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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: sos on September 13, 2018, 02:58:02 PM

Title: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: sos on September 13, 2018, 02:58:02 PM
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180913005831/en/Zoom-Announces-H3-VR-Handy-Recorder

https://www.zoom.co.jp/products/field-video-recording/field-recording/zoom-h3-vr-handy-recorder

https://www.zoom.co.jp/sites/default/files/products/downloads/pdfs/E_H3-VR_QuickGuide..pdf

$349.99, pre-order
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: heathen on September 13, 2018, 03:21:40 PM
I bet they'll sell a ton of these, though I doubt many tapers will be buying them.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: relefunt on September 13, 2018, 03:36:10 PM
Everyone who wants to know how to stealth tape — you put this on the top of your head and try to act natural. That’s all you need right there!
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Nick's Picks on September 13, 2018, 03:39:51 PM
awesome !
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: heathen on September 13, 2018, 03:41:51 PM
Rveryone who wants to know about how to stealth tape — you put this on the top of your head and try to act natural. That’s all you need right there!

Goodbye kangol, hello dunce cap!
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: ThePiedPiper on September 13, 2018, 04:03:27 PM
I'm pre-ordering. Very excited about this. I "think" I have a very good use for it ... can't wait!
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Nick's Picks on September 13, 2018, 05:45:45 PM
this will be a great mic for bands to play with.   Recording practices and gigs and what not....., very slick IMO.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: borjam on September 14, 2018, 02:17:15 AM
Now maybe Rycote or Cinela will release a proper windproof hat for it  >:D
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Ozpeter on September 14, 2018, 07:06:55 AM
I always thought of the H2N as "a mic that records" but in this case, there is no other way of describing it.  The whole point of the device is the mic array and the processing behind it.  So, it will sink or swim according to the quality of those mics.  The device has no point if the mics are not adequate.  Right now I am not seeing any info about the specs of the mics.  It's very likely that we will know nothing about them till the reviews are in.  So personally I wouldn't dream of pre-ordering.

What gives me cause for optimism is that they could use capsules with some deficiences but remedy those deficiences in the following electronics, given that the capsules are going to be used with the device and nothing else.

On the other hand, for myself, I don't hear a significant difference in built in mic quality between the H1N, H2, and H2N.  Will the H3 use H1N capsules, but just twice as many, or something completely new?  Lack of any mention in the blurb (that I have read) about mic quality makes me wonder.  It would have been nice to have read something about "newly developed mic capsules" or the like.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: ThePiedPiper on September 14, 2018, 08:55:46 PM
I always thought of the H2N as "a mic that records" but in this case, there is no other way of describing it.  The whole point of the device is the mic array and the processing behind it.  So, it will sink or swim according to the quality of those mics.  The device has no point if the mics are not adequate.  Right now I am not seeing any info about the specs of the mics.  It's very likely that we will know nothing about them till the reviews are in.  So personally I wouldn't dream of pre-ordering.

What gives me cause for optimism is that they could use capsules with some deficiences but remedy those deficiences in the following electronics, given that the capsules are going to be used with the device and nothing else.

On the other hand, for myself, I don't hear a significant difference in built in mic quality between the H1N, H2, and H2N.  Will the H3 use H1N capsules, but just twice as many, or something completely new?  Lack of any mention in the blurb (that I have read) about mic quality makes me wonder.  It would have been nice to have read something about "newly developed mic capsules" or the like.

Well said. I agree (read: FINGERS CROSSED).
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Nick's Picks on September 16, 2018, 10:05:14 AM
oh, i'm sure they will be whatever crappy stock china-caps they have always been using.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: intpseeker on September 18, 2018, 08:14:40 PM
Specs
Recording Media:    

Cards compatible with microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC specifications
(Class 4 or higher)
Recording formats:    

Ambisonics  A,  Ambisonics  B  (FuMa/AmbiX)
WAV  4ch  poly  (supports  BWF  and  iXML):  44.1  kHz/16-bit,  44.1  kHz/24-bit,  48  kHz/16-bit,  48  kHz/24-bit,  96  kHz/16-bit,  96  kHz/24-bit
Stereo
WAV  stereo  (supports  BWF  and  iXML):  44.1  kHz/16-bit,  44.1  kHz/24-bit,  48kHz/16-bit,  48  kHz/24-bit,  96  kHz/16-bit,  96  kHz/24-bit
Binaural
WAV  stereo  (supports  BWF  and  iXML):  44.1  kHz/16-bit,  44.1  kHz/24-bit,  48kHz/16-bit,  48  kHz/24-bit
Display:    

1.25" monochrome LCD (96×64)
Motion sensor:    

6 axes (3-axis gyro, 3-axis acceleration)
Built-in Ambisonic mic:    

4 matched unidirectional condenser mics
Maximum sound pressure input: 120 dB SPL
Mic gain: +18 – +48 dB
LINE OUT:    

Connector: 3.5 mm stereo mini
Maximum output level: −10 dBu (1 kHz, 10 kΩ load)
PHONE OUT:    

Connector: 3.5 mm stereo mini
Maximum output level: 20 mW + 20 mW (into 32Ω load)
USB:    

Connector: microUSB

Mass storage operation

    USB 2.0 High Speed

Audio interface operation

    2 in/2 out (stereo/binaural input), USB 2.0 Full Speed
    44.1 kHz/16-bit, 48 kHz/16-bit
    4 in/2 out ( Ambisonics A/FuMa/AmbiX input), USB 2.0 High Speed
    44.1 kHz/24-bit, 48 kHz/24-bit

Power:    

2 AA batteries (alkaline, rechargeable NiMH or lithium)
AC adapter (ZOOM AD-17): DC 5V/1A (supports USB bus power)
Estimated continuous recording time using batteries:    

48 kHz/24-bit, FuMa Rec Mode

     Alkaline batteries: about 11.5 hours
     NiMH batteries (1900 mAh): about 11.5 hours
     Lithium batteries: about 24 hours



    • The above values are approximate.
    • Continuous battery operation times were determined using in-house testing methods. They will vary greatly according to use conditions.

External dimensions:    

76 mm (W) × 78 mm (D) × 123 mm (H)
Weight (main unit only):    

120 g
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Ozpeter on September 19, 2018, 12:59:19 AM
My point exactly - without specs relating to actual mic quality, the rest is of academic interest.  We simply don't know whether this will be crap or amazing.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Nick's Picks on September 19, 2018, 08:10:04 AM
I expect it will be amazingly crappy.   
honestly,  I bet it will be cool sounding in terms of what you can "carve" out of a recording, but the sonic characteristics will be that of typical cheap china caps.   brassy and shrill.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Gutbucket on September 20, 2018, 11:15:07 AM
I always thought of the H2N as "a mic that records" but in this case, there is no other way of describing it.  The whole point of the device is the mic array and the processing behind it. So, it will sink or swim according to the quality of those mics.  The device has no point if the mics are not adequate.
I expect it will be amazingly crappy.   
honestly,  I bet it will be cool sounding in terms of what you can "carve" out of a recording, but the sonic characteristics will be that of typical cheap china caps.   brassy and shrill.

I'm with Nick in that I don't think the quality of the microphones is the main thing of importance here, and see that as rather quite secondary, as it must be to keep the cost reasonable. The "all in one", simple to use nature of the device is its primary feature and the main attraction.  The key is the array being directly linked to the recorder and it's built-in ambisonic processing.  This opens up ambisonics to a new and much larger audience than recording geeks, acousticians, and academics.

The primary value here is that all the PITA ambisonic stuff is taken care of internally, relieving the recordist of the biggest burdens of recording ambisonically.  No 4ch wiring harnesses or clunky power supplies for each capsule. No need to match gains perfectly across all channels on a multichannel recorder and maintain that match while changing gain during a recording session.  No need to correctly sequence the resulting files when importing them into a format conversion app.  No need for an app at all to get usable output, although that functionality is available for greater flexibility and post manipulation than what one can do direct out of the device.

Because of all that, I see this particular move to "all in one" as a far bigger deal for ambisonics than the "all in one" shift away from external preamps and ADC's in the taping world a decade ago.  That was mostly about increased convenience, simplicity, and weight without taking too big a hit on quality.  This is about tapping into a new customer market entirely.  Serious users will likely stick with other ambisonic mics for now, but this type of implementation is the future IMO.

What gives me cause for optimism is that they could use capsules with some deficiencies but remedy those deficiences in the following electronics, given that the capsules are going to be used with the device and nothing else.

Yes.  That's one advantage the TetraMic has over its competition- the use of corrective filtering specific to the particular microphone.  Presumably other A-format output ambisonic mics also do correction specific to the capsule configuration geometry within their A-format conversion apps, but the TetraMic is the only one I'm aware of which also corrects for the specific response of each capsule, using a correction file linked the microphone's serial number.

All that could be employed within this device, but I doubt it.  We won't be privy to all that secret sauce, but my suspicion is that this device will correct generically but not specifically- that is to say, I think they will optimize for the dimensions of the tetrahedral configuration and apply average response corrections for the microphone capsules used, but will not correct for specific response variations between individual capsules.  That would be too costly to do for each mic at this price point.

This does address the biggest hassles I have running TetraMic though.  For years I've been thinking of having a small custom 4-channel mic-power-supply/ganged-preamp built so that I could attach the TetraMic, preamp and a DR2d together as a single compact unit.  This recognizes that impulse and implements it nicely.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Gutbucket on September 20, 2018, 11:29:46 AM
A primary specification and constraint of any tetrahedral arrangement ambisonic microphone is how close together the capsules are, measured by the radius of an imaginary sphere tangential to all  four capsule diaphragm faces.

The closer together the diaphragms, the better the microphone will behave at high frequencies.  Above a threshold defined by that dimension (corresponding to frequency wavelength) the matrixing breaks down and the virtual polar patterns go wonky and get pretty ugly.

I don't see that specified for the H3-VR, but it will be sure to be checked and reported in any truly serious review.  That said, given the market target I mostly expect more superficial reviews that basically report on how easy it is to use and how ambisonics is cool, and expect most of those reviewers to be completely unaware of this important specification and it's implications.

All in all, its a a very cool device at an attractive price.  Kudos Zoom.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: goodcooker on September 21, 2018, 12:08:56 PM
One of these and a chin strap and you are stealthing VR goodness FOB ...

(https://www.bing.com/th?id=OIP.IPeLpC3u9JkijdOqfbaqdAHaHe&w=175&h=171&c=7&o=5&dpr=1.5&pid=1.7)

Seriously though I may get one of these. For the price it would be cool just to play around with and if I don't like it I can give it to the Marketing Manager at work so he can create VR content for our website. I work at a university so anything we can do that's cool and trendy makes us look better. Seems from a brief look that it can be vertically or end address? I thought one of the selling points of ambisonics is that you can point it any direction later...

Also this - "Staying out of the shot can be tricky when recording a 360-degree video, which is why the H3 Control App lets you remotely access transport controls, level settings, and metadata notes right from your iOS device.*

*Optional BTA-1 adapter required
"
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Gutbucket on September 21, 2018, 12:33:17 PM
Seems from a brief look that it can be vertically or end address? I thought one of the selling points of ambisonics is that you can point it any direction later...

Part of the all-in-one simplifying innovation of the thing is that it incorporates a "which way is up" sensor. It knows how the device is oriented and allows it to automatically accommodate for vertical right-side-up or vertical inverted, or end-address right-side-up or end-address inverted. 

Beyond that, yes, with full-sphere ambisonics you can manually re-orient the virtual orientation however you like.

But simply automatically reconfiguring the matrixing to accommodate for mic orientation and making that invisible to the user represents a significant reduction in complexity and user error.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Ozpeter on September 24, 2018, 01:02:17 AM
I agree with everything you say, Gutbucket, and bow deeply to your knowledg of the subject - personally I never got beyond MS stereo in terms of complexity!  However, I still feel that the device will sink or swim based on capsule quality - indeed we have to remember the price point but, apart from everything else on offer, the truly unique aspect of this device compared with every other compact recorder on the market is that it has no inputs of any sort.  (In the nature of the thing, that's inevitable).

Almost everyone here seems to regard the built in mics of the devices we discuss as being something to be used when all else fails - we have our own favourite external mic rigs to use with our recorders - but this time, it's the internals or nothing.

It's advertised here in Australia for pre-order - I'm really hoping the reviews will be positive because I need a really, really good excuse to invest in one of these given that I have no particular use case, these days!  But I want one....
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Ozpeter on September 24, 2018, 04:43:45 AM
At risk of posting what everyone already knows....

Sound sample in a vR context = https://youtu.be/CLP-qyvNRSw

recommended by the guy who made the above video at

https://youtu.be/W7zHwep5zMI

Essential info re the available recording modes -

https://youtu.be/7hyQyjyXzkg

Playback options, including a very cool mode where you can rotate the device during playback to rotate the soundfield -

https://youtu.be/viSiEPFYp5s

Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: WiFiJeff on November 05, 2018, 02:26:54 PM
Got mine today.  I hope to try out the mics Friday just to see how they sound on piano, the ambisonics stuff will have to wait.  The Zoom Ambisonics player can only be downloaded for Mac now, I got an answer back fast from Zoom on that:

"The Zoom Ambisonics Player will be available for Windows this month (November). Unfortunately we do not currently have a more specific timeline."


There is a Quick Start guide, but you have to print out your own operator manual from the Zoom website (119 pages), same for the Ambisonic Player software manual (27 pages).  This may be an inexpensive device, but the price per ounce is rather high, this is a comically small package (that's good).


Jeff

Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: heathen on November 05, 2018, 02:35:26 PM
If you can save the files onto your computer in B format you could use pretty much any ambisonic software/plugin to process it.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: IronFilm on November 19, 2018, 03:10:24 AM
Rveryone who wants to know about how to stealth tape — you put this on the top of your head and try to act natural. That’s all you need right there!

Goodbye kangol, hello dunce cap!

Wrap it in silver foil and mutter about conspiracies under your breath, everyone will leave you alone then!
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Gutbucket on November 29, 2018, 02:53:48 PM
Noted one placed mid-orchestra about a month ago at a late-night syphonic event were audience seating was removed so that the patrons could wander freely about the hall, including around a semi-circular path through the orchestra.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: cybergaloot on March 26, 2019, 08:06:58 PM
I bought one to play with but haven't really put it through it's paces yet. I got a decent discount and it came with a dead rat windscreen that is meant to be used with the factory foam windscreen. For me it is basically a toy.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: goodcooker on March 28, 2019, 11:46:11 AM

Has anyone here used one of these to record a show? I'm considering getting one to just plop on a table, shelf or stagelip when I don't feel like setting up my actual rig. The internals on my PMD620 aren't terrible but they aren't very good either.

Any links to a show recording or actual field experience with loud music (as opposed to chamber music or nature sounds) would be very much apreciated!
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Kewl on August 20, 2019, 11:49:34 PM
There's a new Facebook users' group for the H3-VR: https://www.facebook.com/groups/902899420069659/
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Nick's Picks on October 02, 2019, 08:35:44 AM
the on stage, or near stage recordings i've heard out of this are really good.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Nick's Picks on October 09, 2019, 11:24:47 AM
Ok, so I pulled the trigger.   Found a very reasonably priced one on eBay.    And while I don't record concerts much any more, I do still record my bands and practices..., so I'm expecting really good things from this in that small setting w/the instruments placed all around it.
I'll post some samples in a couple weeks once I have it, learn how to use it...and actually employ it.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Nick's Picks on October 10, 2019, 03:26:49 PM
Proper scope.   I'm a small guy and have hands slightly larger than Trumps.
sort of makes you revisit that funny hat idea.   >:D
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Gutbucket on October 15, 2019, 11:20:03 AM
I'm expecting really good things from this in that small setting w/the instruments placed all around it.

This is what I've suspected will be the sweet spot for this recorder.

Hope it works well for you in that role Nick.  Looking forward to hearing something once you get it worked out.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Colin Liston on October 15, 2019, 01:24:50 PM
This would probably be perfect for festival camp site jams.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: illconditioned on October 15, 2019, 02:09:44 PM
LOL.
Drum circle.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: illconditioned on October 15, 2019, 02:44:19 PM
Despite immense self control efforts I relented and purchased one of these.


Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Ozpeter on October 15, 2019, 09:12:47 PM
Don't tempt me...  I've just been searching through  YouTube for samples, and some of the 360 degree videos are pretty astounding.   But I didn't come across much if anything in the way of live classical music recording.  However, this was interesting - an evensong recording in a very reverberant location.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVfxkLH2vOY

Frequency response seemed pretty good (without knowing what processing was applied afterwards), but on headphones it was rather hole-in-the-middle for me, and I preferred it on speakers.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Nick's Picks on October 16, 2019, 09:42:24 AM
The software for it is pretty cool.   
You can tell the deck to record A-format, B-format, Stereo, Binaural, 5.1..etc etc.
Recording raw A format...the software will play it back for you in any of the output styles you want.....and you can tweak it.
I haven't recorded anything yet with mine.....but I'm sure I will sooner than later
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Gutbucket on October 16, 2019, 10:57:59 AM
^ Can it do the same when recording directly to b-format?  If so you might skip writing or storing a-format.

For those unfamiliar:
a-format = direct microphone capsule output (front left up, front right down, rear left down, rear right up).
b-format = universal ambisonic format (W,X,Y,Z) (omni, front/back, left/right, up/down) t, can played back ambisonically, manipulated in post, converted to stereo, binaural, 5ch, etc..

The potential issue with storing a-format is that there can be different forms of it.  It might be "microphone specific a-format" rather than "universal a-format" which can be converted back and forth to B-format mathematically.  The manual or H3-V3 discussion groups may shed more light on all this.

The Tetramic for instance includes calibration files specific to the response of each capsule, used in conversion from a-format in addition to the more generic conversion info such as the spacing between capsules, applied when processing the raw file data.  With the Tetra, if you only have the raw a-format files stored, you also need the calibration files and conversion software to convert to a usable format. I won't bother you with the details, but I'm lazy and still I have most of my Tetramic recordings made years ago stored as raw a-format files and need to convert them to B-format for more accessible long term storage.  In the H3-VR that processing is likely done in the recorder prior to storing the a-format file and invisible to the user, which would make it's a-format more "universal" than Tetramic a-format files.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Nick's Picks on October 17, 2019, 08:36:24 AM
manipulating the A format in the Zoom software is rather interesting.   It "knows" where the source is, and shows you a 3d sphere that you you can manipulate front to rear, left to right....and there's more that I have not played with yet. 
I'm jammin' tonight w/some friends, so I'll give it a run and do some more realistic tests.   Will report back...

oh, and it actually does not use B format.   A only.  my mistake
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: goodcooker on October 17, 2019, 01:21:07 PM

Interested to know if it can handle typical onstage SPL. Some folks have mentioned in reviews that it's pretty sensitive. I sure would like to be able to just plop this on the stage at some of the smaller venues I go to then point it where I want later.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: WiFiJeff on October 17, 2019, 01:26:38 PM


oh, and it actually does not use B format.   A only.  my mistake


????   I'm not sure what this means.  The Zoom uses cardioid mics, so it is native A format, like most ambisonic mics (my Josephson C700S is native B format, with no Z axis, that is to say omni =W, forward figure 8 = X and side figure 8 = Y).  But the Zoom recorder will let you chose to record A format OR either common B format, Ambix or FuMa.  I record FuMa because that is what I am used to on the Josephson.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Nick's Picks on October 18, 2019, 08:33:05 AM
yes, it is sensitive.   
My levels were where I wanted them, but that was with the mic gain at zero.   
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Nick's Picks on October 18, 2019, 08:48:43 AM
https://www.dropbox.com/s/s72o2tjoyvueifp/t01.mp3?dl=0

here's a file from a loose jam last night.    This is in a sound treated room, a very nice studio.   Mic was on a shelf with everyone in front of it, except the bass amp, which was right under it.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: fotoralf.be on October 20, 2019, 05:02:04 PM
Got mine from the very first batch sold by Thomann in Germany, a year ago, and still love it to bits. I'm using it exclusively for nature and industrial soundscapes though, no music so far. Cured the wobbly mic fastening with a drop of superglue and it's worked flawlessly ever since.

As I do a lot of outside recording, I've made myself a more robust windscreen out of the supplied foam ball and a dead rat with rather long hair originally made for a LD condenser mic that was a bit too large, so I had it adapted by the friendly taylor around the corner. The recorder has even survived the odd shower with this as a protection. 

I'm happy with the sound the H3-VR provides. Granted, it won't equal a setup of Schoeps or DPAs, but it delivers stunning recordings with very little effort. Just set it up, switch it on, start the smartphone app for complete control of all parameters out of the comfort of the car while the H3-VR sits on its mic stand and does its job. Keeps me wondering how I ever survived without Bluetooth remote control. Now, if only there'd also be Bluetooth audio monitoring...

The supplied player/format converter is OK. The conversion to binaural isn't as good as others I've heard and a possibility for level correction would be nice. Just noticed one thing, a few days ago: when I play back my recordings using the supplied Zoom software on the Mac in 5.1 mode there is no signal in the rear Ls and Rs channels. Exporting the same recording as a 5.1 wav file, all six channels have signal. Can anyone confirm this odd behaviour?

Ralf
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: illconditioned on October 20, 2019, 06:05:58 PM
I just bought one of these.So the app controls playback mode?Does it stay in this mode on reset?
Can it do Blumlein (crossed figure 8  ) playback?I wonder how that relates to "binaural" playback mode.

I'll probably be using stand alone, or as a four input USB device,No phone yet LOL.
Lots to play with.

Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: fotoralf.be on October 20, 2019, 06:24:42 PM
I just bought one of these.So the app controls playback mode?

Yes it does. But, much more important, it can be used for remote control while recording. 

Quote
Does it stay in this mode on reset?

On reset of what?

Quote
I'll probably be using stand alone, or as a four input USB device.

Four input USB device...? The H3-VR doesn't have inputs. It can only record its own microphones.

Ralf
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: illconditioned on October 20, 2019, 10:17:41 PM
I just bought one of these.So the app controls playback mode?

Yes it does. But, much more important, it can be used for remote control while recording. 

Quote
Does it stay in this mode on reset?

On reset of what?
What I was thinking is that the app controls not the recording (that is always four channel), but what kind of mix it outputs to the (stereo) monitor output.In that case I was wondering if I set it once (with the app) if it would restore to that setting next time I powered it up (without the app running).


Quote
I'll probably be using stand alone, or as a four input USB device.

Quote
Four input USB device...? The H3-VR doesn't have inputs. It can only record its own microphones.
Yes, four input USB device.  Four microphone inputs.  Take those and put them into a plug in.
I don't have a phone unfortunately.
Quote
Ralf
Will report back once I try it out.
Thanks,
Richard
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: fotoralf.be on October 21, 2019, 06:51:28 AM
What I was thinking is that the app controls not the recording (that is always four channel), but what kind of mix it outputs to the (stereo) monitor output.In that case I was wondering if I set it once (with the app) if it would restore to that setting next time I powered it up (without the app running).

Yes. Once set, it comes up with the same settings on next power-up, if that's what you mean.

Basically, all the usual menu settings to be made at the unit via the various menus can also be made via the app which makes things a lot easier for those of us who have probs with the Zoom's tiny display. Once made, all settings remain and survive after powering the unit down and up again, irrespective of whether the app is running or not.

Ralf
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: fotoralf.be on November 01, 2019, 03:29:19 PM
Just noticed one thing, a few days ago: when I play back my recordings using the supplied Zoom software on the Mac in 5.1 mode there is no signal in the rear Ls and Rs channels. Exporting the same recording as a 5.1 wav file, all six channels have signal. Can anyone confirm this odd behaviour?

Quoting myself here to let people know that I've exchanged a few mails and files with Zoom NA and they have confirmed today that there is indeed a bug in the Zoom Ambisonic Player. With a little luck it should be fixed in the next update.

Ralf
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Nick's Picks on November 08, 2019, 09:39:42 AM
http://bt.etree.org/details.php?torrentId=607598
not bad !
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: fotoralf.be on November 13, 2019, 11:46:56 AM
Zoom have just published an update for their Ambisonics Player and the prob with the missing rear channels has been solved.

It can be found here:
https://www.zoom-na.com/news/AmbisonicsPlayer

Never before had an update by a major manufacturer made especially for me... :-)

Ralf
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: gihl on February 19, 2020, 05:48:30 PM
The price is now $249.99.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1434530-REG/zoom_zh3vr_h3_vr_360_vr_audio.html
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Nick's Picks on February 20, 2020, 10:17:13 AM
new model coming out as well...this one will bare the Q designation and has front and rear cameras for 360deg video and audio.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Ozpeter on February 20, 2020, 11:29:20 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzWcGB69UiU

The downsides that I can see (as a 360 video person already) is that it's only 4K whereas really 5.7K is minimal for 360 video these days (and the market is moving to 8K), and it's fat, which can lead to stitching problems because of the gap between the lenses.  It looks chiefly aimed at musicians but in practice I'm not sure that 360 music video really works  It can give you an interesting perspective but typically you'll need to have the camera very close to the musicians, and as it's one piece, the mics will be too - which might not be a good idea.  Still, good luck to them - it's a logical development of the various separate devices they have already marketed.
Title: Re: Zoom H3-VR
Post by: Gutbucket on February 21, 2020, 06:15:45 PM
^ Would be cool to incorporate a third cam.  Two as currently configured (maybe turned 90 degrees) and the 3rd with a tighter-field of view for greatly enhanced resolution along one primary axis.

I've schemed about something like that for decades, small enough to be placed atop my mic-stand along with my surround recording rig in the center of amphitheaters and festival venues.  And such a scheme would represent a cool videographic parallel to my basic philosophical approach to location music recording- that is a basic division of labor to capture the direct sound (primary image axis) as cleanly as possible, plus separate capture of the ambient and reflected sounds arriving from all other directions which excludes the direct sound as much as is practical, allowing for the optimal re-synthesis of the two when cooking it all back together again.

I have enough to handle with audio alone, so I'd only do it if such a thing was made by an outfit like Zoom and was pretty much set and forget, and it wouldn't be worth it to me at all unless the primary axis quality was sufficient (the downfall of ambisonic capture for surround audio IMO, and why I choose not to use a single coincident mic array)

But its fun to think about adding 360 video projection to the portable surround playback pop-up-canopy project I've talked about here but have been dragging my feet about for years.  I have collected a 12' hexagonal pop-up + 8 DefTech speakers that fit nicely into one Pelican suitcase, but have yet to run wiring through the canopy members such that it can be easily collapsed for transport. Scheming on another identical Pelican or two and building subs and into them.  This project is unwieldy enough on its own without incorporating 360 video projection!  That's just too much I think.  I'm no miniature Disney World.