AnuarYahya Posted September 10, 2016 Report Share Posted September 10, 2016 Ill definitely take a 633 or 688 over any zoom any day.. but the 744t or 788t are beginning to look more like dinosaurs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josephboyle Posted September 10, 2016 Report Share Posted September 10, 2016 5 hours ago, AnuarYahya said: Ill definitely take a 633 or 688 over any zoom any day.. but the 744t or 788t are beginning to look more like dinosaurs. I've never used any of the 6 series, nor the 788t but I have a 744t and the build quality, the sound quality and Sound Device's commitment to their customers all inspire confidence. The only thing that is antiquated for me on the 744t is the firewire functionality, but it doesn't bother me either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomboom Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 They might look like dinosaurs and not have all the bells and whistles (good if you actually use 'em, useless if your main usage is telling people you got 'em) of the 6 series but when I use my 788 giving my 633 a break, I still get that high class sound and build quality the 7 series accustomed me to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constantin Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 Ill definitely take a 633 or 688 over any zoom any day.. but the 744t or 788t are beginning to look more like dinosaurs. 744 yes, but 788 is not lacking at all. What's really missing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josephboyle Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 Also, dinosaurs are badass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnuarYahya Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 46 minutes ago, josephboyle said: Also, dinosaurs are badass. lol this is true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungo Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 Finally a bag recorder running MS-DOS!! This is something some people I know have waited for very long: Camera assistants who do professional direct-to-camera ENG jobs (with no special demands: just small boom or Reporter mic or one lav). I heard them say often: We need a 302-style mixer with a recording option. They helped themselves out with plugging a zoom (!) recorder to their 302. Sound Devices never delivered an alternative. So the F4 makes much more sense. If it's that reliable. We will see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomboom Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 Hahaha! dinosaurs and MS-DOS now... :D! Like with the F8; the F4 is a nice alternative to have a 4 track option using Line ins with say, a Cooper 104, SD 442 or SQN mixer which all got great preamps. Good as a backup rig, good as a simple multi-track for those who might need it. And good to give a second life to those great pieces of gear we don't use quite often anymore since the "mixer-recorder" overtake of the market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constantin Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 ...to their 302. Sound Devices never delivered an alternative. I always thought that the 633 was kind of that and more. Although it did get a bit bigger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungo Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 36 minutes ago, Constantin said: I always thought that the 633 was kind of that and more. Although it did get a bit bigger Way more expensive and complex. Too complex for many assistants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daniel Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 26 minutes ago, Constantin said: I always thought that the 633 was kind of that and more. Although it did get a bit bigger +1, 633 is a mature product, nice size, lots of features, easy to use, proven capability in the production environment. If F4 works as a standalone (mixer_recorder) for shoots with dslr/fs5/7/eos etc I can see it being included in a lot of camera kits, given you can buy 5 for the price of a 633 or a follow-focus or the cost of the cables to run boom, radios and camera send. They'll be bagged up in fanny-packs with a couple of g3s and a camera mic on the end of a pole :-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constantin Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 Way more expensive and complex. Too complex for many assistants. Camera assistents are probably not the typical user SD have in mind for any of their audio products Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Davies Amps CAS Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 On the Zoom group on FB there is a constant stream of freeze problem complaints and the quick fix for the F8 is to take ALL the power off it and leave for approx 30 minutes. Not really confidence inspiring is it. Zoom appear to be very backwards in coming forward with answers so I won't be considering the F8 or F4 until these problems are addressed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Feeley Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 7 minutes ago, Malcolm Davies Amps CAS said: On the Zoom group on FB there is a constant stream of freeze problem complaints... Interesting. Do you think those might be related to unqualified (or just not fast enough) media, rather than something inherent in the recorder? Zoom has this list of approved media: https://www.zoom-na.com/sites/default/files/products/downloads/pdfs/ZoomF8_compatible-SD-cards.pdf But considering the number of people using SD 6xxx mixer/recorders using offlist media and then having problems, I could see even more Zoom customers, because of the price point appealing to a broader audience, choosing media that's not up to the tasks at hand. Or Malcolm, do the complaints seem to be more than just media related? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomboom Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 When I bought an F8 I bought cards specifically for it. Weren't on the "approved" list but I did the "extensive testing" (not just the "quick test") and my cards passed ok. Even if it was the same card model for my 4 cards, I tested each and every card. Unfortunately, these cards didn't passed my 633 tests. Never had a freezing problem in 3 weeks of use with the F8. Cards: transcend 64gb 600x ckass10 U1 SDXC 90mb/s. Underneath the cards I got 2 different numbers: 9181aa 64g 07qd1 and 9181aa 64g 09qd1 (probably "batch numbers"?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Davies Amps CAS Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 2 hours ago, Jim Feeley said: Interesting. Do you think those might be related to unqualified (or just not fast enough) media, rather than something inherent in the recorder? Zoom has this list of approved media: https://www.zoom-na.com/sites/default/files/products/downloads/pdfs/ZoomF8_compatible-SD-cards.pdf But considering the number of people using SD 6xxx mixer/recorders using offlist media and then having problems, I could see even more Zoom customers, because of the price point appealing to a broader audience, choosing media that's not up to the tasks at hand. Or Malcolm, do the complaints seem to be more than just media related? Jim, frozen white screen seems to be the predominant fault that no doubt could be media based but no one has come back and said " when I changed the media it cured it". This powering down completely and leaving for 30 minutes is totally unacceptable to me even if the machine is for a back up. It's zoom's apparent lack of feedback that worries me, even a published we are working on it would help. I'm convinced that the machine will get someone the sack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Feeley Posted September 13, 2016 Report Share Posted September 13, 2016 Oh bummer. Thanks for the followup, Malcolm. @ZoomOfficial, any thoughts about all this? Easily addressable user error? Unapproved media? Something else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VASI Posted September 13, 2016 Report Share Posted September 13, 2016 The price point between F8 and F4 are really close. Not sure why to buy F4 instant F8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikevarela Posted September 13, 2016 Report Share Posted September 13, 2016 Wow, so many people here are angry about a screen. And some calling it cheap without having used it. If it works, fills a need and sounds good then so be it. There are some out there who need a more capable recorder and don't want to spend the cash. This doesn't mean it's a cheap product - it fills a price point / per feature set. The equipment you have is the stuff that gets used. Better to be recording than discussing the finer merits of cost / value / brand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZoomOfficial Posted September 14, 2016 Report Share Posted September 14, 2016 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted September 14, 2016 Report Share Posted September 14, 2016 On 9/11/2016 at 10:55 AM, Constantin said: 744 yes, but 788 is not lacking at all. What's really missing? Still hootin' with the dinosaurs here! Pure profit potential on paid-off gear that sounds as good (or better ) than anything that's come along since! If you plan to toss your 744 send it to me instead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Feeley Posted September 14, 2016 Report Share Posted September 14, 2016 2 hours ago, ZoomOfficial said: 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 Thanks for the response; good to know, Mr. Official. Or can I call you Zoom? Or perhaps you also go by another name? :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronFilm Posted September 14, 2016 Report Share Posted September 14, 2016 IPS IBC 2016 Episode 20 Zoom: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZoomOfficial Posted September 15, 2016 Report Share Posted September 15, 2016 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundtrane Posted September 15, 2016 Report Share Posted September 15, 2016 my only point is - for 300 $ more you can get the F8, so i could not figure why the F4. had it been like 400$ it may have made sense, but then again, 4 tracks only... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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