The new Zoom H6 Essential vs Zoom F6- Need advice

[Meric Cenber]

Hello all, as some of you might know, Zoom released a new updated version of ZoomH6. Im gonna cut this short, which one should i prefer buying for my filmmaking and sound recording journey? Would the 400 dollar difference really makes a difference? 

 

F6 can record on 32 bit- 192 kHz. and new ZOOM H6 Essential can do 32 bit- 96kHZ 

And i ASSUME the preamps of the F6 is still be quiter and cleaner in compare to be 2024 released ZoomH6 Essential? Or not? 🎶❔

 

So i would get a better sound with my shotgun microphones on set with F6? I wish i had a chance to try them both with my kit, but it is almost impossible to do that here right now.

 

I have Sennheiser MKE 600 as my main shotgun mic.🎙️

 

https://zoomcorp.com/en/us/field-recorders/field-recorders/f6/

 

https://zoomcorp.com/en/us/handheld-recorders/handheld-recorders/h6essential/

 

My main reason of need to buy a new recorder is mainly due to my ZOOM H6 being dead on the battery side; it eats up fast and the screen shows the battery life wrong most of the time. Unreliable stuff. 🪫 📻

 

I bought it second hand and after some time it just started to eat up my AA batteries, it lasts pretty short than it is used to and on several occasions it just resets itself on set!

 

And sometimes it creates very distorted big internal voices on recordings, no idea why. The battery life and these weird bugs destroyed my trust to the device, i can't rely it on my next film. I need a clear head and a good battery life.

Im an indie filmmaker and i get small boom operating gigs time to time. 

 

What do you guys recommend to me? I already have a carrying bag for my zoom H6 so if i choose f6 im also thinking about the around extra 150 dollars of extra money for F6 bag. (the ones you attach to your pants.)

 

Any tips and recommendations would be fine 🙂 thanks!

[DHB]

Essentially (..sorry!..) the H6 Essential seems to have LOST the H6's useful gain knobs, but Zoom says "For full control of your mix, hit the ‘Mixer’ button and quickly adjust your levels". But that appears to mean one input at a time, using just one knob on the side of the box ..OR using Bluetooth to an iPhone or iPad displaying virtual faders, to adjust individual levels with as many fingers as you can use simultaneously. (But you'd need to buy the separate BT adaptor for that.) So adjusting levels looks more finicky than with the original H6 ..unless you're using 32-bit, in which case I s'pose the idea is that you don't need to adjust levels at all, as it'll never overload or distort. (But if you're not using 32-bit, you WOULD need to adjust levels.)

 

The F6, of course, does have level-adjustment knobs, even though it, too, can use 32-bit.

 

As for your battery problems, have you set - in the H6 Menu - the TYPE of batts you're using, so that it'll give a reasonably accurate estimate of battery level, remaining power, etc?

[MENU > Cog Wheel (Date/Time) > Battery (type). And have you made sure that the battery contacts are not loose, so failing to keep proper contact?

 

My own preference - if you're buying a new device - would be for the F6 (or the different-shape F8), as the H6 Essential looks (to me) too finicky if you'll be adjusting levels on the go. But I've never used one. Other people may give different advice.

[The Immoral Mr Teas]

Before the real replies fly in ... have a look (search) for 'newbie' or 'starting out' kit discussions as a (budget) camera mic and a handheld strictly-consumer recorder wouldn't be on anybody's list for even beginning for capturing dialogue in a film set situation (even an easy going and very understanding set).

 

You'd be much better off ignoring the 32bit aspect, also the 192kHz aspect, and look for a recorder which can handle 48k 24bit and is more ergonomically acceptable - that would be a Zoom F4, F8 or F8n or a Sound Devices MP3 or MP6 in your approximate bracket, although all a little more expensive than your budget - but look for used?

 

Also a couple of new mics (again, look for used?) - a cheap shotgun such as a Rode or Deity and a hypercardioid around the same price range ...

 

Whatever you do, DON'T blow $150 worth of budget on a custom bag - look what Rado here uses for $25, or pick up a third hand portabrace.

 

On the first recorders/ergonomics front it has become 'old fashioned' for people to have a mixer in front of their recorder but that $150 might pick you up something like a old used PSC M4 (if you were in the UK I'd sell you mine ...) which would give you decent preamp sound but crucially ease your recording situation considerably. I sometimes put a 302 in front of the F8 - even a mono or stereo front end like the (original) Sound Devices Mix Pre gives you good preamps and a  good headphone amp with easy to use switches and knobs without messing about with menus and tiny buttons.

 

Good luck Meric, and have fun

 

Jez

[IronFilm]

When it comes to the production sound dept, there is no contest whatsoever between F6 vs H6 Essentials, it's not even a vaguely close contest between them whatsoever. The Zoom F6 is vastly preferable, not just for the better preamps but also the vastly better ergonomics in many ways. 

 

The whole debate about 32bit (or 196KHz) is utterly irrelevant for our line of work. 

 

I'd even rather get the original first ever Zoom F8 secondhand than have a Zoom F6. As it's just a vastly better laid out machine. (although the gap between the F8 and F6 isn't quite as vast as the gulf between the F6 & H6 Essentials!!)

 

You should have a look for a secondhand Zoom F8, many great bargains can be found. And you might find it coming with some bonus extras, such as a mixer bag, or an external battery, or such. 

[Dalton Patterson]

On 2/29/2024 at 1:04 AM, Meric Cenber said:

 

My main reason of need to buy a new recorder is mainly due to my ZOOM H6 being dead on the battery side; it eats up fast and the screen shows the battery life wrong most of the time. Unreliable stuff. 🪫 📻

 

I bought it second hand and after some time it just started to eat up my AA batteries, it lasts pretty short than it is used to and on several occasions it just resets itself on set!

Did you check to see if your battery terminals are corroded? Perhaps if you clean up the contacts it will improve battery performance on your H6. 

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

I agree with The Immortal Mr. Tea's and IronFilm's assessment ... you shouldn't be considering the H recorders, they don't do what you need as a boom op.  Make your decision based the workflow / ergonomics you need to work better and more efficiently, and ignore 32-bit. 

I have an F8 I could sell if you decide to go that route.