ZOOM PodTrak P4 Podcast Recorder Review

Рет қаралды 63,075

Күн бұрын

In today’s episode, we have a look at and a listen to the new ZOOM PodTrak P4 audio recorder for podcasters. This recorder has 4 XLR microphone inputs, 4 headphone jacks, and records very good quality audio to SD card or feeds the audio to your computer, mobile, or tablet via USB-C. On the P4, you can record your pocast as a single mix of all microphone inputs, and at the same time each microphone input to a separate file for more in-depth mixing in post. Either way, you can publish your podcast right away, or do a super detailed mix.
If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses at school.learnlightandsound.com including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.
Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, Pictureline or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
- ZOOM PodTrak P4 - B&H geni.us/BbGtUP
- ZOOM PodTrack P4 with Mic Pack - B&H geni.us/piOX
- ZOOM BTA-2 Bluetooth Adapter - B&H, Sweetwater geni.us/diTk
- Shure SM7B dynamic microphone - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/GYU7dHy
- Electro-Voice RE20 dynamic microphone - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/kP1lo
- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Pictureline, Amazon geni.us/InspOl
- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS II Lens - B&H, Pictureline, Amazon geni.us/gr47
- Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K - B&H, Pictureline geni.us/uK8UqB
- Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS ART Lens - B&H, Pictureline, Amazon geni.us/bhOWVlW
Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself: geni.us/G7by
Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd
#ZOOM #PodTrak #P4
Index:
00:00 Intro
00:22 Recorded with P4
00:35 Podcast Sample
01:30 Remote Call Sample
02:21 Pros
03:18 Power options
03:38 USB Audio Interface
04:02 Mix Minus
04:35 Recording with phone
04:55 Simple Controls
05:20 Lo-cut and Limiters
05:38 Limiter sample
06:24 Self Noise - Clean Preamps
07:17 Price
07:29 Cons
07:32 Build Quality
08:12 Sample Rate and Bit Depth
08:53 Hiss in Headphone Amps
09:09 AA Ni-MH Battery Life
10:20 Who is the P4 for?
11:31 Please Take My Courses

Пікірлер: 577

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

**This is a new version of my original P4 review, this time with a shipping production copy. Impressive little podcast recorder for $199 USD.

@CapsizedBanana 3 жыл бұрын

I was wondering where the old review went! Scoured your channel looking for it a couple of weeks back thinking that I had gone mad. Thanks Curtis for your great insights.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

@@CapsizedBanana Yes, I borrowed the original from ZOOM but assumed it was a production copy. 😕 Turns out it was not and had some rough edges still.

@sagehudson2408 2 жыл бұрын

i guess im asking the wrong place but does any of you know of a way to log back into an instagram account..? I stupidly forgot my login password. I would love any assistance you can offer me!

@MOHAMMADAHMADRAZA_QADRI 2 жыл бұрын

Hi! I just want to know. Can I use this as a recorder and run it from my mixer via XLR left and right into the zoom? And do the 4 headphone outputs monitor an individual XLR or the whole mix entirely. Cause I want to hook it up to my mixer and I have four guest on my podcast so I want them to have their own headphones but must be able to monitor the entire main mix. Is that possible with the p4?

@shanreacts 2 жыл бұрын

I use soundtrap due to sotware picks up too much I am ordering another service after I find working capitol

@aaronpk 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent review! Mine just arrived on Saturday and this is exactly the overview I wanted to see! Can’t wait to try it out on my streams now!

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Congrats, Aaron! I hope it works well for you. Can't wait to hear it on your next stream!

@MyOtheHedgeFox 3 жыл бұрын

Amazing as always, Curtis: concise, detailed, well-filmed and well-described. Thank you so much. Glad Zoom finally got a no-frills device like that out to the market. Much more simple than L8, and with plenty of features to give it an edge over the H-series for podcasting.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks MyO. Yes, the P4 is a nice option for straight-ahead self-funded podcasters.

@Onpex Жыл бұрын

I was going to write something quite similar,...but you beat me to it!

@tombuck 3 жыл бұрын

I’m really impressed with the preamps on this thing! I just wish Zoom made their products more durable.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Me too on both counts!

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

@Any RD Agreed. The P4 is clearly aimed at enthusiasts, not pros.

@caseyonlocation8257 3 жыл бұрын

I'm convinced my PodTrak P4 will self destruct into tiny smithereens upon impact to a concrete surface!

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

@@caseyonlocation8257 Good news: I dropped mine on concrete and it survived though it did scratch up pretty readily. And to be fair, it only fell about 12 inches to the concrete. This thing is likely to be pretty gnarly looking after a little location mileage. And if it falls on one of the knobs, I agree, pretty sure that knob will crack.

@caseyonlocation8257 3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd Wow, serious? I hope you remembered to press the REC button on your video camera when that happened ! :-)

@AegisComicsAlaska 3 жыл бұрын

The best review of this recorder hands down. Thank you. We will be using this for our PopShopLive streaming.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks and happy streaming!

@andrewade7017 3 жыл бұрын

Great review Chris! I picked up the P4 a couple of weeks ago at Best Buy and it falls into my "Best Bang for the Buck" in the Podcast category along with the Zoom Zm1 Kit for $99 in a bundle deal. Just an fyi for your subscribers...Zoom has a universal case (SCU-20) for $22 at B&H that fits the unit well and a must for anyone looking to transport this unit given its plastic construction. Cheers!

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Andre!

@LeonardoVarasGuerrero 2 жыл бұрын

I started to develope an addiction to your reviews of audio recorders :) Great videos always!

@curtisjudd 2 жыл бұрын

👍

@TheAwesomeSam 3 жыл бұрын

thank you for this review. I just purchased this today from my local Best Buy because of your review. This one unit will replace my Sound Blaster K3+ mixer and my Olympus LS-100 recorder. I won't need to carry so many items with me for my portable PodCast system. The sound pad is a big plus too!

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Congrats! I hope it works well for you!

@mightymojnir 11 ай бұрын

Absolutely fantastic review

@curtisjudd 11 ай бұрын

👍

@paanongaba5867 3 жыл бұрын

can’t wait to get my hands on this one, it will simplify my workflow. Thanks for the great review 👍👍👍

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@agambhasin 3 жыл бұрын

I think i am gonna buy it, bcz all i do is podcast, and its very good for recording to an SD Card and then post processing it on a computer, i m really impressed, and again such a great video Curtis!

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Agam and I hope it works well for you!

@jacobchristianglover3655 2 жыл бұрын

Hello from Tampa Florida Curtis! Great review... thank you!!!

@curtisjudd 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Jacob!

@Onpex Жыл бұрын

As always, a GREAT thorough review!

@curtisjudd Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Onpex.

@mattwruff 3 жыл бұрын

Got the battery cable and a case for my Rodecaster. But it much more expensive and much bigger for sure. If your just starting out and you never know where your Podcast is going to be recorded it probably a great fit. Great review as always Curtis!

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Matt.

@TransplantHelper 3 жыл бұрын

I’m so happy I bought this. I was just randomly in Best Buy and grabbed it before I even knew what it was. It’s so much easier that the traditional mixer I’ve been using for mix minus interviews

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

👍 Great to hear it is working well for you! Keep making great recordings!

@Khaledhasan_12 2 ай бұрын

كيف ابدأ التسجيل عليه لو سمحت

@richardmonk9845 2 жыл бұрын

Just caught your video Curtis. Great review, thanks. I've just purchased the P4 for podcasting and I'll be using it for audio backup for video. Not overly concerned about 44.1@16, but would prefer 48@24. I think it suits my needs. Thanks.

@curtisjudd 2 жыл бұрын

Congrats and happy recording!

@drd5540 3 жыл бұрын

Most useful and trustworthy reviews on the internet.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Dr!

@drewcigna8197 3 жыл бұрын

great review! one of the best i’ve ever watched! I’m stuck between this and the rodecaster pro

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Tough decision if you need as small a recorder as possible. Easy decision if you don’t (for me) 😉

@crowlsyong 3 жыл бұрын

Gosh your videos are so well done thank you for stellar organization and content

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Joey.

@ConradCarriker Жыл бұрын

Great in depth review!

@curtisjudd Жыл бұрын

👍

@MikiYork 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tips and advice, I just bought one of these for my podcast

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Happy recording!

@Wulf_Hogan_Entertainment 3 жыл бұрын

I just picked mine up today. I am very pleased with the PTP4. Super easy to use.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

👍 Happy recording!

@Wulf_Hogan_Entertainment 3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd thank you!

@fuglbird 3 жыл бұрын

Another great review. Thanks!

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Kajak Kajak!

@TheParrottBros 3 жыл бұрын

Brilliant video as always, bang for buck that’s a great little unit with bundles on uses. Might have to get one for the kit box

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks The Parrott Bro's. Agreed, impressive for its price.

@remotelytim 3 жыл бұрын

Great review. I already own a Rodecaster Pro, it's amazing of course. They do make the Rode to be fully 'portable' by using a robust power bank but it's not portable in the sense you toss it in a computer backpack. Portability here should be understood that you can 'go remote' with it. Now, the Zoom Podtrak 4 captures true portability and you can include it in travel plans much easier. And who can hate that price point, right? I'm considering getting the PodTrak 4 for those times when I want some features and true portability, not just remote capability.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Makes sense.

@johnnytrayes4734 3 жыл бұрын

Great review thanks Curtis 😃👍

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Johnny! 🎙

@RVKevin 3 жыл бұрын

Great review Curtis !

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks The RV Addict!

@honestnerd 3 жыл бұрын

Was waiting for this review, thanks Curtis! 70db of gain and pretty clean pre-amps...can't beat that for the price! Too bad it still hasn't arrived to any store here in Spain :(

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

You're welcome and I hope it arrives soon. Mine has been on pre-order for over two months and finally just arrived.

@essentiallyprudentwithmadz583 3 жыл бұрын

Great comprehensive review :)

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Madz!

@a.matusiak2202 9 ай бұрын

After 2 years still worth the price, thanks for review. One note as audio interface it works as two mono output. you can't pan mics, so both signals are the same, mix of all inputs

@curtisjudd 9 ай бұрын

👍

@buddhaletina 3 жыл бұрын

Fantastic review. I'm thinking of buying this one.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks. I hope it works well for you!

@enthuesd 3 жыл бұрын

Superb review thorough thank you

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks.

@hisnameisrentoo 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome review! Still as tempted now as when the first video came out. Thanks, Boss!

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

👍 Thanks Ren!

@hisnameisrentoo 3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd I just did a re-watch, and the thing is literally in my Sweetwater cart. A quick question though: would it make sense to get this for our podcast if I already have a Zoom h5, or should I just get the dual XLR EXH-6 capsule? :s

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

@@hisnameisrentoo If the H5 is doing the job for you, then that seems like a fine option. I believe that the EXH-6 does NOT supply phantom power so that's a no-go if your microphones need phantom power.

@hisnameisrentoo 3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd You're right... The h5 is working fine, I guess I just got blinded by the idea of a new device. The current setup is a little janky, involving a stereo breakout cable, lav mics and dynamic mics (you'd likely cringe). I guess I'll split the difference and get the EXH and 2 more dynamics, to streamline a bit. Thanks very much for the advice! Happy New year, and lots of love from the Philippines!

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

@@hisnameisrentoo 👍 Janky can be a problem, too. If there's risk of something getting messed up, then a simpler setup is a worthwhile investment. 😀

@magezi_zi Жыл бұрын

Thank you this has been helpful

@curtisjudd Жыл бұрын

👍

@jaimelopez9339 2 жыл бұрын

Stellar, thank you.

@curtisjudd 2 жыл бұрын

👍

@tbreit 3 жыл бұрын

It's really a shame Zoom doesn't provide a stylized plastic mini-box/sleeve that would flip open (clamshell?) or slide over the unit to protect it from moisture/dirt in storage/travel. Also, the 1-hour use time on batteries was an awful oversight - that footprint would have nicely accommodated 4-AA's with minimal stretch. Informative review as always Curtis!

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Thomas. Maybe the DeckSaver company will provide something like that.

@yourmother91 2 жыл бұрын

really excellent review video. bravo

@curtisjudd 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Joey.

@markanderson6639 3 жыл бұрын

Good review Curtis.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mark.

@chriswilko18 3 жыл бұрын

Stumbled on this purely by chance whilst looking up H6 videos. The samples were top-notch and have me sold. Plus, the savings made on the P4 instead of the H6 I can invest in a Shure SM7B. Oct 31st... Curtis Judd Appreciation Day! 🤣

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Hahaha! Happy recording!

@markbarbee8659 3 жыл бұрын

Great review

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mark.

@ScottJWaldron 3 жыл бұрын

Wow, that looks really good! A ton of useful features for a decent price. That 44khz is super weird. Nice job on the video. :)

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Scott.

@HersheyBar 2 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd having the 16 beat versus 32-bit recording how much of an impact is that? I meant to say 24-bit versus 16

@curtisjudd 2 жыл бұрын

@@HersheyBar Not much if you're not going to do any post processing of the audio.

@BrendanEvan 3 жыл бұрын

Seems like an excellent choice!

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

👍

@cli23 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome stuff as always! 70db of clean gain is pretty sweet!

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Casey!

@coolcasti 3 жыл бұрын

Great review, concise and full of valuable information. Thanks a lot for this video. I'm starting in the podcast world and saw this device, I think it offers great value for money and could be a great tool for the beginning. Would you recommend another device for podcasting?

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

The PodTrak P4 seems like a great device for podcasting!

@JP11 3 жыл бұрын

Curtis, amazing review as usual. Do you recommend the P4 or the H8 for the lowest self-noise and overall quality?

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

The P4 if you're podcasting. The H8 if you need to record other types of things - music, video, etc.

@StarWarsJay 3 жыл бұрын

I love your mic mate.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

👍 May the force be with you.

@StarWarsJay 3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd cheers!

@pattherien7323 3 жыл бұрын

My research led me to realize the the UHURU XLR mic looks like the best option for purchasing multiple microphones at a great price. If I'm understanding correctly the only thing I would need is this P4 device in between, serving as an amp and recorder at the same time.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

The P4 inputs are pre-amplifiers, yes. And the P4 is also a recorder.

3 жыл бұрын

amazing piece at that cost. Thx!

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

👍

@NatheChocolate Ай бұрын

Hi Curtis, If you had to choose between the Zoom Podtrack P4 and the Zoom H6, which one would you choose and why? Again, thank you very much for your time and excellent video reviews as always, very detailed in every aspect…

@curtisjudd Ай бұрын

Depends on which mics you plan to use and whether you need more than one headphone output. If you’ll be using dynamic mics and need several people to have headphones at the same time, PodTrak.

@CodyConley 3 жыл бұрын

I was really surprised by the preamps! especially on a dynamic

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Me too

@streamiumlive 2 жыл бұрын

I love the great audio of your recording. Had to say that first. Also I think you've summed this product and its audience really well. On that note and with your final remark about this not being great for output, I'm wondering if it's the right product for me. I shoot multi-camera live mixes and have recently downsized to mirrorless cameras, losing XLR inputs of the bulkier cameras. So I'm looking for something to enable me to capture XLR again, and feed it into a vision mixer (e.g. Atem Mini Pro). As the Atem Mini has no XLR connectors, I'd be stuck with using a line-in/mic-in via a 3.5mm plug. The main mix would be via the XLR device (e.g. the P4) and fed into the Atem via a single channel. I know you didn't cover this use-case specifically but would you know if there's any noticeable latency? You said the audio monitoring wasn't up to much, but is there a decent audio output I can use to connect to a 3.5mm stereo input? Despite doing mostly live broadcast and recording, I like to capture recordings on each of the cameras as well as the final video mix. I was pleased to hear this captures inputs plus the mix, because it give flexibility to rehash the audio if I'm feeling the need to tweak the mix after the event. Sorry for the long question - hope you or one of your other viewers can help. Take care

@curtisjudd 2 жыл бұрын

If you're looking to feed audio to the ATEM, I'd look at other options. The P4 just isn't made for that. If you're ok feeding audio to a computer via USB, then its an ok option.

@crooker2 3 жыл бұрын

Just got my new P4. Would have rather gotten the P8, but it's not out yet sadly. Can't wait to play more with the P4. Seems durable, but I would have preferred more soft-touch buttons. I guess that would have been harder to make them illuminatable. Now I need 4 Shure MV7's. :)

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

You're on your way, pal! Happy recording! 🎙

@joelalonsopr8 3 жыл бұрын

hi, great review! from an overall stand point, would I be better off maybe looking into an H6? possibly maybe even an H8? I will be doing primarly podcasting but also plan to use to record interview with shotgun mics and jobs of that sort.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

If it will be for video interviews, I'd probably go with the H6 or H8 but keep in mind neither of those will work well with dynamic microphones like the SHURE SM7B very well - they just do not provide enough clean gain not their own.

@joelalonsopr8 3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd yeah, that's a very good point. If I were too have a cloud lifter then that should probably do the trick, right?

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

@@joelalonsopr8 Yes, should do a nice job.

@GoodhitsTV 3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd sorry - I’m confused, why would the podcast having a video component mean the h6 or h8 is preferable?

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

@@GoodhitsTV For video, the standard sample rate is 48kHz. Probably not an issue for KZfaq which will take 44.1kHz encoded audio, but could be a problem if joining another show.

@MikeG-js1jt 3 жыл бұрын

You definitely have an advanced talent for Feathering the rough edges of a product verbally hahaha

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Ha! It was the preamps and limiters on this thing which won my heart so I couldn't be too terribly rough on it also given its $200 price tag.

@hakamsoufan 3 жыл бұрын

Great , thank you

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

You are welcome!

@ChaseTheSummit 3 жыл бұрын

I've currently got my hands on the Rodecaster and the P4. I've found in side by side testing with the Rode Podmic that the Rodecaster seems to have cleaner Pre-amps even though they don't provide as much gain. At +55db they sound similar to the P4 at +35db. There's also "steps" in the gain of the P4. Like at "4" the hissing drops and ramps up again to "6" where it drops again. Almost like different circuits being used for different ranges of gain. Have you found this to be the case with your P4? Ultimately, if money wasn't a consideration do you consider the Rodecaster to be a huge step up in terms of audio quality or simply just features? How about the Zoom P8? Great video as always Curtis!

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Sounds like you've dug into more detail than I have - good work. I do consider the RODECaster Pro to be a step up if you are live-streaming or need to reduce the amount of post work with the in-built compressor, noise gate, de-esser, etc.

@ChaseTheSummit 3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd Thanks Curtis! Ha, yeah I tend to obsess over the minutia. I'm interested to see how the "noise reduction" feature works on the new Zoom P8. Hopefully you can test that in your upcoming review? 😬 It would be cool to see a side-by-side with the rodecaster and an SM7B or something.

@LearnLightAndSoundSessions 3 жыл бұрын

@@ChaseTheSummit I hope to have a look at that once the P8 arrives. Thanks!

@tschuschenaquarium-wien-po5759 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Curtis, thanks for this clear review. I would add another group of users: For radio reporters it may be a very useful device, mainly for using it „on the road“. At home, I am very happy with my Rodecaster Pro, BUT in order to taking it with me, it´s too big. That´s why I ordered the Podtrak P4. Let me add here another CON:Zoom cannot deliver until 2021 to Germany/Austria...Bad planning? Overwhelmed by success? Pandemic?

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Stephan, thanks. Good point re: radio reporters. I suspect the pandemic has slowed production - seems to have affected quite a few companies.

@thatfootballfitnessguy 8 ай бұрын

Great video thanks mate. If you were to record the video as well as the audio, is this something that would be best doing in post edit as opposed to trying to connect the camera recording to the audio?

@curtisjudd 8 ай бұрын

Yes, that's my thinking.

@TriniTrent 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! Which budget TRRS to TRRS cable do you recommend for connecting a phone to P4?

@curtisjudd 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve had good results with monoprice cables.

@tammanaq 2 жыл бұрын

Some critique points about the Podtrak P4 after using it for several phone interviews: The display should be tilted - it can be quite hard to read it, if you're not at an 90 degree angle to it. And it's not practical to tilt it since the headphones jacks are at the bottom. The headphone jacks should have been on the top or sides - not at the bottom. They should also had put a screw mount on the bottom so you would be able to mount it to a stand. And there really should be an build in noise gate. It's also counter intuitive that the buttons light up when NOT in use. The most annoying thing is that the recording LED is so dim that you have to look close to see if you are recording. It should have been a flashing, pertruding LED and the display should have a light in it for working in dim settings.The battery door is also in a non colored plastic that don't match the metallic paint of the rest of the product. Other than that it's a good product and does the job :)

@curtisjudd 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the insights, @tammanaq.

@pepelsbey 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the review! It would be good to see a comparison between Zoom H6, Zoom PodTrak P4, MixPre-6 and maybe some other 4 XLR input recorder. I believe P4 is the cheapest one, but what else is different?

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Vadim. We'll talk about them in my next recorder meta-review.

@mribi 3 жыл бұрын

I’m keen for that too! I’d love it to be “dumbed down” enough for somebody who has just been using in camera audio so far

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

@@mribi 👍

@lawdawgproductions 3 жыл бұрын

Chris, great review. If the choice is between this and the P8, what is your recommendation? I guess the real question is whether the price differential in the products is justified for podcasting.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

My personal preference is for the P8, but there are a lot of considerations which may make the P4 a better choice. If mobility is at the top of your list and you don't need more than 4 inputs, the P4 is probably preferable. I really like the "Noise Reduction" feature so I'd choose the P8.

@theot3625 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Chris great review as usual. Is it just me or is there a hiss coming through the preamps? Nevermind, i see you did mention the hiss...

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Let YOUR ears decide whether this is good enough for your purposes. 👍

@sasaha8389 3 жыл бұрын

hey curtis, nice review! I was wondering....would you recommend this over the zoom H5? it looks like the preamps from the p4 are better than the one in the zoom h5. Did you reviewed the zoom H5?

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

For podcasts, I would, yes. But for general purpose, the H5 has the edge.

@rumial-afghani4589 Жыл бұрын

Hi @curtis Great review!! May i ask, im considering investing in this, however i heard hiss in the background and it stop and go while youre speaking, are you applying noise gate or something? Or it just the podtrak? Cant thank you enough for all your content, i learn a lot :)

@curtisjudd Жыл бұрын

That was bad use of a de-breath plugin in post processing. That's not the PodTrak P4's fault. That was me.

@rumial-afghani4589 Жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd Ohh I see, many thanks!

@macbrebonicks8668 2 жыл бұрын

I just bought it. Wish it had more or a rugged aluminum frame.

@curtisjudd 2 жыл бұрын

Me too, but if it did, I bet it would sell for more than $200 USD.

@TomQsTechTips 7 ай бұрын

Great video as always Curtis. I have the PodTrak P4 and I love it for its portable size. However it is missing one feature I am looking for, which is the ability to mute tracks while LIVE but record the entirety of 4 tracks even if they were muted. Pretty much in exactly the same way an ATEM ISO records all of the video tracks even if they are not LIVE. I record conferences where there is heavy audience participation so I have mics around the room, but I don't want the LIVE broadcast to hear those mics most of the time. But occasionally I forget to unmute... and don't capture the question or comment when it was LIVE and I'd like to go back after the fact and recover that. Will any of the recorders you have tested do that?

@curtisjudd 6 ай бұрын

Yes, RODECaster Pro II and Mackie DLZ and Sound Devices MixPre and ZOOM F6 and F8

@myfordnoel6891 3 жыл бұрын

Hey Curtis, another awesome video as always. Quick question, how would you rank the following recorders for one-man production Podcasting and KZfaq videos with 2 to 4 people in the studio and one to two participants on the phone or on video calls; ZOOM PodTrak P4, Zoom F6 Audio Recorder, and Rodecaster Pro. I am using 4 Shure SM7Bs with cloud lifters on each mic. I am also looking for a fast to medium turnaround with the highest sound quality. It would be great to see a comparison video with these three products Thank you.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

I'd choose the F6 and use its auto mix feature. That'll be a big time saver.

@myfordnoel6891 3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd Thank you, for the feedback. I will move forward with using the Zoom F6.

@AntonioPetitDesign 27 күн бұрын

Great review!, i bought my Podtrak p4 a few days ago and a SM58 mic for podcasting with a simple microphone stand on top of my desk. I am really new in this podcast world. The thing is that the mic catch a lot of noises ( shoes, chair moving, grabbing the mic )…do i am missing something to get a better quality trying to prevent those kind of noises?

@simborar 3 жыл бұрын

Hello Curtis! Nice video again! Do you think 44.1k could be a problem thinking about sync when recording video?

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

No, it seems like sync usually results from less expensive recorders with poor quality clocks.

@benjhaisch 3 жыл бұрын

Can you do a mix minus for iOS calls on the H4N? I know it’s a bit off topic, but you mentioned that as another option at the end, but I’m not sure how to get that to work in particular.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Not without additional hardware

@CKBrown-ow1jq 3 жыл бұрын

hey Curtis! unrelated question; I'm a podcaster and I recently got my hands on a Rode NT USB Mini. Any advice on how to get the most out of that mic? I'm thinking of getting a second one in case I have a guest. Thoughts? PS. (edit) - love your channel, I've only been a subscriber for a fortnight now but I'm hooked! Great sound, great lighting, great content.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Hi C.K., my take is that the NT USB Mini sounds best if you have it 4-6 inches from the mouth. So I’d invest in an after-market microphone stand to get it closer.

@CKBrown-ow1jq 3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd Thanks, Curtis! I've got a couple of PSA 1 stands but I think I'll go ahead and order the DS1 if you think it's best closer to the mouth (without breaking one's neck lol). All the best! Stay safe. :)

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

@@CKBrown-ow1jq 👍 Let me know how it works out and happy recording!

@michaelhotten752 3 жыл бұрын

Chris - great review. does the P4 accept line level inputs?

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

No, unfortunately. Not made to take line level signals. You'd probably want to look at the LiveTrak line instead.

@ourhomeourgarden.1372 2 жыл бұрын

Hi. Thanks for a great review. What would you say the P4's preamps like compared the the Zoom H6? Better, worser or the same?

@curtisjudd 2 жыл бұрын

More gain on the P4 for sure. Slightly less noisy. Better if you're going to use dynamic microphones.

@thousandyearsofoppression7760 2 жыл бұрын

Great review mate, 2 questions - could you plug a usb mic (ie Rode NT Mini with a USB-A to C adapter) into the USB port ? If so, could the guest on the other end of the phone call connected via 3.5 still hear you ? Just trying to use the gear I've got rather than go an buy a XLR mic. Cheers

@curtisjudd 2 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately, no, the USB port is only for computers or mobile.

@desmondnicholson5531 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Curtis, thanks for your review of the Zoom P4 Podcast Recorder... I also love your Intro/outro music. Is the music proprietary to you...if not any information when I could go to get a sample of the music track? Thanks Desmond

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, that is a track by Utah available at musicbed. Link can be found in the description.

@desmondnicholson5531 3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd Thanks Curtis..

@franciscoaguilar9323 3 жыл бұрын

Hello Curtis, are you planning to review the new Shure MV7? That would be great!!!

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, I am. In my livestream tomorrow on my Curtis Judd Audio channel, I'll be using the MV7 and SM7B to compare the sound of the two microphones. I'll follow up with a full review on this channel in a couple of weeks.

@jorgedelio 3 жыл бұрын

By connecting 4 mics and 4 headphones ... everyone hears everyone's voice? Thanks Curtis! :) nice video!

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Yes

@LikeThisReview 3 жыл бұрын

@Curtis Judd. 11:09 and also in answer to comments - it’s not a good idea to use headphones out to connect to a camera (or AMP) for example. A headphone output is typically lower than a Line Out (specs?) or is mainly the noise floor / ratio?

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

In this case, the biggest issue is the quality of the headphone output - plenty of self-noise that doesn't exist in the recording.

@JonoDsouza 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Curtis, terrific, high quality content, very helpful, just subscribed! Question; if I want to get audio from a Rode NTG5 which is attached to the DSLR hot shoe on a Sony A7C while out and about; it seems to me that the PodTrak P4 might not be a good interface because of no proper outputs to send to the camera input. As well as no hot shoe or other DSLR mounting options on the P4. Would u perhaps suggest the Zoom H4n Pro 4 for this purpose? (I do also want to maintain the option of recording audio directly to PC for live streaming / zoom calls, so kind of looking for both a mobile And at home solution to capturing the NTG5 audio.. Thanks!~

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Jono, yes, the H4n Pro is a better all-purpose recorder/interface.

@albocaj5975 3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd better preamps too? What if I have an external preamp already. Which of the 2 would serve me better, or I guess which has a line input?

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

@@albocaj5975 No, actually not as good as the PodTrack P4. But should be good enough for the RODE NTG5.

@jonathanpinfield5195 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Curtis. Is it possible to live stream from the P4 to the Mixlr Creators app on an iPhone via the USB-C connector and Apple camera adapter into the lightning socket in the iPhone? I'm not sure Mixlr Creators/the iPhone recognises the signal as an input? After a quick test with my friends kit, it sounded like the iPhone's in-built mic was picking up the sound, as opposed to the inputs from the P4 via the USB-C connector/Apple camera adapter. We're looking at using P4s for live audio streaming sports matches, alongside iPhones with the Mixlr Creators app.

@curtisjudd 2 жыл бұрын

It should work. In my experience, when iPhone or iPad detects an audio interface connected, it turns all audio input and output to the external audio interface. But if it isn’t working in your case, you should probably contact ZOOM support. Best wishes!

@TheBerkAlaraShow 2 жыл бұрын

We are having a few issues with our audio in our videos due to the setup we are using and are trying to decide which field recorder would do best in our situation. We currently have two Rode videomics one Pro+ and one NTG which are recording into different cameras. We want to change Dad's microphone to a dynamic so we get less echo from his microphone picking our voices up. We were thinking we could use a Zoom H4n PRO and plug the VideoMic NTG into the stereo input along with a dynamic microphone (most likely Rode PodMic due to price and quality) into an XLR, but you mentioned that the preamps are not as good in there. We prefer a field recorder that can also connect to the computer and iphone, so we can live stream and Dad can record the shorts using the same microphone (which he uses an iphone to record shorts). Could you revisit all the field recorders again to help us determine which is the best fit? There seems to be many new devices available and we are trying to stick in the $200-$300 range and not have to buy new microphones. Technically a P4 might actually work if we can source the P4 and a shotgun microphone in the same price range. NOTE: We are not planning to feed the cameras with the microphones, we will use the built in microphones to be able to sync in post.

@curtisjudd 2 жыл бұрын

A Zoom H4n with a cloud lifter or Fethead should work fine for the dynamic microphone.

@StephSeroussi 3 жыл бұрын

Hey Curtis, thanks and congrats for the review. I just recorded my first podcast with it.. pretty good so far, I was on the mic and my guests on Session Link Pro, everything went good except I couldn't manage to record on Ableton at the same time I was recording on the SD. I just can't figure out why nothing came in, though the card was recognized. Any Idea ?

@StephSeroussi 3 жыл бұрын

Found it ! It's because of the USB Mix Minus.. when it's ON, nothing comes in Ableton except the Microphones, Good to know

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

You got it! Nice job sorting that out.

@kurokid2441 3 жыл бұрын

Hi there! Thanks a lot for great review as usual. I just bought an H8 to finish my audio-for-video work. But I've got a little confused about the Audio Interface and Podcast Recorder (such as P4). If there's a scenario for me to say or sing something on my own, whether it'll be good to have the Audio Interface or Podcast Recorder? For example, if I'm trying to purchase the Sontronics 3X, what should I choose between those two kinds of devices? Sincerely.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

I would think the H8 is better suited for audio-for-video work because it has a line output. The P4 only has headphone outputs.

@kurokid2441 3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd Thx. That's the point for me right now. Then I don't have to pay more on the devices to finish my work. If there's any need for me to record my voice or singing, I'd rather use an audio interface such as Zoom UAC-2 to roll it.

@macbrebonicks8668 2 жыл бұрын

A rugged case would be nice.

@curtisjudd 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed, but also something that would raise the price.

@dant.6364 3 жыл бұрын

check out this 3d printed adapter that routes the headphone jacks out the opposite end of the device and also adds tripod mounts on the bottom.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Interesting.

@AngloSaxon1 3 жыл бұрын

Like yourself I have a number of Audio recorders, I am looking to get the Podtrak P4 for both podcasting and field recording. Do you think the P4 would be a good field recorder? I am going to record nature and wildlife. Or would you use a different recorder for field recording?

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Hmm, I don't think it would be my first choice for field recording but I suppose it could be made to work.

@Joey-yj5ry Жыл бұрын

Great informative video. Hate to mention it but there seems to be some light white noise the cuts in and out as you speak. What is happening there?

@curtisjudd Жыл бұрын

badly applied de-breath plugin.

@TechBaffle 9 ай бұрын

I was wondering if this had enough clean gain to record a Shure MV7X. I have a Tascam DR-60MKII and it records VERY quietly, and if you increase the gain it's very noisy. I was thinking of using my audio interface but this looks good at being able to control each source, plus recording mic to a separate source is a great idea incase you need to adjust things in post.

@curtisjudd 9 ай бұрын

Yes, should do the job.

@EzzenzDK 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Curtis. Are you going to test the new Shure MV7?

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, will have my first audio samples on the livestream on my second channel tomorrow.

@miguelkieling532 3 жыл бұрын

Hello Curtis. The mic I'm buying for voiceovers and podcasts is the Behringer XM8500. I also need to buy an interface. I was wondering if you think the ZOOM U22 is enough to drive that mic? This would be ideal as it is cheaper, smaller and lighter. On the other hand, since dynamic mics such as the XM8500 are a little gain hungry, do you think I should buy this Zoom P4 as it offers more gain? Many thanks!!

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Miguel, yes, I'd opt for something with more gain like the P4 (assuming you're not doing any sound for video).

@miguelkieling532 3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd Thank you very much!!

@BhaskarNatarajan8055 3 жыл бұрын

Hi thanks for your detailed review. Just a query: How do I stop recording multiple/separate audio files/tracks, even when no Mic is connected to that channel?

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

I'd set the gain to 0 and press the mute button for the channels not in use.

@BhaskarNatarajan8055 3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd - Thanks

@StephSeroussi 3 жыл бұрын

By the way, what camera do you use ? Looks amazing.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Steph, the talking head part was shot with the Blackmagic Pocket 6K and the b-roll was shot with a Panasonic GH5.

@hassaanmian234 3 жыл бұрын

Hey Curtis, love all the way from Pakistan... Love all your review, you always influence my buying decisions... lol and now I'm confused between H5 or P4. Primary purpose is to have an audio solution for podcasting both on-site as well as remotely using streamyard or other online video streaming/podcasting solutions and getting a really good audio quality from the device.Would be using the Audio-technica atr2100x. Would you suggest to go with P4 which does the mix/minus for you or doing it manually on H5 and would that give better result?

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Hassaan - thanks and great to hear from you! I'd prefer the P4 for your projects. Better preamps and easier to get a mix-minus. Happy recording!

@hassaanmian234 3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd Thanks Curtis, you're awesome

@hassaanmian234 3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd Hi Curtis, a quick question, Is there any way to reduce or finish the amount of hissing sound from P4 while recording without doing it in post?

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

@@hassaanmian234 Hissing is likely from the microphones or sound in the room. Which microphone(s) are you using and are there any fans or air conditioning or anything else running in the room where you record?

@hassaanmian234 3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd The room is quiet... its may be the noise from the preamps of the device i guess or may be my Samson Q2U and ATR2100x... also planning to use the rode videomicro on a boom stand like Caleb (DSLR VIdeo Shooter)'s youtube desk setup video, but connecting it to the P4 using a TRS to XLR adapter and then pulling its audio from USB C port into OBS to record my online course. Does this workflow even make sense to record a high quality noiseless recording or should I buy a focusrite 2i2 or motu m2 for the OBS recordings and use P4 only for Podcasts?

@adamwatkins9765 3 жыл бұрын

I'd love to see you do a review for the PodTrak P8. It looks like a big challenger to the RODEcaster Pro, if more mic channels are required. I wonder if the limiters in the P8 operate in identical fashion to what you found in the P4?

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

I've got a P8 on order so plan on a review!

@VenansiusFortunatus 3 жыл бұрын

Hi I need an advice. In terms of sound quality ,Do the Zoom P4 already good for podcasting? Do I need to go to the expensive one like rode procaster? And for the mic, is the zoom zdm 1 is good enough?

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

If "Good Enough" is what you're looking for, yes, the P4 and ZDM1 seem good enough to me.

@salehhassan5170 Жыл бұрын

I was able to use the 3.5mm jack on the right side as output to record directly into a mobile phone, in a similar scenario would recording out of P4 into a zoom F1 to secure a 48 kHz 24 Bit wave file backup file a valid idea if I’m intending to sync audio / video in post, or is a 44.1 to 48 kHz a more valid option ?

@curtisjudd Жыл бұрын

I don’t know the pathway the audio takes through the P4. It may already have been through a conversion from analog to 44.1kHz digital and then back to analogue for the outputs. I would just leave the audio at 44.1 if you’re uploading to KZfaq.

@Jarhead6 3 жыл бұрын

Wow that does a lot! Why the rodecaster pro over this? 200 vs 600.

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

Better processing options (noise gate, compressor, de-esser, big bottom, etc.) and higher quality build. Also 48kHz sample rate.

@jacvanderspuy5618 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the review. So this is not the device you want to use to collect audio and send it to your atem mini for live streaming? Rodecastor pro the better and more expensive device? Cheers

@healthyinspirations6692 3 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd Jac, why would you not use this to send to an Atem mini?

@curtisjudd 3 жыл бұрын

No, I wouldn't use the PodTrak for that. It only has USB and headphone outputs and I wouldn't use the headphone outputs to feed audio to another device as the headphone amps aren't that clean. If you're using an encoding app like vMix, OBS, or Ecamm Live, then you could make it work. Best wishes!

@KristianDowling 2 жыл бұрын

Curtis how did you record your main talking head audio? I can hear a strong hiss and then the noise gate kicking in. Was this from the P4?

@curtisjudd 2 жыл бұрын

The talking head audio was recorded with the Shure SM7B and the P4. In post, I applied a breath control plugin to reduce the amplitude of the breaths.

@KristianDowling 2 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd I see. The noise of the amps is really quite bad, well worse than I expected. Sounds like other units like the H8 would be significantly better?

@curtisjudd 2 жыл бұрын

@@KristianDowling Hi again, I don’t think the H8 is a lot better with microphones like the SM7B. My point in using it is that it is the microphone that is very popular with podcasters and which requires a TON of gain. So most preamps are going to struggle to supply enough gain. If you’re not using an SM7B, you’ll probably be fine with whichever recorder you’d prefer. If you are going to use the SM7B, then I’d consider looking instead at the ZOOM F8n or Sound Devices MixPre.

@KristianDowling 2 жыл бұрын

@@curtisjudd Thanks Curtis appreciate your time. I actually had the F6 and bought your course which helped a lot! But due to lockdowns it was overkill and I do most of my recording at home so just wanting something simple to power condenser mics in the field - so thinking either the P4 or the H6/8