Zoom F2 recorder with lav mic

indiawilds

indiawilds

Veteran
Zoom has launched a portable recorder with lavalier microphone which can fit in waistbands. It has app based control and wireless time code sync ability. 32 bit float distortion free technology. Can record at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz in broadcast wave file format. Directly records to SD card.

B&H says availability is mid december. Price $149 USD.

Anybody here got early access to it?
 
Nice, might pick up 1 or 2, great for "backup" when I'm working on programs that aren't live but I need to sync up the media afterwards.
 
is there any monitoring the audio? You clip it on, level it on a test push record and then it's all Hail Mary?
 
32 bit float at this pricepoint makes it appealing, especially if you need a bunch of them for certain scenarios.

That said, if you can afford the Tentacle solution, it has some key features that put it on another level. The phone app is VERY good for the tentacle products, and if you also run Tentacle sync e units, then you can easily sync everything with bluetooth using the app, and then be completely confident about the post workflow where it concerns sync.
 
Clermond said:
is there any monitoring the audio? You clip it on, level it on a test push record and then it's all Hail Mary?
Click to expand...

Because it has 32-bit float, you wouldn't have to worry about anything else (for the most part) besides mic rubbing on clothing.

For years, I used to record with the H1 like this (setting the levels a little lower) without monitoring audio, and only a handful of times during hundreds of interviews did the mic rub a little on clothing.

But that's definitely not the pro way to do it though! (And you'd be able to only manage this for static/sit-down interviews.)
 
I pre ordered the Tentacle but I may pick one of these up, too. At $150 it's almost disposable. Although the Tentacle looks a lot more robust (with more features).. But I wonder how good the included mic could be at that price (although I would just use a better mic)...
 
indiawilds said:
Zoom has launched a portable recorder with lavalier microphone which can fit in waistbands. It has app based control and wireless time code sync ability. 32 bit float distortion free technology. Can record at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz in broadcast wave file format. Directly records to SD card.

B&H says availability is mid december. Price $149 USD.

Anybody here got early access to it?
Click to expand...

Game changer.
 
Clermond said:
is there any monitoring the audio? You clip it on, level it on a test push record and then it's all Hail Mary?
Click to expand...

If recording in 32bit, no problem with gain, you might still have issues with rustling sounds, wind, it gets knocked off, etc. but for my purposes it would be to use it as a backup on talent/commentator. In the summer months I work on a lot of golf tournaments, and if the commentator walks too far from the camera/receiver and I end up with useless audio, or if the commentator forgets to turn on the handheld mic (not like I can scream from the camera position on a golf court to tell him to turn it on). So for me it wouldn't be the best option, just the cheapest backup since it can last up to 14 hours, and in golf I need 5-6 hours (the handheld mic only lasts about 4 hours, which means it needs to be turned on/off when not used).
 
Clermond said:
is there any monitoring the audio? You clip it on, level it on a test push record and then it's all Hail Mary?
Click to expand...

Always a cause for concern, but I've used the Tascam DR-10l on dozens of shoots and never had an issue. For me it's weighing the problems with wireless (RF interference, dropouts, etc.) with rustling and wind noise. As a solo shooter monitoring a wireless set up is a real PITA so this works for me...
 
Clermond said:
is there any monitoring the audio? You clip it on, level it on a test push record and then it's all Hail Mary?
Click to expand...

I noticed it has an output jack. So you could hook up a wireless system to it. But that feature is likely disabled in the States due to the Zaxcom patent. Of course, adding the bulk of the wireless may defeat the usefulness of this.
 
with the BT version, you probably could monitor audio through wireless headphones. It looks like they have an app to use so you can monitor levels and adjust on the fly. I am quite happy with my Sony ILC recorders, but am going to buy one for sure.
 
Wish it had different plug in power voltage options like the tenatclesync track E. Some lavs need more than 2.5v.
 
Paul F said:
I noticed it has an output jack. So you could hook up a wireless system to it..
Click to expand...

that would be great. Spec sheet says:

Stereo ⅛” Mic/Line In mini phone jack with Plug-in power (2.5V)
Stereo ⅛” Phone/Line Output jack with dedicated volume control

Line out? Shouldn't that be suitable for loop through?
I will order one anyway
 
Do dpa lavs need more than 2.5 volts? Will probably be a go to for early joe swanberg style films (ie zero budget, mumblecore).
 
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