Everyone needs a Redhead for their Zoom H4ns!

I stumbled upon these by accident whilst trawling twitter and vimeo and they made me laugh. Mainly the colour as it made me chuckle!

They are for the Zoom H4n audio recorder which I recommend for any video dslr users out there to record sound. They go over the two directional internal mics and are used a wind gags.

I actually thought what is the point though, then I watched this video…

Zoom H4n + Redhead + Canon Mark II + 85mm + Windy Maui’s North Shore from iamkalaniprince on Vimeo.

Canon 5DMKII + Zoom H4n + RedHead Windscreen + My 3yr old talking bubbles. from iamkalaniprince on Vimeo.

All audio is from the Zoom H4n with RedHead windscreen on a pretty windy day on Maui.

canon 85mm

I was sold. I think a great way of recording sound on your DSLRs one man band is to mount the h4n onto the top of the camera and feed the output into the 5d/7d input so you get identical sound on the camera and the Zoom. Perfect for syncing and if you don’t want to record on the zoom for just B-Roll then don’t press record, just leave the zoom on and feed the sound into the camera. I do recommend getting a splitter though so you can still monitor audio out of the zoom using headphones.

They are cheap too. Just under $35 (free shipping in the US $5 outside). I contacted Kalani Prince who makes them in Maui in Hawaii (as you know I love Hawaii, not been to Maui though!) and said the video was great and they look like a great product. He generously has sent me a couple to try out. I had a play with them. No wind here today so I just blew into it and it works great. Simple product like this should of course, but a great little addition to your DSLR kit!

He sent me the grey one which I will use and the crazy red one which makes my zoom look like Beaker from the Muppet show!

Beaker from the Muppets

Zoom H4n with Redhead on

My cat Percy also took a fancy to it! Like his owner he has a penchant for redheads…but one that looks like Beaker? C’mon Percy!!

I do want to point out that Kalani sent me these free of charge…but like everything I feature and recommend I won’t recommend it unless I really like it otherwise I will just get a lot of unhappy people email to complain to me that it is a load of crap! Trust me, giving bad recommendations is not worth the grief! He also sent me some of Hawaiian nuts, coffee and tea. Nice man! But even without the “bribes” this is a great product and if you have a Zoom H4Ns and use the internal mics outside this is a no brainer.

You can order them here.

Oh, and this is for all you Beaker fans out there!

This entry was posted on Monday, September 28th, 2009 at 17:33 and is filed under DSLRs, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Responses

Robert Rock
October 4, 2009 at 12:48

Been watching the H4N and related items. I’ve used a windscreen that was somewhat similar for a cheap shotgun I had. Same type of design, and it would hold up in 50mph winds. I’d be interested to see how well this holds up in high wind. Also, is there a 24p workflow for the H4N? I’ve seen the Tut for the 5DMkII, but what about the 7D?

Thanks in advance.

Rob

Reply
- pbloom
  October 6, 2009 at 17:00
  
  it’s the same. it doesn’t record timecode or in a frame rate. just in time so will work with anything
  
  Reply
J.R.Schriver
October 1, 2009 at 13:51

Great tip. Great price.

Bought.

Reply
Dave Rilstone
October 1, 2009 at 05:26

Received the gray one two weeks ago. Worked extremely well for an outdoor nature shoot to knock out the wind noise. The Zoom H4N + Redhead combo also gave the best sound effect for background waterfalls using the H4N’s built in stereo speakers. Using a Rode Videomic with deadcat hooked 1) directly into my 5Dmk2, or 2) into the H4N gave too harsh a sound; the H4N + Redhead softened the waterfall’s roar nicely.

http://www.vimeo.com/6759154

Reply
Sean Duran
September 29, 2009 at 04:48

Awesome! Just might have to get one of those

Hey Philip, do you know if it’s possible to record audio from an external mic into the Zoom and then feed it to a Mark II/7D? I know Pinknoise makes a special cable, but I haven’t gotten a straight answer from anyone if it only records the Zoom’s internal mic audio or if you can use your own mic.

Thanks!

Reply
Eric Ferguson
September 29, 2009 at 03:35

My H2 and I work hard to pretend not to be jealous of the H4n. We tell each other: “We have four microphones, and that’s better. We have FOUR microphones and that’s BETTER.”

Reply
Zeke
September 29, 2009 at 03:20

I’ve had a Redhead for about a month now. I wouldn’t shoot outside without it. Essential gear for sure.

Reply
Andrew Howe
September 28, 2009 at 18:55

I wasn’t brave enough for the red one.

I have a grey one which just about squeezes on my older H4. Its bigger because you have to attach a tray to get the tripod mount.

Arrived in the UK really quickly too.

Reply
Evan Donn
September 28, 2009 at 18:31

Got one of those as soon as I saw it, it’s amazing what a difference it makes outside on a windy day. Also works well for VO instead of a pop screen.

Reply
Ryan
September 28, 2009 at 18:17

Just got mine this morning!

Reply
Robert
September 28, 2009 at 17:58

Great tip Philip.

Dan Chung used that very set up for his first 7D test: “Another night in Beijing.: You’ll find it at http://vimeo.com/6759220

There’s a write up at his web site http://www.dslrnewsshooter.com/2009/09/25/another-night-in-beijing-production-canon-eos7d-movie/

I generally prefer blonds but my Redhead is already on order.

Dan is suggesting using a custom cable. Do you know of any reason a standard Y-splitter would not work?

Cheers Mate!
Robert

Reply
Jeremy Bernatchez
September 28, 2009 at 17:43

haha, i LOVE that “Ode to Joy” skit with Beaker!

I know a few people that have the H4N or very similar recording systems… i’ll definitely recommend this to them over the thin little foam covers they normally use.

Reply

Robert Rock

October 4, 2009 at 12:48

Been watching the H4N and related items. I’ve used a windscreen that was somewhat similar for a cheap shotgun I had. Same type of design, and it would hold up in 50mph winds. I’d be interested to see how well this holds up in high wind. Also, is there a 24p workflow for the H4N? I’ve seen the Tut for the 5DMkII, but what about the 7D?

Thanks in advance.

Rob

pbloom
October 6, 2009 at 17:00

it’s the same. it doesn’t record timecode or in a frame rate. just in time so will work with anything

J.R.Schriver

October 1, 2009 at 13:51

Great tip. Great price.

Bought.

Dave Rilstone

October 1, 2009 at 05:26

Received the gray one two weeks ago. Worked extremely well for an outdoor nature shoot to knock out the wind noise. The Zoom H4N + Redhead combo also gave the best sound effect for background waterfalls using the H4N’s built in stereo speakers. Using a Rode Videomic with deadcat hooked 1) directly into my 5Dmk2, or 2) into the H4N gave too harsh a sound; the H4N + Redhead softened the waterfall’s roar nicely.

http://www.vimeo.com/6759154

Sean Duran

September 29, 2009 at 04:48

Awesome! Just might have to get one of those

Hey Philip, do you know if it’s possible to record audio from an external mic into the Zoom and then feed it to a Mark II/7D? I know Pinknoise makes a special cable, but I haven’t gotten a straight answer from anyone if it only records the Zoom’s internal mic audio or if you can use your own mic.

Thanks!

Eric Ferguson

September 29, 2009 at 03:35

My H2 and I work hard to pretend not to be jealous of the H4n. We tell each other: “We have four microphones, and that’s better. We have FOUR microphones and that’s BETTER.”

Zeke

September 29, 2009 at 03:20

I’ve had a Redhead for about a month now. I wouldn’t shoot outside without it. Essential gear for sure.

Andrew Howe

September 28, 2009 at 18:55

I wasn’t brave enough for the red one.

I have a grey one which just about squeezes on my older H4. Its bigger because you have to attach a tray to get the tripod mount.

Arrived in the UK really quickly too.

Evan Donn

September 28, 2009 at 18:31

Got one of those as soon as I saw it, it’s amazing what a difference it makes outside on a windy day. Also works well for VO instead of a pop screen.

Ryan

September 28, 2009 at 18:17

Just got mine this morning!

Robert

September 28, 2009 at 17:58

Great tip Philip.

Dan Chung used that very set up for his first 7D test: “Another night in Beijing.: You’ll find it at http://vimeo.com/6759220

There’s a write up at his web site http://www.dslrnewsshooter.com/2009/09/25/another-night-in-beijing-production-canon-eos7d-movie/

I generally prefer blonds but my Redhead is already on order.

Dan is suggesting using a custom cable. Do you know of any reason a standard Y-splitter would not work?

Cheers Mate!
Robert

Jeremy Bernatchez

September 28, 2009 at 17:43

haha, i LOVE that “Ode to Joy” skit with Beaker!

I know a few people that have the H4N or very similar recording systems… i’ll definitely recommend this to them over the thin little foam covers they normally use.

Philip Bloom