Zoom PodTrak P4 Podcast Recorder with 4 XLR Mic Inputs, 4 Headphone Outputs, Phone & USB Input for Remote Interviews, Sound Pads, 2-In/2-Out USB Audio Interface, Battery Powered

We have been Podcasting for a couple of years now. We started with some of the worst equipment and tried different setups over the years. Using a soundboard is the best way to record a Podcast. XLR microphones are almost a must for quality. I have been looking at the podtrak now for 6 months and I finally bit the bullet. I am pleased that I had. For one the ease of use as well as the portability leaves us with options. I use it strictly as a soundboard. The amazing quality of the sound stands out. The fact that you have 4 XLR inputs as well as 4 separate headphone outputs at this price range is truly earth-shattering. The ability to independently adjust the microphones as well as the headphone's volume is truly a godsend. Add in 4 programmable sound pads, I don't think you can do any better at this price. Now should we want to go on location or record outside our studio, this piece of equipment naturally is made for just that. It's portable and fits right in the palm of your hand comfortably. It's lightweight, this may or may not be an issue as far as durability but handle it with care. Provide an SD card and record away. The knobs are small however are still tactile and have a very precise feel to them so adjustments can be made on the fly with precision. Is this a top-tier device that costs a few grand and produces the greatest-sounding recordings? No, it's specific as to what it does, however, it does it perfectly and the features are truly worth a lot more. The only review I can not give is battery life. We have it connected to a computer at all times for power. If you are not getting long battery life, this is the 21st century. Get a power bank for like 15-20 dollars and I would guess depending on how big a power bank you have you can get over 8 hours or more. If you are using the batteries lower the contrast of the screen to absorb less power.

Been using this for a podcast and its awesome. Noticeably shorter setup time using this over my previous setup which was a combination of a 2 input mixer, and a usb mic. Now I plug all xlr into the PodTrak and everyone can have headphones to hear the sfx from the PodTrak and sounds from the computer as well. It's well worth the small cost and has probably everything you need to start your podcast and possibly you'd never need another mixer. There may be things a Rodecaster can do, but I can't think of anything I need more at the moment. I looked for a while for a 4 mic input mixer for a podcast and this is kind of the only thing I could find that was so cheap, simple, and full featured specifically for podcasts from a reputable brand. It has internal recording but I send the mix to OBS, but I believe I could internal record as a backup so that's awesome if I wanted that safety. It's very small too so takes up little space on the table. And it has a peaking prevention (whatever it's called) which is very useful since some of us on our podcast make lots of noise lol. I'm honestly not sure what they could do to improve it if they made a version 2... although I plan on having more people on my podcast so maybe 6 inputs? Usb C inputs for USB mics? Additional sfx buttons? That could be cool and maybe a larger screen so you could see what the buttons are programmed as easier. But really, the simplicity and basic functionality of it is great. Especially for the price.

I recently delved into podcasting and the Zoom PodTrak P4 has been my sidekick throughout this journey! Compact and incredibly user-friendly, it was the perfect match for my budding podcasting needs. The portability is unmatched - it's lightweight and operates on batteries when needed, making on-the-go recording a breeze. I was particularly drawn to its multiple mic inputs, each with a dedicated headphone output, which is a lifesaver for multi-person podcasts. The sound quality? Pristine. It genuinely surprised me how professional the recordings sound, considering the P4's compact size and price point. The pre-programmed sound pads for intro music, applause, and other effects add a fun, creative element to recording sessions. Plus, the easy interface meant I spent less time leafing through the manual and more time recording. For anyone looking to start or improve their podcasting setup without breaking the bank or getting bogged down in technicalities, the Zoom PodTrak P4 is a no-brainer. It’s versatility in a compact package - podcasting made simple, efficient, and fun!

If you're a podcaster who wants a recorder for location work, then this is your gadget. Just get it. The Zoom PodTrak P4 crams an incredible amount of functionality into a small, lightweight, and inexpensive device. I did some quick testing with several mics - an EV RE320, a Rode PodMic, and a Shure MVL lav mic. I tested the EV and Rode mics with (and without) a Cloudlifter to determine if there was a noticeable difference in noise. I've just given the files a quick listen, and my initial impression is that the files were just as noise-free without an activator. I'll examine the files more closely using RX8 and update here if I discover something different. Some people have commented about the build quality, and I'd have to agree with their concerns. The device is light and feels a bit fragile, so it will need to be babied. My H6, on the other hand, feels like it can take a beating. The H6 is quite a bit heavier and much more expensive, though. Out of the box, my PodTrak had firmware version v1.1 installed. This firmware appears to have a bug where output files are timestamped incorrectly. This seems to have been corrected with version v1.2. The PodTrak ships with 2 AA alkaline batteries. I burned through those in less than an hour or testing. I would recommend that you use a powerbank or wall outlet when using this device for anything important. You'll need to do some careful weighing of pros and cons if you're trying to decide between a Zoom H5 or H6 and the PodTrak P4. You can get by with an H6 as a podcasting device, as it handles the most critical task well: simultaneous recording from multiple XLR mics. They both can function as computer audio interfaces. Some of the advantages of an "H" series device are: * Available interchangeable high-quality mic capsules designed specifically for field recording with the "H" series (e.g., SSH-6 shotgun mic) * Ships with an excellent X/Y mic * More file format choices - 44.1/48/96 kHz, 16 or 24-bit * Tripod mount * More robust build * Better display (larger, higher resolution, color) * Doesn't create audio files for unused mic ports * 5 or 6 mic inputs available * Available remote control Some advantages of the PodTrak are: * Lots of preamp gain (apr 70dB); no need for Coudlifter or Fethead * Smartphone input with mix-minus (for recording phone interviews) * Four separate headphone outputs, each with a volume control * Phantom power selection via physical switches * 4-button soundpad with pre-loaded effects; output to a separate track * USB-C ports for file charging and file transfers * Automatically generates a stereo mix file * Lightweight

To begin, the Zoom PodTrak P4 Podcast Recorder is a great tool for anybody wishing to make professional-quality podcasts. It's a wonderful purchase for anybody serious about podcasting, with features like the ability to record up to four people at once, built-in sound pads, and onboard editing tools. But, there are a few drawbacks to consider. For starters, the P4 might be costly for those on a limited budget. Moreover, some customers have noted that the volume meters on the gadget may be difficult to see, making it tough to monitor your levels in real time. Another possible disadvantage is that the editing capabilities of the P4 are fairly restricted. Although it has built-in EQ, compression, and noise reduction, some users may feel that these tools do not provide them as much flexibility as they would want. You may need to upload your audio to a computer and utilize specialized editing tools for more complex editing. Finally, the P4's compact size might be a double-edged sword. Although this makes the gadget very compact and simple to carry about, some users may find the little buttons and knobs difficult to operate, particularly if you have bigger hands. Despite these drawbacks, I feel the Zoom PodTrak P4 Podcast Recorder is an excellent tool for anybody wishing to produce high-quality podcasts. Because of its flexibility and simplicity of use, it is an ideal purchase for podcasters of all skill levels.

I've only used this once but it worked as intented and surprised me with an amazing quality and portability. A must if you want to record podcasts or the like.

I’ve done some professional sound for movies and what not. When it comes to many things in life, I’m of the “simple/easy is usually better.” I’ve paid a premium for some professional location sound recorders based mainly on how intuitive and easy they’ve been to use. And this little recorder is just about as intuitive and easy to figure out and operate as anything I’ve ever used. In fact, I’ve had no need to even read a manual. I’ll not get into all the technical side of things. I feel enough reviewers have already done that. Plus, there’re YouTube videos and scores of reviews online concerning all the stats. Also, my feeling is many opinions in the AV field are just subjective thoughts based on the reviewers needs, prejudices and biases. What works for one person may not for another. Let’s not get tangled up in the weeds talking about dB, signal to noise, etc over a $200 piece of consumer gear (unless the recordings are totally unusable... which they are not). “I can’t believe this piece of trash isn’t on par with the latest $8k recorder from company X” said no one ever (or someone totally clueless). Enough rant. Right out of the box I figured this recorder out. Everything just seems so logical. Four XLR mic ins on the top and right below each is a corresponding Gain knob. The knobs are labeled 0-10 and are smooth turning (no click stops). If I had a subtle gripe, it may be that the Gain knobs had a little more tension or a raised piece of plastic next to them to prevent accidental adjustment. This actually happened once when a cord hit the dial. Below the Gain knobs are switches with icons. The first to inputs have two switchable positions. First is the icon of a mic and second is mic with a lighting bolt. If you don’t know, there are two basic types of mics... powered and unpowered. Guess which is which?? So easy. The next input has three selections. The first two are the same, however the third is an icon of a cell phone. This unit has something called a mix-minus built into it with the ability to interview people on a cell phone. No guess what the third selection is for. The fourth input has three selections as well. The first two are again the same as the other three inputs, while the third position has a USB icon above it. Wow... wonder what that could be for?? Under the switches are four single buttons with icons featuring a speaker symbol with a slash over it representing... Mute. The buttons even light up red when activated. As I hope you’re seeing, this unit is so easy even a trained badger could use it. On the very bottom of the unit are four 1/4 inch jacks for headphones. Each are lined up with the four inputs and each has a dial labeled 0-10 for setting headphone volume. I’m the middle of the recorder is the “complicated” part. To the left are four light-able buttons labeled A-D. These are the four sound pad buttons. Each plays a pre-installed sound clip. The user also has the ability to install there own custom clips. Don’t quote me, however I feel Zoom has some free downloadable sounds. Below the pads is another 0-10 knob to control the Gain of the sound pads. To the right of the sound pads is the backlit, monochrome LCD screen. The most important info during recording is displayed here. Record Time, each channel level, master level, battery level and a black dot signifying Record. There’s also a nice “Goodbye” when powering the unit down lol. One thing I did notice with the screen was that when using AA batteries, the backlight turned off after a short period. When using an external USB power source, the backlight never turned off. This may be a power saving thing for AAs and maybe mine were running low. However I couldn’t find a setting to turn the backlight ON permanently. If the backlight only stays on with a power bank, I’d be wary of using AA batteries. This could be a deal breaker for people who were only looking to use this with AAs. I mean, the levels and time of recording are pretty important bits of info to be left in the dark on. Below the LCD screen are the four main buttons of business. Each is labeled with a icon on the button and (below) as each button serves dual purposes. The first button is the Menu button, followed by the Play/Pause button (Up Selector), then the Stop button (Down Selector) and finally Record button (ENTER Selector). I don’t have time get into the Menu of the unit, however there aren’t a ton of selections and I feel it’s as intuitive and easy to navigate and understand as the rest of the unit. It does have lo-cut and limiters for those who care. Above the Record button is Red LED that lights up while recording. It also lights up when the unit is powered ON. On the right side of the unit is the power button and two jacks. The power button needs to be held in for a second or two when powering the unit On or Off. The two jacks serve several purposes. The 1/4 jack has a cellphone icon next to it. This is where you plug in... your laptop. Work with me, your cellphone for your call-in interviews. The other jack combines with the 1/4 when using the optional Zoom BTA-2 Bluetooth adapter. The $50 adapter is kind of pricey, however if you need it, I guess you need it. I do not. On the left side is plastic door behind which the FULL SIZE SD card is hidden. Some units out there (that I also own) use a MicroSD, which I feel was a huge gaff. I also mentioned the door being plastic, as some SD slots are covered by rubber (not a fan). The door snaps firmly in place and even takes a little finagling to get open. I don’t see it opening by accident. Beside the SD slot are two USB-C ports. A little surprise was that the two ports are behind a metal plate. Just a nice touch to add some extra sturdiness. The two ports are for 5V DC power and a USB connection. Both are clearly labeled. However... here is one slight caveat of this unit, and it’s somewhat unavoidable. Since both the ports are USB-C, I feel someone somewhere has already plugged power into the USB connection. As someone who once did this on an expensive video field monitor, I can tell you the results were regrettable. Plugging a computer connection into the power will probably not do a thing other than probably confuse you as to why your computer isn’t identifying the unit. However, plugging power into the computer connection... let’s not find out. Only quip about that, but only other option was to have two different USB connections for each (which make little sense). Finally I’ll mention build quality. Turns out there are many levels of plastic quality. I don’t feel this constructed from the top tier plastic used on a space shuttle, whiner I also don’t think it’s total trash that will melt in the sun. The plastic feels sturdy enough to me. I saw a video that said it couldn’t survive a six foot drop. I can also say that I don’t go around dropping my gear to test it’s durability. I feel it’s durable enough for my needs, which include throwing it in a backpack. Well, the tour is over. I hope I’ve covered most of the features and have bedazzled you into how simple this recorder is to use. For all the complainers out there I say... it’s $200 !!! What do you want for $200 !!! It’s stupid ez to use and if you’re only looking to do podcasts and not a full studio mix of a seven instrument band... buy this recorder. Nuff said. Peace out. And don’t forget to spay and neuter your pets.

Easy to use good value for the money. Small enough for travel. Uses batteries or you can plug into power with a usb c cord.