The recording kit | kvidal.no

This is a short introduction on how to use the recording kit at the Norwegian Academy of Music with your recording device (laptop, tablet or phone). Reviewing the guide will save you valuable time and significantly reduce potential issues. Even experienced technicians are encouraged to spend a few minutes reading the manual.

Important: Handle the equipment with care—this is delicate and fragile!

Use the checklist below to ensure the kit is complete both at pick-up and upon return:

Two LA Omni1 microphones with microphone adaptor and foam windscreen
Two LA CM4 cardoide microphones with microphone adaptor and foam windscreen
Stereo bar
Two microphone cable
Zoom H6 audio recorder
USB A – USB Mini cable (for Zoom H6)
USB A – USB C adapter (to connect UCB-C device to Zoom H6)
USB A – lightning Adapter (to connect iPhone/iPad to Zoom H6)
Shure SRH440 Headset
Cabel reel, 5 m

A successful installation and setup will provide you with the following recording system:

1. Zoom H6

The Zoom H6 is both an audio recorder and an audio interface, allowing you to send microphone signals to your recording device (laptop, tablet, or phone). This makes the Zoom H6 an external microphone, delivering high-quality audio recordings. You can also connect external microphones or other audio sources directly to the Zoom H6.

2. Prepare your recording device

Ensure your device is fully charged or connected to external power.
Restart your device or, at minimum, close all apps except your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).
Disable Wi-Fi, other networks, or enable flight mode to avoid interruptions.

For Windows users:
Download and install the H6 audio driver from this link. If the file is zipped, right-click it and choose “Unzip all.”

3. Connect and power on

Use the USB Micro-to-USB A cable to connect the Zoom H6 to your recording device. If necessary, use an adapter (USB-C or Lightning).

Turn on the Zoom H6 by sliding the power switch (left side) down and holding it

Slide the switch on the right side to choose Audio Interface, and press the same switch to confirm.

Choose Stereo Mix , and press to confirm.

For Android devices: Select PC/Mac
For computers: Select PC/Mac
For iPhones/iPads: Select iPad

4. Mounting, connecting and phantom power

Mount the microphone bar with adapters onto a microphone stand.
Insert the microphones into the adapters.
Connect the microphones to Input 1 and Input 2 on the Zoom H6 using the included cables.

IMPORTANT: The included microphones are condenser microphones and require phantom power (48V). Never use phantom power with ribbon microphones, as it can cause damage. If using other microphones, check their manual for compatibility with phantom power.

To enable phantom power:

To enable phantom power:
Press MENU on the Zoom H6.
Navigate to Input & Output (microphone symbol) and confirm.
Select Phantom and confirm.
Choose 48V and enable it for Input 1 and Input 2.
Return to the home screen by pressing MENU repeatedly.

Note: Inputs 1 & 2 will display a yellow lightning symbol when phantom power is active. Always switch off phantom power before disconnecting microphones.

5. Link Input 1 & 2

To link Inputs 1 & 2 for stereo recording, hold down Input 1 while pressing Input 2.

6. Zoom H6 as audio interface in DAW

For computers only (skip if using a tablet or phone):

Reaper, macOS:

Go to Options – Preferences
Under Audio, select Device
Set Audio Device to H6
Click OK to confirm.

Reaper, Windows:

Choose Options – Settings/Preferences
Under Audio in left column, choose Device
Audio system: ASIO
Audio driver: H6
Close Preferences with OK button

macOS: Ableton Live

Go to Live – Preferences…
Under Audio , set driver type to CoreAudio.
Set Output Device and Audio Input/Input device to H6

Windows: Ableton Live

Go to Options – Preferences…
Under Audio, set Driver Type to ASIO
Set Audio Device to H6

For other DAWs, check the manual for instructions on setting the audio input and driver to H6.

7. Use Headphones to avoid feedback

Connect headphones to the Zoom H6 to disable its built-in speaker and avoid feedback (caused by the microphones picking up speaker sound).

8. Setting the recording level

Turn on input 1 & 2 on Zoom H6
Create a new stereo audio track in your DAW and ensure that the stereo mix from Zoom H6 are the input source of the audio track.
Record enable the track in your DAW and enable monitoring to hear the signal from the microphones through the headphones.
Gently scrape the tip of the microphone while observing the input indicator at the audio track, or Zoom H6. Hopefully you´ll see something happening (!).
Ask the musician to play the loudest part of the piece and adjust the Gain knobs on Zoom H6 (Inputs 1 & 2) so the loudest peaks stay below -6 dB.

TIP: Adjust both Gain knobs evenly to maintain a balanced stereo image.

9. Avoid Distortion and crackles

Distortion and crackle on audio recording are often caused by CPU overload (recording device to busy). Increase the Buffer size, as explained below, to avoid distortion and crackles.

Reaper

Go Options – Settings/Preferences
Under Audio in left column, choose Device
Enable Request block size
Lower number i box to the right of Request block size
Apply

Ableton Live

Choose Live/Options – Preferences
Choose Audio
Enable Request block size:
Decrease the number to the right of Request block size: to reduce latency.
Increase the number to the right of Request block size: to avoid distortion and crackles.

10. ORTF Stereo technique

For stereo recording, we recommend the ORTF technique:

Use 2 LA CM4 microphones with cardioid characteristics.
Position the microphones at a 110° angle and 17 cm apart to capture a natural stereo field.

Adjust position and angles slightly by ear to optimize the sound for the room and source.

11. Microphone Placement

Position microphones far enough from the sound source to capture the full sound of the instrument or ensemble.
Adjust the distance to balance direct sound and room reverb.

13. Disassembly

Turn off phantom power (48V) before disconnecting microphones.
Place microphones, adaptors and foam windscreens in cases.
Fold the headphones before you put them in the case.
Use the checklist to confirm the kit is complete at pick-up and return.

14. Need help?

Read this manual carefully.
If still unsure, ask a friend or search online.
If all else fails, email hakon.kvidal@nmh.no with a polite description of the issue.

15. Faults and irregularities

Report any faults or irregularities to hakon.kvidal@nmh.no immediately.