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Zoom H6n anyone?


darwinnovicio

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Hi!

 

A friend of mine bought the new Zoom h6n. it has 4 xlr inputs and can be expanded into 6 when you buy the the needed accessory... Though I dont know if its worth my money to buy, coz im using now a zoom h4n as my recorder and a separate field mixer.. Will it be ok to buy a zoom h6n and use it as a field mixer at the same time? maybe for super low budget gigs and run and gun scenarios? Any thoughts? 

 

Heres the link of a review in youtube: http://youtu.be/OCVxxugqVz4

 

Thanks!

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darwin: " Will it be ok to buy a zoom h6n and use it as a field mixer at the same time? "

it is OK with me...

the Zoom H6n has been discussed before in a thread here of its own...

as a professional tool, it is a toy.

Edited by studiomprd
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Will it be ok to buy a zoom h6n and use it as a field mixer at the same time? maybe for super low budget gigs and run and gun scenarios? Any thoughts? 

 

It's a piece of crap, in my opinion, but I could see it being useful for certain things. I don't expect much for $399. 

 

Bear in mind it's not really a mixer, the preamps are terrible, and it has no timecode. It's like comparing an iPhone to a full-res digital 4K camera. 

 

Try a real mixer/sound recorder like the Sound Devices 633 for one day so you can grasp the difference of what a basic mixer and sound recorder really is. 

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I would rather say it is a special tool-toy. All those cheap recorders are certainly not a main recorder or mixer but they may be useful  in a few particular situations. In the same way a photographer may have a disposable camera for certain situations.

 

As Mark says you should test a SD663. Or at least any professional mixer (SD302 for example) plus a cheap recorder.

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great to start off with.   If you don't need timecode and the producer isn't snooping to what's in your bag, put some tape on the knobs and your chilling.  Works great with a 302 running into it and then have a mix out line going separate into camera to produce 2 recording sources.

 

 

Use it as a plant mic/backup recorder, never can be too safe on set.  It's stereo XY mic is great. Hid it in a truckers sun visor for an interview and surprised the producers with it's quality.  Don't use the microSD, mine already failed after 8 days of shooting.

 

Use it until it funds a 633.   Don't want to be dressed for the prom with no prom to go to.

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I think an H6 could be useful if you needed to grab some quick background effects or do a sound-only interview. I don't think it's useful in sync sound situations because the lack of timecode is going to kill you. The self-contained microphones are terrible -- you can't buy two good mics for $399, let alone a recorder and a mixer -- but on the other hand, it may still sound better than a camera mic. It's still junk, but there are different levels of junk. 

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I think an H6 could be useful if you needed to grab some quick background effects or do a sound-only interview. I don't think it's useful in sync sound situations because the lack of timecode is going to kill you. The self-contained microphones are terrible -- you can't buy two good mics for $399, let alone a recorder and a mixer -- but on the other hand, it may still sound better than a camera mic. It's still junk, but there are different levels of junk. 

 

good perspective.   H6N is on ebay funding the bag/batteries for  new recorder next week.

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The advice here is pretty much exactly what I got when I asked the folks at Sweetwater about the h6. I was thinking of moving up from an h4n, they basically said, "don't bother, just wait until you can afford a professional recorder."

 

I did... waited until I could afford a 633, which I'm now eagerly looking forward to putting to work on its first production next weekend, when we're doing an Altman-style dialog recording with 4 wireless mics. Plus a boom mic, probably. I'll let the sound guy decide (I'm the DP :))

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The advice here is pretty much exactly what I got when I asked the folks at Sweetwater about the h6. I was thinking of moving up from an h4n, they basically said, "don't bother, just wait until you can afford a professional recorder."

 

I now have more respect for Sweetwater! That's actually pretty good advice.

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RM: "I'll let the sound guy decide on how to record sound.  "

that is not how your OP read: " I'm now eagerly looking forward to putting to work on its first production next weekend, when we're doing an Altman-style dialog recording with 4 wireless mics. Plus a boom mic... ".

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Apparently context isn't enough. I was describing the sound recording technique, and concluded it with "I'll let the sound guy decide."

 

 

Anyway, yes the Sweetwater folks have been in my experience quite honest, and though they occasionally recommend stuff that I didn't plan on, it's stuff that's in the same price range. (e.g. boom mics).

 

I may not be a sound specialist, but I do like knowing how to get good sound, since we're not always able to get dedicated sound people to work with us. I do prefer it when we have them though, because it makes my life a lot easier since it means I don't need to worry about the sound side of things... as long as we don't have 7 planes flying overhead every six minutes, as it sometimes feels like happens as soon as the director calls "action."

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RM: " I was describing the sound recording technique, and concluded it with "I'll let the sound guy decide." "

exactly, an oxymoron. you are selecting and providing the sound equipment, and sound recording technique, thus, not really letting the sound guy decide on them... and sounds like the Sweetwater folks are reminding you that there are a lot of accessories required... now I'm reminding you that it isn't about the arrows, it is about the archer.

 

and, BTW: " as long as we don't have 7 planes flying overhead every six minutes, as it sometimes feels like happens as soon as the director calls "action." " who picked the location ??

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Listen to that, it is 13mn long, a well done radio documentary.

http://nouvoson.radiofrance.fr/paysage-sonore/voyage-en-inde

 

And here you will learn how they record it:

http://nouvoson.radiofrance.fr/fiche-technique-voyage-en-inde

 

shut the internet down. it's over. nothing else needs to be said anymore. 

 

just keeeding.  zooms are chill and like studiomprd said its "the archer not the arrow", but again it comes down to outputting to camera/ producer not stone cold stunning you for not having time code sync.   From bartending/truck driving Tascam/zoom can definitley slowly fund a career change.

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Yah, like everyone is saying. Save up and get something more professional. Lots of used Sound Devices 552's out there.

I do have an h6. I really like it. But I use it for ambience and a back up. And when I say back up, I mean as a very last resort. That's if my Nomad was to fail and then my MAXX and if I couldn't get ahold of another sound guy in town to use something of his.

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