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Zoom H4N Pro as audio interface: popping sound in certain frequency range
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<blockquote data-quote="David Wise" data-source="post: 216124" data-attributes="member: 15367"><p>Hello all,</p><p></p><p>I have a Late 2013 Macbook Pro and a Zoom H4N Pro that I'm trying to use as an audio interface with the Zoom's built-in mics, primarily recording myself on saxophone. It works completely fine the vast majority of the time, except when I play in the upper range on alto saxophone, from high D to F on alto (F to Ab in concert pitch), with frequencies ranging from 698 to 830 Hz. When I play in this range I get a popping/clicking/crackling noise at regular intervals of about a half a second within the tone. It may continue higher past that range as well but I haven't checked.</p><p>Here's a link to a short recording for reference: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bc0-Bf49dvK1yR_l4vTEAXmvL_zmmWPg/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bc0-Bf49dvK1yR_l4vTEAXmvL_zmmWPg/view?usp=sharing</a></p><p></p><p>I have already tried several steps trying to troubleshoot/isolate the issue, here's what I've done so far:</p><p>- ensured the signal is not clipping, it is well below the threshold according to both the Zoom's built-in signal monitor and the Sound prefpane's monitor, and happens regardless of volume</p><p>- ensured the Zoom, Audio MIDI Setup, and DAW app settings are all synchronized at either 44.1 or 48 kHz</p><p>- tried recording in several different applications, including Logic Pro, GarageBand, Audacity, and QuickTime Player</p><p>- tried recording both in Mac OS 11.6.2 and booted into BootCamp running Windows 10 (using Audacity)</p><p>- tried different buffer sizes in Audacity, such as 0, 10, 100, 1024</p><p>- tried resetting SMC and PRAM</p><p>- tried connecting to both USB ports directly, also tried connecting through a USB hub</p><p>- tried 2 different USB mini-B cables, one that I've had forever that came with some unknown device, and one universal USB cable with multiple adapters</p><p>- tried rotating the Zoom built-in mics from 90° to 120°</p><p>- tried powering on Zoom from battery power before connecting USB</p><p>- ensured Zoom is running latest firmware 1.10</p><p></p><p>The frequency of the popping was not exactly the same with every variable I changed, but it was always present, and always only in that specific frequency range. I know I have a couple workaround options, such as just using the Zoom to record on its own, or using the Zoom's recording standby mode monitoring with an 1/8" cable running from the headphone line out to another cheap-o 1/8"-to-USB audio interface I have, but that yields slightly lower audio quality overall. I haven't tried yet using an external mic connected to the Zoom as a USB interface, because the built-in Zoom mics are actually the highest quality mics I presently own.</p><p></p><p>Any ideas? Could it be that I need a higher-quality USB mini-B cable, if that even exists? Or it is just some hardware problem with the Zoom itself, or with my Mac?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="David Wise, post: 216124, member: 15367"] Hello all, I have a Late 2013 Macbook Pro and a Zoom H4N Pro that I'm trying to use as an audio interface with the Zoom's built-in mics, primarily recording myself on saxophone. It works completely fine the vast majority of the time, except when I play in the upper range on alto saxophone, from high D to F on alto (F to Ab in concert pitch), with frequencies ranging from 698 to 830 Hz. When I play in this range I get a popping/clicking/crackling noise at regular intervals of about a half a second within the tone. It may continue higher past that range as well but I haven't checked. Here's a link to a short recording for reference: [URL]https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bc0-Bf49dvK1yR_l4vTEAXmvL_zmmWPg/view?usp=sharing[/URL] I have already tried several steps trying to troubleshoot/isolate the issue, here's what I've done so far: - ensured the signal is not clipping, it is well below the threshold according to both the Zoom's built-in signal monitor and the Sound prefpane's monitor, and happens regardless of volume - ensured the Zoom, Audio MIDI Setup, and DAW app settings are all synchronized at either 44.1 or 48 kHz - tried recording in several different applications, including Logic Pro, GarageBand, Audacity, and QuickTime Player - tried recording both in Mac OS 11.6.2 and booted into BootCamp running Windows 10 (using Audacity) - tried different buffer sizes in Audacity, such as 0, 10, 100, 1024 - tried resetting SMC and PRAM - tried connecting to both USB ports directly, also tried connecting through a USB hub - tried 2 different USB mini-B cables, one that I've had forever that came with some unknown device, and one universal USB cable with multiple adapters - tried rotating the Zoom built-in mics from 90° to 120° - tried powering on Zoom from battery power before connecting USB - ensured Zoom is running latest firmware 1.10 The frequency of the popping was not exactly the same with every variable I changed, but it was always present, and always only in that specific frequency range. I know I have a couple workaround options, such as just using the Zoom to record on its own, or using the Zoom's recording standby mode monitoring with an 1/8" cable running from the headphone line out to another cheap-o 1/8"-to-USB audio interface I have, but that yields slightly lower audio quality overall. I haven't tried yet using an external mic connected to the Zoom as a USB interface, because the built-in Zoom mics are actually the highest quality mics I presently own. Any ideas? Could it be that I need a higher-quality USB mini-B cable, if that even exists? Or it is just some hardware problem with the Zoom itself, or with my Mac? [/QUOTE]
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