Topic: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder

[2manyrocks]

They make a wide variety of gear including plenty of digital recording audio interfaces, but I believe this is their first digital audio portable recorder at least to my knowledge. 

Their XR12 digital mixer was released at a price point of $279 before inflation drove up the price.   Lot of features, solid mixer, revolutionary in that it could replace an entire rolling rack of gear in one tiny box. Has the auto mix capability. 

So, yeah, I believe they can build an amazing portable recorder and sell it for $279.   
 

[al w.]

Very cool! Bit disappointing that it has no internal/attached power options (like a sled) but the price makes that palatable.

[rastasean]

Curtis' video on it from Sunday - basically an unboxing with a little testing. He will probably make more "educational videos" soon.
https://youtu.be/afl2MJRb8Fo

Surprising there's not a place for batteries and runs on usb power. I don't hate that idea - fewer individual batteries to carry around and charge.

It looks like bluetooth is BUILT IN! If that's true, that's amazing that it doesn't require a $40+ adapter.

Seems like this recorder will likely undercut the upcoming Deity planned recorders - pr-4/6, which we don't know the prices for yet. Although those may be more advanced; we'll have to see.

[Ozpeter]

My only negative takeaway from the Curtis Judd video is that in order to save costs - perhaps - the device only has one knob to do all configuration operations, by finding (eventually) and selecting items on the small screen.  In comparison, my tiny and humble Zoom H2e has 11 configuration buttons (plus transport buttons) - which might sound more complicated but IMHO it enables quicker access to settings.  I guess in time one would get used to how to select stuff and make settings, but even so it doesn't look ideal for quick-fire recordings. 

Other than that, it looks very promising, and I would add it to the others in my cupboard which never seem to get used these days if my bank manager would allow it.  But when she was watching me clearing away the dishes after dinner, she said no when I raised the matter...

[Edit - now I have been told, and Curtis Judd has stated on his video comments, that the device has a touchscreen and Curtis Judd was trying to use it without touching.  I have to say that this misunderstanding does rather show that doing unboxing reviews like he did are fraught with the possibility that what you are shown might not actually be correct.  So maybe making such a video wasn't a good idea....]

[Niels]

Curtis has a new video up with a walkthrough/first recording:

https://youtu.be/RHpmxEgtWs4

[adrianf74]

[Edit - now I have been told, and Curtis Judd has stated on his video comments, that the device has a touchscreen and Curtis Judd was trying to use it without touching.  I have to say that this misunderstanding does rather show that doing unboxing reviews like he did are fraught with the possibility that what you are shown might not actually be correct.  So maybe making such a video wasn't a good idea....]

I like these first look videos because they're exactly what will happen without a proper heads up first.  As an end user, a lot of people will do this not realizing that it's a touch screen.

Curious to see what others think before considering this. I like the idea of having a 4 or 8 input track option because this is how I'd generally use it.  I just need to know if there's enough reason to consider this over the F6 that I already own.

[grawk]

The f6 is a better device on everything except ergonomics

[al w.]

The f6 is a better device on everything except ergonomics

probably, but it's also almost three times the price, so I don't think it's a reasonable comp

[grawk]

The f6 is a better device on everything except ergonomics

probably, but it's also almost three times the price, so I don't think it's a reasonable comp

Using a device you already have is free.

[al w.]

The f6 is a better device on everything except ergonomics

probably, but it's also almost three times the price, so I don't think it's a reasonable comp

Using a device you already have is free.

you're right, I missed that, sorry

[dallman]

[Edit - now I have been told, and Curtis Judd has stated on his video comments, that the device has a touchscreen and Curtis Judd was trying to use it without touching.  I have to say that this misunderstanding does rather show that doing unboxing reviews like he did are fraught with the possibility that what you are shown might not actually be correct.  So maybe making such a video wasn't a good idea....]

I think inherent in any unboxing is the supposition that the user will make mistakes and wrong assumptions. Even in later in depth reviews there are lots of wrong things stated. I still enjoy and get something out of it, but like a good manual. 

[voltronic]

The f6 is a better device on everything except ergonomics

As a longtime owner of the F6, I agree. But I wonder if Behringer does repairs, or if they consider their units 'disposable' as Zoom does.

[grawk]

The f6 is a better device on everything except ergonomics

As a longtime owner of the F6, I agree. But I wonder if Behringer does repairs, or if they consider their units 'disposable' as Zoom does.

From what I can tell behringer stops caring once they get your purchase. Assume any of their products is disposable.

[mepaca]

The f6 is a better device on everything except ergonomics

As a longtime owner of the F6, I agree. But I wonder if Behringer does repairs, or if they consider their units 'disposable' as Zoom does.

Zoom replaced my defective F6 at no charge after 5 years. It did take some convincing.

[voltronic]

The f6 is a better device on everything except ergonomics

As a longtime owner of the F6, I agree. But I wonder if Behringer does repairs, or if they consider their units 'disposable' as Zoom does.

Zoom replaced my defective F6 at no charge after 5 years. It did take some convincing.

Did they? How did you determine it was 'defective' after 5 years?

Mine suffered a short (6-8 in.) drop off of a peli case, and the NP battery tabs broke off, and then channels 3 and 4 were 20 dB down. I had to pay $300 for an 'out-of-warranty replacement'.