Zoom F6 Initial Tests & Impressions: Wide Dynamic Range Audio Field Recorder

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Please consider signing up for our ZOOM F6 course over at school.learnli...
Zoom announced their new F6 audio field recorder for film and video at NAB 2019. I was fortunate enough to borrow a pre-production copy for a couple of days and ran it through some initial tests. In particular, I wanted to see how well this dual analogue to digital conversion with 32 bit float WAV recording worked and whether it really prevented clipping. I was also curious as to how clean the recordings would be. To my delight, the F6 records extraordinary amounts of dynamic range so you don’t have to worry about clipping nor do you need to be terribly concerned with noise floor. At the time of launch, the F6 is priced at $650 USD. This tiny recorder is impressive!
#Sound #Recorder #ZoomF6
If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses at school.learnli... including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.
Links to gear used in this video:
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Zoom F6 Audio Field Recorder
B&H: bhpho.to/2HE7HsT
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Zoom BTA-1 Bluetooth adapter - required to run the iOS control app
Amazon: geni.us/vqICA1
B&H: bhpho.to/2HCIDCi
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Lupo Superpanel Full Color 60 - Used for the blue background
B&H: bhpho.to/2GFXiv2
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Falconeyes 120TDX - 4’ x 4’ LED roll-flex panel light used as a key light and for the table-top product shots
Amazon: geni.us/rUMdD
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Olympus 45mm f/1.8 Lens - used on the talking head shots
Amazon: geni.us/6cvOQ
B&H: bhpho.to/2wMxVDs
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Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - used on the Pocket 4K for the product shots
Amazon: geni.us/uMsKam
B&H: bhpho.to/2i6s2gv
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Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - used to shoot the talking head and most of the product shots
B&H: bhpho.to/2JB7W5V
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Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd
Music Copyright 2018 by Cary Judd. Used with permission.
Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.

Опубликовано:

2 окт 2024

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Комментарии : 1 тыс.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

First tests impressed me enough to pre-order the F6. The dual analogue to digital converters work really well in dialogue recording tests so far. $650 USD at time of launch.

@RedBearAK 5 лет назад

That price makes it not just a MixPre-3 but also a MixPre-6 killer, with that many inputs. Unbelievable. I was expecting about $800 with those features. It’s a noob’s dream no-fuss audio recorder.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

@@RedBearAK A killer from the dynamic range perspective, but not necessarily from the ergonomics perspective. 😀 Unless you add that F-control.

@randomgeocacher 5 лет назад

RedBearAK as a user of MixPre-6, Zoom L12, H6, H1 (and very likely the F6 in the future); I imagine there is a nicer/warmer sound/EQ on MixPre series, I always find it awesome out of recorder and Zoom in need of a minor EQ tweak. MixPre also allows you to connect a cheap midi control interface, and two L batteries instead of one. So I imagine both will be competitive and F6 will be unbeatable for one man band scenarios where you cannot rig camera and recorder close to each other; which is very common for what I do for charities. No time to setup, so no feasible way of getting cables right without risking audience tripping on them.

@sherwinlau2584 5 лет назад

I'm not sure if this was answered in the thread of comments below but I believe Timecode Systems recently released the UltraSync Blue which is aimed at using Bluetooth for TC on set. They've been trying to partner with different manufacturers to get their Bluetooth TC implemented in new gear. Maybe the BT Timecode option in the F6 is adopting that.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

@@sherwinlau2584 Yes, that would be really nice if they worked together!

@fafmotorsport 5 лет назад

Brilliant review as always. If anyone wanted to watch 3-4 unbiased and honest reviews of X product, yours MUST be one of them! Thanks for your hard work.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks!

@LangstoniusRex 5 лет назад

Agreed!

@Photographicelements 5 лет назад

I've been waiting since NAB for this video, thank you!

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

👍

@GaryStockton 5 лет назад

Wow, that demonstration of the clipped audio was remarkable. What a powerhouse recorder this is. I can see where this would be an awesome recorder for recording a live band rehearsal, and obviously awesome for videographers.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Impressive how it handles that and yes, would be interested to hear the perspective of musicians on this.

@BastianSchick 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd A F6 with an ADAT in would give more channels for band recording. 6 channels is maybe not enough for a band recording.

@JuusoHoo 5 лет назад

@@BastianSchick but there is no aDat-in yet :(

@JuusoHoo 5 лет назад

on a list of questions on the sellers side someone asked about "chaining" these to get more channels... If I remember right, the answer was, noup but with time code possible to sync in post prod.

@Hexspa 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd Musicians are amazed - at least this one is. We've known about 32-bit float but dual converters aren't that common yet. Looking forward to new ways of tracking vocals since you apparently get super low noise in addition to ridiculous headroom. Not only that, it'll make the learning curve that much easier for beginners should they have the budget. In addition, having some different preamps than just my interface's is something I'm looking forward to trying. That and the analog limiters and built-in FX. Wondering how that reverb will sound as a hardware send and how ergonomic and convenient it'll be with a MIDI controller and the Musician App for songwriting and such.

@randomlykreated 5 лет назад

Okay. I have a Mixpre-3 and love it - the performance, the layout (headphone knob works fine in my strut bag), display. But I feel like I need to upgrade because 3 XLR ports sometimes aren't enough. 4 would be fine in fact. thus I've thought about stepping up to the Mixpre-6. However after seeing this, I would greatly appreciate you weighing in on this and maybe in July, doing a shootout comparing the this to the Mixpre line (3&6 sine the 10 is an entirely different animal). I am a run & gun one-man band sound mixer/boom op so I really want to be sure I have the best equipment for my needs. That sort of work is NOT paying enough to get in to the SD 600 series, Zaxcom or any other "pro" gear, especially where I am located.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Yes, will definitely speak to that question in the final review. I am really, really impressed with the F6, but I don't consider it the right choice for every situation and I'm not planning to sell my MixPre, F4, or F8.

@Hexspa 5 лет назад

This is exactly why I don't want to get the MixPre 3 ii - I'll be immediately maxing out my inputs. One stereo in and a mic and we're through. Currently, I'm not doing podcasting, ambisonics, band recording, etc. but - if I ever do - the 6'll be there. That and who wants to use and keep track of 1/4"-to-XLR adapters? Thank you for confirming that this is a good device but that one more preamp, three more tracks & two more outputs are something for which we are better off spending.

@grumpywiseguy5992 5 лет назад

We will have to see how it fits in a bag. From strictly an ergonomics perspective, I like the MixPre3 better because it is thinner. From a professional usage perspective, the 32 bit recording capability probably overrides any ergo differences, particularly for the price. Sound Devices will have to come up with something spectacular to compete with this.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

I agree that the MixPre series have better ergonomics. If I've got to mix all day from a bag on location, I'd still probably pick the MixPre. But if Zoom adds the dual A/D converters and 32-bit float to a recorder like the next gen F8, that'd make it even more compelling.

@insanejughead 5 лет назад

Pay no attention to the drooling foley artists in the back row. They spend too much time alone to know how to properly show their enthusiasm for such a device.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Hahahaha!

@namdo8958 5 лет назад

Lmao I don't know what industry you work in my good man but Foley artists are never alone, they need their Foley mixer, a lot of time a 2nd Foley artist too

@insanejughead 5 лет назад

@@namdo8958 I am in the industry of keeping the good-natured humor going in Mr. Judd's comments. I appreciate the insight; I would be intimidated to even try foley.

@namdo8958 5 лет назад

@@insanejughead I agree, humor is much needed especially nowadays in this sensitive modern society. However, I don't see the point of putting down a certain group of professionals that have nothing to do with the subject matter just to have fun

@CameronGallagher96 5 лет назад

Wow this is game changing! Especially on Weddings when I NEVER can guess what can happen (DJs tend to change the gain mid-toast)

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Good point - that's a great use-case for having all this dynamic range!

@BasicFilmmaker 5 лет назад

The Adobe Audition lift and diminish of that audio BLEW MY MIND!! Ok, you’re going to get asked this if not already...MixPre-3 or this??!! 😁 Man...and people say I cost them a lot of money! 👍👍👍

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Hahahaha! I think the MixPre still has the edge in terms of ergonomics except for the headphone knob on the side. And if you gain stage correctly, the MixPre produces amazing sound. I think where the F6 really stands out is for solo doc shooters, maybe wedding shooters, where you only get one shot and you're doing EVERYTHING at the same time (camera, directing, sound, PA, etc.)

@FelixRau 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd From your first impressions, would you say that there is a noticeable (or measurable) difference in sound quality between the MixPre and the F6?

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

@@FelixRau Yes, if you gain stage correctly, the MixPre sounds a little different, with a touch more low-end response. If you totally botch the gain staging, then the F6 has the clear advantage. 😀

@BasicFilmmaker 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd OK. It has become obvious to me you need some training on the way life works now. See...you TELL me which one to buy. That way, if anything goes wrong, I don't have to take any responsibility for doing any of my own research, AND, I can blame you (even years from now) if someone else tells me something is better. C'mon...get with the program! 😀❤😂

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Dear Basic Filmmaker. Get the MixPre and the F6 and the Sound Devices Scorpio while you're at it. That should cover every situation and I know that you are tripping over massive piles of cash at your home so this will solve several problems for you. Unfortunately, none of these make coffee and I'm hoping that Sound Devices or Zoom figure out that the Basic Filmmaker leads the type of lifestyle that demands incredible sound quality and incredible coffee quality from a single device. How's that? Better? 😂

@charliehinde2982 5 лет назад

7:05 I was literally like "WHAAAAAAATTTTT!!!!" That is beautiful! I want it!!!

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

:-D

@MrMganzer 5 лет назад

zoom! make a 4 channel (2xlr + 2 3.5mm) 32bit float and sleeker body and just take my money!

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Hahaha!

@spritual_enlightenment 5 лет назад

Yeah, 4 channels might be better in terms of ergonomics.

@Schwarz.Medien 5 лет назад

...and XLR Outputs !!!!

@kazisaud 5 лет назад

Marcos Ceolin Ganzer : I think what you are looking for, Mixpre-3 from sound devices has it. Get your money out :)

@geraldundone 5 лет назад

Hey! Great video, Curtis. I'm really enjoying the educational segments you've been adding. I do have one question about the USB connectivity. When you're using it as an interface on the computer, is the USB able to draw power concurrently or does it require an additional power source at that time?

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Hey Gerald, yes, if the computer's USB port supplies the 5V per the USB 2.0 spec, it'll power the F6. I've found that some laptop USB ports don't supply the full power, but usually at least one of them will.

@kalali462 5 лет назад

Once you have the one, the only, Gerald Undone seeking your knowledge, you've certainly arrived!

@PeterBarnesandjelly 5 лет назад

Oh man that is incredible! It would be amazing if Zoom made a 2 or 3 channel version of this that was ultra compact. Would buy immediately.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

👍

@RustyTube 5 лет назад

Of course it was helpful, Curtis. All your videos are helpful, why should this one be an exception!

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks RustyTube

@jcgorritti 5 лет назад

Prob an UNPOPULAR OPINION: This seems to me like a game changer for the entry-level market... but not really an upgrade for any sound mixer who knows what they're doing. If someone is worried about clipping either they haven't been doing sound long enough or they're in the wrong business. Let's put it this way: Would you sell a self-driving car to a Formula 1 driver? you can try but you'll probably get better results if you aim it to people who can't drive. In audio, the entry-level market happens to be not great - and the profesional market is very expensive - so in that context this is a game changer indeed...and it also looks as an extra tool worth trying / keeping as backup, but as I said before... not an upgrade for anyone who's looking to build a career in audio engineering.

@NihilQuest 5 лет назад

For a mixer maybe but there are also pro people who record sound effects, where often unexpected things happen.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks for the perspective JC. As a part-time location mixer, I'm happy to add it to my kit, but it won't be my primary mixer/recorder mainly because of its form factor and ergonomics. But there are definitely times when the wide dynamic range capabilities will be very useful. Note that Zaxcom has a similar thing in their pro-level transmitters and mixers. Same with Sonosax. Those two are definitely in the pro level market.

@storycafeafrica1910 5 лет назад

Well... as much as this is the case....your disregarding an emerging market of freelancers who cater to a wide market. From indie to corporate video. I for one, am not a pro sound recorder, but need that quality for my shoots. Many times, budgets don't allow for that resource... but i still need the clean audio. And I work with some of the biggest brands in my market...but because they are doing internal comms or online video, don't need the big crews. Because I am primarily a video shooter, this is the best tool to cover me for my shoots. When I have bigger shoots, I will bring in a pro to handle that department. So...I am no F1 driver in terms of audio, but that does not mean I want 16 year old driver student skills. This bridges a big gap in a market that you don't fit in. So leave us to our amateur audio skills looking for pro results. There is nothing wrong with that.

@jcgorritti 5 лет назад

@@storycafeafrica1910 I never said there's anything wrong with what you describe. In fact, I said this is a game changer for your market. By the way, no machine won't give you "pro results", education, experience and skills will. This things are just tools.

@storycafeafrica1910 5 лет назад

@@jcgorritti again, your assuming I have non of those (education, experience, skills). I like to believe I do. Clients including Barclays, Mars and Mercy Corps have retained my services. Many a time, I don't need a sound guy on set... but I have had issues with audio. And that is why i see this tool as giving me "pro " results as a non pro. It's not assuming its a magic box that will do the work for me. Its giving me more room to fix problems when they occur. For many of my shoots, I don't need a 633 or many of it features...but with my work, this tool gives me closer to pro results without becoming an audio pro myself or hiring one for every job. I , along with many people commenting here merit in our profession. And I always see "pro's" who have been in the game for a long time demean upcoming professionals insinuating we have no clue. Even if that may be the case, we are learning as we go. Heck, you were not born with your skills either! And we know the tools which will make it easier for us to get better and better results. So... I understand you don't have to worry about clipping - your in a crew with other pro's... but I do. And that remark is the most snarly , "I know more than you" condescending comment someone of your experience level can make instead of sharing tips and suggestions like Curtis Judd is doing here.

@leebyrd723 5 лет назад

Any analog input recorder is clippable. It may be cleverly designed with multiple-converter switching such that it will not clip the AD converter(s) prior to the analog input stage overloading, but the dynamic range limits of the analog input stage then becomes the bottle-neck rather than the converter. It all depends on the EIN noise floor and overload limits of the input stage. Once the signal has been digitized, the dynamic range within the 32-bit floating point storage "container" is immense. One of the problems I've encountered with F8 is accommodating really hot inputs (music recording using high-sensitivity condenser mics in high SPL conditions). Even with input trim turned all the way down to +10dB I must engage the limiter to avoid clipping. Zoom specs state an maximum input level of +14 dBu with limiters turned on. I take that to mean that with the limiters off, the overload limit is presumably +4dBu, as the advanced limiter pads analog input sensitivity by -10dB prior to the ADC. Would be nice if switchable input attenuation was without engaging the limiters were possible.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Agreed. The hard set unity gain on the F6 probably results in most mics overloading before the analogue preamp of the F6 will completely saturate.

@IMDABROWN 5 лет назад

Hearing Curtis Judd yell seems so unrealistic.

@scottslotterbeck3796 5 лет назад

But, he can do it...

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

It isn't something that happens often except in audio gear reviews. 😀

@JamesMatthewGallagher 5 лет назад

Great overview! I have it in my B&H shopping cart and will look forward to your full review.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks James!

@WatsonWu 5 лет назад

Well done, Curtis. My favorite part was you screaming at the mic 👍🏻👍🏻

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks Watson. What we really need to do is get this thing out on one of your car recording sessions and let the cars do the screaming! 😉

@WatsonWu 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd You know it'll happen, LOL!! Can't wait to get mine. ;-)

@jamiethalman7303 5 лет назад

Great review! Early on, you compare greater dynamic range to camera raw recording. Totally understandable, but it might be a common misconception that raw footage has more information. It’s image data before interpolation to RGB (DeBayer)... raw its self doesn’t mean more data. It does afford camera manufacturers other opportunities to record less compression, but comparing raw vs rgb exclusively doesn’t mean you’re getting more or less information.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Fair point, thanks.

@raimanenglishmusic2146 5 лет назад

Wow you sold it to me. Imagine recording music with this as well (which I do as a hobby). I can whisper and shout and not worry about clipping while the vocals are being recording. Wow. Amazing. Thanks for another great review Curtis!

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

👍 You bet!

@luisnlupe 5 лет назад

As a music recordist it's great that it won't clip...but can someone who actually has used an F6 speak to the QUALITY of the musical notes being recorded? Is a recorded cello "sweet"& warm woody sounding...or is it hard, digitally bright sounding? Or has it demonstrated to anyone who has one that it's solely dependent on the mics used.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

@@luisnlupe Hi, it isn't shipping yet - should ship late July as I recall. In my short time with it, I didn't have a chance to record music (I mainly do dialogue production sound for video projects). My experience with the Zoom F4/F8/F8n and now F6 preamps is that they're not what most people would describe as warm or sweet. To my ear, they generally sound more clinical. Using different mics can make a big difference, of course, but if you're looking for preamps that impart a sweet or warm sound, this probably isn't the #1 choice.

@FazliHalim 3 года назад

really interested to know whether the gain cannot be adjusted whilst recording 32bit float. is there a huge impact? because thats the one has been holding me buying Zoom F6

@curtisjudd 3 года назад

The gain CANNOT be adjusted when recording in 32-bit float mode. ZOOM's perspective is that you do NOT need to set gain. Instead, the knobs become faders and the tracks are recorded post-fader. The end result from ZOOM's point of view seems to be that you can achieve the same thing with post-fader recording. Sound Devices, with their MixPre II series recorders approaches this differently. They do allow the operator to adjust the gain in 32-bit float mode.

@SoundSpeeding 5 лет назад

I wonder if the USB port can be used as a back up recording to a thumbnail USB drive? Like with the MixPre10T That would solve one of the issues I see with the Zoom F6, no dual recording! As even an extra MicroSD card in it would've made me happy.

@gavinharwell 5 лет назад

Sound Speed! Really hope that’s the case

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Here, here. Please count my vote for this as well.

@grigorkyokuto7546 5 лет назад

Curtis Judd finger crossed

@ErisedMediaCo 2 года назад

I know this camera I'm going to reference wasn't out at the time but others with similar technology were. I think a better analogy than comparing the dynamic range capability to RAW video would be comparing it to a camera with a DGO sensor (dual gain output sensor). Specifically, it is like comparing a Black Magic Pocket Cinema 4k to Canon C300 III, Canon C70, or one of the many Alexa cameras which contain dual gain output functionality. This allows for you to take in the highlights and shadows without clipping either similar to the two AD converters taking in the quiet and the loud and summing them together to give a wider dynamic range. Might be a better analogy for some of the video guys who watch your stuff, particularly now that you've done the F3 and F8n Pro reviews.

@ErisedMediaCo 2 года назад

With all that said, I always love your reviews Curtis. Top notch every time. Thank you for you hard work and detailed overviews.

@curtisjudd 2 года назад

Yes, good idea.

@kylosalvesen 5 лет назад

Zoom has really knocked it out of the park with this one, it seems.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Agreed! 👍

@flamencopeko 5 лет назад

Zoom is so cutting edge. I'm well on my way to getting totally addicted to 32 bit float and tech that's great at using it. Crazy good video too!

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks!

@nagual2335 5 лет назад

Exactly what I was waiting for! gonna pre-order thank you!

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

👍

@eastern05 5 лет назад

Thanks Curtis. Always Loved my F8 and this is very interesting even potentially game changing for some other systems.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

👍

@andrewculp1378 5 лет назад

I just wanted to second many of the sentiments here. Thank you for all you do for the RU-vid community, the audio and video community, and for anyone looking for clear, thorough, reviews on cutting edge tech. You're a fantastic role model and teacher. 🙏

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks so much, Andrew! That made my day!

@givebackdocumentaryproduct5981 5 лет назад

Hey Curtis we spoke via my other account. I was looking at the Zoom F6 but am torn between the F6 and the sounds device mix pre 3. The reason I was Interested in the F6 is because of its form factor which is similar to the Tascam DR69d which I attach to my camera rig . I like the F6 because of its form factor because anf it's 32 bit float file & high dynamic range. The week link in my audio change with my Rode NT5 & NTG3 is the Tascam DR60d. The audio on my documentary was only ok and I want it at its best . The Mix pre 3 would offer excellent audio but the Zoom F6 offers the potential to be more forgiving if I make mistake in my audio settings and thus avoid distorted audio. To cut to the question why is it that you feel the F6 is not the best move from the DR,60d. And that the mix pre 3.would better move from the Tascam. Sorry for the long question and for asking your advice on this subject again. Thanks as always for your excellent input. Jean-Francois

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Hi again! The F6 is more difficult to use from an ergonomics point of view. For example, the channel knobs are very crowded on the very small front panel. The menu requires the use of four buttons to navigate vs the MixPre's touchscreen. The MixPre has the ability to also record very wide dynamic range and also has superior limiters in case you set your gain too high. But you can run the gain very low and boost it just like we demonstrated here with the F6. The MixPre just goes about capturing that wide dynamic range a different way. This is all my opinion having used the F6 for only two days so it isn't totally conclusive and it is subject to my opinions and preferred way of working. One question: Are you booming the NTG3 and NT5 or are they mounted to your camera rig? If mounted, you'll get a bigger improvement in audio quality, even with the Tascam, if you boom them over the talent. You probably already are doing this but I mention it just in case. Didn't want you to invest in a $650 recorder and find that your audio quality hasn't improved much at all. :)

@givebackdocumentaryproduct5981 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd thanks Curtis you honest view are appreciated. I do both boom and if need the mics are on the rig. But from what you say, it will be better with the .ix pre 3. I promise not to contact you again about this. Thanks again . You are part of a rare breed o. RU-vidrs that reply to comments. Thank again JF

@mfeltster 5 лет назад

I’m sold! It’s pricey for my budget. Well worth it,as a one man crew. To just hit record and not worry about clipping is amazing. Spend more time on filming! Thanks for the review and help you given me!!!

@eirjordan337 5 лет назад

mfeltster I’m thinking the same thing! - where there isn’t a dedicated audio person to monitor levels this is killer! No worries about clipping or too quiet, especially with a couple of different volumes talents. Now I can just focus more on the video shooting, lighting etc...

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

You bet! Happy filming!

@storycafeafrica1910 5 лет назад

same here...focus on the performance and not 1 other thing to worry about. Yes, still do proper settings....but less of a headache and more flexiblity in post. Some people here are hating on this market - claiming we are not pro's. Who died and made them god?

@huyked 5 лет назад

Oh my gosh, I have been excited for this. Thank you for brightening up my Sunday. xD Haha! I am curious what this will mean for taking in a line from the sound board at a live music event, if I will have to adjust the board to level down the output, or if it has enough headroom to not even care. Haha. I guess the smart thing would be to reference the levels on the F6 screen as I'm adjusting the knob for the line-out levels on the board. ;)

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks - I'll add that to my checklist for the review!

@huyked 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd Thank you for adding that to the checklist!!!

@RallenMan 5 лет назад

This is the second question about connecting to a sound board. There is nothing special about connecting to a sound board. I do it all the time. Just ask the mixer for a Line level output of the mix bus, either a mono or stereo mix, I usually get a mono mix as I am only interested in recording persons speaking into the PA mics. Plug that into your XLR input channel, set to line level, give yourself about 15-20 dB of headroom and roll. Never had a problem. I’ve also recorded a stereo board feed of musical performances, same procedure, no problems. In other words, having 32 bits of dynamic range is not needed to record a sound board feed, 24 bits is just fine, 16 bits is just fine too if you set the gain with sufficient headroom.

@huyked 5 лет назад

@@RallenMan I'm not having a problem. I'm just curious if a hot line out will overload the new F6, that's all. Thank you for the reply and tips.

@michalspisiak 5 лет назад

I can't quite get my head around how it works, but that doesn't matter! Pulling the audio from -60 - magic. This could be a great upgrade on my H5. Potential rival to sound devices?

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Definitely an upgrade from the H5. Tradeoffs relative to the MixPre Series from Sound Devices.

@storycafeafrica1910 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd ergonimics ...maybe. Am really on the fence here. Mixpre 3 or this. Single shooter, so most times no one to man the faders. This seems to cover me,but my cart at B&H has a Mixpre3.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

@@storycafeafrica1910 Only you can decide for yourself. Having used both the Zoom F series and Sound Devices MixPre series, I would choose the MixPre for myself. Others can choose the Zoom F series for themselves and that can be a great decision as well. One note that is very important here: The example of recording and then boosting in post - I recently tried this on a MixPre recording and it works there as well. So this is not just something one can get with a Zoom F6. And the ergonomics with a MixPre are far better than the F6 in my experience. The ergonomic benefits are pretty big in my work when I'm operating the device for a full day at a time.

@photojoseph 5 лет назад

That is CRAZY impressive. Wow.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

I know - WOW!

@crooker2 5 лет назад

ok... So I'm looking at this with my jaw hovering very close to the floor. When you bring up your -60dB (recorded) audio up +100dB, HOW does it not bring the noise floor up +100dB as well? I mean, there's no such thing as 100% clean audio through a microphone because even room noise is still noise... amplifying up up +100dB should bring the noise floor up at the same ratio. So what's going on here? I mean, a device that can effectively remove Signal to Noise Ratio out of low level recordings would be practically priceless to audio engineers. What if the recording environment is a bit noisy in the case of, say, a run'n'gun outdoor environment, etc... does it keep the noise floor on THOSE types of recordings in check as well?

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Hi Dave, the noise floor does increase 100dB in post as well. The reason it isn’t a problem is that the recorder is able to record with so much dynamic range that it isn’t a problem. Yes, if you record in a noisy environment, that will all be captured based on the polar pattern and characteristics of your microphone. But you shouldn’t have to worry about the recorder contributing to the noise.

@crooker2 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd wow. Truly amazing. I will be watching for your consumer-release full unit review. Seems like this kind of kit will be impossible not to pick up. 2019 seems to be truly a gear-hoarder's year (Rode, Zoom, etc... :) My Tascam DR60-MKII is a work horse, but I may be migrating to Zoom this year.

@OldManRoob 5 лет назад

Wow! Thanks for the great overview, looks like a real winner for a one man band videographer. Looking forward to the full review !

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks Rob!

@3kdsakiyo 5 лет назад

as always you can count on curtis to deliver the best info , thanks mate great video :-)

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks!

@carrytrainer.editor3321 5 лет назад

That is REALLY IMPRESSIVE! Thanks for the comprehensive review.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

You bet! 👍

@JamesClark1991 5 лет назад

Excellent video Curtis. This explained everything I wanted to know about the recorder and more. It seems like Zoom have really (shockingly!) changed the game here with these new 32bit recordings! I'm gob-smacked. I'm now torn between getting this or an H6 for a very small/portable setup. I wish they'd release a H6n or Pro and give me the best of both worlds :-(

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

👍 I’m betting that the wife dynamic range will make its way to the other F series recorders in the next generation of each. Would be really interesting if it also made it into the H series but that seems less likely.

@MehmetSalihYILDIRIM 5 лет назад

This is incredible. How would the 32bit audio recording work with audio feeds from sound boards? I usually need to use an attenuator with F4 and H6.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Hopefully well. Will take a look for the final review.

@satinderdhindsa835 5 лет назад

What does the attenuator do?

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

@@satinderdhindsa835 It reduces the output signal from the sound board so that the recorder's input is not overloaded and does not clip.

@storycafeafrica1910 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd but if the sound comes in clipped... your screwed. At events, many sound/PA providers do not send a clean signal. If they send it with grounding issues, or clipped....no recovering even with 32 bits because it has been processes already on the sound board

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Story Café Africa fair point. If you get a clipped signal, game over. But when it comes out the board hot, but not clipped, this setup should help.

@PixelGRID 5 лет назад

How does this thing compares to Mix-Pre 3, as both of them are same price at $649... And plz also let us know which one is better in terms of overall sound quality (is it natural like sound devices or very digital like sounding) & which one has better gain and noise floor for using high gain condenser mics??? Please let us know about these few things in your in-depth review or maybe you can make dedicated video comparing both of them as both of them has same spot on pricing...

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Will do in the final review when we have a production unit.

@rouelibre1 5 лет назад

Your perfect photography analogy would be HDR (high dynamic range ; the name says it) more than RAW.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks.

@adepew 5 лет назад

Wow, this comes at a perfect time as I am in the market for an audio recorder for the occasional one man band work.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

👍

@truecuckoo 5 лет назад

The step up from Zoom H6 will be incredible for me. Looking forward to it. The only real downside for my use personally is that they’re ditching XLR/ 1/4” combo jacks, which I find very convenient. I guess XLR only has a much more shallow profile, and because of that they could make the whole device smaller. But I’m using a lot of 1/4” cables, so cable adapters/ dedicated XLR to 1/4” and 1/8” cables will add bulk to carry around. XLR cables are heavy. But I can live with that. Would be curious to hear if you have an overview of what DAWs that support 32bit float. Is it widely adopted already, or is it a standard on the rise?

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Hi, I suspect you’re right - the combo jacks take a lot more room internally. Waiting for the dual ADCs to make it to the rest of the F series makes sense for a lot of people. I believe all of the major DAWs support 32 bit wav files presently.

@rmonge4surf 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd do you see any issue with using an XLR to 1/4 TRS cable (or converter) for guitar, bass recording? That's the main issue I see for my uses, I want to record music with this beauty.

@flutechannel 5 лет назад

Love the look of the show! Gotta preorder this a great upgrade from the Tascam Dr-60MkII ( still a great device ) Thanks for the review Curtis!

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks and I hope it works well for you!

@Hexspa 5 лет назад

Have you ever had problems with the XLR connection getting stuck?

@radiozelaza 5 лет назад

I wonder how the clipped part would sound if "de-clipped" in software like Izotope RX, what would the difference be between the Zoom and conventional recording.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

de-clip plugins/processors do their best to estimate and model what the waveform would look like if they hadn't clipped. They are an approximation. My experience is that if the clipping is minor, they do pretty well. But if the clipping is more extreme, like in the example here, they don't do nearly as well. To me, there's serious value in the dual ADC and 32-bit recording approach the F6 takes.

@flutechannel 5 лет назад

Also 7:20 is by far one of the best moments of the channel thus far.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

😁I make a fool of myself for the greater good!

@flutechannel 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd it really brought a smile to my face!

@1nevi 5 лет назад

Thanks for the review. I wish they have built Neutrix inputs which allows both xlr and 6.3 mm adapters to connect.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

I asked zoom specifically about that and they said the reason they only included XLR inputs is that the 6.3mm combo jacks take up a lot more room internally and they couldn't keep the size so small if they used them. Probably best to stick with and F4 or F8n if you need the 6.3mm. Or use adapters/adapter cables when you need a feed from a device with 6.3mm output.

@1nevi 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd Thank you Curtis. Tell me how and where do you find that energy to answer everyone's questions and making so many videos and working and editing and having family.... :D

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

I don’t watch TV. 😉

@floridaproductiongroup9970 5 лет назад

I can imagine a Zoom F12 with 12 inputs by NAB LOL. Larger size, hirose, BNC time-code, better knobs and menu control and the same 32-bit float recording format.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

That'd be nice. I'd definitely vote for larger, better knobs along with you!

@jsfbay1 5 лет назад

I just noticed the F6 appears to have just 1 sd card slot. Is it at least UHS-II capable? Doesn’t your sound devices Mix-Pre have 2? How much of a concern is this (single card slot) to a working pro who can’t have a card failure and have to tell the production person you didn’t get the sound? Isn’t it the equivalent of your camera having just one card slot? Apologies if you addressed this - I couldn’t hear your entire review as I was in very noisy surroundings.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Hi Jeff, the F6 has a single SD card slot. Same with the MixPre series except the 10T which has backup in near real time to a USB thumb drive. If you’re doing paid jobs, I’d say the dual card slots are advisable but it also depends on how the dual a lot recording is implemented. If they use a single controller, there are still risks that both cards could be corrupted at the same time. So I’d be careful about assuming that 2 card slots is automatically safer. It should be, but the implementation is key as well.

@TheLordcasio 5 лет назад

One use for this for those of us that do larger scale “Real World” style shoots, would be for an unmanned car rig. On some of my shows, we use an SD 633 that lives in the trunk of the car. My A2 will dial in the rx before cast enters and hit record, often leaving the recorder to roll on nothing while cast gets ready to exit. With the Bluetooth functionality the A2 can engage recording right as cast exits. The dual ADC and 32bit architecture would save from any headaches that an unmanned recorder can cause. Another good use would be when cast are in boats and there’s no room for camera and audio (cameras shoot from follow boat). Throw the F6 in a freezer bag or heavy duty Tupperware and you’re off to the races. Losing a Zoom to water vs an SD, is a lot less of an L&D price tag.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Great points, thanks Casey!

@ArikGST 5 лет назад

Damn, that thing is impressive! Especially considering it`s still prosumer priced (around 700Euro here in germany). I don`t know if I would be able to handle working with it at the moment but if I ever get more advanced with my audio editing and mixing this seems like a great option (I`m a total noob when it comes to working with audio xD).

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Late breaking news: The Sound Devices MixPre line of recorders now do the same thing - dual converters and 32-bit float files.

@cuisined 5 лет назад

Now.. Literally 2 day ago I ordered my Mix-Pre 6 and now...wondering about those so called Analog Limiters vs this new Amazing technology!... By the way.. Curtis, I was the one asking about Rodelink Wireless that had problems with it's noise floor and, you reached for me asking about it and I didn;t reply I was so bummed out! Turns out that the lav mic itself was flawed! -In my 2 year warranty doing nothing but kitchen videos, strapping the mic on myself, very carefully the lav broke twice! first time the connector didnt work and jthen the noise floor! Now I am on my last Rode Lav that they sent and I am super careful (as I was the the other 2..)trying not to brake it.. I am thinking to upgrade to a Countryman B3 or sanken COS-11 tough the later sounds too sibilant. I am trying to make my kitchen area with stereo sound, I've got Rode NT4 and I thought, why not to add an NTG3 on top of NT4 like the SSH-6 of Zoom. Would you think this woruld work or I'll get a blubby mess haha..? Well I was thinking about you and how much I've learned from you past few months++. I too own multiple GH5's and I am not sorry having them! I think I've made fantastic choice for shoooting day time, my ISO lives at 250-400. I think that Sound Devices could easily up thier game to 32 bit+analog limiters and be well sitted in thier game. Let's hope this could be added as a firmware upgrade haha 😝 I hope I've made the right decision. -Thank you so much.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Hi CUISINED, don't wonder or second guess your decision to go with the MixPre. That would be my choice, even knowing what I know about the F6. It definitely is NOT possible for Sound Devices to accomplish the same thing via firmware update as it requires 2 converters per preamp and that's a hardware thing. Happy recording!

@DSP1337 5 лет назад

650$ for the pre order at the moment. This recorder would be perfect for my needs as I often have to record situations where I cannot do a sound check or adjust the levels on the recorder during an event. But in comparison to my Tascam DR-70D it really needs to come down in price to be worth the money for my type of use.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks, understood.

@xakhuh5104 5 лет назад

Great initial review Curtis! It seems that Zoom just might have ceased most new F8n sales with this release until they update the recorder to include dual analog to digital converters and 32 bit float... it would seem silly to buy an F8n knowing where zoom is headed, unless you REALLY need a pro-level recorder on a budget right away. Clipping is a real concern and a decent recordist can avoid it in almost all cases but even a great recordist has to think about it and plan ahead. Any recordist would love for that extra concern to be a thing of the past... and now it is.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks xak huh!

@TVperson1 5 лет назад

I wish they'd make a 32-bit H4n, this thing is nice, but I'm paying for 6 XLR ports when I only need 2 + 2 microphones.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Cool idea.

@fastguitars4380 5 лет назад

Does this Zoom offer multitracking, similar to the H6? In other words, can you track, once trk at a time to SD, and listen to the track and overdub to the next and the next internally to SD

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Hi Fastguitars, I didn’t see any multitrack/overdub capabilities with this firmware. I think they keep the focus on sound for video and film with the F series recorders

@simonw.700 5 лет назад

Is it possible to sync several F6 recorders? (Something equivalent to word clock) This is an indispensable feature for me and would make the F6 with its dual A/D-converters an excellent tool for recording (classical) live music!

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Hi Simon, I don't see a wordclock feature in this pre-production copy nor on any of the previous F series. Not sure if that's something that can be added. Good question!

@randomgeocacher 5 лет назад

I do not need another recorder. It would be insane to buy yet another recorder. I am almost certain I will buy this one. Very cool device. Seems perfect for one man band where recorder is far away from camera operator. Will await full reviews eagerly.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

I know, same here. For many, it might make sense to wait until this tech makes its way into the larger form-factor recorders like the F8.

@johnphillips1913 4 года назад

Hello Curtis. I want to add my thanks to the others for a wonderfully valuable and informative series. I have two questions. You described the Automix feature on the F8n as "not sufficiently aggressive." Is the F6's Automix any better? Also it seems like you prefer the F8n in 99% of cases due to the improved control surface but it lacks the 32 bit float so in that sense is it inferior? Thanks again.

@curtisjudd 4 года назад

Thank you John. Correct, now that I have the F6 and the F8n, I much prefer the F8n for 99.9% of situations. The wide dynamic range 32-bit float feature is useful in a few situations. But the ergonomics are so much better on the F8n for my work, I prefer it. I haven't yet tested the automix feature on the F6, but have confirmed that it does not have any additional settings. I would be surprised if it were any different than the F8n. But just to balance that thought, automix is not useless, just not a huge, profound difference vs. not using it. Nevertheless, I still use it for podcasts or panel discussions without hesitation.

@johnphillips1913 4 года назад

@@curtisjudd Very interesting. Thanks for a great reply.

@michaeljemery 5 лет назад

Once you get your own F6, I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on exactly what Unity Gain is, how it works, and what its limits are. At the moment it sounds like black box magic replacing what was previously a key element of sound engineering. The problem with black boxes of course, is that you never know exactly what will come out next.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Hi Michael, unity gain basically just means that the input and output signals are the same so it prevents overloads and clipping. Here’s a deeper explanation: www.liveabout.com/what-is-unity-gain-1817673

@SarahKchannel 5 лет назад

In regards to Hirose or external power, there are plenty of Sony batter dummies with cord and connector floating around, so you can still connect to managed power ;)

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Good point, thanks Sarah!

@angelroundtrip 5 лет назад

Hey Curtis, I recently discovered your channel and have learned so much already! You're an incredible presenter and teacher. I'm getting ready to start making videos and I'm almost there, but I have a question for you about sound. Which do you think is better in general, a great microphone with a cheaper recorder or a cheaper microphone with a great recorder? Is that question even possible to answer? The only external recorder that I have is the original Zoom H1 (!) and I was thinking of getting an H6, but saw this and it looks great. In terms of mics, I already have the Deity V-Mic D3 Pro and Rode Wireless Go. I was also thinking of getting an XLR mic if the budget allows for it (but it might be one or the other for me at this point in time).

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Hi Angel, I think it depends on which practical issues you need to solve first. For talking head videos in reasonably good sounding indoor locations, the D3 Pro is a surprisingly good, affordable mic. So if that's working for you, then the F6 makes sense as a better long-term investment than an H6. If you're shooting in locations with a lot of noise, investing in a mic with a more directional pickup pattern would be a good way to spend the funds. I hope that helps and best of luck!

@angelroundtrip 5 лет назад

Got it. Thanks so much!

@dethskulpt2020 2 года назад

Hey Curtis! Do you know if the F6 can handle using stereo microphones like the DPA 4060? Thanks for all the awesome videos.

@curtisjudd 2 года назад

It sure can. Thanks!

@SergioManuelSanchez 5 лет назад

From official site: "ZOOM F6 PRODUCTION DELAY During our initial production for the F6 Field Recorder, we discovered a mechanical component that needed modification to assure consistent, overall durability. As a result, delivery of the F6 Field Recorder has been rescheduled for later in the Fall/Winter of 2019. At Zoom we have always been committed to providing the highest quality products possible. We apologize for the delay and appreciate your patience and understanding. " New date: 2019-12-16

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks Sergio.

@praveenkumar-wi3ej 4 года назад

Superbly explained 👍👍

@curtisjudd 4 года назад

Thanks praveen!

@JasonMcNamara 5 лет назад

Thank you Curtis. I live in Tokyo and spoke to Zoom today. I believe we're getting a late July release here in Japan. I feel this will make my F4 obsolete, but that's not a bad thing. This F6 looks truly outstanding. The one thing I will miss is their proprietary input because I often find the HHS-6 & MSH-6 mics and especially not being able to use the EXH-6 Capsule any longer for the 2 additional XLR inputs. However, I think that's a small price to pay especially for the 32-bit Float capability at that price.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks for the thoughts, Jason!

@scott5747 5 лет назад

Good review as usual. Unfortunately, the lack of professional outputs makes the F6 not an option for those sending a signal to professional cameras with XLR's while recording. I'm disappointed Zoom seems to think that size matters that much. I would have much rather seen the F6 have a size of the F4 with the output options of the Sound Devices 664. With a unit like this at $1K or so, Zoom would have a great product. Next is the record format. It seems that the F6 can only record a WAVE or MP3, but not both at the same time. This is another unfortunate design flaw. We regularly record both so we have a backup WAVE file to the camera's recording and a MP3 to give to the field producer so they may work on a script while traveling or for transcription. We use a Sound Devices 552/Zoom F4 combo at this time. This gives us the outputs and recording formats we need at a lower cost than the 633, 664 or 688. With a 552/F6 combination , we could still get the professional outputs from the 552 plus record a MP3 file, while the F6 records the WAVE files with the added 32 bit benefit. However, it would have been so such better if Zoom would have just done it all. They seem to think DSLR users is their only market. Search RU-vid for Combining a Zoom F4 and Sound Devices 442 to see a setup. This my initial setup before upgrading to the 552/F4 combo. A setup like this can cost under $2K with any combination of a used 442 or 552, and new F4, F8 or F6, and if you already own one of these, it can be a really low cost upgrade compared to the 633, 664 or 688. Cheers

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks Scott. Not sure whether the final firmware will allow simultaneous wav/mp3 recording. Hopefully they see your feedback. I am hoping for an updated F4 and F8 with the dual A/D and 32-bit float recording.

@scott5747 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd: I welcome updating. This helps with original investments. Cheers

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

@@scott5747 I think that'll require a hardware update.

@RallenMan 5 лет назад

Well stated.

@kalali462 5 лет назад

I doubt this is Zoom's last field recorder.

@tomdchi12 5 лет назад

I'm really (pleasantly) surprised that this is only US$100 more than the F4! As you were going through the good performance and nice features, I was suspecting it would have been priced at the same level as the F8. From Julian Krause's video on the topic, I may have misunderstood, but I though that he was speculating that the lower level A/D converter might bypass the preamp, which would avoid the noise from the amplification itself, and also avoid the amplification of any noise in the chain at that point, but from your diagram, it looks like both A/D converters work on the signal from the preamp. If it works well, and has low noise in the recording that's all that matters! One small/odd thing I've been wondering for a while is wether for a 2 (or more) camera interview setup, where the cameras don't have TC in, if something like Tentacle Sync boxes could be avoided by splitting (and possibly attenuating) the TC signal from a recorder like this, through cables, and into the 3.5mm audio in jacks on the cameras. TC boxes would still be necessary where multiple cameras are moving around (and or the "sound guy" is moving around), but for more "fixed" setups, cabling the TC from the recorder right into the cameras would save money and mean fewer "gizmos" to deal with while shooting.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Hi Thomas, Julian and I are both speculating about how the analogue preamp stage works here. So far, ZOOM hasn’t revealed that level of detail, probably to protect their implementation. Yes, you should be able to run a TC signal directly from the recorder to cameras and you would need to attenuate and split the signal and find software to convert the audio TC to metadata TC. But it should work!

@tomdchi12 5 лет назад

Curtis Judd when you say that software is needed, that’s what Resolve and Tentacle’s software does (when it works) correct? (And that the BMPCC4K does when it gets a TC signal in the 3.5mm jack.) It will be interesting to learn all the details on the F6, so I’m very much looking forward to your review! Thanks!

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

@@tomdchi12 Correct - Tentacle Sync Studio which almost always works or Resolve which works about 50% of the time when it comes specifically to the task of converting audio timecode to metadata timecode.

@winship7891 5 лет назад

Musician / audio engineer here and I am drooling. I have the h6 and it’s great...But the dual a-d converter is a in my experience literal game changer. Are there any other dual converters out there? Also, what is the dynamic range of this unit?

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Hi WINSHIP, yes, Zaxcom and Sonosax have devices with dual A/D converters as well but they are far more expensive. I haven't seen an official dynamic range spec for the F6 so not sure what the number is, but they claim that your mic will overload well before the F6 input will. Seems to be the case in my limited testing.

@eirjordan337 5 лет назад

Ok I’m sold. I hate to say this, but as someone that isn’t very strong in audio knowledge this seems like the EASIER way to go. Just “set it and forget it” and it seems like dialogue would be very easy to adjust in post. Of course, you still have to try to control for echos, random noises and acoustics, but this would definitely help speed thing up on set.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

I think you are the exact type of shooter they're aiming for with the F6. 😀

@eirjordan337 5 лет назад

Curtis Judd I’ve been waiting since your NAB preview of the F6. But I really couldn’t tell it’s THIS small 😂

@JPDavidson 5 лет назад

How do you feel about losing the dual SD slots of the F4? I love the safety of dual SD, but then again I've never had an SD card die on me mid shoot so maybe I'm just being paranoid...

@jcgorritti 5 лет назад

I was just thinking the same thing. Specially if you are recording 6 tracks of either 32bits or 96Khz -- you better have a big SD card.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

It is a valid concern for paid jobs. I'm not convinced that all dual SD card implementations are bulletproof, especially if the two card slots use the same controller. I believe that's why Sound Devices uses a CF card in one slot an SD card in a second slot in their 600 series mixer/recorders. I suspect each card uses a separate controller. In any case, it is a valid concern that there's only one slot. But there is a hefty price to pay to get into an SD 6xx series recorder. I haven't had any failures for several years and last time there was, all of the files were recovered with recovery software.

@BMRStudio 5 лет назад

Impressive on the conversion! But....... No HDMI in-out, or SDI in-out for syncing the recording, or take audio from the camera, or pass audio to Your video recorder. Why? Zoom... WHY?

@_rhapsodist 5 лет назад

you should watch the whole video before complaining

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Yes, interesting step forward in terms of conversion. And yes, this is not the perfect device for every situation. Hopefully Zoom sees your input here. 😀

@BMRStudio 5 лет назад

rhapsodist why? Where is the SDI or HDMI input? Show Me!

@takeactionmedia9608 5 лет назад

Thanks so much for the extensive review! I just had a quick question. Do you know if the stereo Line Out output will take full advantage of the wide dynamic range? I will be running audio directly out of the F6 into my camera and I was hoping that there could be little to minimal post-production work on simple documentary style setups. Thanks so much!

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

My F6 hasn’t arrived yet to confirm but my guess is they the output from the F6 does NOT support the wide dynamic range that the inputs can support. So you would need to record to the F6 so that you could fix the overly loud parts which will be clipped in the camera audio.

@KyleWilcox 5 лет назад

Are the Dual A/D converters in effect when using it as an audio interface? For live production, you will still have to set your faders to the right level, but the dual converters could still help make that easier.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Good question. Will look at that in more detail in the final review.

@jaredjaynes 5 лет назад

Curtis great video I have pre ordered it as well, going to make this my car rig for features when I am asked to just drop the bag and hit record. Hope this feature works its way it to other f series recorders. I own zaxcom wireless with neverclip interested in comparing the way the 2 companys utilized dual a/d converters

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Oh yes, that'll be interesting to see how they compare. I assume with the Zaxcom gear you have to record to marf format to get neverclip functionality? Or can they also record to 32-bit wav?

@AGVersace100 5 лет назад

I'd like to know your opinion about the chance the such technology has to be used in the successors of the H6n / H5? It would be amazing to record at 32bit float but I like the implementation of the interchangeable mic capsules.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Great question. I can only guess and share your hope that they'll eventually include it in the Handy recorder line. To make it work well, I think they're going to need to upgrade the preamplifiers SIGNIFICANTLY which likely means they'd have to be a fair bit more expensive.

@bunty31287 5 лет назад

Awesome video, and an innovative product. I would be interested to see how the background ambience level (eg traffic) shifts when we make gain adjustments to fix 'distorted' portions of the recording. So basically, a similar example to what you did, but in a noisy environment. Still, the good news is, we can record at 24 bit and carry on with post the way we have been and go to the 32 bit file for those portions that are distorted in the 24 bit file. What say?

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Agreed.

@csabytheone 5 лет назад

I am blown away with the capability of what 32bit float can do and the method of dual ADC. I still love my Tascam DR60D mk2 but I'd love to have my first Zoom. I did had the chance to play with the F4 and I felt that Tascam was better. But now we have a new horizon. Thank you this video is extremely helpful, especially when you explain the way things work.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks Csaby!

@adamw449 5 лет назад

Hi Curtis! First od all great channel! My first comment here, but I've been watching your videos for 2 years at least. Quick question from my side: is slate tone function available in F6? If yes - is there easy way to use it during recording? For me it is a make-it or break-it question - since I use it a lot to mark good takes/bad takes in my videos.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Hi W A, in this pre-production copy, there was not a slate tone, just tone for calibrating the line out to camera levels. I don't know whether they plan to include slate tone in the final firmware. Also, if I had to guess, they're going to rely on the iOS app for marking good/bad takes.

@adamw449 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd this would be fine, as long as it is not BWF mark which sadly doesn't work with Resolve AFAIK. Thanks for your answer!

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

@@adamw449 No, it's an audible tone sent to the left and right outputs but it is buried way down in the menu so not really usable as a slate tone.

@RayOrtega 5 лет назад

Fantastic. Looking forward to seeing if the auto-mix has been improved.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks Ray, me too, lot of potential there.

@SomethingRandomInc 5 лет назад

Really cool. I have been using the DR-100 MK II and have been eyeing the Mix-Pre 3 as an upgrade. This zoom seems even better, I hope the technology trickles down into cheaper devices.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

👍

@producer55 5 лет назад

Great job! Thanks!

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks!

@keithdmyers 4 года назад

Is it possible to use a DBX 286s as input into the Zoom F6? Ty as always for the great content.

@curtisjudd 4 года назад

Yes, just switch the input on the F6 to line level. You'll also need a 1/4" TRS to XLR cable. Happy recording!

@Dexmo 5 лет назад

Looks ok, just ok. I have the need for line level inputs, Taking sound from a board or the occasional real-life device. If I'm spending that much, I'd step up to a mix-pre. If they switch to Neutrik combo jacks for production - then I'd really consider it.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Ok.

@martinXY 5 лет назад

The F6 can accept 6 line level inputs.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

@@martinXY Correct, the XLR inputs are mic/line selectable in the menu. Dexter seems to need 1/4" TRS line inputs. I spoke to Zoom who said they used XLR only on this unit to keep it small. The combination jacks take up a lot more room internally.

@martinXY 5 лет назад

@@curtisjuddAdaptor cables to the rescue!

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

@@martinXY I agree. I look at the F6 as a specialty recorder for the type of work I do. I wouldn't want it to be my primary recorder, but the size and wide dynamic range features would make it a good choice in select situations. In fact, my Sound Devices 633 has XLR only inputs. I live with that reality by using adapter cables when necessary.

@alexandrzatonsky 5 лет назад

I planning to buy recorder for field recording. Is F6 really that great? Which one should i prefer: F8 (used), F4 or F6? Currentlly i use H6, but need more gain and less noise, also 4 inputs or more. Not mixing on fly, just recording. Or maybe MixPre-6 worth considering

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

I see it this way: F4 and F8 are still the main, everyday pro recorders in the Zoom lineup. The F6 is for when you need the recorder to be super small and when you cannot be there to control the recorder. The F8 has a much better screen and has a channel knob mode which is easier to use when actively mixing. They’ll all make great recordings when you focus on your skills. The MixPre line is my preference, but that’s a very personal decision. I prefer the ergonomics and menu (except for the menu knob on the side of the unit) the touchscreen, the analogue limiters, and the very slightly warmer sounding preamps. Of course the F4 and F8 have dual SD cards and hirose power inputs. So there are a bunch of strengths and weaknesses for each option.

@samuelrossi4482 5 лет назад

Another incredibly informative review. Thank you Mr. Judd. As far as sound quality would you say it's on par or better than the mixpre? I understand it has better dynamic range but does that equate to better quality? In cameras DR isn't everything and I'm curious to see/hear if that's the case with audio.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Hi Samuel, The F6 has the same preamps as the F8. I did a comparison of the MixPre-6, F8, and Sound Devices 633 a while back. The MixPre sounds slightly warmer to me, but you'd have to have very good headphones or speakers to tell the difference. There was a much bigger difference between the SD 633 vs F8/MixPre. Comparison: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Hnvq-6M1adE.html

@samuelrossi4482 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd Thanks so much for your reply. Your videos are a great source of information and I'm grateful for them.

@GeorgeVlad 5 лет назад

Bit disappointing that 32bit recording isn't available at 192kHz. I would have paid much more for this feature. I'll still get it though so I can put it through the bear test.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

I hope the bear test goes well!

@GeorgeVlad 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd We'll see about that. The Sony PCM D10 fared surprisingly well so there are chances the F6 will survive.

@TheToneWork 5 лет назад

When I saw this on your NAB video, I thought, game changer. Yup. Game changer!

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Looking like it!

@TheToneWork 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd I would love you to do a follow-up video in a couple of months about how it's worked in production.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

@@TheToneWork Plan on it. 👍

@GurtTarctor 5 лет назад

Witchcraft! How much larger are 32bit files compared to the usual 24bit? Like with 96kHz for example?

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Not sure on the particulars but the F6 reported that I could record 23+ hours with one input at 32-bit float on a 16GB card.

@skakdosmer 5 лет назад

By the look of it, unlike the other F-series recorders, it doesn’t have quarter inch jack inputs for instruments. Will they be included in the final product, do you think? Or if not, why not?

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

I don’t know, we’ll see in the final review.

@town3 5 лет назад

Yeah I saw this at NAB and I could only say just WOW!!! and thanks Curtis

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

You bet!

@crooker2 5 лет назад

I know your unit was a pre-production unit... but it looks like those fader knobs had a bit of lateral mobility to them. Did the knobs feel flimsy? Chance for the knob posts to bend or break off?

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

The knobs are plastic and there was some movement laterally. Not sure yet if that’s how it’ll be in the production unit. They didn’t feel like they would break easily, but they weren’t as solid as the Sound Devices MixPre channel knobs.

@crooker2 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd Keep up the great work!

@longerears 5 лет назад

I've been waiting for your impressions since this product was announced. Awesome. I can't wait to hear how this compares with the MixPre series. I'm ESPECIALLY excited to see what Sound Devices does to answer this new offering.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks Devin. I was told by Samuel at Zoom that the F6 has the same preamps as the F8 and we did a sample comparison of the F8 and MixPre here if you’re interested: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Hnvq-6M1adE.html Not sure whether the new ADCs make a difference. I didn’t notice a difference yet.

@rmp5s 5 лет назад

Very cool. Being a photographer, this is one of those, "why didn't **I** think of that!?!" kind of things. We do it in photography all the time...HDR, bracketing, etc. Hell, our cellphones even do HDR automatically now. I never thought of applying that to audio. Very cool.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

👍

@Photographicelements 5 лет назад

How much more memory does 32bit recording take? I noticed you featured a 16Gb SD card, but I'm imagining 64Gb might be needed for a full day of recording.

@LearnLightAndSoundSessions 5 лет назад

One channel at 32-bit float for 23 hours takes up roughly 16GB. So a 16GB card could record 2 mics for 11.5 hours, 3 mics for 7.6 hours and so on.

@Photographicelements 5 лет назад

@@LearnLightAndSoundSessions Thanks! That's great to hear.

@MuchOfLife 5 лет назад

Hi Curtis, just wondering about what your thoughts are about using an iOS device with a lav mic (using 3.5mm jack or lightning to 3.5mm adapter) compared to hand held recorder with the same lav mic. Reason for my question is that I have quite a few old ios devices, but I dont have a hand held recorder such as zoom. Wondering about sound quality and other features I may not have thought . about. Cheers

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Hi, an iOS device can make a fine audio recorder. It does not have a locking plug and if you need to use and adapter, that’s another potential failure point. But compared to the sub $200 USD audio recorders, the audio quality is about the same.

@GregAllen2 5 лет назад

Hey Curtis! 32 bit float is such a great feature. My Motu 1248 audio interface has 32 bit float capability. I purchased it a few years ago and absolutely love it.... Having it in an affordable portable device will be a game changer... Thanks for the overview! Cheers, Greg

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Thanks Greg, good to know about the Motu. Does is also have dual A/D converters?

@GregAllen2 5 лет назад

@@curtisjudd That's a good question... I would need to go look at the specs. Although in the studio when recording say a vocalist I always gain stage anyway. While in school for audio engineering they taught us to record on a 32 track board to a 16 track tape. Yes tape! Sound checks are important. :-)

@PeterMossUkulele 3 года назад

Once again a great video Curtis. On my wish list is the Zoom F6 and the Sennheiser MKE 600 mounted on the camera but on my desk roughly 18 inches away from me, in a talking head type scenario. Thank you for your many in depth reviews across RU-vid. Peter.

@curtisjudd 3 года назад

Thanks Peter and happy recording to you!

@datflys 5 лет назад

Great review! - Here's my question. I film some local bands in clubs & some have only the vocals amplified. I am thinking of getting 4 Sennheiser 609 mic's so I can mic the guitar and bass amps and when needed a second guitar & harmonica amp. The drums usually are good enough as are. Since it will be a set it & forget it situation ( 1 man team) can I run these mic'd amps via XLR straight into the Zoom F6? I plan on tucking it next to the drum kit.

@curtisjudd 5 лет назад

Yes, should work fine.