The directions in the H4N for blind users guide are very good, but less than laser-quality in one tiny respect. If my ears were better, I could probably hear the difference and not need to ask here, but they're not, so I must. (grin). I am referring, of course, to how to change the microphones from a 90º to a 120º pickup configuration. The manual states, and I quote:
While holding the recorder in the normal operating position, do the following. spin the right microphone inward and the left microphone outward for a 90 degree XY coincident pair configuration. Reverse this for a 120 degree wide pickup pattern. The changing of microphone positions is very difficult to perceive tactilely because it is accomplished by slightly changing the angle due to the rotation on their spindle mounts. There is a click stop at either position. End quote. Now, the questions. 1. Does he mean the right-channel , which is the microphone anchored on the left side, or the left channel, which is the microphone anchored on the right side? See where I'm going here? 2. Does "inward" mean toward the other mic? I would have stated this vastly diffently: Rotate both spindles as if you were rolling them toward the back of the unit for the 90º configuration, toward the front of the unit for the 120º configuration. So far, no one has complained about the recordings I've made with the H4N, that they were off-balance or one-sided or anything, but in the scientific interest of getting it right, I'd like to know just what to do here. Thanks in advance. To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: [email protected]
