Zoom F1-LP Question

BrianMurphy

BrianMurphy

Veteran
So I see that the Zoom F1-LP has a lav mic in and an out. I read that it can be looped to a wireless transmitter as a back up. What makes this unit different from the TASCAM's DR-10C-series? This is the unit that was taken off the market in North America due to a patent infringement with Zaxcom I believe.
Seems odd to me.
 
Zoom was willing to stand their ground?

While Tascam folded quickly to Zaxcom lawyers' legal threats.

That is my assumption.

I seriously have my doubts that such a simple concept as a recorder with headphone monitoring could stand up in court!!

But the problem with the whole legal system around IP is it can be very very expensive to fight even a simple case, sometimes it is easier to just give in that prove them wrong.
 
My feeling is the fact that zoom is calling it a field recorder. Its just a real small field recorder and I doubt zaxcom has a patent issue with field recorders with pass through. Also the F1 doesn't have dual recording which makes it seem more like a operator level controlled field recorder.
 
mico said:
My feeling is the fact that zoom is calling it a field recorder. Its just a real small field recorder and I doubt zaxcom has a patent issue with field recorders with pass through. Also the F1 doesn't have dual recording which makes it seem more like a operator level controlled field recorder.
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Maybe I am missing something here but I don't quite understand your post. It is a recorder, call it Field or PCM recorder ...its a recorder with outputs the same as the Tascam. The Tascam info makes no mention of dual recording that I could find. So help me understand what you are saying please.
 
BrianMurphy said:
Maybe I am missing something here but I don't quite understand your post. It is a recorder, call it Field or PCM recorder ...its a recorder with outputs the same as the Tascam. The Tascam info makes no mention of dual recording that I could find. So help me understand what you are saying please.
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Zaxcom calls their device a bodypack which is what the Tascam dr10c's are. This from zaxcom: "All of Zaxcom wireless has a unique feature that is not available in any other wireless systems. Each of Zaxcom’s TRX belt pack, plug-on and, camera link transmitter features a built-in two track timecode recorder. This feature allows the inputted audio to be recorded directly to a removable micro SD card". They can make the claim of patent infringement if theres a pass through on the body pack which although different than zaxcoms method, the dr10c's certainly can do by adding a wireless transmitter to the setup.

The zoom is called a field recorder with attributes similar to large recorders that can be operated and adjusted on the fly. It can have a shotgun attached passed through to camera and monitored like all field recorders. Yes, it can be used as a bodypack but thats up to the user to decide to use it as just a bodypack. Its a small distinction but maybe enough to keep the patent lawyers at bay as zaxcom doesn't have a patent on field recorders. Zaxcom seems to just have an issue with wireless transmission that can also record in a bodypack type device.

All the tascam dr10 versions have a dual recording mode, a recorded lower db safety track because theres no adjustment, no monitoring on the fly like a field recorder which makes the case for it being just a bodypack. The zoom does not record a safety track making it appear more like a operated recorder not a bodypack.

I'm just speculating as to why zoom went ahead most likely knowing the tascam issue.

Also regarding why tascam didn't fight zaxcom. Maybe tascam said why bother with lawyers lets just take out the pass through and we can sell in the US (DR10 L). And if anyone wants the pass through version (DR10 C) they can order through other countries like I did.Tooling, manufacturing were already in place so why not save some money and take out the pass through, sell at the same price and no court, no lawyers and everyones happy.
 
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Thanks. I was going to order a Tascam and have a family member in Germany to bring it over this summer but I think I will wait and just buy a zoom. I do wonder though if the Tascam DR 10L has the same board without the jack soldered to it .
 
BrianMurphy said:
Thanks. I was going to order a Tascam and have a family member in Germany to bring it over this summer but I think I will wait and just buy a zoom. I do wonder though if the Tascam DR 10L has the same board without the jack soldered to it .
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Good question. The L version has 5 levels of gain adjustment and the C version only 3. Theres been no firmware updating the C version with the extra levels so maybe the board is different.
 
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