Help - my HD clicks on record

[CharliePorter]

Hi Guys,

New to the Forum, and a new owner of a Zoom HD16CD. Just tried recording an acoustic guitar using a mic. The Zoom was close by and I picked up the sound of the HD clicking/ticking as data was written to it - NB the audible clicks were picked up by the recording mic that was nearby.

IS THIS NORMAL or have I got a dodgy HD? BTW my computer makes the same sound so I am expecting you to tell me not to worry - however, that would mean that most of you keep the Zoom as far away from the recording area as possible - right?

Please help!

Charlie.

[brandondrury]

I've never used a Zoom recorder, but are you saying yours is so loud that it makes enough noise to screw up the recording? This is a bad deal. I can't imagine that being normal.

Brandon

[CharliePorter]

Brandondrury,

OK - I've just seen your reply - scrub the request in the other reply...

No, it is not loud - no louder than the clicks emanating from any hard-disk executing read/write operations - eg an hd in a PC. All the same, I was little surprised that Zoom did not ensure that there was sufficient muffling to avoid the possibility of the clicks being picked up on local mics running with hi-ish gain - after all, this device is designed for use in a home studio - in my case a bedroom, and by definition the mics and the HD16 are going to be a comparatively close proximity. Or am I just being picky...? Probably. I'll just turn the gain down and play louder.

C.

[brandondrury]

I think that 100% silence is a physical impossibility with any device where friction is involved. (I read in Scientific American that they are working a "atom rollercoaster" hard drive that will be entirely frictionless, but that is decades away).

My advice would be to toss a thick blanket on a mic stand and put that between you are the recorded when you are recording turbo soft parts.

Brandon