Topic: Zoom’s 32-bit float m/s - Instamic Pro Plus C

[Klove68]

Got mine on Thursday and put it to use that night. Ran it (24/48, Mid-side) concurrent with 2 other rigs (4061 dpas -mma-a- iPhone and Mic Madness Hypers-SP Battery Box- Sony A10). When I am home on Tuesday I will post the raw wav comps for anyone interested. Overall positive impression, it has a lot of potential, particularly in super-stealth situations. I have 3 other shows this week, so I will be putting it to work.

Negative observations:

1-like all Zoom Bluetooth connections, this one sucked. Set levels flat at start of show, lost connection within 10 minutes and could not reconnect. Had the device in my hat with the LEDs off, so I let it run and could not confirm if I got anything at all until I plugged it into my PC.

2-Device got hot. I had it tucked in the bill of a mesh Kangol and it was hot to the touch at the end of the show. It had been running for about 2 hours and twenty minutes.

[Gutbucket]

Ran it (24/48, Mid-side) concurrent with 2 other rigs (4061 dpas -mma-a- iPhone and Mic Madness Hypers-SP Battery Box- Sony A10). When I am home on Tuesday I will post the raw wav comps for anyone interested.

I'm very interested in hearing the comparison with the 4061 recording, as I envision using a few of these in place of or in combination with them.   Along that line, I picked up a second Deity PR2 last week and sync'd the two together with shared clock and control via the phone app, creating a 4 x 4061 baffled LRCB array that I ran for Thomas Dolby on Friday.  Haven't had a chance to check sync of the files yet.  Under consideration is the use of four of these in place of the twin 4061>PR2 setup, just wasn't quite ready to commit to four of these quite yet so went that route first.

[Klove68]

3 ten minute samples attached. Only treatment was getting the levels close to each other.

https://drive.proton.me/urls/3FSW9PP0MW#qK6p0VKn6wdX

[chewed]

3 ten minute samples attached. Only treatment was getting the levels close to each other.

https://drive.proton.me/urls/3FSW9PP0MW#qK6p0VKn6wdX

I'm surprised that I think the Instamic sounds better than the others. I have taped a few shows using the Instamic Pro Plus (not the C-version). They sound fine, but they can pick up a lot of talking and singing from the audience.

[C1977]

Hi, the Instamic sounds the most clear indeed. Currently using the Zoom H2 Essential with Sony Ecm 717. Satisfied with it. The Zoom internals are picking up a lot of audience talking as well when the PA is not that loud. Placed away from the audience they sound nearly identical. Thinking of buying the Instamic because they're small, stealthy and easier to get in. But would there be a benfit soundwise?

[Craig T]

What gain setting is recommended for your typical PA amplified rock type show?  I used -10 for a fairly quiet bluegrass show and it came damn close to clipping during audience applause (music was fine).

Overall results were better than expected, although I recorded some raw m/s and the stereo mix wasn't all that "stereo" even when going heavy with the side.  I've experimented with m/s for a few different periods (LSD2 and Schoeps mk8 + mk4/mk21) so I think I had realistic expectations of what the stereo result should be.  The mono with pseudo stereo processing may actually sound better than the m/s.  Didn't try the stereo setting yet with the Instamic.

https://archive.org/details/del2025-11-15.insta.taraszki.flac16

[datbrad]

I keep mine at -20 after I had same issue you did. I haven't had any overloads and have recorded several shows the db level on my phone app averaged 85 and peaks at 100. Those were loud shows to me, I had to wear plugs.

[roffels]

3 ten minute samples attached. Only treatment was getting the levels close to each other.

https://drive.proton.me/urls/3FSW9PP0MW#qK6p0VKn6wdX

I'm surprised that I think the Instamic sounds better than the others.

I prefer the DPAs - they just have a nice, full sound that with a little post-processing, makes for a nice, comfortable listening experience. The instamic sounds very thin to me.

[frohbego]

Sounds great @datbrad!

Been following sound designer Watson Wu test these out. https://www.watsonwu.com/blog/2025/9/30/instamics-feature

He has some more info on his Instagram.

[todd e]

The Sound Professional store is offering discount $149/each, not bad!!

 https://soundprofessionals.com/product/inst-p01pc/?gad_source=4&gad_campaignid=20633408818&gbraid=0AAAAAD_rXrycVKrsuC1uIDzJkY9OgiBr0&gclid=Cj0KCQiAxonKBhC1ARIsAIHq_lu7gxpmS0_WDQ9nY30rfZyHQWCiA8-7w8rImUAtPhKAvGe-6Khb2pQaAosCEALw_wcB