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ZoomOfficial

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Posts posted by ZoomOfficial

  1. On 4/12/2018 at 1:16 PM, efksound said:

    I'd bet anything that, the supposed F8n inside the display cabinet , (that probably no one was allowed to touch during NAB) is just a normal F8 with some different firmware loaded, and displaying some fancy new screen :-)

     

     

    You'd lose that bet

     

  2. 11 minutes ago, The Immoral Mr Teas said:

    Interesting. Can the F8 currently do the same? (Or might there be a software update to do so in the offing?)

    Thanks, Jez Adamson

    Hey Jez,

     

    The F8 could not on release, but there was a firmware update that added this capability.

     

    Samuel

  3. On 10/4/2016 at 8:23 AM, daniel said:

    Hey Zoom Official (Samuel),

    Can the F4 mix with the 4 pots/faders?

    d r

     

    Hey d r,

     

    Yes. The 4 pots can be switched between gain and fader.

     

    Samuel

  4. On 9/30/2016 at 9:02 PM, Vivid Lizard said:

    From what I've been able to gather from the kind people at B&H who have worked with it, discussion groups and Zoom itself, the F4 still suffers from much of the same ills as the F8...

    1. Digital limiters

    2. Mic level only XLR inputs

    3. Difficult, menu-laden "mixing"

    4. A "not-as-good-as-it-should-be" headphone output (some coloring)

    5. No headphone monitor knob

    6. Hard to reach rear connectors / media

    7. Plus, what's with that LCD screen? Going B&W I can see the cost point, but better resolution can't be THAT pricey anymore.
     

    As far as positives...

    1. Supposedly, the losing time code after a power down bug has been fixed. We'll see.

    2. More option buttons on the front panel to access menu items faster.

    3. Somewhat larger gain knobs.


    One thing I was hoping for... I asked if the 5/6 channel 1/8" input was used for camera return only (simply monitoring), could the proprietary Zoom capsule input be used for recording on channels 5 & 6 at the same time.  Nope.  Worth a shot.  I find a lot of workarounds on things but this wasn't one of them.

    Hey Vivid Lizard,

     

    Mostly accurate here. 2 comments

     

    There is a headphone volume knob on both the F8 and F4.

    And time code accuracy when you turn the unit off, same as the F8. It's not so much a bug but a feature these units do not have.

  5. On 9/21/2016 at 5:59 PM, Mike Mulcahy said:

    To Samuel (zoom official);

    Has there been a listing of serial numbers beyond which the hardware issue was resolved?

    Mine is B70007263

    Thx,

    Mike

     

    Mike,

     

    We have no official list of serial numbers but yours is outside the possible range.


    Thank you

  6. 18 hours ago, Jim Feeley said:

    Thanks for the response; good to know, Mr. Official. Or can I call you Zoom? Or perhaps you also go by another name? :-)

    My colleagues call me Official. You can call me Samuel

  7. On 9/12/2016 at 9:29 PM, Jim Feeley said:

    Oh bummer. Thanks for the followup, Malcolm.

    @ZoomOfficial, any thoughts about all this? Easily addressable user error? Unapproved media? Something else?

    This issue is hardware related and only affects early serial numbers. It was addressed early on in production. If anyone experiences this issue we are more then happy to replace the unit with a new one. We can even send out an advanced replacement

  8. Everyone, new fiormware. Mainly bug fixes

    https://www.zoom.co.jp/F8_update

    System version 2.10 for the Zoom F8 has been released. The firmware update includes the following :

     

    ■ Function Update

    1. Added phantom power setting options to continue supply of phantom power in playback mode.

     

    ■ Bug Fixes

     

    1. Following SD card performance test, sometimes SD card shows NG status without reason.

    2. Changes to Ubits mode settings do not display correctly after restarting the F8.

    3. The time stamp of recording file displayed on PC/Mac is shifted to incorrect time depending on the time zone setting of PC/Mac.

    4. Noise is generated when changing from recording mode to playback mode.

    5. When repeat connections and cut-off’s of Bluetooth’s iOS device occur, sometimes the F8 cannot connect to such iOS device.

    6. Response of the F8 becomes slow when the following operation is repeated : Press Rec key – press Pause key and cancel it – press Rec key again to start a new take.

     

  9. On 4/13/2016 at 5:26 AM, hiro nakamura said:

    I was on a job recording 5.1 surround sound with a F8. After two days, the trim pot start making noise when I try to trim.... Like electric buzz... If I stopes turning ... The noise disappear.... 

    Dont know why... 

    Hiro, Is the sound recorded to your files or do you hear it just through the headphone? Does it sound like stepping or grounding?

  10. On 4/5/2016 at 1:02 PM, PhforAndAfter said:

    Has anyone had a problem with files disappearing on the F8?  Editorial says I'm missing two takes (the only two takes of that shot) from a shoot 2 weeks back. At this point both original SD cards have been formatted but both the original and duplicate card dumps are missing those takes, although I believe editorial just dumps the slot one card onto two drives.

    Does the F8 'write over' takes with the same name?  I'm struggling to understand what happened here, and the only possible solution I can come up with is that I incorrectly named the scene number and the f8 'wrote over' the takes.  But it seems crazy that this would be possible without some sort of error message.  This was on firmware 2.0.

     

     

    The F8 should not ever overwrite a file. I suggest doing a test to replicate the recording process as closely as you can and confirm you do not have any issues. If it happens again please email me so we can investigate further. Hopefully there was some other human error at play or it was a one time occurrence. If you would like to discuss further your can also email me. sgreene@zoom-na.com

  11. On 12/31/2015 at 4:11 PM, Tom Visser said:

    Just my own insight to this, rolling, plane flies overhead, would be nice to enter a note on the currently running clip.  "Cut" is called, PL to boom op (through external mixer since there's no communications feature on board the F8) "no good for sound, plane" and immediately the director tells the AD to go again and we're already speeding up for the next take - no time to go into menus and revisit past clips.  This is one of the reasons I still use paper reports, there's no menus, firmware, or reliability issues with pen v2.0 (upgraded to roller ball from fountain nib) and paper v3.0 (papyrus to immulsified pulp to carbons) or when there is, don't bother contacting the manufacturer or sending in for service, just replace with new one.  Being able to immediately enter notes would be one hurdle to overcome for me to adopt electronic reports.  The other would being able to print directly from the unit.  I don't bring a computer on set and need to hand over reports immediately to production (as we pull equipment through mud and jungle vying for dwindling space on the stake bed trucks in order to get back to base camp).

    My question though, could for example, pot #1 be assigned to input gain for the boom mic on channel 1, and then pot #2 be assigned to channel 1 fader?

    Hey Tom,

    I hear your concerns with the notes and reports. I will pass along.

    The pot use that you describe would be interesting. Haven't heard that from anyone yet.

    Thank you

  12. On 12/27/2015 at 6:20 AM, efksound said:

     

    Playing a bit with the new 2.00 firmware there are loads of improvements, that make this little machine very powerful now !

    I've notice also that the machine is configured in Rec Priority mode, so that you can go in record mode from almost any screen on the menu, except from the FINDER, So for example if you are correcting Metadata info for previous takes and need to go into record, you need to exit first and go to the home screen which means a lot of pressings on the menu button (to exit) it would be nice if this could be changed somehow

    Also entering Note Metadata but only for the NEXT take is a bit awkwards, how will you know that the next take will be good or bad ?  

    It would be good also to have the ability maybe to edit Metadata while recording

    Would be also nice to have a Edit Note shortcut for example : STOP +TR4 ( which is not used ?)

    Thanks for listening Zoom ! 

    Hello,

    Thanks for the thoughts. These are all great comments. I will pass them on for consideration as we look to improve the F8 further!

    You can edit note Metadata on past take in the Finder menu.

    Thank you

  13. On 12/9/2015 at 5:15 PM, Soundequip said:

    The fact that the specs read 9-16VDC scares me.  If I take a 14.4V or 14.8V NP1 Li-Ion off the cooker the voltage can be 17+V (unloaded) for the first five minutes or so.  Any comment Samuel (from Zoom USA)?  Will it melt?

    Hello,

    If the battery will output 17V at any point then you cannot use it with the F8. Will it melt? I hope not.

    It could cause damage though.

    Thank you

  14. On 12/11/2015 at 8:59 PM, hiro nakamura said:

    Hi guys, 

    just to let you f8 owners know that something went wrong with audio files from a zoom f8 recorder last night.  the post house reported: last audio file in both main sd card and mirror card having same problem which the audio file only repeatedly loop the first 5 second of the recording for 15 mins long, however, it's a 3 mins piece to camera. 

    SD Cards are golden color 32G (will provide more info ) 

    Zoom F8 is in its latest firmware, updated before out for recording. 

    Recording both cards at the same time. The mixer told me that during the recording, the machine took a while to stop recording. So he took time to listen the playbacks. Only the last file, he didn't. 

    Will make full report to zoom official once I get the audio file and the spec of the sd card.  

    Hiro 

     

     

    Hello Hiro,

    I would like to hear more info about his problem. Can you please call our office (631-542-5270) and ask for Samuel.

    Thank you

  15. Hello Samuel

    I'd like to know how much Zoom wants to invest in this product. I see a recent firmware update, but not so significant for semi-professional use. With all the feedbacks from all over the world, now Zoom knows that with little improvement that product could be great. But maybe Zoom doesnt want to?.
    I'm not sure of buying this product. It has a lot of good features but lacks of few things.
    The easiest to fix would be the numbering of scenes and takes and shortcuts.  Hardware mods also could be improved.
    Id' like to know if Zoom wants to fix these lacks or not. Maybe a ZoomF8 v2 in the middle of 2016?
    Thanks a lot

    Davide

    Davide,

    The first update was a couple of necessary releases. We continue to work on improving the firmware and adding features we are getting feedback about.

    Stay tuned to our website and social media for more updates.

    Thanks

    Hi Samuel

    You've clearly designed an entirely different animal than previous products, and I am aware you're taking these markets seriously.  That's great and I hear you listen to end users.  Hence products like H4 to H4N etc. The F8's a pretty impressive machine so far. Not all manufacturers do (I remember the first Fostex PD-2 and the other monster from HHB, both boat anchors and the former used to commit hari-kiri).  Moving 20+ years ahead, I have several initial questions:

    1. Why no tape return to say a 3.5mm TRS?
    2. Why no other AUX outs, balanced and unbalanced, selectable-track(s) for IFB tx's?
    3. Why no menu option to switch from mic to line?  If you add that could it be switchable say 40 / 50 / 60dB?
    4. Option to record .wav (mono / poly) on first SD card (ten tracks) with second SD card .mp3 for transcription?
    5. In your opinion, if I ordered an F8 now and it didn't arrive until say March, might I get an F8N?  Sorry that's pretty subjective, but I do realise you guys are upfront here (and you wouldn't be able to kid my professional colleagues here anyway).  Just an opinion is OK.

    Thanks

    John

    Hey John,

    All great questions. I'll answer best I can.

    1. Engineers choice. We have noted the interest in a tape or camera return. Obviously won't show up on the F8 but we will note for the future.

    2. Same as 1. The outputs that are there are custom route-able.

    3. This is a hardware spec. We have noted the want for the option for future products.

    4. You can record WAV on SD 1 and MP3 of SD 2.

    5. I would suggest going for the F8 now. We just shipped out more units, and there will be much more on the way before March.

    Thanks

    Samuel

  16. while I didn't read the whole review, the one thing missing from my recent trip with a b.u. rec'd (DR60 in this case) in an "unmanned" vehicle was a way to lock the level pots of the DR60.  I used tape, which sufficed.  But I wish devices like the Zoom and DR family had s method,soft or hard, to do so.

    Inevitably, someone else is climbing in that vehicle after me, prod, camera whatever and may not be aware.

    Call me paranoid, but auto-rec'd doesn't cut it.

     

    Hello Fritz,

    The F8 does have a software gain pot lock. Pressing the STOP button and any PFL button will lock all gain pots. This cannot be done during recording.

    Thank you

  17. Any chance of Bluetooth keyboard support in the future?

    Hello Greg,

    This is a possibility in the future. It is a comment we have heard a few times. We will take it into consideration as we look to improve the F8, as well as future products.

    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.   This brings up some questions for our Zoom rep here: can you tell us about the service depts you've set up to work on the F8?  Is there a number an owner can call and talk to a real knowledgable person, like in real time, from the set?  Is there a rush service possibility?  Will you be offering loaner-rentals while an F8 is being repaired?  Have you had any luck with sales to rental houses, so that an owner could grab a backup or a 2nd machine for a big job?  

    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

    Currently, we do not have any repair centers. If something is wrong with you F8 you can call the dealer you purchased it from (many of whom have extensive tech knowledge of our products) or call us directly. If there is a malfunction with your F8 we have a rapid replacement policy. We will put a hold on your credit card, rush you a new F8, and ask you to ship your broken F8 once received.

    We have heard from many rental houses that have expressed interest in having F8's available. Right now there have been limited supplies in the market. But I am sure you will see more rental houses with them soon.  

  18. Hi Samuel,

    Can you tell us a bit about the current HP monitoring options: 

    ~ When setting up a channel in the 'input setting' screen what will the operator be able to hear? Eg can we hear (as solo/pfl) the effect of the hpf or limiter on given channel as we apply it or will we have to toggle the pfl/input setting option?

    ~ Other than the recorded mix, solo and PFL what other routing options to the HPs are there?

    thanks,

    dan.

     

    Hello Dan,

    Thanks for the questions

    1. You would want to be in the PFL/SOLO menu of a particular input.

    2. The HP output is based upon the stereo mix you have created

    Thank you

  19. Hi Zoom Official:

    I think a very attractive feature would be a automatic mixing function.  Since it could be 100% software driven, it could be rolled out in an update.  I can tell you that similar functions on the SD 788 and 688 are popular capabilities, especially for seminars/panel discussions where multiple mics are employed, but usually only one person speaks at a time. 

    Hello Michael,

    This is a great idea for a future update to the F8. I will bring it to the attention of our team.

    Thanks

  20. All things look good about the product, preamp quality, user interface, time code accuracy, (presumed) rugged aluminum chassis, but I think the thing that most professionals would have issue with is the unit is lack of a mixing surface.  Most of us are excited about the size and weight of the unit, not so much about the price (although that's nice too).  I'm purchasing one for situations which would otherwise be a "bag drop" where I'm not mixing anyways, like white water rafting, kayaking, etc... but the ability to add a mixing controller would open up this unit for more mainstream use.  Adding a mixer to the F8 like a Sound Devices 442, mostly eliminates the size and weight advantage of the F8.

    I'd also criticize the use of 1/4" connectors for line level input.  Digital AES would have been best, but completely not expected at this price point.  I like the 8 full size XLR connectors but dislike having to utilize 1/4" for the high impedance input.

     

    Hello Tom,

    Thank you for your thoughts. We are taking feedback on this unit very seriously and the lack of a functional mixing surface it a comment we are hearing in multiple places. We are currently looking into some changes that could provide better mixing functionality. For the time being, if you have an iOS device available, the Bluetooth connected app provides a great mixing surface with a lot of controls and metering.

    I also hear your feedback on the 1/4" connectors and will keep it in mind as we look to improve the F8 as well as future products.

    Thanks

    "1/4" for the high impedance input."

    High Z... as in a 100k ohm 'instrument input'? If that's what the F8's 1/4" inputs are for .. a deal breaker for me and totally useless for most pro sound mixers.. Samual?

    Hello Rick,

    The 1/4" input is for Line Level Sources.

    Thanks

  21. does anybody know if the bluetooth app will also be able to control the analog gain or does this only apply to the digital post faders?

    Hello chrismedr,

    The app allows you to control gain, pan, and the fader. It also shows timecode, battery voltage, among other meters.

    Thanks

  22. on paper and by size and price this looks very very good as a cheap back / crash recorder, if it proves reliable that is. Not being able to mix easily is no biggy as it could pair up with a 552 etc and just use it as an iso rec. And if all else fails iso tracks only with a crappy mono mix for coms feeds etc will still keep the shoot day rolling along fine until your main gear is sorted.

    I wonder if the scene increment option can be either numeric or alphanumeric, can't see it mentioned in the manual.

    Very good routing options on where the slate mic and tone goes too.

    Leakage of spurious RF would be bad too, hope they thought about that also.

    Hello cjh,

    Currently the F8 increments scenes numerically. However, we take all feedback very seriously and have heard requests for alphanumeric increments.

    Thanks

  23. Hello Everyone,

    My name is Samuel. I'm a product specialist at Zoom North America. I am here to answer any questions anyone may have, and hear feedback about the new Zoom F8 Field Recorder.

    Thank you

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