Women in Technology

I just bought the Zoom H4 as a backup audio recorder to use for weddings. I am particularly interested in using this device during cocktail hour or during a ceremony when someone is either singing or playing a musical instrument. I notice that upon playback sometimes the audio is distorted even though the levels are not peaking at 0,but rather usually between _12 and -6db. I use the built in mics and place the Zoom H4 on a light stand about 3-4 feet away from the speaker system as I do with my Re 50 mics that are attached to wireless transmitter plugins. And i just let the Zoom h4 record. I notice that my audio is good when the vocals or instruments are playing low key, but when a band or Dj is really jamming or playing loudly, I get overmodulation...even though my VU meters tell show me the audio isn't clipping. I also manually adjusted my levels at around 75 not the default 100 setting.

Any suggestions you have for using the Zoom H4 to record off a speaker system?

Also, is their a way to get a line audio feed from say a DJ's sound board. I don't see a setting on the Zoom H4 for line level. I'm wondering if I'll need a line to mic pad to make this work. I do have aShure attenuator that knocks down up to 25db of audio levels.

Your help is much appreciated!

Scott Wolfson