ramallo Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 On 4/9/2015 at 6:51 PM, Philip Perkins said: The combo TRS+XLR connectors are a fact of life in the prosumer+MI world--everyone there wants to be able to plug in their guitars. They could be handy under some rare circs in our world I guess, but I have all the adapters I need already. I have no info on if those connectors are less reliable that a normal "3F" style chassis XLR, but I have found over the years that A: the quality and durability of the mic input connectors on a location machine (esp one used in a bag) matter A LOT, and that B: cheaper machines generally use cheaper connectors, which fail more often and are hard to fix. After another look at the F8 manual I see that they do have a strategy for data entry and mix surface--an iPad. Not my pref, but I'm an old guy. The iPad control thing is how nearly all new lower-end digital mixers etc have gone, that is just how this gear is made now and most users I talk to like this. p The Zoom have Neutrik connectors, IMMO is very good quality connectors, I seen a lot of combo connectors in hard working conditions without a fail, in my opinion is equally reliable than the regulars. Isn't cheaper than the regular XLR3F is a bit more expensive I thought it was a good idea when Zaxcom used the combo XLR on the 3 and 4 Maxx inputs. But I hate the two way input (XLR mic Jack line), I prefer "one way" input with the combo connector The iPad is better than nothing, Is a must in the today mixers (from low end to high end), is a superb tool for do stage monitors. IMMO Should be essential in any current recorder, is very handy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constantin Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 In the past couple of months I have sold my two 744Ts. While I am a bit sad to see them go, each of them sold within just a couple of hours of the ad going online. I had several enquiries after just a few minutes. Both these machines were almost ten years old. I had earned back their price already anyway, and I got about 40% back in the sale. In fact, one of them I had bought used, so I sold it for the same amount that I had bought it for. I'm already curious how much you'll get for your F8 in ten years. Of course, hopefully it will have paid for itself by then, but it's a big bonus to get something in the sale and it says a lot about the quality of the machine In the past couple of months I have sold my two 744Ts. While I am a bit sad to see them go, each of them sold within just a couple of hours of the ad going online. I had several enquiries after just a few minutes. Both these machines were almost ten years old. I had earned back their price already anyway, and I got about 40% back in the sale. In fact, one of them I had bought used, so I sold it for the same amount that I had bought it for. I'm already curious how much you'll get for your F8 in ten years. Of course, hopefully it will have paid for itself by then, but it's a big bonus to get something in the sale and it says a lot about the quality of the machine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 A combo jack is a compromise over any dedicated-connector jack, esp re mechanics. In our work TRS plugs don't come up very often, so I'd rather have a more protected set of XLR-F receiver sleeves for work out in the weather. TRS jacks are a dealbreaker for home/MI type users. Re Ipad, it's nice that it's there, but it will never be as easy or pleasurable to mix etc on as a dedicated control surface. If nothing else, the ipad requires the mixer to watch their hands, instead of a monitor. I wish there was a way to connect a keybd to F8 w/o having to also have the fader surface. Maybe in an update? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronFilm Posted January 5, 2017 Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 16 hours ago, igladkiy said: IronFilm - USB keyboard feature will be available with the release of FRC-8 control surface (late January) - you'll be able to connect standard US/JP keyboard using FRC-8's USB port Ah, I should have clarified, I meant *without* the FRC-8 :-) Which I'm very well aware of. As would be a lot of unnecessary extra bulk to carry around the FRC-8 just for the sake of being able to hook up a mini keyboard! :-o 9 hours ago, Constantin said: I'm already curious how much you'll get for your F8 in ten years. Even if a person got *nothing* for it (unlikely? :-o Would surely get at least a tiny bit for it), then that only works out to $100/yr. A very very cheap cost indeed! (a cheaper yearly cost than what people would get if they purchased a new Sound Devices 688 today and sold it after 10yrs) I think most Zoom F8 owners will not mind at all if they use it for 10yrs then sell it (or rather give it away / donate it) for nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daniel Posted January 5, 2017 Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 RA TRS connectors are 'self orientating', this is quite convenient. F4/F8 cost of ownership is competitive and you can probably get proportionally more in rental. Eg. 30-50% of a 633 (despite costing 15-25%). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constantin Posted January 5, 2017 Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 Even if a person got *nothing* for it (unlikely? :-o Would surely get at least a tiny bit for it), then that only works out to $100/yr. A very very cheap cost indeed! (a cheaper yearly cost than what people would get if they purchased a new Sound Devices 688 today and sold it after 10yrs) I think most Zoom F8 owners will not mind at all if they use it for 10yrs then sell it (or rather give it away / donate it) for nothing. The point I was trying to make wasn't if the F8 is a good business investment. Instead, I was trying to state how well the recorder holds it value - its technical value. I was simply impressed by how sought after the 744 still is even after 10 years and that people were still willing to pay 40-50% of its price as new. I am curious if that will happen with the F8, too. If you are simply looking at the business side, the F8 may well be the better choice. Although, as I said, I bought a used 744T for 1300 five years ago, and now I sold it for 1300. That does sound to me like a good investment, considering all the money the 744 has generated in the time I had it. And as that was my rental recorder, I got much more for it per day than I could get for the F8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismedr Posted January 7, 2017 Report Share Posted January 7, 2017 On 5 Jan 2017 at 3:00 PM, Constantin said: Although, as I said, I bought a used 744T for 1300 five years ago, and now I sold it for 1300. That does sound to me like a good investment, considering all the money the 744 has generated in the time I had it. And as that was my rental recorder, I got much more for it per day than I could get for the F8 As long as I only need 2 mic inputs or 4 tracks then the 744 is a fantastic machine. But as soon as I need 5 inputs, there's no point in arguing that the 744 is a better investment then a F8 ; ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constantin Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 As long as I only need 2 mic inputs or 4 tracks then the 744 is a fantastic machine. But as soon as I need 5 inputs, there's no point in arguing that the 744 is a better investment then a F8 ; ) Of course, but if that were the case, this entire discussion would be pointless. And you could always get a 2nd 744... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismedr Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 5 hours ago, Constantin said: Of course, but if that were the case, this entire discussion would be pointless. And you could always get a 2nd 744... well, I thought the original question was if the 744 or the F8 is a good investment... and the comment of getting two 744 seems kinda ironic from somebody who just sold two 744 ; ) personally I don't think I will get by the next 5 years with 2 mic preamps/4 tracks on my main recorder. I love sound devices products, but I'd definitely get a 633 (or 644) over two 744. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikewest Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 I used a 702T recorder with an SQN IVe mixer for many years of simple work plus my Portadrive and a Sonosax SX_8 for drama. I'm now just a 664 user for all jobs including smaller dramas. And yes the metadata facility is very relevant today. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constantin Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 well, I thought the original question was if the 744 or the F8 is a good investment... and the comment of getting two 744 seems kinda ironic from somebody who just sold two 744 ; ) personally I don't think I will get by the next 5 years with 2 mic preamps/4 tracks on my main recorder. I love sound devices products, but I'd definitely get a 633 (or 644) over two 744. It's only a good investment if one day you realize your gains. I might also recommend a 788, but that wasn't the question. I cannot know if the OP needs more than 4 recording tracks. But since he asked the question I would guess not, as the question would be somewhat redundant. In terms of pure business investment, I actually believe that a used 744 would be the better option. Especially if you can get a good deal. Use it for yourself as long as you need it, then rent it out, and buy yourself a another recorder. Eventually sell the 744T and try to get a good deal again. Try that with the F8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 Or keep the 744T for its other features---one of mine often works as a portable clock+TC generator that can also supply two extra mic pres + 2 extra record tracks. It acts as the master clock for decent sized multitrack and multicamera systems. I've done several jobs where I never rolled the 744t--we just used the TC+Clock+metering on it. If you need more tracks then get the F8 too. Having more than one recorder (ie backup) is kind of a normal professional thing, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen Deakin Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 The 744 is a great unit. Other then the weird BNC connectors for the digital io. It was my first recorder and I do miss It. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 BNCs are standard for digital on a lot of units...esp video decks etc? You can also go digital in thru the XLR Fs on a 744. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen Deakin Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 Yes having the 4aes inputs switchable on xlrf was nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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