Offering a fantastically compact and affordable all-in-one audio recording solution for filmmakers, musicians, podcasters, and content creators, the M4 MicTrak from Zoom delivers four tracks of crystal clear, clip-free audio thanks to its quality, stereo X/Y mic capsule with cardioid pickup pattern, two combo XLR-1/4" TRS inputs with up to +48V phantom power, and sampling rates up to 192 kHz / 32-bit floating point. The M4 supports four modes of time code input via an auxiliary 3.5mm stereo jack, with precision down to ±0.2 ppm, a vital utility for any documentary filmmaker or content creator that needs to match audio to video with high accuracy.

The M4 sports a 3.5mm headphone output for real-time monitoring, a powerful mono speaker, a 3.5mm stereo line output, and a vibrant full-color LCD display for adjusting and monitoring your recordings. The M4 can run on four AA batteries for up to 18 hours of continuous operation as well as USB-C bus power and the optional Zoom AD-17 AC adapter (sold separately).

All-in-One X/Y Microphone and Recorder    4-Channel Recording    44.1 to 192 kHz / 32-Bit Floating Point    Time Code Input Support    Cardioid Pickup Pattern    Two Combo XLR-1/4" TRS Inputs    3.5mm Headphone Output, Mono Speaker    Built-In Backlit Color LCD Display    AA Battery Power or USB-C Bus Power

The M4 MicTrak is designed to fuse the professional guts and features of the F-Series recorders with the convenience and portable form factor of the Handy Series. This middle road allows the M4 to provide excellent functionality at an attractive price, while remaining easy to carry to any recording scenario.

• 32-bit floating point recording provides excellent headroom and helps to avoid clipping issues
• High max SPL of 135 dB SPL delivers further protection against clipping for loud sound sources, such as performances, crowds, or instruments
• Up to 18 hours of battery life for improved operating time and multiple power options, including AA battery, USB bus power, or AC adapter (sold separately)
• Dual AD converter circuits, derived from the F-Series, make manual input gain adjustment unnecessary
• Support for broadcast- and film-quality BWF wav format as well as iXML for inclusion of location metadata on files or IP audio streams
• High-precision time code input support and generation with four modes (Internal Free Run, Internal Record Run, Internal RTC Run, External)
• Easy-to-read, full-color LCD display 
• Built-in microSD card reader for storage up to 1 TB
• Up to four channels of recording (two X/Y mic tracks and two XLR-1/4" input tracks)
• 3.5mm TRS input for lavalier microphones

The M4 MicTrak is ideal for a wide range of portable sound recording applications from audio for video uses like filmmaking, on-site reporting, and video-based content creation, to podcasting, streaming, sound collage, and interviews. With the ability to record up to four simultaneous tracks, the M4 can also be a useful asset for musicians, providing a highly portable recording device that can capture a multi-mic, multi-track recording setup while minimizing the number of external microphones required. The USB-C connection makes it easy to both power the device and use it as a nearly pocket-sized audio interface with ultrahigh capture rates up to 192 kHz.

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. Can the M4 mount to a camera hot shoe with with audio isolation?

A: The Zoom M4 MicTrak Stereo Microphone and Recorder has a 1/4-20 mounting hole, which can be used along with accessories like BH #RESACS14M for shoe mounting.

Q: 2. With the internal mics, what's the dB SPL noise floor? Frequency response?

A: The internal X/Y microphones for the Zoom M4 MicTrak Stereo Microphone and Recorder have a maximum SPL rating of 135 dB and a sensitivity rating of -42 dB, while the self-noise is rated at -127 dBu. Specifications for the frequency response range have not been provided by the manufacturer, but may be posted online by independent reviewers as they conduct their own tests.

Q: 3. Will this also work with the Zoom H4essential recorder?

A: The Zoom SSH-6e Stereo Mid-Side Shotgun Microphone for H6essential Portable Recorder is not compatible with the Zoom H4essential 4-Track 32-Bit Float Portable Audio Recorder.

Q: 4. Through the 1/8th inch does it auto level to avoid clipping? does the stereo width utilize the 1/8th inch left right into cam

A: The Zoom M3 MicTrak Stereo Shotgun is a 32-Bit recorder and has no included limiter due to the extra large dynamic range.

Q: 5. Are there any mic flags that would fit over this?

A: At this time, there are no microphone flags that are compatible with the Zoom M2 MicTrak Stereo Microphone and Recorder (B&H # ZOZM2).

Q: 6. Can the M4 create an ambisonic file like the H3 or F-series recorders?

A: No, the Zoom M4 MicTrak Stereo Microphone and Recorder is not capable of recording ambisonic audio files.

Q: 7. What is a suggestion for a case?

A: You can use the Auray WMC-500 Wide-Mouth EVA Case (B&H # AUWMC500) to store and protect the Zoom M3 MicTrak Stereo Shotgun Microphone and Recorder.

Q: 8. Did manufacturer solve RF interference problem with this model?

A: https://zoomcorp.com/en/us/news/mictrak_notice/ According to this they have, at least for the initial batch.

Q: 9. How does a microphone support 32bit float wide dynamic range recording?

A: The Zoom SSH-6e Stereo Mid-Side Shotgun Microphone for H6essential Portable Recorder connects to two (2) analog to digital converters (ADC) inside of the Zoom H6essential—one that handles all of your low-SPL audio and one that handles all signals that are high SPL. The ADC that handles your low-SPL signals is there to be able to capture very quiet sounds and retain a low noise floor, while the other ADC (for high-SPL audio) is used to help prevent clipping.

Q: 10. Does this thing have an ability to be mounted on a threaded mount on he end of a pole?

A: Yes, you can use a cold shoe adapter to mount the Zoom M3 MicTrak Stereo Shotgun Microphone and Recorder on a boompole or stand. The Frio Hold Universal Shoe Mount (B&H # FRENLFRC2A) has 3/8"-16 and 1/4"-20 threads on the bottom. The Vello Cold Shoe Mount with 1/4" Thread (B&H # VECS20) or the JOBY Cold Shoe Mount Adapter (B&H # JOJB01528) can be used with a thread adapter like the Impact Female 1/4"-20 to Male 3/8"-16 Thread Adapter (B&H # IMCA109) to attach to a boompole.