Zoom H4n problems as audio interface with Sonar 8.5

Dear all,

I'd appreciate some help with the following issue.

I'm using A Zoom H4n as an audio interface with Sonar 8.5 running on 64 bit Windows 7.  I've downloaded and installed the latest 64 bit drivers from the Zoom website.  In Sonar, I'm using the ASIO drivers and the Zoom is recognised.

So far, so good - the Zoom works fine playing back previously recorded wave data in Sonar projects (and in other software, such as Audacity).  It also works with low latency on soft synths.

The problem comes when I try to record new audio.  I connect the Zoom as an interface at 44.1 kHz, select it as a source in Sonar (project rate also 44.1kHz) and it records okay except that mid to high frequencies (say 300Hz +) have a sort of wobbling oscillation on them.  This occurs in both Sonar and Audacity.

When I use the Zoom as a stand-alone unit, it records fine.

So, is the Zoom H4n simply a rubbish interface or has someone had a similar problem and found a solution?

All answers gratefully received.

Mike Thorn.

Hi,

Thanks for responding.

I'm using the Zoom's built in microphones.  The recorded wav file then has the "wobble" - it's basically a very poor recording.  I don't know if there's anywhere on this site to post files?

I suspect that either the drivers are no good or the Zoom is just not properly designed to be an audio interface.

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who is using the Zoom as an audio interface with Sonar.

Many thanks,

Mike Thorn

There was a recent firmware update for the H4n. Probably has nothing to do with your problem, but it's a good idea to keep up-to-date.

Many thanks for your responses.

I've finally pinned the problem down to my amplifier - Baa, I feel sheepish.

And peeved - I've been chasing this all day.  The previously recorded wav files were making the same wobbly noise but, since they had less high frequencies than the acoustic guitar I was trying to record, I didn't notice them.

Routing the output of the Zoom to a different amplifier or headphones got rid of the noise.

Many thanks again.

Mike Thorn

Folks, I attempted to hook up the Zoom H4N to my PC running Cakewalk producer 7.x,and I could not see the zoom in the available inputs.  I have already instaled the 64 bit driver from the manufacturer, is there anything else that I need to do to enable it in Cakewalk?  Thanks so very muchin advance for your help!

Thanks so very much for your response.  Well, I can now see the zoom in the control panel, and in Sonar in the audio options and in the drivers panel ASIO, but the only thing that is enabled is my EMU ASIO input and output drivers. the zoom shows up there, but grayed out and I cannot check it, like the EMU ASIO drivers, which can be checked or unchecked.  I also don't have it as an input selection at the track level.  Is there something else that I need to do to enable it?  Thanks again very much in advance for your help!

After playing with things more, I can record in Audacity without any problem, and the zoom shows up in Adobe Soundbooth as well, although I didn't try recording in Soundbooth.

Thanks for the reply.  My EMU ASIO interface is a PCI card, however, so it is not plugged into a USB port.  And I certainly don't want to take apart the PC and unplug the PCI card in order to use this Zoom with Sonar. I wonder if there is a way to disable the PCI card and just use the zoom, without removing it from a PCI slot?  Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts,

I did disable the entire EMU 404 card, and rebooted.  When I went back into Sonar, it showed NO ASIO devices, and gave me a warning about not having any ASIO devices.  The zoom does show up in the control panel, even with a little audio meter on the right side, and when I speak into the zoom, you can see the meter go up and down, but there is nothing available in Cakewalk once the EMU card was disabled.  Do I have to scan for something, or is there a way that I can manually tell Cakewalk about the existence of the zoom?  Thanks in advance again, for your help! 

I'm not really one to give up easily, especially since I can see and record in Audacity.  Surely someone has successfully gotten this to work in Sonar 7 PE.  Hopefully they will be willing to share their experience.  Thanks so much again for your help!

You say you got it working , but then you say it stutters?? that's not working....To bad the OP or mr Dillon never let anyone know if there is a success story here. Seems not. 

Replace word "working" with "recognising and able to record"
 
Just noticed that there is a Contol Panel item for the Zoom.
 
The latency there was set to 5ms which I am guessing is my problem.
 
Will confirm when I get home and can try it out