Zoom H4 Wind Test with Homemade Dead Cat Windscreen

[shrimpfarmer]

Thanks this gave me the push to try making my own.

[VisorBlue]

@shrimpfarmer Glad it was an inspiration to you.

[didanhtennis]

Thanks for posting, great job.

[VisorBlue]

@didanhtennis Thanks for teh comment. Glad this is still useful.

[steven1231]

this video makes me wanna make my own windscreens for my q3 and h2n.

[VisorBlue]

@steven1231 There ya go. I've made a few others myself...still have a pile of fabric left over. Seems I over bought. :-)

[tom0702x]

A pity you didn't go through some rotations of the recorder in the windstream. This could simulate wind direction changes and would add one extra piece of info to your testing. Though I realize might be tricky trying to simulate the same rotational movement for both screens. But I would have appreciated it anyway.

[VisorBlue]

@tom0702x What can I say, didn't think of it. There's probably a lot of tests I could have done. Sorry this one wasn't enough for you. Feel free to run your own.

[shaolonbros]

No, what I wonder is why I can't see it clearly. You should have shown the product you made instead of running it through a comic filter. I want to make me one now.

[VisorBlue]

@shaolonbros This is more of a how it works than a how it was made video. See the info under the video for the link to the photos. All I did is fold the fabric to get the size I needed and then hand sew it up. Not a lot to it.

[JAWpr0ductions]

I don't have the budget for the H4n, and the H4 seems like the next best thing. Is it still a good investment for me?

[VisorBlue]

@JAWpr0ductions Sure. The H4 is a nice unit. There's also the Zoom H1 (no XLR connectors though), and the H2 is quite popular. Depends on your needs.

[Kneichion]

Interesting seems better with the home made that both filters

Good video 

[RoadRunnerLaser]

Very effective dead cat. I'm going to go out and murder a moggy!

Have you noticed how bad the H4's timebase is?

The first time I tried using the H4 for recording audio for a video project, the audio had drifted noticeably out of synch in less than 10 mins.

I thought it was my camera at fault to start with. Tests showed it to be the H4. A little research revealed that this is a common problem with the H4.

[VisorBlue]

@RoadRunnerLaser As a digital recorder it works a little different than a video camera (there's no time code). Plus, it can vary based on what type of camera you're using to shoot the video; miniDV, card, DSLR, WAV vs. MP3... There's several solutions to it. One, you can clap sync at the beginning and end of the recording by clapping your hands and matching the resulting audio spikes. Also, you can connect the H4 to the camera (headphone jack). More on the net.

[RoadRunnerLaser]

@VisorBlue - Of all of my recording gear, the H4 is certainly not the cheapest but has the worst timebase. I always use start and end slates during a synch-critical shoot but I would have expected far better from a product which is otherwise extremely good at what it does. Clapsticks don't fix the issue, of course, they only provide the reference necessary for fixing the problem in post. It's a great product but its poor timebase really does let it down.

[VisorBlue]

@RoadRunnerLaser It's not just the H4, the H4n, Edirol, Marantz, and most other digital recorders from what I've read have the same issue -- different time bases. There's a few other variables in the mix as well; 24-bit 48kHz WAVs in a 29.97 timeline, etc. A common fix is "Speed up the video to 100.1% or slow the audio to 99.9%" At the price of the H4, it's hard to beat. If you need real timecode you'll pay a chunk more and might need an audio tech to run it. For size/price I like the Zooms.

[RoadRunnerLaser]

@VisorBlue - If I use the H4, I need to perform a time-stretch to achieve a synch. Admittedly, even with something like a TCO, we'd expect drift between two components but I would have expected better from the Zoom than it delivers in practice. I certainly wouldn't part with my H4 but I no longer use it for soundtracking a video shoot. These days, I use SMPTE striping on my videos and that does help to minimise synch issues. I'll authorise you to view a private video in a moment...

[VisorBlue]

@RoadRunnerLaser Well, you have to remember that the H4, like a lot of other things we seem to repurpose for video, wasn't designed to record audio that syncs with video. It's more a musician's, etc. field recorder. The portability, low price, ease of use, and the varied mic connections is what attracted a lot of us to it. There's gear that better suited for video production but it's more expensive and, with some minor tweaks, the H4 works quite well for video.

[RoadRunnerLaser]

@VisorBlue - A versatile piece of kit which is well worth its money, no doubt. I just expect better accuracy from something in its price-range. Perhaps I could be blamed for having overly-high expectations if it weren't for the fact that cheaper pieces of kit are surpassing it in accuracy.

[VisorBlue]

@RoadRunnerLaser Well, this video is on the DIY deadcat and pro/con discussions on the H4 are a bit off-topic. I'll reply to you via a private message.

[eventostampico]

when recording, you can hear at the same time with the headphones? or headphones only to play the recording?

you could use this as an external microphone connected to a camera while keeping the information?

greetings and thanks in advance

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[VisorBlue]

@eventostampico @eventostampico Yes, when recording you can hear what you're recording with the headphones. And, yes, you can use this as an external microphone connected to the camera and you'll have two copies of the audio; one in the recorder and one in the camera.

[VisorBlue]

@eventostampico You can also record with the camera and with the recorder separately and sync them in post production (editing). The Zoom H4 and H4n (newer model) accept XLR and other mikes, so you can connect two XLR mikes to the recorder and it to the camera if you like.

[VisorBlue]

@eventostampico Lo sentimos. Yo no hablo español.

[MartinJWillett]

Proof of the pudding is right there. Foam looks neat and works quite well, fur looks terrible but works much better. This thoroughly explains why reporters use hand mikes with big foam covers, and when the budget allows back-up from furry-covered boom mikes too, just out of shot, until the reporter fluffs the lines.

[maxwellmallen]

wow. cool test man!!

[stanlymanly2]

thats amazing! :O

[jdogg288]

do u have anymoe fur?

[shabutie]

how did you get that animation?

[VisorBlue]

@shabutie Free plug-in, newbluefx com (forward slash) cartoonr

[Biornio]

Hi, would you be willing to make me one of these furries for my Zoom H4 and send it to me in the post? I'll pay you. Let me know through my YouTube post/message. Thanks!

[VisorBlue]

HI, sorry, I don't make them to sell. They're cheap and easy to make on your own but check eBay and other places as there are commercial ones for sale.

Good luck!

[outithewoods]

great test mate have you used it in the real world yet?

[VisorBlue]

Hi. I don't often run into the winds like you did in your video -- love the hat! The few times I have it worked very well. I bought a H4n and made one for it as well.

[outithewoods]

@VisorBlue thanks for adding my Video mate,are you going to do a review of the H4n too?

[xoskyeox]

seems pretty good wind almost gone but still not muted enough to destroy atmosphere

on a side note is that fan not a bit bad for the diaphrams?

[VisorBlue]

I couldn't say how bad wind (fan or otherwise) is on microphone diaphragms. I will assume that exposure to wind, etc., is taken into account when they design them. However, that would be another reason to use a wind screen.

[MrSupersushiboy]

excuse me could you tell me ur setting for h4?

[VisorBlue]

It's been a while. Stereo mode, gain was on M, or adjusted for my voice.

[billybonesesq]

Simple, thorough, engaging, and above all, useful..

Thanks! foive stahs.

[VisorBlue]

Thanks!

[athlete501]

i also had a question..how long should the fur be/how long is yours?

thanks

[VisorBlue]

Getting kind of personal there... :-)

I think the longer the better, the fur on mine varies from 2.5-3"

[athlete501]

omg..this is amazing! i wanted a cheap solution to wind and well..you obviously found a cheap solution to a deadcat :D much thanks! definitely a 5

[VisorBlue]

Thanks. It's nice when you can find/make an affordable solution to things.

[eliteenergy]

u should make a video making a fuzzie or a dead cat or woteva there called. or have u already?

[VisorBlue]

Nah, that would be a sewing video and seriously boring. There's not much to it. You could staple or glue one together if you wanted. There's special fabric glues -- liquid and iron on. I just hand sewed mine. Good luck!

[james07jamesjames]

the home made dead cat is better. could you do a review on your Audio Technica microphones in a street or mall(or somewhere. haha) with lots of people with the amient noises and other people? thanks. :D

[VisorBlue]

Since I don't sell the stuff and typically work alone, it's more work than I want to go through for fun. I do tests in the environments that I typically work in to make sure I'm going to get what I want. If I ever do tests on busy streets or malls I will share. :-)

[james07jamesjames]

ok, thanks a lot. :) happy shooting! :D

[VisorBlue]

I don't notice any difference. Have fun!

[brose1994]

Dead cat wind screen is a lot quieter easily.

[lukecf]

Great work! I must try it myself. I lost the original shield for my H4 and made another from a cheap generic windshield, but this seems much better. Do you think you lose some frequency content by using fur instead of foam? It didn't sound like it, but it'd be interesting to test it.

[RAM4486]

do you recomend the H4 or H4 n, for indie film audio?

[VisorBlue]

I'd go with the H4n just for the display if that were the only difference, but there's more. Get the H4n.

[tsaudiovisual]

good demo of a basic fix on the ZOOM but you would have thought for the money they would thrown a dead cat in the box but as usual we have to build on their cheap skate ideas.

[VisorBlue]

Let's be fair. None of the field recorders regardless of price come with a dead cat. Even expensive mics don't come with one. They are options that cost $35-60+. Some people don't need them and would be upset having to pay for something they don't need. I'm happy that for a few dollars we can make a very usable one.

[tsaudiovisual]

This is true: But it would be nice for option what ever the price of the recorder for the extra couple of quid / buks it would cost them, as for pro-sumer & Pro mics you expect to pay for a zeppelin and softie and suspension system

[VisorBlue]

Yes, but whatever it cost them has little to do with price. Doesn't cost much to make a dead cat yet they are still relatively expensive.

[crackercookies]

That was very good man!

Thanks for the switching between the few methods.

Thanks a bundle!

[VisorBlue]

Glad it was helpful, thanks for commenting.

[tubeyou010180]

LOL...awesome demo! Thank you very much

[TonyaTko]

Someone just told me to come to this video bcz I made one on the ocean and the wind was cutting out my voice.

Please tell me how to make a dead cat... what type of fur? Are you using elastic? Plz help I'm having a wind problem!!

/watch?v=zBrtQQWBess

watch?v=zDq_u8Yjf_0

-Tko

[VisorBlue]

See the pictures listed in the info area here. I used inexpensive long hair faux fur from a fabric store. It's somewhat elastic in itself so I didn't use any. I just the fabric, folded it over and hand sewed the sides. Took maybe five minutes.

[00bikeboy]

Great demo, thanks!

[clspl]

i think dead cat works even better without the original foam inside... thats interesting

[VisorBlue]

Surprised me, too. A lot of people have worried about losing the original foam windscreen. After doing this test mine went back into the box.

[TheSkillionaire]

I wish you didn't use the cartoon filter so I could see the dead cat better, etc.

[VisorBlue]

There's not a lot to it, but if you click on more info, there's a link to some photos.

[foolinfection1]

awesome.

I'm gonna make one too :)