I want to improve audio recording on my cell phone

[JerryPH]

However, I would be curious to compare a recording between the cell phone method and a recorder like Zoom basic level.

Then why not make that recording yourself and try it out? It takes less time for you to record a 30 second part on the phone and then the same 30 seconds on a Zoom recorder using proper technique... you would have your answer in less time than it took me to type this post.

I don't have a Zoom H1, I have a Zoom F4 and on digital accordion I record directly to the Zoom F4. If I am using an acoustic accordion setup, I will place the 2 mics as close to me as possible and get the best results possible.

The closer the mics are to the sound source, the better the results, conversely, the further it is away, the closer it sounds like a cell phone recording. There is nothing worse in terms of quality, than a cellphone mic recording.

 

[JerryPH]

I watched a video by Mary Spender - she did a cover of Dire Straits "Sultan's of Swing" - and she said when you upload there was an option to declare it was someone else's copyright up front and then you have a fair chance of getting a "revenue share". But other people (including you) have said differently. Yet her video is up and she claims to have received a lot of shared revenue from it. I also see David Bennett skirting around copyright having Beatles songs re-recorded by a session band, but then Rick Beato's channel nearly being deleted because he played someone's song and they didn't like it. It all sounds like a lot of hassle!

Ah, you saw Nick's video too! Yeah don't screw around with Fleetwood Mac... haha. Luckily it ended well.

I've never noticed an area where one could share the copyright, but I'm not monetized, so likely that option won't show for me.

I did have to pull one video due to a copyright strike once last year, but I could not care less. I will NEVER monetize my channel, it will be free in terms of info and entertainment forever. I am there for the fun and pleasure of it, not to make a penny.

 

[Rosie C]

I did have to pull one video due to a copyright strike once last year, but I could not care less. I will NEVER monetize my channel, it will be free in terms of info and entertainment forever. I am there for the fun and pleasure of it, not to make a penny.

I'm a music student, and last year I was with a gigging bluegrass band - they didn't make a lot, but enough to cover fuel, instrument repairs and a beer at the venue. But having had a belly-full of band politics it did seem that multitracking some songs and starting a monetised Youtube channel could be a good replacement - but no, it just looks too much hassle.

Strangely the law in the UK means that I can play covers of copyright music at any public venue licensed for live music - and get paid for it. But I can't put those performances onto YouTube.

 

[dak]

Like onions there are different layers to everything.
It all depends on one's goals and of course the budget.

The biggest advantage of the Zoom H1 is cost, but the compromise is the lower quality preamps and singular limitation to where you can place the fixed microphones, no ability to use external XLR microphones and no 48-volt phantom power.

The Zoom H4 would have 48V phantom power. The thing is external mics are effort and intrusive once you add cables and stands. You end up rarely using them for ad-hoc recordings. I'm sort of old-school, so I use a Zoom H2n for ad-hoc recordings (including accordion rehearsal but also concerts where I need to remain unconspicuous), partly in connection with a small video cam in a suitable location (typically a balcony or such, while the audio recorder is close to the players) but I use small condenser mics and a mixer with high-quality preamps and Firewire recording interface on a computer for solo recordings. I should really try working with multiple cams some day for keyboard closeups and other perspective changes. So a handheld recorder with XLR interface does not have all that much justification: once I go to serious effort, bringing the laptop and audio interface (have one with pretty good preamps as well) does not make all that much of a difference, and quality-wise it's pretty good.

It's almost embarrassing for a techno-geek but I don't own a smartphone. And I don't see where it would help a lot with my workflows. For people who carry one anyway, that will likely look different. But you should likely to remember to put it into airplane mode whatever else you do: watts of EM radiation for waving hello to the next cell tower are likely bad news for a lot of recording equipment.

 

[JerryPH]

The Zoom H4 would have 48V phantom power. The thing is external mics are effort and intrusive once you add cables and stands. You end up rarely using them for ad-hoc recordings. I'm sort of old-school, so I use a Zoom H2n for ad-hoc recordings (including accordion rehearsal but also concerts where I need to remain unconspicuous), partly in connection with a small video cam in a suitable location (typically a balcony or such, while the audio recorder is close to the players) but I use small condenser mics and a mixer with high-quality preamps and Firewire recording interface on a computer for solo recordings. I should really try working with multiple cams some day for keyboard closeups and other perspective changes. So a handheld recorder with XLR interface does not have all that much justification: once I go to serious effort, bringing the laptop and audio interface (have one with pretty good preamps as well) does not make all that much of a difference, and quality-wise it's pretty good.

It's almost embarrassing for a techno-geek but I don't own a smartphone. And I don't see where it would help a lot with my workflows. For people who carry one anyway, that will likely look different. But you should likely to remember to put it into airplane mode whatever else you do: watts of EM radiation for waving hello to the next cell tower are likely bad news for a lot of recording equipment.

I was never fond of the H4n compared to the Zoom F4, it has far superior preaps and a much higher gain and even at maximum gain has about 20% of the his of the H4n's max gain noise. Place the H4N's preamplifier and match the Zoom to it and there is easily a huge difference in quality. Not saying the H4N is bad, but it's not in the same league.

As far as newer cell phones, well mine is already 2+ years old, but find me an affordable camera that can do pretty good 8K files and awesome 4K files. Again, not comparing phones to REAL cameras, but compared to 90% of accordion videos I see on YouTube, my phone meets or beats them in terms of quality.

In terms of external mics... annoying? Sure. Expensive? Maybe... but in terms of sound quality, no camera OR phone mic can even come close.

How good do you want your videos to be? I always like to be above average in terms of quality... far above average if possible, so I invest, learn and use the very best that I can afford.

Does everyone need to do what I do? Nope, and I have no expectations either, nut on this board I do not see anyone else go in to my level of detail to show other options.

 

[dak]

In terms of external mics... annoying? Sure. Expensive? Maybe... but in terms of sound quality, no camera OR phone mic can even come close.

No question about that. But if they make the difference between "if you want to" and "go away", there is not all that much of a choice. If I am tasked with a recording, the big gear comes out. If I am tolerated, I may have to compromise.

 

[Tom]

Jerry is the master here, you will improve your videos 100% by learning from his tutorials. But really, it’s the total experience that counts, not the sound quality. Jerry, and people in his league, have the combination of musicality, visuals, experience and presentation that makes the experience worth it. And let’s not forget, a beautiful woman or man playing an accordion will get more likes than a million dollar recording setup. Please think in terms of your entire presentation if you desire increased response on the old inter web. Just my 2 cents.