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Author Topic: 6 channel recorder  (Read 5615 times)

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Offline Gutbucket

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Re: 6 channel recorder
« Reply #15 on: October 23, 2020, 06:36:18 PM »
I moved from DR680mk2 to F8, primary to get 8chs with preamps and phantom.  I find the Zoom F8 preamps superior to those of the DR680, but that's only assessed by ear and use, not by measurement.  Not boutique grade, but I've no complaints. I do actually use the "advanced limiter" on the F8 as is is sufficiently transparent to my ear, unlike the "standard limiter" and those of the Tascam.  I don't find them necessary for my classical stuff, but SoundDevices provides true analog limiters if limiting is especially important to you.
musical volition > vibrations > voltages > numeric values > voltages > vibrations> virtual teleportation time-machine experience
Better recording made easy - >>Improved PAS table<< | Made excellent- >>click here to download the Oddball Microphone Technique illustrated PDF booklet<< (note: This is a 1st draft, now several years old and in need of revision!  Stay tuned)

Offline darby

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Re: 6 channel recorder
« Reply #16 on: October 23, 2020, 06:47:52 PM »
I moved from DR680mk2 to F8, primary to get 8chs with preamps and phantom.  I find the Zoom F8 preamps superior to those of the DR680, but that's only assessed by ear and use, not by measurement.  Not boutique grade, but I've no complaints. I do actually use the "advanced limiter" on the F8 as is is sufficiently transparent to my ear, unlike the "standard limiter" and those of the Tascam.  I don't find them necessary for my classical stuff, but SoundDevices provides true analog limiters if limiting is especially important to you.

you own the gen1 F8 don't you?
I think the limiter capabilities alone would make it a better choice than Tascam, which I did NOT like
used F8s may be closer to $500


Offline Karl

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Re: 6 channel recorder
« Reply #17 on: October 23, 2020, 10:22:13 PM »
I have never and don't plan on using any limiters. Or auto gain control.

The mics I use are Rode NT5 and AT-853.
My portable rig:

AT853>Zoom F6

Offline Gutbucket

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Re: 6 channel recorder
« Reply #18 on: October 24, 2020, 03:25:11 PM »
you own the gen1 F8 don't you?

Yes.  2nd gen (F8N) allows for line-in through XLR, phantom over TRS, and increases powering voltage range somewhat.  Otherwise F8 and F8N are identical AFAIK.
musical volition > vibrations > voltages > numeric values > voltages > vibrations> virtual teleportation time-machine experience
Better recording made easy - >>Improved PAS table<< | Made excellent- >>click here to download the Oddball Microphone Technique illustrated PDF booklet<< (note: This is a 1st draft, now several years old and in need of revision!  Stay tuned)

Offline voltronic

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Re: 6 channel recorder
« Reply #19 on: October 24, 2020, 06:25:16 PM »
Karl, I am a 100% classical recordist and the F6 is now my primary recorder.  Use it in 32-bit float mode and you never need to set levels nor do you need to use limiters.  The preamps are very quiet in my experience.  Highly recommended.  I am happy to share samples if you like. 

Heed the advice of others here and avoid the H6 if you want a 6-channel recorder for serious classical recording.  The preamps are much lower quality, the limiters are not great, and only 4 of 6 inputs are phantom-powered.  Zoom's F-series are much higher quality units than the rest of their line.

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Offline Karl

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Re: 6 channel recorder
« Reply #20 on: October 24, 2020, 11:33:29 PM »
Thank you Voltronic!
My portable rig:

AT853>Zoom F6

Offline Scooter123

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Re: 6 channel recorder
« Reply #21 on: October 25, 2020, 01:36:51 PM »
I own the H6 and agree that the preamps are noisy.  The XLR jacks are really close together so if you want to use a snake in tight quarters, then 90 degree jacks will be necessary.  I hate mine.  Its only use is stealth, and quite frankly two Dr2ds for four channels makes a better recording, although I have to time synch the tracks. 
Regards,
Scooter123

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

Offline WiFiJeff

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Re: 6 channel recorder
« Reply #22 on: October 25, 2020, 04:10:29 PM »
I own the H6 and agree that the preamps are noisy.  The XLR jacks are really close together so if you want to use a snake in tight quarters, then 90 degree jacks will be necessary.  I hate mine.  Its only use is stealth, and quite frankly two Dr2ds for four channels makes a better recording, although I have to time synch the tracks.

Why would you need TWO DR-2ds to do four channels????  One DR-2d recording with mic and line in gives you four channels synced.  Church audio and Naiant make four channel preamps that will feed it and power the mics.

Jeff

Offline Scooter123

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Re: 6 channel recorder
« Reply #23 on: October 26, 2020, 12:30:15 AM »
1 dr2d = 2 stereo channels

2 dr2ds = 4 stereo channels

Regards,
Scooter123

mk41 > N Box  > Sony M-10
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Offline Gutbucket

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Re: 6 channel recorder
« Reply #24 on: October 26, 2020, 10:05:21 AM »
OT, but FWIW, I've used two DR2ds (each capable of 2 stereo channels / 4 channels total) for recording 3 stereo channels (6 total) in a way that makes sync'ing easier by mult'ing one channel pair with a 'Y' cable and sending it to both recorders.   That way one pair on each machine is identical, so syncing the files from both is more straightforward than it typically is when combining recordings from recorders that don't share the same clock. Also considered mult'ing a single channel, which would achieve 7 seperate channels in total.
« Last Edit: October 26, 2020, 11:14:39 AM by Gutbucket »
musical volition > vibrations > voltages > numeric values > voltages > vibrations> virtual teleportation time-machine experience
Better recording made easy - >>Improved PAS table<< | Made excellent- >>click here to download the Oddball Microphone Technique illustrated PDF booklet<< (note: This is a 1st draft, now several years old and in need of revision!  Stay tuned)

Offline jb63

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Re: 6 channel recorder
« Reply #25 on: October 26, 2020, 10:58:34 AM »
OT, but FWIW, I've used two DR2ds (each capable of 2 stereo channels / 4 channels total) for recording 3 stereo channels (6 total) in a what that makes sync'ing easier by mult'ing one channel pair with a 'Y' cable and sending it to both recorders.   That way one pair on each machine is identical, so syncing the files from both is more straightforward than it typically is when combining recordings from recorders that don't share the same clock. Also considered mult'ing a single channel, which would achieve 7 seperate channels in total.

That's brilliant.
once again, lost in all the noise

Offline noahbickart

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Re: 6 channel recorder
« Reply #26 on: October 26, 2020, 11:19:21 AM »
I might be willing to part with my Gen 1 Mixpre6, and I'm looking to upgrade to the new one before live music starts up again. Please be in touch...
Recording:
Capsules: Schoeps mk41v (x2), mk22 (x2), mk3 (x2), mk21 & mk8
Cables: 2x nbob KCY, 1 pair nbob actives, GAKables 10' & 20' 6-channel snakes, Darktrain 2 & 4 channel KCY and mini xlr extensions:
Preamps:    Schoeps VMS 02iub, Naiant IPA, Sound Devices Mixpre6 I
Recorders: Sound Devices Mixpre6 I, Sony PCM m10

Home Playback: Mac Mini> Mytek Brooklyn+> McIntosh MC162> Eminent Tech LFT-16; Musical Fidelity xCan v2> Hifiman HE-4XX / Beyerdynamic DT880

Office Playback: iMac> Grace m903> AKG k701 / Hifiman HE-400

Offline Scooter123

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Re: 6 channel recorder
« Reply #27 on: October 26, 2020, 10:43:42 PM »
OT, but FWIW, I've used two DR2ds (each capable of 2 stereo channels / 4 channels total) for recording 3 stereo channels (6 total) in a way that makes sync'ing easier by mult'ing one channel pair with a 'Y' cable and sending it to both recorders.   That way one pair on each machine is identical, so syncing the files from both is more straightforward than it typically is when combining recordings from recorders that don't share the same clock. Also considered mult'ing a single channel, which would achieve 7 seperate channels in total.

I may be a little dense tonight. 

The 2nd dr2d (the one with the duplicate feed) is still running off a different clock.  Is the concept that one would align the duplicate feed with the other duplicate feed and the the third channel will automatically be aligned to the first?  Just line up the wave peaks? 
Regards,
Scooter123

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

Offline Gutbucket

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Re: 6 channel recorder
« Reply #28 on: October 27, 2020, 10:00:16 AM »
That's it.  Still need to align, and maybe shrink/stretch as they do not share clock.  Its just that doing so is made easier because the channels from both recorders that share identical signals are used to do the alignment.  The waveforms match each other precisely so they are easy to match up.  Besides making it easier it also allows for close to perfect alignment, preserving the phase relationships.

When I did it I was playing around with extending my standard 4 channel baffled omni setup (Left/Center/Right/Back) by adding a fig-8 coincident with the Center omni to form a Mid/Side pair.  I needed the second DR2d to record the figure-8 Side channel. I used the Center omni (Mid) channel as the common signal sent to both recorders.   In that way I was assured that my standard 4 omni recording to the first recorder would not be compromised in any way, and that having both Mid and Side channels on the second recorder would preserve the critical phase-relationship between that pair.  If for any reason I couldn't achieve absolutely perfect sync, any time smear would manifest only between the other omnis and the M/S pair.

As it was it lined up near perfectly and required no stretching (~hr long classical performance).  I could have done a null test to confirm sync, inverting one copy to see how closely the two cancel out, which would be a good check if I did this regularly, but I didn't bother since that was unnecessary for the purpose of my test.
musical volition > vibrations > voltages > numeric values > voltages > vibrations> virtual teleportation time-machine experience
Better recording made easy - >>Improved PAS table<< | Made excellent- >>click here to download the Oddball Microphone Technique illustrated PDF booklet<< (note: This is a 1st draft, now several years old and in need of revision!  Stay tuned)

Offline edtyre

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Re: 6 channel recorder
« Reply #29 on: October 27, 2020, 01:49:50 PM »
The 701D does 4 channels along with a stereo mix of the 4. It has a single menu
that you can easily navigate to get to all the settings. Baby simple pretty much.
I had a Mixpre3 and in my opinion the 701D sounds better, it doesnt have all the
pretty lights and touch screen, but i only care about one thing...the sound.
Runs off a small USB battery all day with 4channel phantom power.
Just my opinion
music>mics>pre>recorder

 

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