Bass is way too loud via Zoom H2 live recording

I find the same thing when recording into cubase using my Zoom B2. Through the pedal it's MUCH louder than without.

 

Where was the H2 placed? Or was it taking a line in?

 

I have a Zoom H3 and find that it will over emphasize the bass, depending on placement. I play in a reggae band, so loud bass is encouraged, but I usually try to find a placement that will emphasize the vocals. You need to look at where the recorder was placed, if it was on stage, or even out front but closer to a sub or a wall, you could get an emphasized bass effect. Or, if it was recording direct from the board, the mix will be very different from what was actually happening live because the p.a. is evening out, as well as amplifying, what is coming off the stage. To put it in other words, the soundboard mix is what the audience heard minus all stage volume. (this does not apply if you are playing somewhere huge, like an arena) My basic point is there are a lot of factors that go into making an accurate live recording, and the only sure thing is that a recording made by a band member on consumer grade equipment will not be accurate. Why not at your next gig have the band leader go out front after you have the mix where you think it should be and see what he thinks? One more probability is that the soundman changed the mix as the room filled with people, which is an entirely appropriate thing to do. Good luck, and don't be the fall guy for factors that are out of your control.

 

+100
Well?

I use an H4 on my side of the stage wherever I can set it as the recording is for our use and to catch those musical moments that may only happen once:


so bass will be louder.
Unless it is in the "sweet spot" in the room, the H4 will hear what is there as opposed to a perfect mix.

 

There are 9 different combination of settings on audio capture on the H2. Was it modified, like, normalized, amplified, EQ'd or effected ? Did you hear it off a cd or through the headphone or di output or what? Too many unknowns to diagnose I'm afraid.

Its interesting, we have many H2 inquiries on here about making sure the Bass is audible enough before people buy the H2...now this.

 

I record gigs all the time with my H2. I usually place it out front and center, it has always been accurate as far as bass reproduction goes.

I usually record @ 192 mp3, 120degree rear mic on low mic gain witn no compressor or auto level.

I recorded a rehersal yesterday using the 2ch surround due to the weird band setup. I still got a very accurate recording. What a cool little recorder.

Try placing the H2 back at the sound board or somewhere out front to get a good capture of the room sound.

 

i just read in my manual, it has a low cut filter. you could try that.

 

Your saying, your band leader is mad at you because youre too loud on the H2 during a live gig ???

Smack him

 

We made this mistake once. I was coming off the stage, everyone else was mic'd and balanced with the PA. (I have lots of power) The Zoom was placed on a stand in front of us. It was almost behind the PA, so it got me and the drummer a lot louder than the actual mix the audience was hearing, akin to what we heard on stage with the monitors off.

 

I record in many different situations with my H2, clubs, practice studios mostly. The bass usually comes thru fine, not boomy and fairly well balanced.

OTOH I would absolutely never ever make judgements about the band's "live" balance based on ANY recording. There are way too many factors affecting the overall sound that a recording, even a very good one, will not tell you. An instrument being too loud or too low in a recording means only that it was out of balance in the recording itself and nothing more.

The premise of judging band balance based on a recording is all wrong. Get a long cable or a wireless rig and get out in front of the band and listen. If you can't do that, get a good sound man whose taste and opinion you trust.

 

Zoom H2s are hypersensitive to bass frequencies. They also feature a "low-cut" setting to compensate for this. Just use the low-cut next time.

 

I record band practice with the H2 in 2ch surround mode all the time and never have too much bass (sure I'm biased, but the g**tar players agree). Same goes with Gigs in 120/90 degree mode. I never use the low cut.

I think placement is key.

 

I agree. The placement was actually closer to my amp than the rest of the band and the bass response was pretty even.