Zoom F8 - 8 track audio recorder

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Our interview

MikeLinn

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Well, most limiters now is just padded second ADC channel. :-)

DrDave

I was just getting ready to sell my F8 but now I will try the new firmware and check out the limiters. Interesting that the limiters can be changed in firmware.....

Vitaliy_Kiselev

New firmware - v5.0

This update will add some key functionality found in the new F8n.

Advanced Look-Ahead Hybrid Limiters

Zoom AutoMix™ function

Improved TC accuracy when powered off

Digital Boost for headphone monitor (up to +24dB)

Selectable headphone Volume Curve

New "Fader Mode" view for home screen

Maximum fader level increased from +12dB to +24dB

F8 Control iOS app can now work together with FRC-8

Ability to record to SD card and USB Audio Interface simultaneously

https://www.zoom.co.jp/news/F8_update

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@IronFilm

Such sorting is not made by actual sales number, but on how marketing want you to think it is.

IronFilm

Zoom F8 Multi-Track Field Recorder for $749

Zoom F8 vs Sound Devices MixPre-3 Recording Samples

Crazily there is only a hundred dollar difference now between the MixPre3 and the F8!! :-o

Yet astonishingly the MixPre3 seems to significantly outsell the F8 on B&H?! :-/

http://ironfilm.co.nz/most-popular-sound-recorders-on-bh-in-2018/

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Zoom F8 Multi-Track Field Recorder for $749

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1140426-REG/zoom_zf8_f8_field_recorder.html

MikeLinn

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Zoom F8 for $899

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1140426-REG/zoom_zf8_f8_field_recorder.html

alcomposer

Interesting human forum behaviour:

https://www.videomaker.com/forum/topic/zoom-f8-setup-and-use-in-the-field

The things you find when researching a product! Gosh.

MikeLinn

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Very cool kit

Sennheiser MKH 416 Short Shotgun Interference Tube Microphone with Zoom F8 Multi-Track Recorder Kit for $1499

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1302267-REG/sennheiser_sennheiser_mkh_416_shotgun_microphone.html

jhoepffner

@soundgh2 I work mainly for dance, since 3 years I use the Tascam DR-680 and yes, I need 6 entries (sometime I need 8) : 2 output from sound desk (sometime 4), 2 from ORTF couple front stage and sometime 2 HF for voices. I can say I really NEED those input. Definitely less good than an old Nagra IV but cheaper, lighter and easier to use… Good old days are passing. Jacques Hoepffner

soundgh2

As a dubbing mixer and previously a location mixer - these ISO recorders (as luxurious as they seem) can be a pain in the arse in the mix sometimes, and reduce the skill required for capturing on set - I had 2 channels as a boom op and recordist and never had a problem in the most complex of setups - post cost and time >> than to do it right at source. How many channels do you need these days lol And I must say quality of location sound is so much worse than several years ago - hey ho get paid by the hour shouldn't complain! But polishing turds doesn't fill me with joy, I'd rather be mixing.

MikeLinn

Sound Devices 688 sample - https://soundcloud.com/bhproaudio/sounddevices-688

Zoom F8 sample - https://soundcloud.com/bhproaudio/zoomf8

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Few reviews

DrDave

All they needed to do to make it perfect was add digital i/o, marginally better preamps and a bay for a Sony camcorder battery and it would be the best box in town. And how much would that cost, $10 per unit?

DouglasHorn

It's also nice that it offers tone and a slate mic as well as master timecode. Three important things that a DR 680 doesn't have. It's hard to pay a grand to upgrade when I already have a suitable system (and hire a sound guy with gear for bigger shoots) but if I were starting out fresh right now, it would be a no-brainer.

DrDave

I would pay $500 for it, but not more. Well, maybe $550 :)

An ein figure of 127 dB reflects poor design. OTOH, most people like the sound so far, and that's worth more than numbers. No question level pots is a big deal in the field, although I got used to the system on the 680 it is a pain.

IronFilm

Another review of the F8 with pics of it showing a couple of other common ones so you can see its relative size: http://www.lightformfilm.com/blog/zoom-f8-impressions/

DouglasHorn

I have a DR 680 that I like a lot. However, I can see some things in the Zoom F8 that would be a lot more convenient operationally on a film shoot. For example, having a dedicated level pot on each channel instead of having to trim all the channels by quicking switching to that channel with a button press and then using the single trim pot on the DR 680. The Zoom seems like it has the little improvements that can mean a lot more than the strict numbers.

I find that the difference between usable pro gear and cheap stuff is often reliability and easy operation.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

All because Zoom didn't spend $10 for a digital input or spend $2 for a quiet preamp chip & design.

Most fun thing is that still good solid state preamps for recorders are considered something like magic :-).

DrDave

@ironfilm Take a decent preamp with digital out--they are cheap these days--and use that as the main pair for your mix going digital into the Tascam. The Zoom has a claimed noise figure of -127. Plug a minus 129.5 pre in, and, voila, the main pair, which should be most of the mix--has a lower noise floor than the the Zoom can ever manage. All because Zoom didn't spend $10 for a digital input or spend $2 for a quiet preamp chip & design.

It's a bit of a moot point since the ambient noise will be higher than the Tascam or the Zoom anyway, but it was a brilliant move from Tascam to allow an external, high-end pre.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@IronFilm

If you have good preamp with digital output :-) And for most usage Tascam 680 is more than enough.

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