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The Zoom H4n (like other similar products) is a nice digital recorder. I own one, and frequently use it for things like music. In fact, I attach a juicedLink low-noise preamplifier to the minijack stereo input of the H4n, and that gives me if XLR inputs for each of the H4n's 4 recording tracks. I get great signal to noise performance from the channels were I use the juicedLink low-noise preamplifiers.

External recorders are used all the time on professional Hollywood sets, where they have the team of people dedicated to the audio. But, for the type of video production work that I do, use of external recorders is not convenient in my production flow.

• Here are some situations where I find using a juicedLink low-noise preamplifier to record direct to the camera is much more convenient than using a separate recorder:
  • Missing the shot. Digital recorders can take a time to boot up when you power them on. That boot up time feels like an eternity when you're waiting to try and capture a spontaneous moment. If you are ever doing any kind of run-and-gun, then this delay (including fumbling around to get to the right menu) can cause you to miss your shot.
  • Forget to capture the audio. You hit record on your H4n, you hear the vows being spoken through your headphones, and you think you're all good. The problem is you're not actually recording to the media at this time. You need to hit record a second time before the H4n starts recording the audio to the media. When you're using a juicedLink low-noise preamplifier in recording directly to your camera, then you only need to hit record once on the camera (not three times, one for the camera plus twice for the H4n).
  • Save time and hassle in post production. When you record your audio separately, then you will need to synchronize it with your video in post production. This can be done, and there's even software to help you do it. However, the time and hassle increases exponentially with large numbers of short clips. Note that many of the new DSLR video cameras are only capable of short clips in the first place.
  • Go home with the confidence that your "shot is in the can". When you record your audio separately, who will not have the experience of reviewing your audio and video together, until you have torn down the set, paid your actors, and returned home to synchronize your audio and video together in your computer.
    • If there was a dog barking in the background, or an air conditioner vent turned on in the middle of your scene, then it's too late to go back and recreate your scene.
    • When you record your audio and video together in camera, then you can review them together on location to verify that everything is good, before you tear down your setup.
    • Note that some cameras (such as DSLR cameras) do not have a headphone jack. So, you would use an external monitor plugged into the camera's AVout jack to review your audio and video together, on location.