Gerald, you said the Lav of the Track E sounds better & Curtis said it's the other way around - Could either of you clarify more the differences between those too, other than noise performance?
Just an observation here: ever notice how Curtis is the only well-trafficked "UA-camr" who summarizes his entire findings at the beginnings of his videos? Compare this to the majority of hyperbolic, bought-off wannabe influencers who carefully stagger findings and construct incomplete headlines ("keep watching to find out" or "is this the best recorder ever?") on the pyrrhic prayer that they'll accrue a sub-middle-class living wage from the microscopic payouts of revenue from being a UA-camr. Quality matters, algorithms stink.
Uhhhhh Chris is the man, but he does this for money too. Those Amazon/B&H affiliate links have long since propelled him into a better than sub-middle class living. But yes, others should follow his lead. On my channel I launch STRAIGHT into the point usually and review only what I think is worth reviewing.
Chris puts a lot of work into research and review. Obvious. I don’t begrudge him a few bucks for being thorough and thoughtful. Matter of trust and integrity. Straight up guy the way I see him. Hyperbole free YouTubing! Refreshing!
You omitted the essential mantra: "Keep watching to find out more, and hold on to the end where there will be a (not) surprise give-away from my sponsors" [a branded velcro cable tie]
I agree that the Summary at the beginning of the video is a great feature by Curtis. For this video, I scanned the Summary, read that there's no clear "winner" between the F2 and TE, and then watched the entire video because I wanted to understand the nuances. If more UA-camrs took this tack, I think it would be a great service to the viewers.
Thank you for including recordings of several different speakers in the audio samples. This provides much more information about a microphone's behavior than just one male voice would.
Seems like a the ideal recorder for my moto-vlogging. No messing with gain, low cut filter for wind, hold function to stick into my jacket pocket, and no drift like I have with my H1n. Great video man! Thank you.
Great video Curtis. I have both the Track E and Zoom F2 BT. The tentacle track e is the winner for me simply down to the whole timecode functionality with the tentacle sync devices. The workflow is a joy with multicams now.
Hi Philip - great to hear from you. I agree - much more enjoyable to work with the Tentacle system, especially on Multicam. Please give the cats a treat for me. 😉
Thanks for the "broadcast input" regarding this Philip. It makes sense when multicam is the way to go. Also... give the cats a (time-coded !) treat for me.
The full cost comparison is such a contribution! Much appreciated, Curtis. Also, the quality of the comments section is amazing; your channel attracts people who are generous with their very practical questions and experiences. Myself, I am happy with my Tentacle setup for video. But, sometimes I have to record audio, and maybe this Covid-era experience will be useful to someone: In the pre-Covid days, I would have had a speaker come into my studio at work, and I would take care of all the tech stuff. Now I sometimes have to mail an audio recorder out to a speaker and explain to them what to do. I have been mailing out not my best gear but the easiest recorder to demonstrate to a non-technical speaker. The F2 would give me a better recording than I can get now, the 32-bit would bring my stress down regarding levels, and the interface seems really friendly for these non-technical people. So, in other words, when I have to hand off technical responsibilities to a non-technical speaker, a simple device with a solid chance of quality results is a great option, to say the least. Appreciate the thorough information as always. - Dave
This guy... this has to be the most enjoyable no bull, no 2020 media style reviews, no hype, knowledgeable review ive seen in a long time. Subscribed. Wish you would teach more things id listen too the all! Thank you
Many have asked about popping sounds when pressing or tugging on the the connector of the lavalier mic. I tested this by pulling, tugging, and pushing on the connector and strain relief portion of the connector and I did not experience any crackling, popping, or other sound. Seems like the copy I received from B&H does not experience this issue.
That locking 3.5mm jack is a big selling point to me. I'm tired of editing my videos and finding the lav came slightly out of the hole at some point and messed up all my audio 🤦♂️ The 32-bit no-worry levels thing sounds useful too!
Thank you, Curtis. I appreciate your videos so much - haven't commented before , but I always watch and I always learn so much. You are one of the bright spots of UA-cam.
Love this ZOOM F2-BT little powerhouse! Just need to swap out the Lav. This latest float tech will forever change the landscape of recording in the next few years. To know longer ever worry about recording levels is epic as it ensures, simplifies and secures your tracks will be always useable. I see the Bluetooth timecode tech showing up on new cameras by 2022. Thx for all you do Curtis
Hi Curtis, I own the F2, and I really like it. I use it every day. The only thing that bothered me, which is a straightforward fix, is the foam windscreen on the lavaliere comes off frequently. They give you 3, but I have lost 2 of them vlogging around Indy. It slides off so easily. I just bought a new foamie with a rubber stop on the bottom to keep it from sliding off. I might upgrade to a new lavalier, but probably not because the mic it came with is sufficient for my needs.
This was a great video. Things are improving so rapidly. Have had my Tascam 10L for years. Just upgraded the lav to the Rode lav and it sounds MUCH better. I’ll hold onto the old girl for now. That 32bit is enticing.
I picked up a zoom F2 Bluetooth, based on your reviews! In my situation For a solo shooter with bad hearing, this is a godsend (32 bit float) while using my Panasonic GH5 and a ninja v. No setting levels on a 1k tone, dialogue, and listening to nat sound or monitoring. just hit the switch, press record and go.
@@juju8470 It's not useful because it sounds any better, but because it allows capture of more of the range without adjusting the gain manually. You can record without looking at whether it's too quiet/loud, and just adjust it in post without losing any of the quality.
@@juju8470 Bit depth in this case. Sometimes this is referred to as word length by engineers. It is different than sample rate. Bit depth refers to how many possible amplitude values there are for each sample (vertical axis). And sample rate refers to how many samples are recorded each second (horizontal axis).
Wow! I am thinking about buying a Sony a7siii & Atomos Ninja V+ recorder. Now I am adding an Atomos Sync and 4 Tentacle Track E's to my wishlist. Thanks to you, now I will have timecode.
Thanks Matthew. I would recommend you sort out how/whether there's a good workflow with the ATOMX and Tentacle Track Es, if that's what you're thinking. You'll need a way for the camera or Ninja to receive timecode that is in sync with the Tentacles. One way to do that would be to feed a Tentacle Sync E into the audio input of the Sony and then use the Tentacle Studio app to convert the audio timecode to file/metadata timecode in post. Best wishes!
@@mathewcoulliette2233 Perhaps you could use their windows app which doesn't sync all the clips but it still converts audio timecode to file/metadata timecode.
The Tentacle was heavier on the base. I like the sound of the F2. This guy is one of my go-to's for any serious buying decision I need to make. I'm subbin' for sure.
Thank you for your review. It is both extremely thorough and so enjoyable to watch. I was almost deterred by B&H reviews mentioning the mic input socket being "loose" and creating some loud "pop" noise when wiggling the jack. I ended up getting a F2-BT anyway. I was able to reproduce the "pop" sound when wiggling the jack but it has not been an issue during normal use. The one issue I had is how easy the foam can fall from the lav mic. I lost 1 of the 3 included foam windscreens and then I started to clip a portion of the foam altogether with the lav mic.
Thank you for mentioning that it's pretty good with RFI (radio frequency interference)! I know people used to mic a wedding by putting a Zoom H1 in the groom's coat pocket, but I found that with current phones, the Zoom H1 has a major problem even when it is within 6 inches away😆
Great review, Curtis. I have two F1s that I am using for stereo field recordings. One of the limitations, the 32GB SD card limit, was removed on the F2. However - it is unclear to me if the F2 does stereo recordings, the specs on the Zoom website don't say. Also, the plug-in power of 2.5V seems to be a bit too low for some mics that use 5V.
I have been intrigued by these. Those little Tascam Dr10l's were really popular but that 32-bit float to put on somebody that you cant monitor is huge!
Excellent review. Although I already have a Zoom F2 BT it was still very nice to hear what you had to say about it especially your comparisons to other types. Thanks for the video!
This is as thorough as you can get, IMO, great review! I'm making a first purchase decision and the F2 may be the choice for me, but there is a lot to think about with all the detail you've provided here. Really glad I found this!
Thank you Curtis for another great review. I own the F2 non BT; The battery door design is wonky (difficult to take off). Otherwise I found no other faults; I love the mic design (you can turn it 360) unlike Tascam. Battery life is awesome and that is the reason I got the non BT version. I turn it on and forget it, no need to remember to turn it on via bluetooth just before the Ceremony. If the BT version could monitor, format and playback then it would have been worth it. I don't see the use of the BT version when I could only start and stop recording. 32bit float is great but it does have a limit on how loud you can go (it's not magic). For speech, you should never have a problem, which is great. For singing it all depends on how loud the person get but it should be great 99% of the time. Don't ever plug a line level feed into it (like a feed from a DJ). Unfortunately, it was not meant to accept a line feed and the audio will be unusable. I heard that the Zoom F6 can handle line feed in 32bit mode but I don't own the F6 so I don't know for sure. I use the Tascam for the last year and it worked great. The problem with the Tascam that the F2 solved is the batter life, 360 Lav, Size (although the Tascam is also small). I never had a problem with the Tascam peaking for speech but it is good to know that 32bit float on the F2 gives peace of mind. My biggest problem with the Tascam was battery life, I was barely getting 1 hour using Rechargeable batteries. Now I never have to worry about battery life. After 1 year, one of my Tascam stopped working for no reason. Hopefully the F2 last longer.
Thanks for the info on the non-BT. It doesn't seem worth it just to be able to start and stop. Which I would forget anyway. Also it would suck to be in OFF mode and then the BT be wonky to try and get it back ON.
I finally got my Track E and Sync E after watching your tentacle video. Have only played with it but I am very happy with it. I'll never be confused with a sound Jedi but the tentacle system was exceptionally easy to use right out of the box.Liked the video.
Curtis, I couldn't find my earlier comment on the F3/F2 , but I wanted you to know what I've decided to do. For event and theatrical use I'm going to equip each actor with a F2 and the Behringer Cardioid Lavalier mic.,BC LAV Go. I run a one man video service and in the past have either patched into the PA or put a wireless mic on the talent. Those two methods have left me at the mercy of hacks running the PA and/or limiters introducing distortion into my sound mix that is hard to detect in the heat of the moment. The condenser mic has demonstrably better bass response for my singers, and the mild directionality gives me better isolation. Excellent battery life and a 64GB memory card give me peace of mind to concentrate on video and lighting. The setup is also scalable to the number of performers. Synchronization is by dog training clicker. Post processing looks like normalization and then expansion, as the output sounds a bit flat without it.
As always, practicality and theory come hand in hand to bring us all there is to know about this new product. And you mention other products too, so we can decice which would make sense and have the best fit in our very own workflow. What else can be said other than "Thank you Curtis !" once again ? And Mister Bloom is here to prove it.
The pressure of recording a wedding and dealing with audio. Good old days!!! Great review as always. I appreciate the yelling. It’s the only thing I look forward to. 😂😂😂
You do it good again, thanks. I was thinking to use a wireless transmiter connect to the FB2 ,just to monitoring audio in the character. Also it was mention that it is possible to generate sync from a F8 . The thing that they did not mention was throught which connector, and from where introduces the TC in the FB2
Happy to report you can actually format the SD card from the app now. Also haven’t had any connection issues via iPhone X. Fantastic video as always Curtis. Thank you.
A very practical use not mentioned is using the F2 as a backup recorder for a bag mixer. Could send it the boom or a mix feed while keeping it in sync with the BLUE. I have an Ultrasync One ecosystem for timecode so even 2 of these little boxes to a bag is negligible in weight and the idea of having a "gain-less" 32 bit backup sounds awesome. I could see something like an H1n also being useful as a bag backup recorder because it would also give you the ability to quickly grab some stereo ambience that could be useful for post, however the timecode sync I think is way more important for a "backup" that would likely be a very long take. I've read a quite a few reviews of the F2 having poor tolerances inside the lav port causing crackles even when tightened, but most folks agree the sound quality is pretty good otherwise for such a small unit. A few gripe about stubborn battery and SD card doors. Thanks for another great video, Curtis, and hope sound work has picked back up for you! Cheers!
@@curtisjudd Please is there any 32bit recorded that doesn't have problem with Line in. i.e That I dont need to set the level in. That is the only reason I want to get a 32bit recorder but it seem that many of your reviews states that many of the 32bits recorder including the Zoom F3 and the Tascam X8 can still peak with line in levels.
@@tommihommi1 That defeats the 32bit advancement. I already do this with my 24bits recorders using an attenuator. But I want to be able to record without an attenuator
Hello and thanks again for another great review! It's wonderful to see 32-bit making it's way into smaller and smaller systems (I bought a ZOOM F6 after your review, it still blows my mind, and some days I can't get the grin off my face when I know I''ll be headache-free in post). I'm hoping eventually we'll see a 32-bit equivalent of Picogear's Picomic system, with multi-unit, merged mic/TX, and SD storage on the RX. I guess this is essentially a ZOOM F6 with added 32-bit RX capabilities. Bring it on Zoom! Cheers from Australia.
Amazing! Great reviews as always. Other reviewers noted that wiggling the 3.5mm jack would cause crackling and other noises. Did that happen to you? I'm worried that in the field if the recorder gets jostled that there's going to be distortion that won't be fixable in post.
Clipped and crushed. I would still run a level, so your not peaking on normal levels. The audio is very clean, with no artifacts. Did you do anyone audio post production processing or sweetening. The 32 bit float is a game changer for broadcast and run and gun. Very good review!
Thank you very much for this very explicit video, like all your videos that you share with us I have a question at the beginning of the video you compare an extract of the F2 zoom with the TENTACLE TRACK E and I noticed that the zoom had less noise gate
Great review. Didn’t know that there are devices out there which don’t need gain control due to 32bit recording. Thanks for the comparison to similar devices and the timecodes in the description.
Thanks for the comprehensive Video. I'll be sure to check it out in the near future. Just as a comment on the comparison to the Zoom F1. It is built quite solid and mine already have taken quite a beating. However on all of my F1-units the battery-door gave out after ca. 8-12 shoots. Tried 3D-printing the small locking notch but so far that didn't seem to work out so well. In that regard the F2's battery-door looks more promising. I agree that the included mic has a pleasant sound, but I had some issues with RF-humming and crackling noises and could trace it back to the mic-cable. So if you are in an RF-noisy environment you might want to watch out for that and check a test recording at the beginning of the day.
Personally for me that whole timecode workflow is what makes the Zoom win out for me and it’s in answer to what you postulated in the video @Curtis Judd. This works and timecode syncs not only with the Blue or the One, but importantly the AtomX Sync replacing both, so it means it works seemlessly with my GH5 rig with an Atomos Ninja alongside my MovieSlate based iPad slate! I actually already use with with the Sennheiser MKE2 Digital and an iPhone SE running the fabulous Appogee app. Additionally I do love that with the headphone output I could put this inline with a transmitter going back to an audio bag or camera, especially with its extreme small size. I’m currently waiting anxiously on my order of my Vistek up here in Canada for mine to add to my kit.
@@curtisjudd thanks! It’s honestly been such a killer rig for all my work right up through broadcast and has a bunch of custom rigging I designed with SmallRig to make it compact and built-proof out in the field for working alongside emergency services, plus fast to switch to gimbal rigs.
Hi Curtis My F2 arrived this week and I’m very pleased with it. The build quality could be better, accessing and removing the micro SD is a bit fiddly. Over here inhere in the UK the F2 comes with Steinberg’s Wavelab Cast software. I’ve only had a quick look at it but it does seem very good and well worth down loading. Keep up the good work.
Excellent review with detailed explanations that were easily accessible for complete beginners to recording audio such as myself. thanks for taking the time to make/edit and present this.
So I was using the Zoom F2 outside, sometimes in cold weather. Many times I started recording it just "hung". Couldn't stop recording anymore and when I got home, nothing was recorded. I lost around 6 recordings on a given day. This happened multiple times. Maybe it's temperature thing, but I wouldn't use it outside. The Tascam DR10L is MUCH more reliable. It has poorer battery life though, so now I'm trying the Zoom F1. Different product, but hopefully more reliable. And yes, I used the latest firmware (as of 2021-03-27).
Great review. I am glad that you talked about timecode. I was about to purchase this however since all of my timecode is driven by Tentacle Sync systems, this eliminates the ZOOM F2 from my workflow. That's a shame, I would have loved to record and listen at the same time.
@@isaacbedford3644 Currently the American version of the Track E is backordered until AT LEAST mid-April (per B&H). By that time there will be a new Deity system to use that will solve this issue. I believe.
@@Justin_Allen I believe you're talking about the new Deity BP-TRX. That company still respects the Zaxcom patent with their products like the HD-TX, preventing simultaneous wireless recording and monitoring. For either Deity or Tentacle, you will need to purchase the international models of their products. The advantage of Tentacle is the 32-bit float dynamic range (but not wireless signal monitoring). The advantage of the Deity is the trans-receiver capabilities. I think Diety will release a superior product.
@@isaacbedford3644 Thanks Isaac, I was in fact talking about the BP-TRX. I know they are filming the commercial for it right now so I am hopeful it will be released soon. I did ask if, since it has been delayed so much, if it will also have 32-bit float audio but I never got an answer back....so I'll just have to wait. As to purchasing an international model, I do need to research how to do that. I think it will be interesting to see how the ZOOM F2 patent battle plays out, if it plays out at all.
Excellent review Curtis. I am one of those who got the F2-BT almost as soon as it came out and I’m really pleased with it. The only thing I don’t like so much is the build quality but as you mentioned time should tell.
Excellent review, covered all bases. I wish you had used a COS-11D or TwinPlex mic on both units to hear the difference in the recorder rather than the mics.
@@curtisjudd On the other hand it doesn’t make sense to use a mic that costs 3X what the F2 costs. Nobody would do that. Maybe there’s a low cost Deity mic that sounds good to try out. I ask mainly because I was surprised the Tentacle mic didn’t sound that good.
@@AllenCavedo Yeah, that was Tentacle's first attempt at a lavalier mic and there's definitely room for improvement. As a corporate shooting, I'd have no qualms about having a Track E or F2 in my sound bag's front pocket and put a nice lavalier on their when I need to solve a specific issue. Admittedly, that'd be rare, but not a bad backup strategy.
Oh yes. I'd like to know if it can be used with other better and smaller mics. The connector pinout seems to be compatible with Sennheiser G4 etc., but some users reported very low level (unusable even at 32bit, see above comment in this thread) using any other mic than the includded one. In general you will not use a good $300/400 mic with the F2 but for my applications I will, so I'd like to know if this is solved as per Sept. 2021, please!
Great thorough and well thought out review Curtis. I would have gone tentacle - but it's not a stereo recorder as far as I could tell in docs, the Zoom F2 is. My multicam time code dream will have to wait a bit more.
Does the mic still crackle and pop when you wiggle or hit the mic cord at the input connection point? I know that this was an issue when it first launched. It's the reason I've held off on buying it. Excellent review!
I just tested this by pulling, tugging, and pushing on the connector and strain relief portion of the connector and I did not experience any crackling, popping, or other sound.
The tentacle looks like a great pdr, but the lack of a battery swap capability is unfortunate. When I use the Tascam, I put a fresh lithium AAA battery (and you can select that in the menu I believe) and it works all day. Zero problems. You do need to tell the talent they have a hot mic on them, all day. So, be aware. I do love these devices. Put it on, snake the mic up, turn it on, forget it. (Of course I boom it as well.) Maybe I'll upgrade my mic though. No one has complained about the quality, but I just do low budget indie films. I've listened to the finished films, I'm happy with the sound. The Zaxcom has a similar pdr, but it's $1,000 range, more if you want to monitor audio. I assume the sound quality is superior.
Such pleasant videos and informative too. You do a great job. Is there anything out there that would let 4 lavalieres Bluetooth in to the same 4 track recorder?
Great video Curtis. I'm Sujith from India. I'm a bird call recordist. Wonder how can I attach XLR mic to this device. Any adaptors? Or any better recorder which has single XLR port. I currently use Tuscan DR 10X; but the slide in recording is a bit difficult and I love the press button setup. Thanks
Timecode System Blue can connect up to 6 devices (6 x Zoom F2 BTs) whereas if you need 6 Track-E devices your out lay is going to be huge compared with the TCB eco system.
Ooo...this looks pretty awesome! I even was thinking, "hmm...wonder if I could plop this thing on top of my camera and run the line out into the camera, then use my Rode WirelessGo with it"...looks like I can! Might just need to grab one of these!!
@@curtisjudd I'll try! Sure hope they didn't get in trouble or something and take it out via a firmware update since this video was made. I know one way to find out! Hahaha
I have been using the Zoom F2 BT version for about a month and previously used the F1 for similar purposes. The big advantage for me is the ability to control the device on distant subjects by Bluetooth, stopping and starting at will, instead of having to record continuously as I did with the F1. The 32 bit float technology is another potential advantage. The Bluetooth app is good but the power of the BT transmitter is much more affected by distance and intervening objects than it is with BT control of my Zoom F6. I notice occasional BT dropout when there is no line of sight between the F2 and my iPhone. I also wish I could use the app to format the SD card, but mainly because I have found the PC app (not the iPhone app) to be rather buggy. For example, changing the settings via the PC app can cause the BT function to go to sleep on the F2 (in my hands) and you have to do a factory reset with the PC app to regain BT functionality. I do all my settings with the iPhone app now. I hope zoom comes out with upgrades to the app.
As always, you are delivering us top notch videos that are not hyped nor rushed. So thank you for that! One question I have is that I am planning to do a passion project and needing the audio solution to be solved, everything else has been planned for. Should I go with F1 and set the gains at each place and scene or just be done with it and throw in the F2 with no bluetooth. Thoughts?
With ANY body pack recorder, I would review every take while still on set to make sure you got a clean recording. That’s especially true for the F1 which is more likely to clip but also true of the F2 where you might have a bunch of clothing rustle or other problems.
@@curtisjudd thank you sir! I will take those into consideration. Just one more question... the duo lav mic with the long cable, MK something... I cant remember without going back to the video. A budget one, would you recommend it for direct into the Sony a7iii?
Hi Curtis - I have the Tascam DR-10L. I was watching your video here on the Zoom and I was wondering when you were going to mention the Tascam - I'm glad I watched it to the end you gave some good advice regarding the Tascam v Zoom. I'll be keeping my Tascams. BTW - I never had an issue with "drift" using my two Tascam DR-10L mics - and there were times when I let them run for four or five hours at a time, so is the drift really prevalent too often these days? I started on 16mm and it was a bit off an issue even with the crystal sync on longer takes. Thanks for doing what you do!
Hi Frank, I find that drift is more often an issue with mobile phones, especially when they use variable rate compression in the camera apps. Some of the more consumer oriented cameras tend to drift as well. I've seen DSLRs and some mirrorless cameras drift 4-5 frames in a 60 minute recording.
Such a wonderful review as always. I really like this!!! Seems to me like it would be perfect what my workflow. I only sync by waveform so I think It would be great! It would be a great upgrade from my H1.
I finally bought the F2, Thanks. Just one strange thing with the phone app, when you hit record on the app, the red light on the device does not change but the phone it does shows record.
Nice to see something integrating with the TCS Blue. Now that Atomos owns TCS, we can hope to see more camera manufacturers integrating their wireless timecode. Meanwhile, yes, you should be able to use the UltraSync One for the camera and the Blue for the audio recorder and any phones in the area.
Hello. You touched on the one being a better build quality, but didn't give any impressions on other considerations. Is one float 32, etc. Apart from no bt, is the one comparable? Thank you for all your great videos.
Great video! I love how clear and unbiased your review was. I have a question, do you know if the new Tentacle's Sync E mkII Timecode Generator with Bluetooth, will sync with the Zoom F2?
@@LearnLightAndSoundSessions I'm hoping that one could pair the Tentacle Sync E mkII with the F2 the same way you demonstrated in the video with the Atomos device. I'm going to pre-order one and will report back.
I bought two F2's (not BT), and I really don't understand your perspective on how paying the extra $50 for the BT is value added. The basic F2 is perfect, does everything that anybody needs, and if you clap 3 times to sync up the recorders, then you don't need time codes. In my book F2 Basic is the way to go !! That being said, thank you for a really good review of the F2 product !!
@@curtisjudd By the way, I recently purchased a sennheiser mic MKE600, and I use it with the Zoom F2, and I'm getting good results with it's -66dbm noise level. Makes a great combination. regards, Dan
Great video, thanks so much! Quick question: If I wanted to forgo using timecode as part of my workflow, could I just sync the audio in Premiere if I have an additional audio capture, (say from onboard camera?) Thank you!
If you just want to use a single F2-BT, or a single tentacle track e, and get timecode to a DSLR, then the tentacle is cheaper. But once you consider multiple F2-BT, or multiple tentacle sync's, the zoom option becomes cheaper by a good amount (especially in canada).
Yeah, I think this is making a clean decision for me here... Atomos Ninja V + TC Generator 3 x Zoom F2-BT (to start probably getting 1 or 2 more for 4-person interviews and a spare)
Great in depth info again Curtis!!! Would you pick a zoom f2 or a wireless go connected to a mixpre3II for 32bit and why? I have the mixpre3II and some wireless go’s and wonder how the zoom f2 compares to that. Of course it’s a recorder compared to a wireless transmission system so they are two different tools right. As you can’t have as much interference issues with a recorder I might think that is a better solution on the road..
Thanks Jim. It is a tradeoff. Wireless is good because you can monitor during the recording to make sure there wasn't any clothing rustle or interference or other problems and call for a retake. With a body pack recorder like the F2, you can't do that. On the other hand, if you experience a lot of dropouts with the Wireless GO, there's not a lot you can do there to fix the issue but find a different location. If you aren't running into a lot of situations like that and you aren't having issues with audio clipping, I'd stick with what you've got. Happy recording!
Great review, Curtis! I noticed that there is also white version of the device? Do you happen to know, whether lav mic for that version also come in white?
Hi Paweł, I heard that they were going to have a white version but haven't actually seen it. I cannot imagine the microphone would not be white, but one never knows.
Curtis Hi - Agreed, great video. I have the AtomX synch for Ninja V so will test it out. I have the Blue as well. But are you saying this should synch with your video cam on phone via App or does it need the Blue - which I have as well.
@@curtisjudd , you can use an ATOMOS SYNC module as a master t/c generator for a network of any other compatible slave devices. The interface on the Ninja V lets you see what’s on your network. It’s brilliant. Atomos bought this rather weird but brilliant company Timecode Systems with arcane devices no one wanted to buy and has made their clever tech work so beautifully, simply and reliably.
Another fabulously informative video, thanks! A question that doesn't seem to be addressed by anyoen is what otehr mics cna be used with the Zoom F2. Can I use the Rode Video Mic Pro for example? Or the Rode Wireless Filmaker Kit mic?
I believe the F2 only supplies 2.5V so you'll want to use a lavalier microphone which can operate ok with only 2.5V. Most require more. In theory, it should work with a VideoMic Pro but I didn't try that before I gave this away.
Great video, Curtis! Very thorough.
Also, I'm enjoying your experiments with the lighting design and colour of your background.
Thanks Gerald! Thanks for sharing your studio build - I've enjoyed seeing that come along and it is looking great!
Gerald, you said the Lav of the Track E sounds better & Curtis said it's the other way around - Could either of you clarify more the differences between those too, other than noise performance?
Just an observation here: ever notice how Curtis is the only well-trafficked "UA-camr" who summarizes his entire findings at the beginnings of his videos? Compare this to the majority of hyperbolic, bought-off wannabe influencers who carefully stagger findings and construct incomplete headlines ("keep watching to find out" or "is this the best recorder ever?") on the pyrrhic prayer that they'll accrue a sub-middle-class living wage from the microscopic payouts of revenue from being a UA-camr. Quality matters, algorithms stink.
Uhhhhh Chris is the man, but he does this for money too. Those Amazon/B&H affiliate links have long since propelled him into a better than sub-middle class living. But yes, others should follow his lead. On my channel I launch STRAIGHT into the point usually and review only what I think is worth reviewing.
Chris puts a lot of work into research and review. Obvious. I don’t begrudge him a few bucks for being thorough and thoughtful. Matter of trust and integrity. Straight up guy the way I see him. Hyperbole free YouTubing! Refreshing!
You omitted the essential mantra: "Keep watching to find out more, and hold on to the end where there will be a (not) surprise give-away from my sponsors" [a branded velcro cable tie]
I agree that the Summary at the beginning of the video is a great feature by Curtis. For this video, I scanned the Summary, read that there's no clear "winner" between the F2 and TE, and then watched the entire video because I wanted to understand the nuances. If more UA-camrs took this tack, I think it would be a great service to the viewers.
And not to forget top notch reviews by Julian Krause!
Thank you for including recordings of several different speakers in the audio samples. This provides much more information about a microphone's behavior than just one male voice would.
👍
Seems like a the ideal recorder for my moto-vlogging. No messing with gain, low cut filter for wind, hold function to stick into my jacket pocket, and no drift like I have with my H1n. Great video man! Thank you.
👍 Happy recording! 🏍
Sure, 32bit recording will blow the wind out the water. ;)
Great video Curtis. I have both the Track E and Zoom F2 BT. The tentacle track e is the winner for me simply down to the whole timecode functionality with the tentacle sync devices. The workflow is a joy with multicams now.
Hi Philip - great to hear from you. I agree - much more enjoyable to work with the Tentacle system, especially on Multicam. Please give the cats a treat for me. 😉
Thanks for the "broadcast input" regarding this Philip. It makes sense when multicam is the way to go.
Also... give the cats a (time-coded !) treat for me.
The full cost comparison is such a contribution! Much appreciated, Curtis. Also, the quality of the comments section is amazing; your channel attracts people who are generous with their very practical questions and experiences.
Myself, I am happy with my Tentacle setup for video. But, sometimes I have to record audio, and maybe this Covid-era experience will be useful to someone: In the pre-Covid days, I would have had a speaker come into my studio at work, and I would take care of all the tech stuff. Now I sometimes have to mail an audio recorder out to a speaker and explain to them what to do. I have been mailing out not my best gear but the easiest recorder to demonstrate to a non-technical speaker. The F2 would give me a better recording than I can get now, the 32-bit would bring my stress down regarding levels, and the interface seems really friendly for these non-technical people.
So, in other words, when I have to hand off technical responsibilities to a non-technical speaker, a simple device with a solid chance of quality results is a great option, to say the least. Appreciate the thorough information as always. - Dave
Thanks for sharing, Dave. Great point! I think I'd rather send the F2 than my Tentacle Track E because of its simplicity.
This guy... this has to be the most enjoyable no bull, no 2020 media style reviews, no hype, knowledgeable review ive seen in a long time. Subscribed. Wish you would teach more things id listen too the all! Thank you
Thanks. New videos every week. 👍
Many have asked about popping sounds when pressing or tugging on the the connector of the lavalier mic. I tested this by pulling, tugging, and pushing on the connector and strain relief portion of the connector and I did not experience any crackling, popping, or other sound. Seems like the copy I received from B&H does not experience this issue.
zoom said they are changing how its made in production as well.
@@robertulrich3964 Thanks for that, Robert.
That locking 3.5mm jack is a big selling point to me.
I'm tired of editing my videos and finding the lav came slightly out of the hole at some point and messed up all my audio 🤦♂️
The 32-bit no-worry levels thing sounds useful too!
Agreed on both counts!
your channel is the best by far for reviews. i get happy everytime i search for any audion hardware and find you in the results
🙏
Thank you, Curtis. I appreciate your videos so much - haven't commented before , but I always watch and I always learn so much. You are one of the bright spots of UA-cam.
Thanks so much, Mark. I appreciate the kind words.
@@curtisjudd Zoom f2 or rode wireless go ii for weddings? I am stuck between these, and possibly the tentacle e
@@zataraadventures Pros and cons to each. If I were choosing, I'd probably go with F2, but neither is perfect.
That comment about the thing being buried on the bride just made my day. Thank you!
Tricky business.
Excellent video and channel - a real pro
Thanks. And thank you all for your excellent content! A definite staple for me. 🎙️🎧
Love this ZOOM F2-BT little powerhouse! Just need to swap out the Lav. This latest float tech will forever change the landscape of recording in the next few years. To know longer ever worry about recording levels is epic as it ensures, simplifies and secures your tracks will be always useable. I see the Bluetooth timecode tech showing up on new cameras by 2022. Thx for all you do Curtis
Thanks Richard.
Hi Curtis, I own the F2, and I really like it. I use it every day. The only thing that bothered me, which is a straightforward fix, is the foam windscreen on the lavaliere comes off frequently. They give you 3, but I have lost 2 of them vlogging around Indy. It slides off so easily. I just bought a new foamie with a rubber stop on the bottom to keep it from sliding off. I might upgrade to a new lavalier, but probably not because the mic it came with is sufficient for my needs.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Good idea to use a foam cover with a rubber ring.
Imagine this dude is your dad. And he gives you “the talk.” You’d be *the* most informed 12 y/o old on the block.
Hi Son, let’s have a talk...
Funny. Not sure I'd want THAT much detail though!
Indeed! So perfect and so funny when you imagine it!
It was easier for him to know it than to explain why he knew it, however.
This was a great video. Things are improving so rapidly. Have had my Tascam 10L for years. Just upgraded the lav to the Rode lav and it sounds MUCH better. I’ll hold onto the old girl for now. That 32bit is enticing.
Yes, I agree - those DR-10s are pretty useful.
Thank you Curtis. As always sober, clear. Especially for a camera person with legitimate fear of audio recording and syncing timecode.
🙏
Never a detail overlooked. Would it that all reviews were as excellent as yours! Great job.
Thanks Marshall.
I picked up a zoom F2 Bluetooth, based on your reviews! In my situation For a solo shooter with bad hearing, this is a godsend (32 bit float) while using my Panasonic GH5 and a ninja v. No setting levels on a 1k tone, dialogue, and listening to nat sound or monitoring. just hit the switch, press record and go.
Glad to hear it works well for you!
So happy to see devices now moving to 32 bit as the standard.
Agreed.
Pikmeir bit rate or bit depth? I don’t completely understand the two, but I know higher depth means better quality and detailed audio.
@@juju8470 It's not useful because it sounds any better, but because it allows capture of more of the range without adjusting the gain manually. You can record without looking at whether it's too quiet/loud, and just adjust it in post without losing any of the quality.
@@juju8470 Bit depth in this case. Sometimes this is referred to as word length by engineers. It is different than sample rate. Bit depth refers to how many possible amplitude values there are for each sample (vertical axis). And sample rate refers to how many samples are recorded each second (horizontal axis).
Wow! I am thinking about buying a Sony a7siii & Atomos Ninja V+ recorder. Now I am adding an Atomos Sync and 4 Tentacle Track E's to my wishlist. Thanks to you, now I will have timecode.
Thanks Matthew. I would recommend you sort out how/whether there's a good workflow with the ATOMX and Tentacle Track Es, if that's what you're thinking. You'll need a way for the camera or Ninja to receive timecode that is in sync with the Tentacles. One way to do that would be to feed a Tentacle Sync E into the audio input of the Sony and then use the Tentacle Studio app to convert the audio timecode to file/metadata timecode in post. Best wishes!
@@curtisjudd Yeah, I use windows so I can't use the Tentacle Sync Studio software. Is there anything else that I can use on windows?
@@mathewcoulliette2233 Perhaps you could use their windows app which doesn't sync all the clips but it still converts audio timecode to file/metadata timecode.
Your review is the best I have seen for products. Keep up good work.
Thanks.
Finally 💪 💪
Yes, finally! Glad to have that done!
@@curtisjudd thanks so much 💪😇
The Tentacle was heavier on the base. I like the sound of the F2. This guy is one of my go-to's for any serious buying decision I need to make. I'm subbin' for sure.
Thanks Matt.
Thank you for your review. It is both extremely thorough and so enjoyable to watch. I was almost deterred by B&H reviews mentioning the mic input socket being "loose" and creating some loud "pop" noise when wiggling the jack. I ended up getting a F2-BT anyway. I was able to reproduce the "pop" sound when wiggling the jack but it has not been an issue during normal use. The one issue I had is how easy the foam can fall from the lav mic. I lost 1 of the 3 included foam windscreens and then I started to clip a portion of the foam altogether with the lav mic.
Thanks Loris. I haven't noticed the popping in regular use either.
Thank you for mentioning that it's pretty good with RFI (radio frequency interference)! I know people used to mic a wedding by putting a Zoom H1 in the groom's coat pocket, but I found that with current phones, the Zoom H1 has a major problem even when it is within 6 inches away😆
@Eric Juman you're welcome 😊
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Great review, Curtis. I have two F1s that I am using for stereo field recordings. One of the limitations, the 32GB SD card limit, was removed on the F2. However - it is unclear to me if the F2 does stereo recordings, the specs on the Zoom website don't say.
Also, the plug-in power of 2.5V seems to be a bit too low for some mics that use 5V.
The F2 does NOT do stereo recordings. And yes, the 2.5V may not work for all lavalier microphones.
@@curtisjudd Does this mean the F2 can't be used for binaural recording while the F1 can? Any other downsides to a mono mic?
@@ak4good Yes, that seems correct.
I have been intrigued by these. Those little Tascam Dr10l's were really popular but that 32-bit float to put on somebody that you cant monitor is huge!
Indeed!
Excellent review. Although I already have a Zoom F2 BT it was still very nice to hear what you had to say about it especially your comparisons to other types. Thanks for the video!
Thanks Jamie. I hope you're enjoying the F2-BT!
This is as thorough as you can get, IMO, great review! I'm making a first purchase decision and the F2 may be the choice for me, but there is a lot to think about with all the detail you've provided here. Really glad I found this!
Thanks Russell and happy recording!
Thank you Curtis for another great review. I own the F2 non BT; The battery door design is wonky (difficult to take off). Otherwise I found no other faults; I love the mic design (you can turn it 360) unlike Tascam. Battery life is awesome and that is the reason I got the non BT version. I turn it on and forget it, no need to remember to turn it on via bluetooth just before the Ceremony. If the BT version could monitor, format and playback then it would have been worth it. I don't see the use of the BT version when I could only start and stop recording. 32bit float is great but it does have a limit on how loud you can go (it's not magic). For speech, you should never have a problem, which is great. For singing it all depends on how loud the person get but it should be great 99% of the time. Don't ever plug a line level feed into it (like a feed from a DJ). Unfortunately, it was not meant to accept a line feed and the audio will be unusable. I heard that the Zoom F6 can handle line feed in 32bit mode but I don't own the F6 so I don't know for sure. I use the Tascam for the last year and it worked great. The problem with the Tascam that the F2 solved is the batter life, 360 Lav, Size (although the Tascam is also small). I never had a problem with the Tascam peaking for speech but it is good to know that 32bit float on the F2 gives peace of mind. My biggest problem with the Tascam was battery life, I was barely getting 1 hour using Rechargeable batteries. Now I never have to worry about battery life. After 1 year, one of my Tascam stopped working for no reason. Hopefully the F2 last longer.
Thanks so much for sharing all the details on your experience with the DR-10 and the F2!
Thanks for the info on the non-BT. It doesn't seem worth it just to be able to start and stop. Which I would forget anyway.
Also it would suck to be in OFF mode and then the BT be wonky to try and get it back ON.
First time viewer of your content - WOW - just wow. Very impressive. You know your stuff and I respect that immensely. Liked and subscribed!
Thanks MK!
I finally got my Track E and Sync E after watching your tentacle video. Have only played with it but I am very happy with it. I'll never be confused with a sound Jedi but the tentacle system was exceptionally easy to use right out of the box.Liked the video.
Happy recording!
Curtis, I couldn't find my earlier comment on the F3/F2 , but I wanted you to know what I've decided to do. For event and theatrical use I'm going to equip each actor with a F2 and the Behringer Cardioid Lavalier mic.,BC LAV Go.
I run a one man video service and in the past have either patched into the PA or put a wireless mic on the talent. Those two methods have left me at the mercy of hacks running the PA and/or limiters introducing distortion into my sound mix that is hard to detect in the heat of the moment.
The condenser mic has demonstrably better bass response for my singers, and the mild directionality gives me better isolation.
Excellent battery life and a 64GB memory card give me peace of mind to concentrate on video and lighting.
The setup is also scalable to the number of performers. Synchronization is by dog training clicker.
Post processing looks like normalization and then expansion, as the output sounds a bit flat without it.
Glad you found a solution! Happy mixing!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Great video as always.
Thanks and to you!
Thank you for this review!
👍
As always, practicality and theory come hand in hand to bring us all there is to know about this new product. And you mention other products too, so we can decice which would make sense and have the best fit in our very own workflow.
What else can be said other than "Thank you Curtis !" once again ? And Mister Bloom is here to prove it.
Thanks so much Giles.
Thanks for the video! Would I be able to connect my podcaster pro to the mic input, and the connect the headphone output of the F2 to my camera?
With the right adapters, I suppose you could. But I haven't tested this.
Yes I own the Podcaster and the Podmic and both worked with the Zoom f2.
@@moltenpros Thanks for confirming!
Thanks!!!
The pressure of recording a wedding and dealing with audio. Good old days!!!
Great review as always. I appreciate the yelling. It’s the only thing I look forward to. 😂😂😂
That yelling was for you, Mr Heng!
Just bought some of these for season 2 of my docuseries.
👍 I hope they work well for you!
You do it good again, thanks.
I was thinking to use a wireless transmiter connect to the FB2 ,just to monitoring audio in the character.
Also it was mention that it is possible to generate sync from a F8 . The thing that they did not mention was throught which connector, and from where introduces the TC in the FB2
Thanks Mario.
Happy to report you can actually format the SD card from the app now. Also haven’t had any connection issues via iPhone X. Fantastic video as always Curtis. Thank you.
👍
Did something change in the app? I'm not seeing the format feature in the F2 Control app
A very practical use not mentioned is using the F2 as a backup recorder for a bag mixer. Could send it the boom or a mix feed while keeping it in sync with the BLUE. I have an Ultrasync One ecosystem for timecode so even 2 of these little boxes to a bag is negligible in weight and the idea of having a "gain-less" 32 bit backup sounds awesome. I could see something like an H1n also being useful as a bag backup recorder because it would also give you the ability to quickly grab some stereo ambience that could be useful for post, however the timecode sync I think is way more important for a "backup" that would likely be a very long take. I've read a quite a few reviews of the F2 having poor tolerances inside the lav port causing crackles even when tightened, but most folks agree the sound quality is pretty good otherwise for such a small unit. A few gripe about stubborn battery and SD card doors. Thanks for another great video, Curtis, and hope sound work has picked back up for you! Cheers!
Thanks Kelly. One word of caution: Line level signals can be a problem for the F2.
@@curtisjudd Please is there any 32bit recorded that doesn't have problem with Line in. i.e That I dont need to set the level in. That is the only reason I want to get a 32bit recorder but it seem that many of your reviews states that many of the 32bits recorder including the Zoom F3 and the Tascam X8 can still peak with line in levels.
@@EasyyokeFilms maybe just add a 30dB attenuator on the input?
@@tommihommi1 That defeats the 32bit advancement. I already do this with my 24bits recorders using an attenuator. But I want to be able to record without an attenuator
@@EasyyokeFilms then buy the sounddevices mix-pre 3 II
I just were looking for options and here your video kicks in. Thanks a lot!
You're welcome!
Hello and thanks again for another great review!
It's wonderful to see 32-bit making it's way into smaller and smaller systems (I bought a ZOOM F6 after your review, it still blows my mind, and some days I can't get the grin off my face when I know I''ll be headache-free in post). I'm hoping eventually we'll see a 32-bit equivalent of Picogear's Picomic system, with multi-unit, merged mic/TX, and SD storage on the RX.
I guess this is essentially a ZOOM F6 with added 32-bit RX capabilities. Bring it on Zoom!
Cheers from Australia.
Thanks Greyfoo - cheers from the Rocky Mountains, USA.
Amazing! Great reviews as always. Other reviewers noted that wiggling the 3.5mm jack would cause crackling and other noises. Did that happen to you?
I'm worried that in the field if the recorder gets jostled that there's going to be distortion that won't be fixable in post.
Not that I noticed on my copy. The locking plug is pretty sturdy.
@@curtisjudd Thanks!
Clipped and crushed. I would still run a level, so your not peaking on normal levels. The audio is very clean, with no artifacts. Did you do anyone audio post production processing or sweetening. The 32 bit float is a game changer for broadcast and run and gun. Very good review!
Thanks Mitchell. No, sweetening, EQ, or compression applied.
Thank you very much for this very explicit video, like all your videos that you share with us
I have a question at the beginning of the video you compare an extract of the F2 zoom with the TENTACLE TRACK E and I noticed that the zoom had less noise gate
No intentional noise gate applied.
Great review. Didn’t know that there are devices out there which don’t need gain control due to 32bit recording. Thanks for the comparison to similar devices and the timecodes in the description.
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Thanks for the comprehensive Video. I'll be sure to check it out in the near future.
Just as a comment on the comparison to the Zoom F1. It is built quite solid and mine already have taken quite a beating. However on all of my F1-units the battery-door gave out after ca. 8-12 shoots. Tried 3D-printing the small locking notch but so far that didn't seem to work out so well. In that regard the F2's battery-door looks more promising.
I agree that the included mic has a pleasant sound, but I had some issues with RF-humming and crackling noises and could trace it back to the mic-cable. So if you are in an RF-noisy environment you might want to watch out for that and check a test recording at the beginning of the day.
Thanks for sharing your experience Konrad! I'm not super impressed with the battery door on the F2, to be honest. Time will tell....
The review we have all been waiting for.
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Personally for me that whole timecode workflow is what makes the Zoom win out for me and it’s in answer to what you postulated in the video @Curtis Judd. This works and timecode syncs not only with the Blue or the One, but importantly the AtomX Sync replacing both, so it means it works seemlessly with my GH5 rig with an Atomos Ninja alongside my MovieSlate based iPad slate! I actually already use with with the Sennheiser MKE2 Digital and an iPhone SE running the fabulous Appogee app. Additionally I do love that with the headphone output I could put this inline with a transmitter going back to an audio bag or camera, especially with its extreme small size. I’m currently waiting anxiously on my order of my Vistek up here in Canada for mine to add to my kit.
👍 nice rig
@@curtisjudd thanks! It’s honestly been such a killer rig for all my work right up through broadcast and has a bunch of custom rigging I designed with SmallRig to make it compact and built-proof out in the field for working alongside emergency services, plus fast to switch to gimbal rigs.
Hi Curtis
My F2 arrived this week and I’m very pleased with it.
The build quality could be better, accessing and removing the micro SD is a bit fiddly.
Over here inhere in the UK the F2 comes with Steinberg’s Wavelab Cast software. I’ve only had a quick look at it but it does seem very good and well worth down loading.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks for the insights, Roger. Happy recording!
Excellent review with detailed explanations that were easily accessible for complete beginners to recording audio such as myself. thanks for taking the time to make/edit and present this.
Thanks 👍
So I was using the Zoom F2 outside, sometimes in cold weather. Many times I started recording it just "hung". Couldn't stop recording anymore and when I got home, nothing was recorded. I lost around 6 recordings on a given day. This happened multiple times. Maybe it's temperature thing, but I wouldn't use it outside. The Tascam DR10L is MUCH more reliable. It has poorer battery life though, so now I'm trying the Zoom F1. Different product, but hopefully more reliable. And yes, I used the latest firmware (as of 2021-03-27).
Thanks for sharing! How cold was it?
Great review. I am glad that you talked about timecode. I was about to purchase this however since all of my timecode is driven by Tentacle Sync systems, this eliminates the ZOOM F2 from my workflow. That's a shame, I would have loved to record and listen at the same time.
Get the international tentacle track E
Thanks Justin.
@@isaacbedford3644 Currently the American version of the Track E is backordered until AT LEAST mid-April (per B&H). By that time there will be a new Deity system to use that will solve this issue. I believe.
@@Justin_Allen I believe you're talking about the new Deity BP-TRX. That company still respects the Zaxcom patent with their products like the HD-TX, preventing simultaneous wireless recording and monitoring. For either Deity or Tentacle, you will need to purchase the international models of their products. The advantage of Tentacle is the 32-bit float dynamic range (but not wireless signal monitoring). The advantage of the Deity is the trans-receiver capabilities. I think Diety will release a superior product.
@@isaacbedford3644 Thanks Isaac, I was in fact talking about the BP-TRX. I know they are filming the commercial for it right now so I am hopeful it will be released soon. I did ask if, since it has been delayed so much, if it will also have 32-bit float audio but I never got an answer back....so I'll just have to wait. As to purchasing an international model, I do need to research how to do that.
I think it will be interesting to see how the ZOOM F2 patent battle plays out, if it plays out at all.
Excellent review Curtis. I am one of those who got the F2-BT almost as soon as it came out and I’m really pleased with it. The only thing I don’t like so much is the build quality but as you mentioned time should tell.
Thanks for sharing your experience with the F2 as well!
Your reviews are so good man. Great job!
Thanks.
Excellent review, covered all bases. I wish you had used a COS-11D or TwinPlex mic on both units to hear the difference in the recorder rather than the mics.
Good idea. I've learned that the F2 supplies 2.5V power so it may affect the character of those mics. Will be interesting to try.
@@curtisjudd On the other hand it doesn’t make sense to use a mic that costs 3X what the F2 costs. Nobody would do that. Maybe there’s a low cost Deity mic that sounds good to try out. I ask mainly because I was surprised the Tentacle mic didn’t sound that good.
@@AllenCavedo Yeah, that was Tentacle's first attempt at a lavalier mic and there's definitely room for improvement. As a corporate shooting, I'd have no qualms about having a Track E or F2 in my sound bag's front pocket and put a nice lavalier on their when I need to solve a specific issue. Admittedly, that'd be rare, but not a bad backup strategy.
Oh yes. I'd like to know if it can be used with other better and smaller mics. The connector pinout seems to be compatible with Sennheiser G4 etc., but some users reported very low level (unusable even at 32bit, see above comment in this thread) using any other mic than the includded one. In general you will not use a good $300/400 mic with the F2 but for my applications I will, so I'd like to know if this is solved as per Sept. 2021, please!
Looks like a great product, thank you for this breakdown
You bet, thanks for watching!
Great thorough and well thought out review Curtis. I would have gone tentacle - but it's not a stereo recorder as far as I could tell in docs, the Zoom F2 is. My multicam time code dream will have to wait a bit more.
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Does the mic still crackle and pop when you wiggle or hit the mic cord at the input connection point? I know that this was an issue when it first launched. It's the reason I've held off on buying it. Excellent review!
Supposedly, Zoom has addressed. I'm waiting to order a couple, too.
I just tested this by pulling, tugging, and pushing on the connector and strain relief portion of the connector and I did not experience any crackling, popping, or other sound.
Thanks for the insightful video!
👍
Always such great reviews, gonna pick up the zoom. Thanks!
Thanks Kyle - happy recording!
The tentacle looks like a great pdr, but the lack of a battery swap capability is unfortunate.
When I use the Tascam, I put a fresh lithium AAA battery (and you can select that in the menu I believe) and it works all day. Zero problems.
You do need to tell the talent they have a hot mic on them, all day. So, be aware.
I do love these devices. Put it on, snake the mic up, turn it on, forget it. (Of course I boom it as well.)
Maybe I'll upgrade my mic though. No one has complained about the quality, but I just do low budget indie films. I've listened to the finished films, I'm happy with the sound.
The Zaxcom has a similar pdr, but it's $1,000 range, more if you want to monitor audio. I assume the sound quality is superior.
All good points on tradeoffs.
Such pleasant videos and informative too. You do a great job.
Is there anything out there that would let 4 lavalieres Bluetooth in to the same 4 track recorder?
Not that I’m familiar with, unfortunately.
Great video Curtis. I'm Sujith from India. I'm a bird call recordist. Wonder how can I attach XLR mic to this device. Any adaptors? Or any better recorder which has single XLR port. I currently use Tuscan DR 10X; but the slide in recording is a bit difficult and I love the press button setup. Thanks
Great review Curtis!
Thanks Matt.
Thank you!! Always clear and useful!!! The best one.
Thank you Marco!
Great review as usual. Very much in-line with how I feel about my F2.
Thanks Andrew.
Timecode System Blue can connect up to 6 devices (6 x Zoom F2 BTs) whereas if you need 6 Track-E devices your out lay is going to be huge compared with the TCB eco system.
Good point, thanks for that.
Ooo...this looks pretty awesome! I even was thinking, "hmm...wonder if I could plop this thing on top of my camera and run the line out into the camera, then use my Rode WirelessGo with it"...looks like I can! Might just need to grab one of these!!
Let us know how it goes. Happy recording!
@@curtisjudd I'll try! Sure hope they didn't get in trouble or something and take it out via a firmware update since this video was made. I know one way to find out! Hahaha
I have been using the Zoom F2 BT version for about a month and previously used the F1 for similar purposes. The big advantage for me is the ability to control the device on distant subjects by Bluetooth, stopping and starting at will, instead of having to record continuously as I did with the F1. The 32 bit float technology is another potential advantage. The Bluetooth app is good but the power of the BT transmitter is much more affected by distance and intervening objects than it is with BT control of my Zoom F6. I notice occasional BT dropout when there is no line of sight between the F2 and my iPhone. I also wish I could use the app to format the SD card, but mainly because I have found the PC app (not the iPhone app) to be rather buggy. For example, changing the settings via the PC app can cause the BT function to go to sleep on the F2 (in my hands) and you have to do a factory reset with the PC app to regain BT functionality. I do all my settings with the iPhone app now. I hope zoom comes out with upgrades to the app.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Oliver!
Man each time I watch one of your reviews, I become poorer. Mine coming on Monday. Thanks for another amazing reviews
Thanks and sorry for that! I hope it works well for you!
Excellent video as always! thank you!
Thanks Leonardo!
insane, like airpods shell
Yes, good point. That's about the size of it.
As always, you are delivering us top notch videos that are not hyped nor rushed. So thank you for that!
One question I have is that I am planning to do a passion project and needing the audio solution to be solved, everything else has been planned for. Should I go with F1 and set the gains at each place and scene or just be done with it and throw in the F2 with no bluetooth. Thoughts?
With ANY body pack recorder, I would review every take while still on set to make sure you got a clean recording. That’s especially true for the F1 which is more likely to clip but also true of the F2 where you might have a bunch of clothing rustle or other problems.
@@curtisjudd thank you sir! I will take those into consideration. Just one more question... the duo lav mic with the long cable, MK something... I cant remember without going back to the video. A budget one, would you recommend it for direct into the Sony a7iii?
Hi Curtis - I have the Tascam DR-10L. I was watching your video here on the Zoom and I was wondering when you were going to mention the Tascam - I'm glad I watched it to the end you gave some good advice regarding the Tascam v Zoom. I'll be keeping my Tascams. BTW - I never had an issue with "drift" using my two Tascam DR-10L mics - and there were times when I let them run for four or five hours at a time, so is the drift really prevalent too often these days? I started on 16mm and it was a bit off an issue even with the crystal sync on longer takes. Thanks for doing what you do!
Hi Frank, I find that drift is more often an issue with mobile phones, especially when they use variable rate compression in the camera apps. Some of the more consumer oriented cameras tend to drift as well. I've seen DSLRs and some mirrorless cameras drift 4-5 frames in a 60 minute recording.
As usual your video are top quality!
Thank you Falco Alex.
Such a wonderful review as always. I really like this!!! Seems to me like it would be perfect what my workflow. I only sync by waveform so I think It would be great! It would be a great upgrade from my H1.
Hi Jay, great to hear from you! Yes, pretty interesting little option for those of us who use the H1 as a body-pack recorder. 👍
I finally bought the F2, Thanks. Just one strange thing with the phone app, when you hit record on the app, the red light on the device does not change but the phone it does shows record.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks again, Curtis.
👍
Nice to see something integrating with the TCS Blue. Now that Atomos owns TCS, we can hope to see more camera manufacturers integrating their wireless timecode. Meanwhile, yes, you should be able to use the UltraSync One for the camera and the Blue for the audio recorder and any phones in the area.
Thanks for confirming!
Great as always. That hiss was noticeable in the track E over my iPhone. Was it apparent when you listened before posting?
Yes, the Tentacle's included lavalier is a bit noisier.
Hello. You touched on the one being a better build quality, but didn't give any impressions on other considerations. Is one float 32, etc. Apart from no bt, is the one comparable?
Thank you for all your great videos.
The F2 and F2 BT are presumably identical in terms of build quality.
Great video! I love how clear and unbiased your review was. I have a question, do you know if the new Tentacle's Sync E mkII Timecode Generator with Bluetooth, will sync with the Zoom F2?
Unfortunately, I don't know of a way to do that.
@@LearnLightAndSoundSessions I'm hoping that one could pair the Tentacle Sync E mkII with the F2 the same way you demonstrated in the video with the Atomos device. I'm going to pre-order one and will report back.
Sounds good, looking forward to and thanks in advance for the update!
I bought two F2's (not BT), and I really don't understand your perspective on how paying the extra $50 for the BT is value added. The basic F2 is perfect, does everything that anybody needs, and if you clap 3 times to sync up the recorders, then you don't need time codes. In my book F2 Basic is the way to go !! That being said, thank you for a really good review of the F2 product !!
It is ok for us to have different perspectives. I hope we can still be friends. 😀
@@curtisjudd Curtis: You do wonderful reviews, best on You Tube. keep up the good work. You're the top dog in the pack. :-) regards, Dan
@@curtisjudd By the way, I recently purchased a sennheiser mic MKE600, and I use it with the Zoom F2, and I'm getting good results with it's -66dbm noise level. Makes a great combination. regards, Dan
@@dannoringer 👍 Happy recording!
Great review, thanks!
Thanks Scott!
Youre reviews are great! Thank you! 👍
Thanks Stefan.
Great video, thanks so much! Quick question: If I wanted to forgo using timecode as part of my workflow, could I just sync the audio in Premiere if I have an additional audio capture, (say from onboard camera?) Thank you!
Yes, absolutely 👍
Great review! For a wedding between this F2 a the rode wireless go II, what would be your choice.
Each has their advantages, but I'd probably choose the Wireless GO II.
If you just want to use a single F2-BT, or a single tentacle track e, and get timecode to a DSLR, then the tentacle is cheaper. But once you consider multiple F2-BT, or multiple tentacle sync's, the zoom option becomes cheaper by a good amount (especially in canada).
Thanks for clarifying. I wish the app were better at switching between F2 units.
Yeah, I think this is making a clean decision for me here...
Atomos Ninja V + TC Generator
3 x Zoom F2-BT (to start probably getting 1 or 2 more for 4-person interviews and a spare)
How about the plug-in power? Will something like a Cos-11D work with the F2? I think it takes a little more voltage.
I use my F2 with a COS-11D and it seems to work fine.
@@mediakobo Thanks. That's helpful info
Yes, thanks @mediakobo.
Great in depth info again Curtis!!! Would you pick a zoom f2 or a wireless go connected to a mixpre3II for 32bit and why? I have the mixpre3II and some wireless go’s and wonder how the zoom f2 compares to that. Of course it’s a recorder compared to a wireless transmission system so they are two different tools right. As you can’t have as much interference issues with a recorder I might think that is a better solution on the road..
Thanks Jim. It is a tradeoff. Wireless is good because you can monitor during the recording to make sure there wasn't any clothing rustle or interference or other problems and call for a retake. With a body pack recorder like the F2, you can't do that. On the other hand, if you experience a lot of dropouts with the Wireless GO, there's not a lot you can do there to fix the issue but find a different location. If you aren't running into a lot of situations like that and you aren't having issues with audio clipping, I'd stick with what you've got. Happy recording!
Great review, Curtis! I noticed that there is also white version of the device? Do you happen to know, whether lav mic for that version also come in white?
Hi Paweł, I heard that they were going to have a white version but haven't actually seen it. I cannot imagine the microphone would not be white, but one never knows.
@@curtisjudd Thanks! Good point. I hope that Rode will also make this "wedding kit"(B&W transmitters) of Wireless Go II.
Curtis Hi - Agreed, great video. I have the AtomX synch for Ninja V so will test it out. I have the Blue as well. But are you saying this should synch with your video cam on phone via App or does it need the Blue - which I have as well.
Hi Ivan, I believe you need the Blue to send timecode to the F2 AND keep coordinated with the ATOMX Sync module.
@@curtisjudd I'll let you know when I get chance to play.
@@curtisjudd , you can use an ATOMOS SYNC module as a master t/c generator for a network of any other compatible slave devices. The interface on the Ninja V lets you see what’s on your network. It’s brilliant. Atomos bought this rather weird but brilliant company Timecode Systems with arcane devices no one wanted to buy and has made their clever tech work so beautifully, simply and reliably.
@@the_black_douglas9041 👍
Great audio recording.
Thank you Olatunde.
Another fabulously informative video, thanks! A question that doesn't seem to be addressed by anyoen is what otehr mics cna be used with the Zoom F2. Can I use the Rode Video Mic Pro for example? Or the Rode Wireless Filmaker Kit mic?
I believe the F2 only supplies 2.5V so you'll want to use a lavalier microphone which can operate ok with only 2.5V. Most require more. In theory, it should work with a VideoMic Pro but I didn't try that before I gave this away.
@@curtisjudd Thank you :-)
Thumbs up right away, we appreacite your reviews.
Thanks Alexey.