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Author Topic: Zoom F8 - Part 2  (Read 125415 times)

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Offline robin0112358

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Re: Zoom F8 - Part 2
« Reply #375 on: August 01, 2016, 07:57:52 AM »
Thanks so much for the offer. I think I will be OK using the DC inputs for now, since the batteries I am looking at are well regulated. When I am back from this trip I can get some custom cables and go to town!
Theatre of Noise contains info on recorders and mics. Plus rants about film, observations on politics, and other stuff.

Offline robtweed

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Re: Zoom F8 - Part 2
« Reply #376 on: August 04, 2016, 02:33:44 AM »
Thanks so much for the offer. I think I will be OK using the DC inputs for now, since the batteries I am looking at are well regulated. When I am back from this trip I can get some custom cables and go to town!

I got these guys to make me up a custom Hirose adapter cable for my Zoom F8 - just took a couple of days:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/productionwiring/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
Mics: DPA 2011C, Line Audio OM1 & CM3, Calrec CM652D, Behringer C-4
Recorders: Zoom F8, Zoom H4n, Sound Devices USBPre2 + MacBook Air
Mixdown: Audacity, Cubase LE on Mac OS X
Playback: Beresford Caiman II DAC, Naim NAP 100 amp, PMC TB2i speakers

Offline rippleish20

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Re: Zoom F8 - Part 2
« Reply #377 on: August 04, 2016, 11:30:55 AM »
AKG C480B (ck61, ck63, ck8) /  Neumann KM100 (AK40, AK50) / AT853s  (cardiod, omni) / CA-14 (cardiod) / CA-11 (Omni) / Mixpre-10t / Mixpre-6 / Roland R-07 / Zoom F-3
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Offline robin0112358

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Re: Zoom F8 - Part 2
« Reply #378 on: August 05, 2016, 12:18:55 PM »
I will be writing about the F8 on my blog. First article has just been posted. It's nothing a tapehead wouldn't already know! ;-)

EDIT: Two more articles up. A fourth tomorrow. A fifth planned for, er, sometime after I do more recording!

1. Overview and features
2. Firmware suggestions
3. Powering the recorder
4. Comparing power methods

http://www.theatreofnoise.com/
« Last Edit: August 06, 2016, 08:27:46 PM by robin746 »
Theatre of Noise contains info on recorders and mics. Plus rants about film, observations on politics, and other stuff.

Offline Scooter123

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Re: Zoom F8 - Part 2
« Reply #379 on: August 19, 2016, 08:10:30 PM »
There was some interest in a spare battery sled for the Zoom to swap out.  Zoom has those.  It is a BCF-8 and can be ordered from any dealer which carries the Zoom recorder.  Its about $20
Regards,
Scooter123

mk41 > N Box  > Sony M-10
mk4 > N Box > Sony M-10

Offline Lenry

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Re: Zoom F8 - Part 2
« Reply #380 on: August 29, 2016, 06:08:25 PM »
I bought a cable off ebay, a cable terminating in a 5.5 X 2.1mm plug for its 12V outlet. The other end is a 4 pin hirose connector, that fits on the Zoom F8 9-16 volt input. I found a battery pack that holds 2 sony batteries and is wired in series, for about 16 volts. There are other cables that have an Anton Bauer connection so you can use any of those battery holders and the batteries that fit them. The 12volt input is supposedly designed for the 12 volt AC adapter. If your batteries start at a higher voltage, you may get longer F8 operating time form them from between recharges.




I've been trying to get a reliable and reasonable-cost way to have external battery power for my Zoom F8.

I have one of these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-20000mAh-Multi-Voltage-Portable-Technology/dp/B00GSLRKJO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1449738157&sr=8-2&keywords=Anker+2nd+Gen+Astro+Pro2

It comes with a cable terminating in a 5.5 X 2.1mm plug for its 12V outlet.  I also have a load of adapter plugs, at least one of which fits in the F8's main 12V DC input.  But I've found it difficult to get the Zoom to reliably work with this.  Either it won't start up at all, or, if it does (after repeated trying), it has a tendency to shut down again, though last weekend I managed to power it through a 4 hour recording session with hardly a dent in the Anker's available power (even with 6 mics, all on phantom power).

Perhaps it's because when the F8 does come up working it's showing the voltage as 11.8V, so maybe it's just a tad on the low side for that DC input to be happy.

If I could find (in the UK) a cable connecting a HiRose 4-pin plug to standard 5.5 X 2.1mm socket, I suspect it might behave more reliably, as it's supposed to support 9 - 16V, but so far I can't find anything like that.

Anyone else found similar problems trying to power the F8?

Offline vwmule

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Re: Zoom F8 - Part 2
« Reply #381 on: August 29, 2016, 09:31:39 PM »
Weird issue at Lockn' Festival.

A few minutes into recording my first set, Peter Wolf, the screen went bonkers. It stayed that way for two days. Fortunately it did record without incident but I had to more or less guess at levels. Temps were well into the 90s so I suspect heat. On the final day it randomly snapped back to normal.

I called Zoom today and they are going to replace under warranty. The rep said he doubted heat was issue and that the unit was tested at even more extreme temperature. I thanked them for developing an affordable, great sounding recorder.
« Last Edit: August 29, 2016, 09:40:41 PM by vwmule »

Offline rippleish20

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Re: Zoom F8 - Part 2
« Reply #382 on: August 29, 2016, 09:55:17 PM »
This cable works:

http://www.markertek.com/product/hr4m-dcp21-02/hirose-hr10a-4pin-male-to-2-1mm-dc-plug-dc-out-power-cable-2ft

I actually find the 12v port to be more stable but...


I was at three festivals this summer where it was quite hot and had no trouble withe the deck, although I didn't run it for every band. Saturday at the BeKind Festival was 98 degrees for example... How many hours in a row did you have it on?
AKG C480B (ck61, ck63, ck8) /  Neumann KM100 (AK40, AK50) / AT853s  (cardiod, omni) / CA-14 (cardiod) / CA-11 (Omni) / Mixpre-10t / Mixpre-6 / Roland R-07 / Zoom F-3
paypal: rippleish20@gmail.com

Offline vwmule

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Re: Zoom F8 - Part 2
« Reply #383 on: August 30, 2016, 09:58:43 AM »
The screen crapped out minutes into my first recording.

Offline pohaku

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Re: Zoom F8 - Part 2
« Reply #384 on: August 30, 2016, 01:02:59 PM »
Maybe I've missed it in the manual, but is there a way to separately adjust levels for the summed L/R tracks?  The individual component track levels are fine, but the summed stereo L/R tracks are recorded way too hot.  I grant that the summed L/R tracks are unnecessary since I will do my own matrix in post, but it would be kind of nice just to hear them on the fly.

Thanks!
Mics: akg c460 (ck61, ck63), c414buls, c568eb; at4049a, 4051a, 4053a, at853; josephson c42; neumann U87, km84i; beyer m130, m160, m500; aea r84; gefell m71, mt711s, m200, m201, um70S; sony c38; schoeps cmc6, CMBI (mk4, mk21, mk41, mk4v); sennheiser mkh30, mkh40, md421, md431, md541; audix m1290
Pres: API, a-designs, pendulum, purple, millennia TD-1 and HV-32P, gt, littlebox, tinybox, usbpre2, CA 9200, pipsqueak, grace V2, DAV BG1
Cables: KCY, CMR, Naiant AKG actives, PFAs, asst.  GAKables and Darktrain
Recorders/converters/monitors: dr680, m10, dr-2d, d50, zoom f8 & F8n pro, 788T SSD CL-8, lynx aurora 8, Neumann KH20


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Offline ArchivalAudio

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Re: Zoom F8 - Part 2
« Reply #385 on: August 30, 2016, 01:07:33 PM »
Weird issue at Lockn' Festival.

A few minutes into recording my first set, Peter Wolf, the screen went bonkers. It stayed that way for two days. Fortunately it did record without incident but I had to more or less guess at levels. Temps were well into the 90s so I suspect heat. On the final day it randomly snapped back to normal.

I called Zoom today and they are going to replace under warranty. The rep said he doubted heat was issue and that the unit was tested at even more extreme temperature. I thanked them for developing an affordable, great sounding recorder.
That's a bummer, but it's nice to hear that Zoom will correct and replace the unit. Glad it seemed to record ok.
good luck.
--Ian
~ Archival Audio ~
Archiving Worthy Music
since 1986 & digitally since 1995

https://www.facebook.com/ArchivalAudio/

Main Mics: Milab VM-44 Links • Milab DC-196's (Matched  Pair)  • MBHO KA500 or KA300 •
PreAmps:  BaybNbox  • Naiant LittleBox • Naiant [Milab VM44] TinyBox • Naiant PIPsqueak
Recorders: MixPre 10T •  Tascam DR-100 mkIII • Sony A-10 • Sony M-10 

macMini 3Ghz i7 16GB Ram 500GB SSD • MOTU UltraLite
Naiant MSH-2's •   TOA K1's • Beyer TG 153c's •  AT 853 (4.7kmod darktrain) • Countryman B3's (1 k mod)  + other assorted mics


Offline aaronji

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Re: Zoom F8 - Part 2
« Reply #387 on: September 06, 2016, 04:18:30 AM »
^ Very interesting.  I wonder how much they will cost.  It looks like they went with the same XLR = mic and 1/4" = line arrangement as the F8...

Offline connloyalist

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Re: Zoom F8 - Part 2
« Reply #388 on: September 06, 2016, 05:53:53 AM »
That Zoom F4 is definitely something to keep an eye on! Perhaps a Christmas release? The price point they choose is going to be a big consideration. And the existence of the F4 might also suggest the F8 won't be coming down in price any time soon. The F8 is the one I really want, but just a bit too expensive for me at the moment. And since I rarely need more than four channels, this F4 might be just the thing.

Regards, Christine


Offline pohaku

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Re: Zoom F8 - Part 2
« Reply #389 on: September 06, 2016, 09:53:55 AM »
B&H preorder price for the Zoom F4 is $649. 
Mics: akg c460 (ck61, ck63), c414buls, c568eb; at4049a, 4051a, 4053a, at853; josephson c42; neumann U87, km84i; beyer m130, m160, m500; aea r84; gefell m71, mt711s, m200, m201, um70S; sony c38; schoeps cmc6, CMBI (mk4, mk21, mk41, mk4v); sennheiser mkh30, mkh40, md421, md431, md541; audix m1290
Pres: API, a-designs, pendulum, purple, millennia TD-1 and HV-32P, gt, littlebox, tinybox, usbpre2, CA 9200, pipsqueak, grace V2, DAV BG1
Cables: KCY, CMR, Naiant AKG actives, PFAs, asst.  GAKables and Darktrain
Recorders/converters/monitors: dr680, m10, dr-2d, d50, zoom f8 & F8n pro, 788T SSD CL-8, lynx aurora 8, Neumann KH20


Yeah, I'm an attorney, but everyone needs a day job

 

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