The most important discovery about this microphone-audio recorder combination (specific to this "CLOSE" proximity) is that it sounds much better with the audio recorder's LOW CUT filter ON (set to 160Hz)! This is one of those things I wouldn't have guessed, but at this ("CLOSE") proximity, there is way too much BASS (sounds "boomy") without these LOW CUT settings. I also tried using the MIC. LOWCUT (both of the settings) and they didn't sound good at all, but the 160Hz filter on the Zoom H1n audio recorder is making the audio sound pretty natural and "REAL" (which is my goal for the "starting point").
MORE CUSTOM SETTINGS: www.silverlightphotoco.com/audio