Zoom F8 - 8 track recorder

O

OldCorpse

Rockin the Boat
Zoom F8 is an 8 track recorder, 4 XLR inputs - 1/4" combo, timecode, additional dedicated connector for the Zoom range mic capsules; full color lcd screen; dual SD cards:


Thoughts? F.ex. what about the power solution - 8 AA batts and DC, but nothing mentioned about powerbanks with USB; looks bag-ready and reasonable size for an 8 track. How does it compare to your needs and other competitors - more info to come. Your thoughts and feedback?
 
OldCorpse said:
Zoom F8 is an 8 track recorder, 4 XLR inputs - 1/4" combo...
Click to expand...

You mean 8 combo inputs. 4 on each side.

Could be interesting. I have never been crazy about the pre-amps in Zoom recorders, so that's the first thing I'd want hear. If they are good, and the timecode sync is solid, this could (depending on price point) change the low-budget game. That may be setting the bar/expectation a little high, but we'll see toward the end of the year. If nothing else, again depending on proce point, it could gove the DR-680mkII a run for its money since the Tascam doesn't offer TC. This is all purely speculative, though, as there are still many unknowns.

i'm not crazy about the TC connections being where they are. That's the worst place to put connectors of any kind when bag work is involved.
 
Thanks, Alex. The DR-680mkII is $600 (perhaps the street price will eventually come down?), so to be competitive if the F8 could come below that, f.ex. $500, or even $400, that would just be excellent. However, I'm not sure Zoom has been a particular price leader, what with the H6 at $400 given that the H6 is feature-wise somewhere between the Tascam 60D and 70D and those are in the $200 and $300, so that's almost a bit pricy. So it's hard to say if the F8 would be much below $600 - but of course, since it's Zooms first very serious foray into the film production world, they might want to come in with a bang and price it at $400! We'll see!
 
OldCorpse said:
Thanks, Alex. The DR-680mkII is $600 (perhaps the street price will eventually come down?), so to be competitive if the F8 could come below that, f.ex. $500, or even $400, that would just be excellent. However, I'm not sure Zoom has been a particular price leader, what with the H6 at $400 given that the H6 is feature-wise somewhere between the Tascam 60D and 70D and those are in the $200 and $300, so that's almost a bit pricy. So it's hard to say if the F8 would be much below $600 - but of course, since it's Zooms first very serious foray into the film production world, they might want to come in with a bang and price it at $400! We'll see!
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that would be awesome, but i think it's going to cost way more than $400.
 
Looks very intersting and I agree about the T/C connectors but I suppose a couple of right angle bnc knuckles would help if it was sitting in a bag.
 
I would suspect that since this is aimed at film professionals that they would be looking to be the bargain version of say SD recorders. It looks like it's a metal case and they are certainly throwing professional features in the mix. If it was a new company and not Zoom folks would be happy in the $1K zone, providing that it is solid performance wise. Their biggest hurdle is going to be the Zoom name since it's connected with relatively inexpensive and weakly built handheld recorders. Is anyone going to plunk serious change down for a "Zoom". Assuming decent build and preamps (and no name negatives) this looks to be in the multi grand range, if you look at what else is out there that is like it.

Of course this is WAY early to speculate. If it is a really good box the Name may make them sell this at a very nice price break just to get into the market.
Eight tracks is a really nice track point and assuming the TC works you should be able to stack them up and get multiple units to record in sync making this a very flexible system for recording live events, or the everyone on a lav film shoots.
 
According to my LSC friends at NAB, the Zoom F8 has eight XLR-1/4" combo connecters (four on each side). It runs on 12V via a Hirose connector (same as SD), or eight internal AAs. It allegedly generates and reads TC (w/BNCs). Like the Tascam, an internally mixed stereo file is an option .. but in this case, 8+2 tracks. The target selling price is around $1k for later this year. Does this mean I'd consider using a Zoom? .. only after a thorough hands-on evaluation and testing.
 
Yes that is the problem they face. At $1k it's a great deal for professionals IF it is a good piece of gear, but it's beyond what most OMB/ no-budget filmmakers are going to be willing to pay. But pro's are going to be skeptical, so Zoom really needs to hit it out of the park. If they do I could see a lot of these going into use.
 
Very intriguing. This fills a need between, say, the DR-680>Sound Devices 702. If the pres are anywhere close to SD they will sell like hotcakes...
 
If the pres are anywhere close to SD.
- That ain't gonna happen.
If the mic pres can be bypassed in line level, then I'd be interested, primarily for the TC, though how accurate would it be, given Zoom's infamous quality standards. In any case, and according to sources, the yet-to-be-built recorder is just an empty box with some connectors and knobs stuck on.
 
Rick R said:
If the pres are anywhere close to SD.
- That ain't gonna happen.
If the mic pres can be bypassed in line level, then I'd be interested, primarily for the TC, though how accurate would it be, given Zoom's infamous quality standards. In any case, and according to sources, the yet-to-be-built recorder is just an empty box with some connectors and knobs stuck on.
Click to expand...
Do you think they will be close to the 680 MKII, Rick? And, yes in the video with the Zoom guy he seemed to be scant on details...
 
That video kinda reminded me of the Red Camera people. They came to NAB several years with vapor-ware and then cardboard-ware.
At least Zoom is starting with a cardboard-ware mock-up.

I didn't see the mock-up on display at the B&H booth. Maybe they just brought it in for the video.

It could be a killer product, but given Zoom's history, and a target price of $1K, I woudln't expect above-average mic preamps. :-(
 
scorsesefan said:
Very intriguing. This fills a need between, say, the DR-680>Sound Devices 702.
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i totally think that's what they're going for. i like all the dials on the front and it looks like it will be more durable than the 680, but..

i still see this zoom being middle tier. maybe that is my own bias based on their previous products, i don't know. the reason the 680 is popular is because it's cheap. if the new zoom is slightly better than the 680, but costs almost twice as much, would it be worth it to upgrade? or will people think, hey if i'm going to pay that kind of money, i might as well spend a little more to get the industry standard Sound Devices.
 
I thought the 680 was a pretty good product for the time and price. For me, the audio was good enough, and the form factor was good for a bag. The preamps were considerably better than the little handheld models had four phantom channels and plenty of functions. The internal battery bank was at best, backup power. Although I had no breakage issues because it lived in a bag, I didn't like the plasticky feel and the switches and plugs always made me nervous. The other issue for me was the just barely enough lcd display. It is now resting peacefully as a backup.

Now a question:
If you had a choice between a used SD recorder like a 702 or 744, or pretty decent new recorder like the 680II or the new Zoom, what would you choose? You actually get more preamps - channels in the Zoom and Tascams, but top of the line preamps, limiters, metering and build quality in the SD device.

Just though I'd stir the pot a bit!
 
I've used the 680 on a few shoots (one of which was 64 days) and didn't have any breakage or other problems. My primary annoyance was the take/file reset method.. (note: that has been addressed in the recent firmware update 1.30)
I never actually used the on-board preamps, but the general consensuses seems to be they're better than most low budget gear. The 680mkII preamps allegedly have even better components (but still not up to 'pro' standards I'll bet).
Though the 744's used price point is relatively low, it will still be probably at least $1k more than the Zoom F8 (if and when if does come out) and it's still only four tracks.
 
I have used the 680 MK I a good deal and the preamps are very good. But I have to agree with ugafan that if the Zoom's sound is marginally better for $400-$500 more I would probably go for the 680 MKII (TC is not a big need for me).
 
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