NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

The recorder is still a few months away ("July"), and details are not yet concrete (price is looking to be twelve hundred dollars).*

But some specs we can expect:
Updated GUI
Selectable line/mic input
New battery slot
Look ahead limiters
Better headphone Amp!
Improved voltage range for Hirose inputs
Anticipated July delivery with pricing around US$1200

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

I have written a very detailed (and LONG!) blog post about my thoughts and hopes for the upcoming Zoom F8n:

What I’d like to see in the new Zoom F8n – David Peterson


Saw these shared on Facebook from AES Milan 2018, shows a brief hands on with the F8n, the day is very near indeed to when we will be able to buy an F8n ourselves:


https://www.facebook.com/IamTheOppos...type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/IamTheOppos...type=3&theater

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Thanks for these posts David! I got a demo F8 a few weeks ago for $720 - would never have known it wasn't new. Really enjoying playing around with it, very impressive device. Will put it through its paces more thoroughly in about a month recording 8 track audio at a fun shoot with my musical family. For my limited use, it would make no sense to spend $1200 for an updated unit.

I agree about needing an illuminated stop button - all the transport buttons should be illuminated IMO. Your other suggestions are good, but wouldn't make much difference to me personally.

The F8 control app is cool, and a major reason I got the F8, although it's a bit rough around the edges. My biggest complaint would be very easy for them to fix. There should be a setting to prevent your phone/tablet from going to sleep (auto-locking) while the app is running. I have to remember to set my phone to never auto-lock, otherwise it times out and then takes awhile to reconnect to bluetooth again.

I also wish they supported a larger feature set on the app. One annoyance is that there is no way to delete a file when the app is running. The Finder menu is greyed out on the device and there's no delete option in the app's menu.

I'm a little surprised that there hasn't been much discussion of the F8 here at DVinfo.

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Agreed, for you I think you got a steal on the F8, no point in waiting for the F8n.

But for me who uses it every week, sometimes even every day, then the extra bit for the F8n is totally going to be worth it!


Yes, the fight for control between the app vs the machine sometimes annoys me when I have used the F8 myself. I wish both would just keep the full functionality at once!

I guess DVinfo has gone a bit quiet, and in general people tend to talk less about audio than "exciting" stuff such as cameras/lights/lenses/etc :-/

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Just a couple days ago I found what appears to be a major bug with the F8 control app. If you press the PFL button on a channel you can select a value between 10 and 240 Hz when you choose HPF. However in the F8 Control app, the lowest value I can select is 80 Hz (the menu just doesn't go any lower than that).

But it's actually much worse than that. If you have chosen a value less than 80 while using the PFL button on the device, as soon as you connect with the F8 control app, the value is permanently changed to 80 hz. So, for example, I had channels 1 and 2 set for 20 Hz and they are both changed to 80 Hz by just opening the app (without even pushing any buttons).

Seems like this is quite a major bug for a product that's been around fo so long. I am running Firmware 4.10 on the F8 (newest version) and the current version of F8 Control from the App Store. Using an iPhone 6s Plus with the app. Perhaps this behaves differently with the iPad version?

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

I think this might be because initially the F8 only supported down to 80Hz.

And the iOS app has not been updated in a long long looooong time. Thus the conflict. :-/

Anyway........ GOOD NEWS:

Price Drop: Gotham Sound and Communications, Inc. has stated that the launch price will be US$999! :-o


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBTj...28118314039355

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Have been reading the manual, and this confirms the F8n can supply power to the FRC-8:

https://www.zoom-na.com/sites/defaul...pdfs/E_F8n.pdf

Which is nice, as the F4 could do this but the original F8 could not.*

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Well that explains it. But shame on Zoom for introducing a new model without fixing a major bug like this in the existing product. I wonder if the F8n have its own app, or if they will update the F8 app to also work with the F8n?

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Good news Boyd, I just heard the new F8n app will be updated for the F8 as well, thus we can cross our fingers that will mean app bug fixes are coming along soon for F8 users:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtIf...28212173721520

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Thanks.... fingers crossed! :-)

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Three years with no updates to the F8 Control App, and within less than a month since posting this... I got my wish! Just a coincidence no doubt. ;-)

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/f8-c...014945716?mt=8

Version History

2.0.0 Jun 14, 2018
Improved not to put iOS device in sleep mode while using F8 Control.
The F8n has been added as a supported device.

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Yikes, I hope Zoom is going to do a *lot* more than just that for the app! After 3 long years of nothing, a lot more is needed.

I mean, the version history is going from v1.1 to v2.0, so that *must* indicate some very large improvements over the old app? Any one with an F8 and an iOS device who can confirm this? (Android and F4 user here....)

Yes, a total coincidence, as they had to update the app anyway for compatibility with the F8n.

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Totally agree there. Just used the app for awhile this evening, Works fine but the only change is that it won't auto-lock now. But that's actually a big usability improvement, since I had to change the phone/iPad setting to never sleep, then remember to change it back every time.

Unfortunately the HPF bug is still there: you cannot set the level below 80hz and if you had previously set a lower level on the device itself, it is changed to 80 hz as soon as you open the app.

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Zoom F8n is now available and in stock at B&H, I'm ordering it right away:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...2855/KBID/3801

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

So far as I know, B&H is the only place which is shipping the F8n at the moment. Most retailers still have them listed as pre-order only or out of stock.
(Trew Audio lists it as available to order however, dunno if they actually are shipping them out yet though or if that is just how their website is displaying it, anyone got a shipping notification from them yet?)

Sounds like Gotham Sound has only got the one dealer demo model at the moment, but more should be coming into stock soon:
https://twitter.com/GothamSound/stat...015488/photo/1

At the moment as of right now your best bet to get an F8n asap is to order from B&H, and is where I ordered mine from.

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Cool David, hope it meets your expectations and will be looking forward to a comprehensive review. But... wow, B&H is a long way from New Zealand! What kind of shipping and duties are involved with a purchase like that? Whenever my friend visits from Greece, we make a mandatory pilgrimage to B&H and she has a whole shopping list of stuff to purchase for her friends back home!

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Have a friend also in Greece, and yup they complain about their taxes too when then they want to purchase new film gear!

As for me, I reckon B&H is the speediest/"best"/cheapest way for me to source a F8n. B&H's shipping rates are quite reasonable, but free within the USA! So I send it to a reshipper (will be there before the end of the week) in the USA for even cheaper rates to NZ (although that means it will take a couple of weeks from the reshipper to my place, if I pick their cheapest shipping option).

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

And now I've got *my* shipping notification sent to me! That my F8n is on its way and I should have it here in New Zealand by early next month.

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Reports are rolling of the earliest pre orderers getting their deliveries! Any one in this forum got their delivery yet?

Mine is scheduled to arrive at my reshipper in Oregon USA tomorrow, but then will take a bit longer to get from there to New Zealand :-/

However I'm getting ready for that day! Having now purchased an iPad Mini 2 and iPod Touch 6th Gen (wonder if I can use both together at once? That would be the dream! But using either one at a time is the plan at the moment). Currently hunting down research for the next part of the jigsaw puzzle which is how to mount these best to my Orca OR30​​​​​​​ bag.

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Have you used an iOS device with the F8 in the past? I was using mine with an iPhone 6s Plus which has a 5.5 inch screen. It worked fine on that, but was a bit of a compromise. First, on a phone (or iPod Touch) you get a different user interface that is more awkward. The transport controls are on the main screen, which only works in portrait mode. You have to tap a button to open the mixer, which only works in landscape mode. Switching between screens is a bit sluggish, and it’s annoying to constantly rotate the phone.

It is very difficult, if not impossible, to touch one of the faders without changing its level - perhaps by as much as 6 db. I have an active fine point stylus called a Jot Dash made by a company called Adonit (IIRC). It allows you to be more precise on the small screen, and helps to prevent your hand from blocking your view, but I still had the problem of it being very difficult to touch a fader without changing the level in the phone app.

I recently got a 2018 9.7” iPad, and that is a big improvement with the app. The transport controls and faders are all on the same screen, which is in landscape mode, so you don’t have to rotate the device constantly. And the larger size makes it easier to move the faders which helps, but doesn’t completely prevent the problem of changing levels by just touching a fader.

I thought about getting an iPad Mini 4, but it’s a 3 year old device that is only $30 cheaper than the full size 2018 iPad. I liked the size of the Mini, but just didn’t think it was worth it. Of course, a Mini 2 should be much less expensive. However - I actually did a full scale photoshop mockup of this before deciding - since the iPad version puts faders and transport on the same screen, on a Mini the faders would only be slightly larger than the faders on my phone (but I have a big phone).

I have not tried using two iOS devices at the same time, but will check it out to see if they have implemeted this.

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Well the short answer is "no" with the F8, seems unlikely they would change this. After connecting my iPad to my Zoom F8, when I open the F8 Controll app on my phone I get the generic "Not found the F8" message. Trying repeatedly didn't help.

And it only gets worse from there. Quitting the app on the iPad didn't help, still couldn't connect on the phone. Turning off the iPad didn't help. Turning bluetooth on/off on both phone and F8 didn't help. Shutting down/restarting the F8 didn't help. So I told the phone to "forget" the F8, and now I can't even "discover" it on the phone. Not a question of entering a passcode, since I never even get that far. I didn't do a full shutdown/restart of the phone or iPad, maybe that would help. Don't really need to use the app on my phone anymore, so am not going to waste more time on this now.

Bottom line is, if you try using it on two devices, be prepared to spend some time figuring out how to get everything working properly again! It still works on my iPad, so I'm good. Will look forward to your full review and if you learn any more about this.

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

I have used the F8 once before for a week with an iPhone as I'd rented it specifically so that I could have the bluetooth functionality to remotely monitor the recorder during 360VR shoots.

I'd mostly be using the app for monitoring and entering in metadata, not for mixing with.

You don't need to get an iPad Mini 4, even the iPad Mini original will support the app. Personally I went an purchased the iPad Mini 2 for dirt cheap on ebay. As I reckon the iPad Mini is likely to be a sweet spot for me between the iPhone and full size iPad size.

Oh dear that is awful, I hope it is not like this with the new F8n!

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Sure, I understand, but I wanted an iPad for other things and wanted Apple Pencil support. If there was an iPad Mini 5 I probably would have gotten that, but I’m glad I got the full sized model.

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Sadly I did NOT get to use the F8n myself on today's shoot....

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Great news for the original F8 owners, getting some of the F8n features:

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

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

That is great news - thanks David!

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Great news for F8 owners!

Not so sure about it myself as a brand new F8n owner....

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

I have been trying NOT to buy a Zoom F8. But Zoom just made a move that forced me to order a F8.

The V5 firmware for the Zoom F8 is mind blowing because I have never seen a company do this before. It basically makes the original F8 on par with the newly released F8N. Here is a link to Zoom's own comparison chart between the F8 and F8n:

https://www.zoom.co.jp/sites/default...risonChart.pdf

I buy almost all of my gear new from B&H, I am not a wheeler and dealer. But yesterday I found a brand new discontinued Zoom F8 on E-bay from a US authorized Zoom dealer for $700.00. If all goes well (I am a sceptic) once I install the firmware update, I just bought what is practically a new F8n for seven hundred bucks. I know my scenario is not what Zoom intended but my hat is off to them for providing such great support to those that have already invested in their product. Can you imagine how nice it would be for us all if other manufacturers did their best to upgrade existing products to the level of new releases? I have never seen this before. I just got lucky and found one at a discontinued price. You guys that already own a F8 must be thrilled.

If you see a hole in my F8 with the new V5 firmware upgrade plan for $700.00 let me know, there is a few small differences but it is not much. I will let you know if it all works when I have it in hand.

Note: I was holding out for a SD Mix Pre 10. But I don't really need 8 or 10 channels because by the time I get to that many inputs I insist the client allow me to bring on my sound guy. And my sound guys all have SD kit. Balanced outputs are a big priority for me and the MixPre 10 is the only MixPre that has them. The SD MixPre 10t is $1,700.00. I wholeheartedly believe in dedicated sound operators. And I will say having a F8 will never influence me away from having a sound guy whenever possible.

Kind Regards,

Steve

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

I agree, it really is remarkable that Zoom did this. Personally, I saw no reason to get the F8n instead of the F8 before this upgrade, but now it's really a no-brainer (unless you really need one of the few new features). And to add insult to injury for new F8n owners.... according to that chart the F8 has about 30% longer battery run time. That's remarkable.

Kudos to Zoom! But I've never been the first kid on the block to install major software upgrades. I will be waiting for awhile, there's not much in the upgrade that I need anyway. Congratulations on the new F8 and let us know how the new firmware works. Would be especially interested to know if they have fixed the bug with the high pass filter that I described in post #6 above.

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

I saw brand new F8 recorders go for as low as $629 as they were clearing stock before the F8n arrived.

Shockingly cheap.

And now the v5.0 is out the F8 is very very very close to the F8n. Almost disappointingly so for F8n owners for myself! ha

I could have just saved a big bundle of cash and got the F8 secondhand for almost the same as what I paid back for my F4.

As for the Sound Devices MixPre10T? Well I'll give you first of all my thoughts on the other MixPres (as someone who primarily works just as a sound recordist for film/tv/web):

A Sound Devices MixPre3 or MixPre6 would just be a big compromise or set back from what I was using before of a Zoom F4, I would *always* prefer the Zoom F4 instead. (plus of course the Zoom F4 came out earlier, when I purchased the F4 just after it was announced, the MixPre series of recorders didn't even exist yet)

But as for the MixPre10T? Hmmm.... trickier, I "think" I'd prefer the MixPre10T over my Zoom F4 but I'm not 110% sure. I'd have to use the MixPre10T for a month to get a firmer opinion (I suspect probably yes?). But the fact I'm so uncertain, even though one of these costs around FOUR TIMES as much, makes it very clear which one is the better value purchase!

Now as for the MixPre10T vs Zoom F8n? Now the decision has become easier again, I'll take the F8n!

It really isn't fair to Zoom or the MixPre series to compare them against each other, as you should be comparing Zoom's F series against Sound Device's 6 series instead! (or against a Zaxcom Maxx/Nomad)

(the MixPre10T is an exception in the MixPre series, being head and shoulders above the rest, but still falling far short against the 6 series from SD: https://www.gothamsound.com/sound-de...mparison-chart )

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

I have my fingers crossed that the F8n is more power hungry because it has a more powerful processor in it? That will get its power unleashed in a future firmware update that will unlock its full potential? One can dream!

As for your question back at post #6, it would be nice to see it fixed but they're neglecting their app, and it isn't a hugely big deal for me as I'm quite happy to just leave it at 80Hz all the time as a pretty sensible figure.

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Well "sensible" is pretty subjective. If you're recording music and just want to elimate low frequency "thumps" from wind gusts or vibrations transmitted to a microphone from the floor, it's a shame to lose that much of the low end when you really just want to get rid of the very low frequencies. So I just don't use the HPF and remove those low frequencies in Logic or Final Cut, but it would be nice to be able to do it on the recorder.

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Gentlemen,

I am happy to report I am thrilled so far with my new purchase. The F8 arrived Friday, it is new in box with a US serial number as it should be. I have not had much time to ring it out but this is where I am at.

I fed it 8 sources, Both dynamic and condenser mics. Gain staged it and ran basic tests to be sure it worked out of the box, it did.

Upgraded firmware from version 2.1 to 5.0 to make it basically on par with the F8N. I have a learning curve ahead of me with a new UI on a new device so I saw no reason to be cautious with the upgrade and then relearn changes to the UI so I went for it. All seems well so far, but I am not deep into all it will do yet.

I bought this thing primarily for one big reason, I wanted good preamps. Every Sound Engineer I have ever hired is almost exclusively Sound Devices, as I expect them to be. I know those guys, a few of them I know will still scoff at anything with a Zoom label on it. I am not going to say the F8 preAmps are as good as good as SD, they are probably not. BUT, even on first impressions it is obvious that these preamps have moved forward leaps and bounds in bridging the wide gap between consumer and professional preamps. I was very sceptical. Now I am happy with a major improvement to my kit. And this time it just happened to work out that I got a smoking deal on it in the process. I will let you know if something jumps up. But for now I am just one more guy saying Zomm put out a great product at a reasonable price that is changing the market.

Boyd, The HPF bug you mentioned in post #6 seems to be fixed. I loaded the F8 control app on my I-Pad today. The HPF filter goes from 10Hz to 240Hz and holds. It is V2.1.0. I love the app. How nice to have a big control surface if your not in a bag, or I have a gig coming up where my boom op will have it in a bag and I will be monitoring everything he does on the app. How cool is that!

Kind Regards,

Steve

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Hey - thanks for checking out the HPF bug - that is great news. I also really like the F8 control app and it works well on both my iPhone and iPad. But as you get deeper into it, you will find a few frustrations since some basic things cannot be done in the app and you need to disconnect bluetooth from time to time for this.

But it's a great machine - Enjoy!

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Actually the Zoom F series pre amps are indeed just as good as Sound Devices ones. To say otherwise is to split hairs, as even in A/B comparisons people can't accurately identify them, and in real world practical usage you'd have to be superhuman to tell them apart in post afterwards.

Also Sound Devices isn't universally thought of as "the best" either, plenty of people for instance will say Sonosax or Aaton pre amps sound better, and fair enough they might have a point too... ? But indeed, they're also getting to a point where they're splitting hairs way beyond any practical relevance for us.

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Much of it comes down to personal preference. I have been renting a 664 or 788, when track count exceeds my 744's capabilities. On my current equipment budget, the F8n has more of the features that I need than the MixPre10T, so I bought one yesterday. I'm sure I'll have a list of pros and cons in actual hands-on use.

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

Rick, I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts on this device.

Steve

Re: NAB 2018 sneak peak: Zoom F8n
 

"I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts on this device.
" Fo' sure Steve, I'm scheduled for a 15 day feature film shoot in about a week. As I understand, some of locations are tight, so I'll probably use the F8n in a bag, less weight/space.power than the 744/302 config