Topic: New Zoom H6

[runonce]

Put your wallets away.  Seems like there's no phantom power on board.  Or if there is, there's no mention of it and no physical switches.  Would have to be a menu option if present.

Maybe phantom is only "on" when you use the front XLR module?

[kenyee]

Put your wallets away.  Seems like there's no phantom power on board.

Wow...huge FUBAR on the design if so :-P

I emailed Zoom to ask...but it really doesn't make sense.  Their H4n had phantom power and they know anything at that price level has to have phantom power...

[fguidry]

Nice to see someone bringing a fresh design approach to small recorders. 

I'd be surprised if you'd get 20 hours from the batteries if running 6 phantom powered mics.
...
Completely different target market from the 60d.  No way could you fix this Zoom device under a camera.
...

And I'd be surprised if any vendor quoted their default battery life with phantom on.
I think the idea of this one is that it will attach to a rig, maybe even a beefy on-camera shoe. This is the case with the H4n and similar units. Note the shotgun mic module in the link below.

That shotgun module is a bit of Alice in Irony Land on some level. Camera mounted mics are nearly always a bad idea + shotguns indoors (especially cheap ones) are nearly always a bad idea + cheap shotguns (I'm looking at you Rode) are one of the hottest items in the amateur video world. So the H6 may, regardless of its preamps or other features, be responsible for lots of bad sound and frustrated video shooters.

...
you'd think with that modular design - they could make a bunch of different input modules...

Two modules with the unit, XY and MS. Two optional modules, XLR/TRS and Shotgun.

http://zoom.co.jp/news/article/548

Also note the 20db pad switches visible on most of the inputs. If this applies to the line in we have a real useful improvement.

Fran

[fotoralf.be]

The German Delamar video clearly states that there is phantom powering. They also mention the following prices:

H6 with XY and MS mics: below 400 euro
2 x XLR input module: 60 euro
shotgun mic module: 70 to 80 euro

Ralf

[LikeASong]

I think this will sell as cupcakes

[dogmusic]

The German Delamar video clearly states that there is phantom powering. They also mention the following prices:

H6 with XY and MS mics: below 400 euro
2 x XLR input module: 60 euro
shotgun mic module: 70 to 80 euro

Ralf

Do they say whether the preamps are different from previous Zoom recorders?

[fotoralf.be]

No they don't.

Ralf

[Ozpeter]

Thanks for the translation, Ralf.

[kenyee]

Do they say whether the preamps are different from previous Zoom recorders?

Even if they don't, chips (a/d devices) are a lot better now for less cost and circuit design is a lot better.  Even if they stuck to the same price point, the preamps should be better unless their designers suck 

Thanks for the translation Ralf.  I'm surprised they didn't mention phantom power in the specs.

[dogmusic]

No they don't.

Ralf

Thanks.

[fotoralf.be]

I'm surprised they didn't mention phantom power in the specs.

Is there anything of this kind on the market that has XLR mic inputs and no phantom power?

Ralf

[Ozpeter]

Probably not, but four AAAs for recorder and 6 x reliable 48 phantom is pushing it a bit.  No doubt there are external power supply options.

[kenyee]

Is there anything of this kind on the market that has XLR mic inputs and no phantom power?

That's exactly what I said...doesn't make sense to have no phantom power unless it's the cheapy low end under $100 XLR recorders.
Should be interesting to see how long it lasts on batteries w/ power to all the XLRs...

[dogmusic]

Looks like it might run on USB power.

[fotoralf.be]

Looks like it might run on USB power.

Yes, it does, according to the German video. Besides, my H4, H2 and H4N all do.

@Ozpeter:
 Is the phantom voltage of the H4 and H4n really the full 48 V or perhaps a little less than that? Most phantom-powered mics still operate at considerably lower voltages.

Ralf