Gear / Technical Help > Recording Gear
Zoom F4 with six inputs and eight tracks (is like a new low priced F8!)
IronFilm:
My blog post on this news: http://ironfilm.co.nz/news-leak-zoom-f4-with-six-inputs-and-eight-tracks-is-like-a-new-low-priced-zoom-f8/ (some of it repeated below)
I thought the Zoom F8 when it was announced was a groundbreaking new recorder in what it brought to a new low price point for soundies.
Now the F4 is even cheaper ($650 vs $1K), and has nearly everything the F8 has! Except for most notably the lack of extra XLR inputs (8 vs 4, thus the names: F8 vs F4. The "F" = field recorder, "H" = handheld recorder such as H1/H4n/H5/H6) and the lack of an app for the F4 to mix on a tablet like you can with the F8. Oh, and in a more minor point the F4 has a monochrome screen vs the 4 color screen of the F8.
But everything else (such as pre amps, and time code) is basically exactly the same as the F8!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g-7wTzEQzM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tlJYn3hci0
Here is the blurb and specs list from B&H (page is currently down, you need to use Google cache to view it):
--- Quote ---Designed to provide big Hollywood sound on an affordable indie budget, Zoom F4 is a 6-input / 8-track professional field recorder featuring super-low-noise preamps and timecode with pinpoint accuracy. The unit provides recording and playback resolutions up to 24-bit/192 kHz with impressive audio specs including an extremely low noise floor (-127 dBu EIN) and high gain (up to +75 dB), with +4 dB line-level inputs. The on-board temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) generates timecode at 0.2 ppm accuracy and supports all standard drop-frame and non-drop formats, as well as jam sync for external devices.
The advanced on-board limiters provide overload protection for all inputs and outputs, which lets you capture audio in a wide range of environments. Limiting can be applied simultaneously at full resolution with 10 dB of headroom and features controls for setting threshold, attack, and release.
The F4 offers four combo XLR-1/4" inputs, a 1/8" stereo input, and includes a Zoom mic-capsule input for recording six discrete tracks with an additional stereo mix, all at full 24-bit/192 kHz resolution. Additionally, inputs 5/6 can function as a camera return for audio monitoring only for confidence checks. The dual-SD card slot features simultaneous recording to both cards allowing you to make a backup or split recording with all eight tracks on one card and a stereo mix on the other.
Each of the four XLR-1/4" inputs offers a dedicated preamp with gain control, phantom power, a six-segment LED level meter, plus a Record Ready and PFL switch. In addition to the 1/4" headphone output with a dedicated volume control, the F4 provides two main balanced XLR outputs, as well as two sub outs on a single unbalanced 1/8" stereo mini-jack, enabling easy connection to a camera. All timecode I/O is provided on BNC connectors and the unit includes a variable-frequency slate-tone generator to confirm levels.
An easy-to-read 1.9" LCD display is suitable for use in all lighting environments including dark low-light sets to bright sunlight. The on-board mixer not only provides user-adjustable level, pan, and input/output delay, but also offers high-pass filtering for noise and wind reduction, phase inversion, and Mid-Side decoding. The F4 ships with a camera-mount adapter, AC power adapter, and download codes for Cubase LE and Wavelab LE.
Six-input / eight-track multitrack field recorder with integrated mixer
Six discrete inputs, including four with locking Neutrik XLR/TRS combo connectors, a stereo 3.5mm input, and Zoom mic-capsule input
Compact and lightweight metal chassis, weighing just two pounds (without batteries)
High-quality mic preamps with up to 75 dB gain, less than -127 dBu EIN, and +4 dB line inputs
Support for up to 24-bit/192 kHz recording as well as 96, 88.2, 48, and 44.1 kHz, plus 47.952 and 48.048 kHz for HD video compatibility; 16-/24-bit resolution
Accurate timecode (0.2 ppm) I/O on standard BNC connectors; dropframe/non-drop formats with Jam Sync
Two different power supply options: 8x AA batteries or external DC battery pack with 4-pin Hirose connector
Dedicated gain control knob, 6-segment LED level meter, and PFL/Solo switch for each channel
Phantom power (+48V/+24V) on every preamp
Advanced on-board limiters for input and output
High-pass filter, phase invert, and Mid-Side decoder
Input delay of up to 30ms per channel / output delay of up to 10 frames per output
Compatible with all Zoom mic capsules; optional ECM extender cable enables remote positioning
Dual XLR balanced Main Outs plus 1/8" stereo mini-jack Sub Out
Dedicated headphone output (100mW) with front-panel volume control
1.9” white, backlit monochrome LCD
Dedicated PFL display with viewable trim settings
Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC card slots, up to 512GB each
Records in BWF-compliant WAV or MP3 file formats
Support for extensive metadata (BWF and iXML); input time, date, project, scene number, etc.
Built-in tripod mount; camera-mount adapter also included
Use as a 6-in/4-out USB audio interface (@ 96 kHz)
--- End quote ---
Life In Rewind:
Cool - this must be what they were teasing Facebook the past few weeks...
nolamule:
Looks good and the knobs are bigger than the F8. :coolguy:
Sebastian:
Here's Zoom's product page: https://www.zoom-na.com/products/field-video-recording/field-recording/zoom-f4-multitrack-field-recorder
Looks like 4 inputs, with the ability to record safety tracks for two of them (which I always find extremely helpful for SBD sources for which you can't guess the levels beforehand). It also works with the EXH-6. That gives you two additional analog inputs. Also, they now seem to be including a DC to Hirose adapter cable, which is nice.
A little disappointing is the fact that the XLR mic inputs are still 20dB hotter than the TRS line inputs. But that can be solved with simple attenuator cables. Also, the SD card slots were moved to the back of the unit, compared to the F8. But with cards of 64GB and more, I doubt this is a problem for anyone. I just don't understand that design choice as the F4's dimensions are exactly the same as the F8's.
At that price point, the F4 looks like a perfect recorder for AUD/SBD mixes and similar situations. I'd be all over this if I hadn't gotten myself a F8 earlier this year.
aaronji:
^ The way I read it, you can also get six channels from the XLRs plus a stereo 1/8" input.
Off topic a bit, but do you find that you generally need attenuators with the F8?
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