inputs via an adapter? Do you think that will make a difference?

No, you are still converting an unbalanced 1/8th" plug to balanced XLR. Do the test yourself to see if it makes a difference to your ears.

Damn it! I don't want to spend more $.

Would using the G3 through the XLR plug remedy the situation you think? There has to be a way to use the G3 with the H4n in a way that will produce cleaner sound? That's $1K in equipment. The G3 did come with a 1/4 to XLR cable so I can plug it in direct.

pixel_junkie wrote in post #16257374
I still have to clean up the noise even if I've recorded an interview in a sound isolated environment.

What type of noise is it that you are having to clean up?

Wayne

The noise is just like a background humming plus hissing. Almost impossible to remove in post.

Should have tasted this set up before asking questions - just plugged the G3 to the H4n with the supplied XLR plug - what a difference. The sound is vastly better/cleaner.

pixel_junkie wrote in post #16258679
The noise is just like a background humming plus hissing. Almost impossible to remove in post.

That’s more than like the result of using a phantom powered microphone without phantom power. That Sennheiser lav is probably a MKE 2 which requires at least 7.5 volts of power to work properly, without it you need to crank up the gain way up to get any kind of output from the residual charge that is left on the cartridge.

Now it is getting power and the output is up where it belongs.

Wayne

Channel One wrote in post #16258762


That’s more than like the result of using a phantom powered microphone without phantom power. That Sennheiser lav is probably a MKE 2 which requires at least 7.5 volts of power to work properly, without it you need to crank up the gain way up to get any kind of output from the residual charge that is left on the cartridge.



Now it is getting power and the output is up where it belongs.

Wayne

Well I tried supplying phantom power to it in both settings the H4n has, neither made a difference.

I tried to bypass the G3 for certain applications but it looks like it'll have to be part of the set up at all times. Can't believe I didn't think to try the XLR option with it before. The sounds is beautiful, no more cleaning up sound noise.

Thanks for all your help, guys.

pixel_junkie wrote in post #16258785
Well I tried supplying phantom power to it in both settings the H4n has, neither made a difference.

To the best of my knowledge the H4n only has phantom power on the XLR's.

Thats the way to fly, by the way that G3 is a great match to use withthe camera audio input as well.

The G3 system is good system for the cost then only thing I do not like about it is if one forgets to screw down the lav plug to the bodypack it can pull out real easy.

None the less, glad to hear you got it up and running.

Wayne

Channel One wrote in post #16259368
To the best of my knowledge the H4n only has phantom power on the XLR's.



Thats the way to fly, by the way that G3 is a great match to use withthe camera audio input as well.

The G3 system is good system for the cost then only thing I do not like about it is if one forgets to screw down the lav plug to the bodypack it can pull out real easy.

None the less, glad to hear you got it up and running.

Wayne

Thanks Wayne. Yes, not bad with the camera on board audio plug. However, if you drop $6-700 on a G3, might as well drop another $200-300 on a good recorder so you can control the audio levels. And besides, never compared it, but I'm sure the G3 sound is much richer and cleaner (I record at 48hz/24 bit)