Firmware upgrade for Zoom H4

[Hovmod]

Even if your original data will be lost by un-known reason, recovering is not possible.

Yeah, I'll do a backup before upgrading the firmware. Thanks.


And of course, the new firmware has the following features:

The latest System version 2.00 has been released. This provides following features.

- Support for SDHC cards over 4GB
- Adopted a larger display font to be easier to read
- Indicates the battery capacity and recordable time at the top of the screen
- Added a File Dividing function to create separate files for each song from a long-hours of live recording
- Added a Low-Cut filter to reduce wind noise and breath popping
- Added an MP3 post-encoding funciton which can convert recorded WAV files into MP3s
- Added a Mono Mix function for the purpose of Electronic News Gathering
- Added an Auto Recording function enables you to start recording automatically when the input signal exceeds a certain level
- Added a Normalize function lets you increase the audio level of the recorded file at a maximum

Apparently the new ASIO driver has lower latency as well. I don't know, I haven't been using it so I can't compare.

All this and more at Zoom.

[Hovmod]

Hm. I can't seem to use the ASIO driver on my laptop. Crashes Reaper when I try to set it up, and Tracktion just says the driver has shut down.

I can remember this going on with my desktop as well, until I did something right, but I can't remember what - I have no use for the H4ASIO at home, but on my lappie it might just come in handy....

[Hovmod]

OK, first impressions:

-The upgrade went well, except the first couple of times I booted up the Zoom while pressing the "Input Menu" button, nothing happened. Then after a few tries it did go to the "Version-Up?" screen, and patched up the firmware quickly.

-The new bold font is MUCH easier to read.

-The ASIO driver is still not working here.

-The Lo Cut filter WORKS!!!
Since I'm in a properly windy environment right now, I recorded two snippets at the exact same location, with pretty much exactly the same conditions. I climbed the mast of the ship I'm on, and put the Zoom near the opening of the chimney. Now, both recordings are pretty distorted by the wind, but I'm sure you can appreciate the difference. On one I'm using the lo cut filter set to 5, on the other I'm not using it. I recorded other files in less extreme locations on the boat, and in several of them the lo cut filter made the difference between a f**ked up recording (like the ones we've been making for the last year or so) and a completely wind free one, although on higher settings (the filter goes from 0 to 10) it does seem a little resonant. Resonant is so much better than blown out though, so I give the lo cut filter a big as well!!
Two wav-files for you:
With lo-cut filter
Without lo-cut filter

What else?
-The auto-start function works just fine, although I can't off hand think of when I'd want it.

-I like the battery indicator.

The rest I haven't tried and most of it I have no use for. I post-process anyway, so I don't think I'll be using the mp3-encoder or the mono mix. Support for bigger card will probably come in handy - soon you can't get a 2GB card except on ebay...
All in all a good upgrade, imo.

[Hovmod]

Yeah - accoring to the guys over at the H4-forums, there might be a problem with the new fw screwing with distortion levels on your 4-track projects, so backup to your computer first, format the card, upgrade, copy back. Seems to fix it.
I don't use the 4-track much, so I didn't notice...

[Hovmod]

Bugfix version for the 4-track thing plus a Mac oriented card reader bug:

http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/download/software/h4.php

[loriiiiii]

was reading your post about the Zoom h4.

I'm trying to upgrade this little machine. I put the system.bin file into the sd card no problem, (unless I'm doing something wrong there but I don't think so).....but selecting input while powering on just plain ol doesn't open the version up window. What am I doing wrong? Apparently the new version now allows 8g and I WANT that! Am going nutz here.

help...

thanks...


Lori

[runagate]

Hell yeah! Thanks for posting this hovmod; I hadn't noticed the update.