Zoom F4/F8 vs MixPre-3 and 6 Audio Recorder Comparison 

**Correction** Several astute viewers have pointed out that on the Zoom F series you can create custom meter views which allow you to see the dB markers and the isolated meters on the same screen. This is great news and another plus for Zoom!

Thing is with Curtis, there doesn't seem to be a fanboy bone in his body. Purely objective and always pleasant and careful when he describes his preferences. Makes everyone feel welcome to the conversation. That is an art. Thanks Curtis!

Always an informed, lucid video. I have never switched off half way through, this guy speaks sense all the time!

Yesss this is exactly the video I was waiting for

I ended up getting the the mix pre 3. Thanks Curtis. I'm loving the results!!

Seriously... Who gives you grief!? You are one of the sources I refer to when giving a complete, non BS review, for information about audio and video.

Just ran across this video. Very helpful. Thanks for the sensitively detailed, honest objective (noting personal bias) review and comparison.

You can set up custom metering views on the F4 that include the number values. By the way, I bought an F4. I'm quite pleased with it.

Great video thanks, seems MixPre-3 is the way to go for me - Android + limiter + good headphone output + back-light.

first video I've ever watched from this channel, but THANK YOU for starting with the summary! (still gonna watch the whole thing though lol)

Thanks Curtis. I used your link to pick up the battery and cable from Amazon for my Zoom F8, which has treated me very well. Having an all day battery solution will be a big help.

Fantastic and detailed comparison video, thanks! For a while I worried that I may have gone with the wrong choice but watching your video made me feel a lot better about my MixPre-6 purchase...and you're right. There are pros and cons to both. I can see myself owning both the MP6 and F8 one day.

Can't wait for your review on Sound Devices MixPre-10t!

I love watching Judd's videos! Better to see someone who is an audio guy in video rather than some random person who barely knows what he/she is talking about.

Really the best review I've seen on these mixers! Thanks so much!

Thanks Curtis for another great video! I also tested Mixpre-3 vs. Zoom F4 vs Tascam DR-70D. All three great devices.

Excellent comparison. Very clear and highly informative. I especially appreciated the part about the limiters. One question though about the limiters on the MixPre: I noticed in the spec sheet of the MixPre6 that it said, "Limiter at all gain stages, range > 40dB. First stage analog, subsequent stages digital. " So I did a follow-up about this and asked the guys at Sound Devices about it, and the answer was: "Whilst we cannot divulge too deep in our circuitry and design, our analog limiters sit before the AD converter, Digital limiters are used for signals after the AD converter such as LR Mix or Outputs. The input limiters are dual stage; first stage analog, second stage digital, Output limiters are digital. The threshold is approx -3 dBFS" (Perhaps that is the reason why I've read some people reported that the limiters on the MixPre's are a bit too harsh?) Anyway, the answer was not really very clear to me. Maybe you can explain it: Why is a second limiter stage needed after the AD converter if an analog limiter already sits before the AD converter?

Hey Curtis , great video. You are the final source I go to when look to make decision on audio. Great stuff.

Thank you for yet another great review. This conundrum of choice faces me too. Your videos will help me towards this end.

Love your reviews - exhaustive and very objective. You make is clear when something is your personal preference and why. I love my Zoom H6, but I find myself longing for more gain! (I record nature outdoors). The F4 has a decent price point, but I really wish it was a color display - makes peaking adjustment easier.

Was hoping you'd make this exact video! Thank you, Curtis! The F8 is an incredible piece of gear. But I love the size of the Mix Pre 3. I think I'll keep my F8 at the office for in-house production and pick up a mix pre 3 for indie film field recording. And because it looks kinda cool.

I'm a simple man. I see a new Curtis Judd video I press like then I watch

Really liking your channel and reviews as I am about to buy either the Zoom F4 or the F8 (still trying to decide.) Just FYI: Hirose is a Japanese company, so it is pronounced "Hero-Say" with no accent on either of the syllables. Hope that helps!

Thanks for the thorough review - I very much appreciate the amount of time and effort you put into your videos. I would like to point out, though, that having an analog limiter isn't a get out of jail free card: Limiters affect the sound significantly, depending on how much they are pushed, and can also add very unnatural characteristics in the attack and/or decay as they release. These are likely pretty gentle and designed to deal with modestly too-hot signals, but it's not going to save your butt the way a safety track can if the volume gets crazy. While you won't have distortion, you'll have massively compressed audio.

Great stuff Curtis, I found that really helpful. Many thanks.

Just watched this as I debate over options when I hopefully get the chance to move up a bit in equipment (if I get enough sound work to justify it) and this was a great comparison video for someone like me. I need to watch the regular review of the F series ones because I've been leaning Zoom F4, but very helpful info in this! Thanks for the great video.

Hi Curtis, congratulations for your amazing work, best objective and professional reviews webwide! Huge fan of your channel btw! I'm a young ethnomusicologist progressively making more and more field recordings (audio & video) for research purposes. As you can imagine, the challenges for the kind of work that I do are very specific to fieldwork/run-and-gun sonorous and dance situations : size & weight, portability, power sources and -obviously- sound quality. So far, I've been working my audio recordings with a Zoom H6 using the 2 pluggable Zoom mics, and a third NTG2. Very basic gear, practical and nice but amateur quality sound for consumer needs. So I actually want to upgrade my fieldwork gear (audio recorder and mics 1rst!) and I'm struggling to make the best choice for my needs assuming that my budget allows me to pretend pro-sumer products : for the Zoom F4, I absolutely love all its features (mostly price) EXCEPT for the 2 XLR dual channel limitation, the not-so-good headphone amp, and the fact that it can't be powered via USB, both things are considerable for all-day-long field recordings in rural areas. Moving on to my $1000 limit, the MixPre-6 seems fantastic, mostly the mic preamps that have an undoubted reputation! sole cons for me, single SD card slot so no real-time back-up unless connected to a computer. And finally the Zoom F8... well, it's also a fantastic device, more tracks than the F4, a bluetooth iOS app for comfy mixing and metadata entry, even buying the FRC-8 can improve the lack of maneuverability because of the little fader pots... BUT all the cons that you have signaled in your F8 reviews makes me think that I should really wait 3 or 4 months for the new F8n (lot of these cons will be improved as I know). So, that being said... I rarely record a session with more than 4 mics at the same time, so the F4 seems OK, but its cons bothers me a little. So if I had to go for a recorder that can handle harsh conditions on the field (lots of wind and background noises), best run-and-gun power possibilities and friendly interface, which of these 3 options would you choose? My microphone gear will progressively be updated to : Rode VideoMic Pro+ (on camera, mostly R&G situations), Audio-Technica AT4053b (indoor use), Sennheiser MKH-8040 (main mics) and in the future a Sanken CSS-5 for versatile stereo-mono recordings. Your help will be much appreciated, thanks a lot! Regards.

Thanks for doing these videos on the MixPre recorders. I had a long look at the F4 and the Mix Pre 3. I bought the Mix Pre. I have had a lot of audio recorders over the years. I hope I don't have to buy another one. This looks promising.

Whoa! Thank you for such a thorough comparison!

Reading through the manuals, seems the Mix-Pre 6 does do external controllers now. The manual lists the compatible ones. That size and weight looks nice in comparison with the Zoom. Twice the cost of an F4 though (and the F8 is now becoming cheaper as it's now older technology).

SoundDevices now offers a sled that powers via Hirose. I bought it immediately. Excellent review, but the way. I ordered a MixPre-3.

Hi Curtis! You say at around 12:15 that you can add two ADDITIONAL XLR/TRS inputs via accessory input while showing and discussing Zoom F8. However, that is only true for F4. With F8 plugging in any capsule to accessory input disables channels 1-2, so in fact thesee are not additional.

Urgh.. CHOICES!.. I love Sound Devices and I have worked with a Sound Devices 664 for quite some time and loved pretty much everything about it. I'm a filmmaker but I will also do sound on a couple of (no/low-budget) short films next year and need a Recorder. Budget-wise the MixPre-3 would be good and after reading about it and watching your vids I absolutely love it except for one personal uncertainty. Are 3 channels enough? I own a MKH416, a Sennheiser Wireless Mic Kit and soon an Oktava MK 012. Sure, renting would be an option, if 3 channels will not be enough in the future, but I want to actually use my own gear. The MixPre-3 is already a lot of money for me and the MixPre-6 would be too expensive, sadly. But going Zoom? Well, I still have about a good month left to decide...

Thanks again Curtis. Building on my budget system, I've picked up a used MixPre-3 for a good price. I'll have to rely on my F2 for any 32bit float. Not sure I would need it when a mixer is in the mix. Saves $400-500. Confirmed all the important info here before pulling the trigger. youdaman.

Outstanding review! One thing I hate on the F8 is the AA battery sled and access door; it is a pain to access from the bottom of a sound bag and the locking screw for the battery door is really small and poorly secured to the door. The MixPre definitely has a better AA battery arrangement.

Very informative and helpful, thank you!

Great review Curtis, thanks a lot. My choice as a videographer is the MixPre-3.

Thank you very much for the video. Very helpful.

What a fantastic and comprehensive comparison. Yet again an superb example of how this sort of video tutorial should be done. Regarding the lack of safety track feature on the MixPre series. A while ago I heard the suggestion that because the preamps are so quiet you can afford to record at a lower level (in a sense, the equivalent of a safety track) and boost in post without any problems. Would you agree with this. Thanks again.

Thanx Curtis, this comparison was very informative and helped me to finally decide. I've been reading through the comments and was amazed by the fact that you have been responding to everyone with such a great passion and dedication! Big UP man. My question is about the quality of preamps on MP3/6 comparing to some of the Sound Device high end products, are they actually the same preamps with 32bit A/D converter?

The only thing I miss from the Zoom is no analogue limiters and no backlit stop button. Other than that, it's a beast of a device. I love it.

I was gonna ask you this, but now I found this video. :)

I’m looking for a step by step video to show how to adjust output levels on multiple channels on the Zoom F4.

Excellent video! I really enjoy the analysis, findings and justifications for everything. I think your channel is the best I have ever seen for comprehensive reviews. You also reply to every question and I think that's amazing. Here is a question: If you were to redo this comparison today, but instead of reviewing a Zoom F8, you used an updated Zoom F8n instead, would any of your preferences change? Preferences for films, acoustic audio recording, or 'talking heads' interviews? I saw your video of the differences a Zoom F8n has over the F8, and it seems Zoom have done a lot to improve an otherwise brilliant system, but I'm curious how the refined F8n stacks up against a PreMix 6, or even a PreMix 10T now that Zoom have hit back with these improvements? Thank you so much for your time! Gus

i bought F6 after using it i return back and bought a MixPre-3 .

Here in Germany the price of the Sound Devices MixPre has gone up drastically : cheapest I found is now 1050 Euro -- so more than 1150 $ !!! I would say that speaks for Zoom, even more as there are quite some on the 2nd hand market ( in contrast to sounddevices ! )

Love the Talentcell battery. Incredibly affordable and long lasting.

Very nice informative review. I think sound devices did a pretty nice job on the mix pre series without letting it touch their pro market. That's a big point for them I think. They're able to cater to vloggers or indie filmmakers without cannibalizing their high end business. Seems like a really smart product for them. Now if only zoom can come back with a recorder that can compete with the SD 6 series. LOL

Thank you Curtis

Very helpful, thank you.

Very, very helpfull! I am also interested in where Irig pro fits into the "ranking" of these devices in terms of sound quality.

BTW. To be perfectly honest we should mention that Zoom F4 should not be compared to MixPre-3 and Zoom F8 to MixPre-6. OK, they are at similar price points, but they have different number of separate inputs which is crucial when you for instance mainly want to record live music. If anything, we should compare F4 to MixPre-6 and F8 to MixPre-10T. In such case we get devices of comparable recording capabilities but of different levels of profesional features. For a different price, of course...

Hey Curtis, good production quality here. I have to ask your commentary seems to match what is in the video so well that I must assume that all your commentary is live with the video and not VO in post? If so are these mostly single take or multi take and then spliced together in post? As you have a lot of good straight forward commentary that doesn't feel strictly scripted but also not too much wandering like I tend to do with no script at all. These days I tend to just record footage and to VO in post (also for better quality/control of the voice itself using a VO microphone)

Thanks Curtis, this video was very helpful. I ended up choosing a MixPre, but initially had my doubts due to the powering options that seemed somewhat inferior to those of the Zoom F8, which has a Hirose connector as you pointed out. It turns out there are robust powering options for the MixPre series as well, sleds with Hirose connectors that can be connected to a power bank. More details can be found on the Sound Devices website. www.sounddevices.com/tech-notes/mixpre-3-mixpre-6-powering-options Thanks again Curtis, you're awesome!

F8 is the best option price / quality. In my opinion. Cheers.

Just another amazing comparison Curtis! Thank you! I wonder if the sampling rate matters in such comparison, you know Zooms can sample audio up to 192kHz and MixPre3 can do at 96kHz. Does this matter in terms of audio quality for indoor dialogues?

Great review as always! Question re Zoom F-Control device. Please comment on comparing it to using an iPad via bluetooth, ignoring the obvious that it has better control with sliders. Does it help with (USB) keyboard input and creating sound reports? In fact, can you/do you, have a video on how to use the F8 to create professional Sound Reports for use in a movie shoot environment? Thanks, Paul

Im enjoying watching this video

Solid!

I don't know which Ill get.. but initially Im gonna buy a h1, h2n or Tascam just so I have a recorder.. Once my budget grows Ill look into getting an F4 or MixPre3

Excellent detailed comparison. One question: could you expand on the difference on consumer versus pro level outputs?. Thanks.

Mhm. Am on the look out to connect the battery you recommend to the F4. Interestingly enough I can get that battery pack here in Germany fairly easy. Finding a fitting DC 9 to Hirose cabel is far harder. 'tis possible to order the cable you recommend from the US - but that feels a bit silly / pricey to do :).

I was just wondering whether the Zoom F8 has a touch screen. 30 seconds later he was answering it in the video 😆👍

No one makes audio hardware like Sound Devices. A very talented company.

You sir are pure gold. btw a6500 has tc out setting via hdmi. I wonder if it works with mix pre.

Hi Curtis, very nice video! Greetings from Ecuador. I just bought my zoom f8 and I'm looking for a good power bank. So I was wondering, so far how does that "Tallentcell" performed to you, I mean in terms of time? I work making documentaries and I need a power bank that at least can handle an entire day of production without recharging. Again, congratulations for the video and I hope to see more of your videos!

Hi thanks for this I wonder what differences you feel between mixpre 3 and 6? Thank you for your great always helpful work. Best John

Hey Curtis, really informative video, I currently have the F4 but I've been super interested in the Mixpre3/6 due to the headphone output and the analog limiters (that sound better than the F series to my ears), plus USB-C powering solutions sounds like it would be a lot more feasible than hirose/AC options (at least for a newbie). That said, would you say the F4's features are a better choice than the Mixpre series for a starting production sound mixer/sound designer?

Brilliant insight into both recorders Curtis. But I'm wondering, where did you get that back brace for your recorder in the picture at 2:32? After a week or two on a shoot with a sound bag full of batteries and a hefty recorder, my neck and mid-back complained for a good month before properly recovering.

Hey Curtis, I appreciate this review as I've been looking at the Zoom F4. I understand your bias and have taken it into consideration but I would really appreciate your device as I am truly a novice compared to the knowledge you have. I am a filmmaker and I work on projects that range from Short Films, Corporate Vidz, Promo Marketing Vidz, Government Vidz...and conferences (I also use the H6 as an audio interface)! I currently have 3 H4n's and 1 H6 because most of the conferences we do have breakout rooms that don't usually go beyond four. I am looking to replace my h4n's, they need to be upgraded. I don't use the microphone on the H6 AT ALL nor the H4n's and based on what I do and your review, I was thinking of purchasing three F4's. Based on the info that I've given you, would you recommend three H6's or F4's? (F4 = $550 & H6n = $400)

Great stuff again. My one question is based around using mixpre as an audio interface, with speakers connected. The zoom sound a pain in the respect (AC power, turn on, menu diving etc). Am I right in thinking the mixpre is more a case of 'connect USB-3, connect speakers, turn on (no menu diving)? Also I've seen in another video you recommend going out of the stereo output for speakers - would it be a good idea to come out of the headphone jack instead so you have instant access to an overall volume for speakers (headphone vol at the side)?

Both the F4 and F8 can give you 75db of gain. What about the MixPre?

As usual, thanks Curtis! I'm looking hard at the Sound Devices premix-10M as I almost solely do portable music shoots. Overdubbing is a huge plus, and lack of a F-control a big minus. For now I'm using the Zoom F8. Any takes on the premix 10-m? Thanks!!

I'd be interested to see how the pre-amps on these records compare to the Roland R44, which is much older, but still being sold at a similar price point to the MixPre3 and a bit higher than the Zoom F4?

Thanks for the review/s Curtis. Just wondering if the 1/8" jack stereo output on the MixPre6 is sufficient level etc to send to your average camera on shoot, given some cable conversions can be made etc. Is this a practical output for this purpose? Would you mind elaborating a little on this? Also how important is it to have timecode generation on a shoot, that is, how often would camera be required to get timecode from the audio recorder above other sources..? I just really like the sound, the headrom, and operation of the MixPre6 and of course Sound Devices in general, but question the audio output capability to camera's as this is often requested, and my need to be the sync source on a future shoot. Thanks. I generally do independent films as sound mixer/recordist.

Hi Curtis, Thank You for another comprehensive review! I have been a F8 user for the past two years, but since I am doing mostly documentaries, I am gravitating towards lightweight setups (even such as a H4n mounted on a bottom of a boom pole - but that was years ago). I am now looking for a lightweight universal (H4n) replacement, and the MixPre-3 seems like a great option, that would put all the Zoom and Tascam models out of the competition. Are the preamps and limiters as good as the other SoundDevices and better than Tascams and Zooms? Would it make a difference with a Sennheiser MKH-60 and the Sennheiser microports?

Used the F8 on a production a few months ago. Was planning to use it in mixer mode but had to abandon the idea since the F8 does not allow for gain trim in the channels PFL menus... I think you had to change back to trim mode to be able to change gain at all. I don't understand why they've done it this way but i'd be way more temped to buy one if they'd iron out those little things.

For my money the MixPre-3 is just so much "easier on eye" - both meanings of that. It is more attractive and easier to see (for those of us over 50 becoming long sighted it is important). Wanting it for podcasts, interviews and field recording the MixPre is very attractive - in lots of different senses.

Very informative video. Thank you. I d like to know the manufacturer's (Sound Device) release dates of the MixPre 3 and 6

The problem with the MIxPre is the price. It s hard to beat a MixPre :)

I was thinking for desktop use, the F4 with control panel would be a good setup (the price difference between the F4 and the F8 pays for the control panel), and the MixPre-6 for field use. Those two setups combined is still way less than the SD633. *shrug*

I need to be able to name inputs. My Zoom H6 creates a new folder per each take but the inputs are not named. Would be helpful. Instead of each file labeled ZOOM0001Tr1.wav. I would like each track nameable before we start recording my production. What recorder can do this? The analog limiter vs digital is important for my productions.Price is a huge contender, $2K wold be my limit. The MixPre-10T does not seem to dowhat I want. thoughts. I am the AD for Falcon Entertainment for Mafia War Chronicles. Thank you for your input. the H6 i use for my YT channel. I used it for my shoot this past weekend and the 4AAs lasted 8 hours using 6 channels.

These are "field recorders". But, if I have a semi-professional studio at home and make RU-vid videos, do I need one? I'm using the Sennheiser EW100ENG G3 Camera Wireless Mic Kit (costed 789$), direct into my Canon 70D, and it works good enough... Opinions? Money is not a problem at all.

Excellent.

Hello! Thanks for your video again! It's help me a lot! May I ask if I use the TalentCell Rechargeable for the zoom F8, can it handle with a 9 hours above shooting(P.s I ask this question because I search that the TalentCell Rechargeable unit is count with "mAh" )? Not only but also its just sale on amazon, but it not ship to HongKong, how can I buy it? Sorry about too many questions, Thanks so much!

On the IOS app, have you found any subtle (or not so much) interference? It seems to me you can't airplane mode using the app (unless I am incorrect).

Hi Curtis. Thank you for your excellent explanations. :-) But I'm a newbie in sound recording and need to ask you a question. I'm using Zoom F4 and and can't get the difference between setting the Trim in PFL (for example 55dB) and achieving the same effect using the knob rotating it between 10-75dB. What is the difference? What is the setting Fader (dB) in PFL for? Looking forward to hearing from you. PS I'm sorry, maybe these questions are stupid but I would appreciate if you could help me. THX.

Hi Curtis. Can I use the mixpre iii both as an audio interface and a standalone recorder without being connected to the computer?

The Zooms have "consumer", rather than "pro" XLR outputs - what does that actually mean in practice? I have a Canon C500 and I'm trying to find out if these mixers can be used with my camera...

great review, thanks

Hi, I find your videos helpful. And I subscribed. The audio world is still complicated for me to understand and I'd like to schedule a call about the types mixture and boom types you recommend. Let me know...

Hi, this is really a great and very informative video, it's very much appreciated. I have one question: you are saying that the mini-xlr-output isn't "professional", and I don't understand whether you are talking about the form factor (the mini) or the electrical output (perhaps to low ...?), or maybe I'm missing something completely. And: wouldn't either of these two possibilities easily curable with additional "things" ...?

Hi Curtis. will you teach a course on Zoom F4 someday? y see that you have done one about F8n.

As a professional sound guy, I would like to make this comparison: As someone that makes thier living as a location sound person, I recommend the casio video recorder...it records to cassette...I’m a sound guy, but I know the casio is cheap and the media is also cheap and readily available.

You gave a negative of the F4 that you can't see both the values of the levels *and* all the ISO tracks once. This is false, as you can change your views! :-) & make it custom to your own needs. I've set up one of my view screens on my F4 to show all of that at once, which is what I usually leave my F4 on 95% of the time.

Hi Curtis! Thanks for the amazing comparison. With regard to the Zoom F4 - would paring it with a Sound Devices MM-1, give that top level Sound Devices pre-amp timbre and also allow for clean headphone monitoring? (I already own the F4, so considering picking up the MM-1 second hand) Thanks!! Ant

Will you review the new Samson Go Mic Mobile wireless system? I wonder how's the sound quality going to be

Hey Curtis, On your recommendation I got the Mix-Pre3 and couldnt be happier! Except for 1 thing. I mounted my Sony A7 camera on the Mix-Pre3 and was having some EMF noise coming through every time I hit record on the camera. When the camera is not mounted I do not get any noise. Do you have any idea why this might be happening? Thank you from Brooklyn, NY!

I purchased the MixPre-6 and having troubles with recording isolated tracks. I want individual tracks for each of my mics.

Curtis, now Sound Devices has the new MixPre-10T that seems to be better than the 3 and 6; I guess they have made a sort of "brother" of the Zoom F8 but I know that usually Sound Devices makes its recorders with better quality than Zoom. I'm going to change my old TASCAM HS-P82 (Great device but I worn it out ;-) ) but I'm uncertain between Zoom F8 and this new MixPre-10T: both appears as a valid devices, but the price difference (About 800 $) it's worth? I'm waiting for your opinion. Many thanks for your always great reviews!