I sure do appreciate your calm, professional, knowledgeable reviews. No smash the like button... no please subscribe pleas.. just calming gear review..Im sure its been said before but felt like it needed repeating. Good day sir!
3030 upvotes and not a single downvote really speaks for the quality of your videos :) finally pulled the trigger on the F3 today, one year after watching your video on release. Just had to hear your opinion again before buying. Keep up the great work!
I normally do not interact with or comment on UA-cam videos, but you should know. I have been following your UA-cam channel, a few years now and have always enjoyed your commentary. Many years ago, I was interested in and purchased the Tascam DR-60mkii. Your review was very precise and great content on that product. I just bought the NTG3 and Zoom F3. Again on both of these products you have done another precise and great job explaining your perspective. Over the years, you have continued to up your game and the quality in this field. Very few people seem as capable as you are. The other day I participated for the first time in a live event. Realizing your event wasn't so much a Q&A about the Zoom F3 but how your work flow in creating content for UA-cam. Your work flow and keen sense to detail was refreshing to see. I hope to become more proficient in my endeavors. Thank you for taking the time and your sense of perfection in your perspective.
When a Zoom product has a number in its name, it often (usually?) indicates the number of inputs. When I read F3 I was so happy, because 3 is the perfect number of inputs for a lot of simple music video recordings. Stereo input for the instrumental part, and a separate for the vocals. Also in interviews it’d be lovely to have a mix ready with ambience in stereo and Voice with a closeup mono mic. But this is a 2 track system. Made me kinda disappointed.
Curtis Judd, man. Rock solid on the technical side, but never fails to address all those little things that are easy to overlook, but really important in practical use. Amazing work as always!
If you started doing camera reviews as well your channel would have surpassed 1 million because it seems that's all people care about is cameras these days. I appreciate all your sound reviews. I just purchased a Zoom F3 because of this review and still have the AT-4053Bb due to your recommendations as well.
ZoomF3 very low noise, tried it indoors with cloudlifter and sm57. Great form factor and simple operation and its current price point. However, It would be nice if it had a 3.5mm *stereo input (and with the same preamp and on one of the tracks). Perhaps with the version 2.
@@curtisjudd maybe so, but the distribution has been strange from the start. It landed first in Japan and I've been watching almost all the reviews and there don't seem to be many units out there.
Alex, just keep trying different retailers. I'm in the Toronto area and all the big camera retailers don't have it. But I found a dedicated video/audio store and to my surprise they had a few in stock. Just picked it up a few days ago. Its much smaller than I thought, which is good.
Can only repeat what has been said, amazing in-depth videos. Once I see a review here I know I don't need to watch any other videos on that particular product. And that is gold. Also, I did Curtis' course on audio recording and editing, well worth it. Thanks, Sir, have a great day.
Always appreciate your time, knowledge, and in-depth look at these audio recorders, Curtis! I was definitely down between the Tascam Portacapture and the Zoom F3 to upgrade from my old Tascam DR40. Looks like the F3 will fit my needs for the time being until I eventually need a Sound Devices Mix Pre! Thanks again!
the Zoom F3 looks really interesting for recording and booming at the same time, when it's not always possible to perform boom acrobatics and perfect mic placement whilst also riding a gain control - a situation I've been in on many low budget indie shoots! 32bit float is a good advantage in this situation too. Thanks so much for the in-depth and objective review, great as always :)
Thanks Curtis! This review answered all the questions I had about the F3. Looks like it’s going to be put on my list for sure. Thanks again for the really detailed look at it.
Thanks! I've been waiting for this video. The F3 sounds just about perfect for me. The size, the weight, the float and being able to mount it to my camera rig sounds really appealing to me as a novice "single operator" getting into filming wildlife and birds. Being able to just turn it on/off and not worry as much about gain would be awesome.
@@tarakdungdes I'm a complete newbie, but I would say a long hyper-cardioid shotgun mic or get into using a parabolic disc microphone. Personally I'm hoping a shotgun will work as I'm the only one there.
I’m doubtful they will. It seems like small devices are a primary design goal for them which means they’ll probably NOT use combo jacks which take more internal space in the device.
Great video, Sir. Got my F3 today and I am very impressed. Walking around town today with my BP4025 large diaphragm Stereo mic. Beautiful. Low level BG atmoses and slamming doors at 15cm! All lovely. Great portable tool for us Soundphiles. (I have a Portacapture and several Sound Devices as well, but the toys we get to play with today are so much more versatile than those of only ten years ago. )
I've been playing around with one of these. It's a tiny, powerful recorder/audio interface. It has taken my audio capture to another level. One thing I noticed and not sure if you ran into it as well, but when powering the F3 via USB C, using a wall adapter, you will get a loud buzzing sound in your capture, no matter what microphone/s you use. If powered from a battery bank or V-Mount battery, there is no problem. I used 2 types of wall adapters: Apple 20Watt charger, and Canon USB C wall adapter. Just something to keep in mind. This issue is not limited to just the F3. If I use a wall adapter to power any of my cameras (Sony/Canon), then you will inject this buzzing into all of your audio. 32 bit or not.
Hey Curtis! Your reviews are always very informative my hat is off to you for a job well done! This has been the device I have been waiting quite some time for. A small affordable 32 bit float recorder that can run for hours on an auxiliary power source. My use case scenario is for ambient nature recordings. It will be installed in a small Pelican case strapped to the base of a tree with two small em272 mics attached further up the tree. It will be left there over night to capture any night time sounds. I am considering adding a trail cam as well... Cheers, Greg
Thanks for the video! Ordered the F3 ~ one week ago and this little thing does everything I wanted: small/moderately light for mounting it on the camera, sound with a M5 matched pair is very good. Now I can do what I always wanted: ORTF microphone config on a video camera without large recorder or clumsy phantom power supply + the "32-bit safety". Your video confirms the good audio quality (should have checked your measurements/comments before but went right this time ;-). Audio isn't that loud with an 80 Ohm headphone (32 would be better) but with 32-bit a headphone isn't no longer that important if you just want to record high quality ambience sound. By the way: was also interested in the Tascam hot shoe XLR adapter but this thing is large, costs 2x the money. Plus F3 can be used for 2 additional channels (2x wireless lavalier + 2x ambience) or as safety recording at least for audio for two channels after feeding the line out into the camera.
Great review, thanks, and a lovely machine! Pity about the battery door though. I have a Zoom F1. A fine device but its plastic door fastening mechanism gave out last year. The batteries are now held in place by wedging bits of metal between the broken door and the F1's belt brackets! Scary liability. Zoom's blind side regarding battery doors is inexplicable. Nevertheless, your review makes the F3 seem like an attractive proposition. Thanks again.
just a helpful tip for mounting. I used the Ulanzi F38 Quick release Top mounted to the F3 and the bottom plate mounted to my A7III Cage. fits perfect between the bars. Alternatively there are simple screws under the rubber pads of the side bars that can actually be removed without taking apart completely. Awesome video!
My hobby is filmmaking, all amateur. In our club, we have some ex professionals, but it is the enjoyment of making the films we love. I am director, cameraman and soundguy on productions, this is ideal. Thanks Curtis for your views on this tool.
Hi Curtis, thanks for this great review. Just a quick question regarding setting the amplification level mentioned at 19:40 - I understand that you are meant to do this before hitting record, and changing it after the F3 is already recording won't affect the audio level of the recording, but if you set this wrong it's still recoverable in post thanks to the 32-bit float capability correct?
Seems like a great solution for event panel video where there is a venue audio mixer and they are providing you an aux out from their board. Combine mic level out to a dji tx and you can monitor at the camera and have the floating point file intact for post
Hey Curtis! Great review and thanks. Just ordered one of these for voice recording based on the really low noise floor for fixed booth recording as well as a “doubling” for use as a 32 bit interface. The ability to color the voice and inflection from a whisper to a yell while reading and NOT need to use a Mac with the NT1 5th Gen in USB mode, or even a dynamic mic is appealing. Appreciate your work!
EIN is -127 dBu and max input level +4 dBu so 24 bit format is in practice enough (131 dB vs 144 dB). Signal to noise ratio of 32 bit float is 144 dB which is same as SNR of 24 bit fixed. SNR of 32 fixed format is 192 dB.
According to manual one can set input type to "line" (max level 24dBu) and still apply phantom power. That would be a solution for microphones that have higher than 4dBu max output.
What about recording line level DJ feeds? Will I be able to ensure the audio is not clipping coming into the f3? Sometimes the F6 when plugged into the line out of a speaker, I need to use an attenuator. My other workaround is to plug into the board and then set the f6 to mic level. But that’s not always an option and I usually like to have one recorder plugged into the speaker and one recording off the mixer or another speaker.
This is an awesome review. I’ve been waiting for you to reviews this before making my decision to purchase one, and now I really want one ! Thanks for another great video and taking the time to make it so informative, not trying to condense everything into 10minutes.
Thank you Curtis your review is as always informative, personal, fun to watch. The in depth analysis and comparison to other recorder options are much appreciated
Curtis, I am using my Zoom F3 as an audio interface and my question is this: how do I unplug my mic from it? Normally (on my Babyface pro), I'd lower the gain to zero, then turn the phantom power off, then physically disconnect my XLR cable. With this magnificent gadget, what are my steps? Thank you! Your videos help me with getting the gear I need! -Sergey
Thanks for the video. Still don’t know enough about this to decide whether I need this F3 or would it better to move up to a H4e or H6e, in case I need added features later on? Mainly for in car audio recording for two people, potentially two person interview too.
We have a review of the H4e coming tomorrow and I can confidently say that the H4e is NOT a move up in terms of audio quality. It is a step down. Much better preamps in the F3.
Not sure what I'm doing wrong. The F3 set to input 1 (input 2 is off). Securely attached to a MKE 600. Fresh battery in mic. F3 set to +48V phantom, and powered by a USB power block (fresh batteries in the F3). I pushed the record button up. Lights up red. Then, pushed to Hold. Recorded sounds from a movie on the TV (gain at 32). After 12 minutes, pushed the record button up to stop recording. Then, did another recording. Same procedure. Push up on record. Lights up red. Move button to hold. Wait another 12 minutes. Stop recording. Turned F3 off. Removed the SD card (it was formatted before recording. 512 Gb Sandisk). Insert SD into computer. Only one WAV file shown, and it was only 4:30 minutes long. Don't know what I've done wrong. Can you advise? Thanks.
May be a problematic SD card? I’d recommend running a test on the card in the SD card menu. And if that’s not it, probably best to contact ZOOM support.
@@curtisjudd Thanks, Curtis. I ran the quick test and it passed. I used a second card (same type, size) and got the same results. Zoomcorp's website did say that certain 1 Tb Sandisk cards would not record correctly. I'm using a 512G Sandisk. The 512G cards listed do not include the ones I'm using. Mine are SDSQUAC, Zoom's listed are SDSQUA4. Don't know why it would make a difference, but to be sure, I'm ordering a new SDSQUA4 and will try it. Hopefully, this will solve the problem. Thanks for responding. I'll let you know the results when I get them.
Curtis, you're going to love this next one. I did another experiment. When I turned the unit on, I could play the file, but it only played for 4 minutes. Decided to format the card and try it again. When I tried to format, the unit popped up the message: Error!. Tried multiple times. Nothing. Turned the unit off, then on again. Now, the formatting worked. Okay, next step: record 14 minutes. Used Finder, it found the file. When I clicked okay on the file, it said: Invalid File! I turned the unit off. Then, on again. Went to Finder and it said No File! I'm going to let Support know about all of this. It's got to be the card. It can't come fast enough.....
"Exceeding maximum input level!" is the message I see on my F3 when plugging in my Rode NTG5. You use an NTG5 as well - do you get that message when plugging in the XLR cable to the F3? My Rode Filmmaker Kit lav set works just fine, as does my Rode NT1 studio mic.
Great review, thanks! One minor mechanical detail I've noticed is that, if you pick up the unit by holding the sides, it's all to easy to accidentally pop open the memory card door and disconnect the memory card. While it's easy to re-insert the memory card, it would be a disaster if it occurred during recording. Otherwise, my impression is that the various features have been very thoughtfully selected. Even some aspects that may seem puzzling make sense to me. For instance, a major reason to decouple the volume control from the recording level, after recording has started, could be to allow the user to adjust the headphone monitoring level without disrupting levels on the recorded file - which could be impossible to undo perfectly in post. I had actually worried about that possibility before learning that the amplification levels only affect the file if set before recording begins, so I was relieved to see that feature.
Hello and thank you very much for all the videos you put online. I have a quick question regarding the F3, as you know, you can add marks to the playback, but do you know how to modify them, move them or even remove them? I found absolutely nothing on this subject in all the available literature. Thanks in advance.
One piece of information that might help a lot of your viewers is that I got this recorder specially for weddings and I am sure there is probably a way for a competent DJ to send me a better output with proper levels but most of the time, the signal ends up exceeding the input level (+4dBu) of the F3 and distort my audio. It happens less often with voices (speeches) cause a lot of the speakers don't hold the mic properly but I had a few announcers (MC) clip my input level before. So yeah, there's that. Understanding the specs is crucial; don't just run and buy anything that says 32bit float out there. Still LOVE my F3 though.
XLR barrel attenuator is crucial if you're getting main outs from the board or powered out from a the PA's loop-through. I have a -20/-30/-40dB, and just got the -50dB attenuator for those events where the DJ has everything blasted at max output.
@@OrenArieli O M G, I was exactly looking at 2 models of in-line attenuator from Shure and from Audio-Technica. My only hesitation was that I noticed they use phantom power and I was wondering if it would be an issue when plugging on the XLR « Link » port on the back of a speaker for example. Do you have any experience with plugging an attenuator to a XLR port that does NOT need phantom power?
@@jpemile attenuators do not 'use' phantom power. They are passive in nature, relying on resisive voltage dividers. So I've had no issues plugging them into a loop-through of a PA or a particularly hot main output from a mix board.
@@OrenArieli it makes total sense but I am right in front of the product page as we speak on B&H and it says « For use with all low-impedance and phantom-powered condenser microphones » which led me to believe that phantom power must always be enabled when using the attenuator XLR barrel.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the Zoom F3. I used mine for the first time on Thursday and absolutely love it. Looking forward to learning how to optimize it better for my needs. but straight out of the box and using it for the first time seemed fairly straight forward and easy to use. For a creative who is not audio savvy.... I captured some incredible audible at the interviews I filmed.
So if I want to tape a live concert I should use the stereo setting with a left and right microphone? Mono wouldn't be used in a concert setting even though I'm using two microphones, correct?
I've been doing indie filmmaking for decades and this blows my mind. There are surely old timers who will poo poo float 32 because they spent so much time honing their gain level skills. No me. Any tool like this that frees me up to focus more on the art is fully welcome. Now they just need to make a camera that will record everything everywhere all the time in like 20k :)
Hi Curtis, I’m having trouble lately with audio background noise clean up lately. I use era 5 for a while and it works great, but lately they stop their plugin and I couldn’t use it anymore? I do know how to EQ and clean up some of the bkground noise but I can’t don’t it all the time. Can you make a video and show us some other plug-ins that can replace era 5?
Izotope RX and Waves Clarity Vx are my two favorites for cleaning up general noise. I have a full course on RX and demonstrated Clarity Vx recently over on my second UA-cam channel: ua-cam.com/video/_aEsV7BPAKk/v-deo.html You'll find the course over at school.learnlightandsound.com
Awesome little recorder. A few compromises but oveall I think they nailed it for the price point. This would be a great vlogger/starter UA-camr or even a low budget Indie film situation. I have the F6 and your course but I could see myself with one of these in a compact run and gun use case. Perhaps we will get a few of the compromises resolved in the 'n' version one day. It'll be interesting to hear what they give the F6 at that upgrade point. Thank you Curtis. You deserve to be to be too big to answer our questions personally, sir. Thank you for all the time and courtesy you have given thus far.
Yes, we did an initial look at the F8n Pro in one of my weekly livestreams but will have a full review in about 3 weeks or so. Here's the initial look: ua-cam.com/video/dNtKuwWTaKo/v-deo.html
Main reason I went for the zoom f3 over the tascam x6 or x8 was because the zoom supposedly has lower pre amp noise levels. I do mostly ambient and quiet as well as some foley recording. I am interested in seeing how much of a difference in self noise there really is bewteen the zoom and tascam. Would you pick the f3 over the tascam for doing ambient recordings like birds, crickets etc.? If the tascam had almost equally good noise levels I would go with that instead since it would be a lot more versatile overall. I plan on hooking up a matched pair of se s8 mics to the zoom f3 as I know the built in mics on the tascam wouldn't compare.
Great review! A couple of questions: Can the Zoom F3 set the frame rate? Do you use the Samsung USB that you have in your Mixpre 6 to record backups? Could you share a link with the features? Many greetings.
So, Curtis, is the F3 not a good option for recording loud live music? I was looking at the F3 to record my band's sets at our gigs. My plan is to use my Lewitt LCT140 condenser microphones up on the stage to capture the full band. We're not a heavy metal or super loud band, but it is amplified live music. Thanks for the video.
@@curtisjudd And just as a quick follow up....I saw your Tascam FR-AV2 vs Zoom F3 video. You still lean towards the Tascam? I do as well, but curious where you're at now between the two. Thanks, Curtis.
17:57 - can't record internally while using as a USB interface. Thanks, good to know. This simultaneous capability would be the whole reason I'd buy this recorder versus using a good USB mic like the Rode NT1 5th gen. So moving on to another product. I wonder if the Tascam Portacapture X8 can do both simultaneously?
Good morning. Do you know the power of the Zoom F3's preamps? I would like to know to understand if it can make a Shure SM7B sound good. What do you think about it? Do you need the cloudlifter?
Hey Curtis, Awesome episode. I ask you a question somewhere and then find the answer to it in one of your videos :) I wanted to know if Zoom F3's preamps can produce better results than Tascam DR-60Dmkii. Looks like it can. Thank you very much once again!
Hi Curtis, do you have any advice on how to reduce the noise floor when recording with the MKH 416? I see you put a HPF at 50Hz, and I tried to copy the other settings you used. I noticed in your F3 review video you were able to get the levels to around -60db, but mine still hover around -45db when I normalize the audio. I record in an office with lots of reflective surfaces, and low AC rumble. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, and thank you for your amazing videos.
I would do three things: 1) move the mic closer to you, 2) turn off noise sources in the room, and 3) use sound blankets to manage reflections. If you cannot do all of these, do as many of them as you can. I'd prioritize sound blankets and turning off AC while recording. Happy recording!
Your reviews are so thorough and well done--- among the best out there, thank you for this, this will be helpful for those deciding on what recorder to get for their needs, Bravo!!!!!!
Thank you, Curtis. Your review of the Zoom F3 was very helpful. I'm of an age when forgetting tp press buttons is increasingly an issue. :) I ordered the F3 from Amazon using your link today - very happy to help, as I am grateful to you for sharing your insights so freely. BTW, the Zoom F3 is on special, $50 off until March 1.
Thank you sir. I never owned a recorder and as someone hoping to do interviews as a one man team, this seems applicable to me. Appreciate the thorough review!
I'm shopping around, I mostly do interviews. But I've need doing more with my stabilizer and want to capture audio away from my camera with XLR K3m weighing it down on the stabilizer. I'm trying the H4n Pro and the H6 right now. I like the H6 best except I hate the XLR inputs not having locks. It seems like the F3 is going to better so I may return the others and get the F3. Sound is most important and XLR locks are important too. I may be able to find a way to secure the XLR cables on the H6 but I don't know how yet and I have a feeling it's going to be something that annoys me everytime I use it. If the F3 is most likely going to sound better, so it seems like the best for me. I am mostly run and gun, solo, doing it all. I need something predictable, quality and easy. I think two inputs will be fine most if not all the time when I'm using the stabilizer. My wireless system is two Sennheiser G3s with countryman lavs. If the F3 sounds significantly better than anything else I have than I may use it for everything. Do you worry about the power switch being easy to hit or record button? Someone was complaining about something like that on the f3. And do you think it'll be significantly easier, more predictable or at least consistently great audio, than the H6? It seems like the F3 is clearly the way to go for me.
I have NOT yet accidentally powered it off and there is a hold switch so if you engage that, you cannot accidentally turn it off. The F3 definitely sounds cleaner and can handle more dynamic range than any of the H series recorders. Seems like a good fit for you from what I can tell.
For a compact overhead rig, could you connect a zoom f3 to an XLR mic using an XLR male to female adapter/connector to eliminate the need for a cable? I don’t even know if such a m-f XLR dongle exists. Thinking kinda like using a deity hd-tx plugged directly into a mic. 🤷
I wanted to use a Centrance PivotMic, but their XLR pins are rotated 90 degrees from standard. However, they've posted a form on their site to gauge interest in making a version that's compatible with other recorders (like the F3). I tried to post a link, but that seems to get my comments auto-deleted (they just disappear). So head over there if you're interested. It would be a great setup for the F3.
Brilliant video, thanks Curtis. I’m torn between the MixPre and the F6 after seeing this. I love the feature you mentioned of the line out limiter that runs independently of the internal recording. I just also watched your mixpre series 2 video and it doesn’t look as if the MixPre has this option. Is that correct?
As far as I can see, if you want to use the F3 with high level sounds or with a high sensitivity mic and you are concerned about the +4dB limitation, you can simply set it to line input - which also offers phantom power and has the same input impedance - and you've got +24dB max level. So there's not really an issue in this respect. Am I right?
thanks for your amazing, thorough review, Curtis! I film protests. sometimes the audio can be very loud from speakers and bull horns. I use an Azden SGM-250MX Professional Compact Cine Mic. do you think this would be workable with the F3? currently I use the XLR adapter and it is quite hard to be adjusting constantly to the highly fluctuating sound levels in this environment.
That depends on how many channels you record. there's a file size calculator you can use here: www.sounddevices.com/support/ If you record 2 channels at 48kHz, 32-bit float, you can record for about 43 minute and that will take up 1GB on a card.
Great work, Curtis! I appreciate the detail you provided in this review to help me make an informed decision to purchase this recorder. I will be sure to use one of your links to help support the channel.
Hi Curies would u mind to share some tips for mounting those recorders for field recording . like how to use on cameras on boom pole , on hand-held. as u know those cables ,even a light touch all make noise sometime it blows the whole job. would really like to see if u kindly share ur experience orz .
I would use a friction arm or shoe to 1/4” screw mount to attach it to cameras, but usually I keep it separate. But to protect the cables, I’d use hook and eye tape to attach the cable to the rig or tripod.
Great review, Curtis. Would love to know if you have a recommendation for an adapter to enable a 3.5mm mic to be used. I frequently use a small Rode VideoMicro for teaching and it would be great to be able to adapt it to the XLR. Thanks!
Just recently, I have seen this unit combined with a matched pair of capsule mics to create a high end stereo handheld recorder (foley etc) The mics just plug straight into the F3.
@@curtisjudd Perhaps this would make a nice short video, selecting mics, pickup patterns etc. I don't have a matched pair, but I do have a top notch stereo mic that I think I will pair with an F3 just for capturing high quality foley. Less hassle than using my MixPre. Every handheld (except maybe the top end Sony D100) are let down by the built in mics.
Thanks so much for that in depth review. One Question: Is it possible to solo (or mute) one of the two channel, while recording? I would like to use it, for a MS Set-up. Therefore i need, to be able to check, the different Microphones singled out. Thanks, and greetings from Germany
How important is it to set the amplification correctly before I start recording? Suppose I am recording a pretty low signal that requires x64 amplification to reach an adequate looking waveform on the monitor. Would setting the amplification to x64 before the recording starts produce a result identical to recording it at x1 and amplifying it in post?
Greetings. What is the maximum continuous recording time that can be achieved using one pair of AA batteries/accumulators? Not according to instructions, but in fact? I did tests for three days on different AA batteries and was able to get more than nine hours.
![Sony FX3 / FX30 Rig with 32 Bit Float Audio?? [Zoom F3]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/UmmUid2SY6Y/mqdefault.jpg)
My man stays true to quality content and no retention editing.
Really useful video, thank you!
👍
I sure do appreciate your calm, professional, knowledgeable reviews. No smash the like button... no please subscribe pleas.. just calming gear review..Im sure its been said before but felt like it needed repeating. Good day sir!
Thanks herbyverstink, I appreciate that.
And don't forget to smash that like button and subscribe.
I never really understood this generation's obsession with "smashing" things.
Genuinely one of the best reviews for anything I've ever seen. Super insightful and in-depth. Thank you sir
Thanks!
You are by far the best audio reviewer I have seen! Seriously well done!
🙏
I love my F3 and I'm so happy to hear your thoughts about it.
Fantastic video, thank you sir!
Thanks for coming by!
3030 upvotes and not a single downvote really speaks for the quality of your videos :) finally pulled the trigger on the F3 today, one year after watching your video on release. Just had to hear your opinion again before buying. Keep up the great work!
Happy recording!
I normally do not interact with or comment on UA-cam videos, but you should know. I have been following your UA-cam channel, a few years now and have always enjoyed your commentary.
Many years ago, I was interested in and purchased the Tascam DR-60mkii. Your review was very precise and great content on that product.
I just bought the NTG3 and Zoom F3. Again on both of these products you have done another precise and great job explaining your perspective.
Over the years, you have continued to up your game and the quality in this field. Very few people seem as capable as you are.
The other day I participated for the first time in a live event. Realizing your event wasn't so much a Q&A about the Zoom F3 but how your work flow in creating content for UA-cam.
Your work flow and keen sense to detail was refreshing to see. I hope to become more proficient in my endeavors. Thank you for taking the time and your sense of perfection in your perspective.
Thanks Jason. Happy recording!
This is one of the best videos on the F3! Awesome video! Thank you 🙏🏼
👍
This might be the most honest, to the point, and thorough UA-cam video review in existence. Well done! Thank you for all the valuable information. 😊
Thanks 👍
This is what I've been waiting for Curtis! Bravo!
Thanks so much!
@@curtisjudd my pleasure!
When a Zoom product has a number in its name, it often (usually?) indicates the number of inputs. When I read F3 I was so happy, because 3 is the perfect number of inputs for a lot of simple music video recordings. Stereo input for the instrumental part, and a separate for the vocals. Also in interviews it’d be lovely to have a mix ready with ambience in stereo and Voice with a closeup mono mic. But this is a 2 track system. Made me kinda disappointed.
Yes, they already have an F2 and F1 so their numbering got a bit muddled.
Agree. They should have something like this with 4 inputs, something less intense than the F6.
Curtis Judd, man. Rock solid on the technical side, but never fails to address all those little things that are easy to overlook, but really important in practical use. Amazing work as always!
👍🙏
If you started doing camera reviews as well your channel would have surpassed 1 million because it seems that's all people care about is cameras these days. I appreciate all your sound reviews. I just purchased a Zoom F3 because of this review and still have the AT-4053Bb due to your recommendations as well.
Thanks Josh.
ZoomF3 very low noise, tried it indoors with cloudlifter and sm57. Great form factor and simple operation and its current price point. However, It would be nice if it had a 3.5mm *stereo input (and with the same preamp and on one of the tracks). Perhaps with the version 2.
👍
Great review as always, Curtis! About the F3, I preordered the thing some weeks ago now, but there seem to be some serious production problems.
Yes, or lots of demand.
@@curtisjudd maybe so, but the distribution has been strange from the start. It landed first in Japan and I've been watching almost all the reviews and there don't seem to be many units out there.
@@alex_montoya distribution world wide is hampered by covid, & a war... I wouldn't hang my hat on this being Zooms fault.
Alex, just keep trying different retailers. I'm in the Toronto area and all the big camera retailers don't have it. But I found a dedicated video/audio store and to my surprise they had a few in stock. Just picked it up a few days ago. Its much smaller than I thought, which is good.
I just got one overnight from B&H. Had no problem whatsoever.
Can only repeat what has been said, amazing in-depth videos. Once I see a review here I know I don't need to watch any other videos on that particular product. And that is gold. Also, I did Curtis' course on audio recording and editing, well worth it. Thanks, Sir, have a great day.
🙏
Always appreciate your time, knowledge, and in-depth look at these audio recorders, Curtis! I was definitely down between the Tascam Portacapture and the Zoom F3 to upgrade from my old Tascam DR40. Looks like the F3 will fit my needs for the time being until I eventually need a Sound Devices Mix Pre! Thanks again!
Thanks so much, TLDR Filmmaker!
Curtis, you're the king!
Thanks for all of your reviews. You can't imagine how often you've helped me!
👍
the Zoom F3 looks really interesting for recording and booming at the same time, when it's not always possible to perform boom acrobatics and perfect mic placement whilst also riding a gain control - a situation I've been in on many low budget indie shoots! 32bit float is a good advantage in this situation too. Thanks so much for the in-depth and objective review, great as always :)
👍
Thanks Curtis! This review answered all the questions I had about the F3. Looks like it’s going to be put on my list for sure. Thanks again for the really detailed look at it.
Thanks Mike.
Thanks!
I've been waiting for this video. The F3 sounds just about perfect for me. The size, the weight, the float and being able to mount it to my camera rig sounds really appealing to me as a novice "single operator" getting into filming wildlife and birds. Being able to just turn it on/off and not worry as much about gain would be awesome.
Care to share recommended mic for wildlife documentary?
@@tarakdungdes I'm a complete newbie, but I would say a long hyper-cardioid shotgun mic or get into using a parabolic disc microphone. Personally I'm hoping a shotgun will work as I'm the only one there.
Mr. Judd would know this far better than me.
@@EmoEmu thanks! i think the parabolic mic will do
Sounds like a good fit for the job! Happy recording!
I didn’t buy F6 before because of lack of 1/4 jack inputs. Hope zoom will release 32 bit product with combo xlr/jack in future
I’m doubtful they will. It seems like small devices are a primary design goal for them which means they’ll probably NOT use combo jacks which take more internal space in the device.
Great video, Sir. Got my F3 today and I am very impressed. Walking around town today with my BP4025 large diaphragm Stereo mic. Beautiful. Low level BG atmoses and slamming doors at 15cm! All lovely. Great portable tool for us Soundphiles. (I have a Portacapture and several Sound Devices as well, but the toys we get to play with today are so much more versatile than those of only ten years ago. )
Congrats on the new recorder and happy recording!
I've been playing around with one of these. It's a tiny, powerful recorder/audio interface. It has taken my audio capture to another level. One thing I noticed and not sure if you ran into it as well, but when powering the F3 via USB C, using a wall adapter, you will get a loud buzzing sound in your capture, no matter what microphone/s you use. If powered from a battery bank or V-Mount battery, there is no problem. I used 2 types of wall adapters: Apple 20Watt charger, and Canon USB C wall adapter. Just something to keep in mind. This issue is not limited to just the F3. If I use a wall adapter to power any of my cameras (Sony/Canon), then you will inject this buzzing into all of your audio. 32 bit or not.
👍
Hey Curtis! Your reviews are always very informative my hat is off to you for a job well done! This has been the device I have been waiting quite some time for. A small affordable 32 bit float recorder that can run for hours on an auxiliary power source. My use case scenario is for ambient nature recordings. It will be installed in a small Pelican case strapped to the base of a tree with two small em272 mics attached further up the tree. It will be left there over night to capture any night time sounds. I am considering adding a trail cam as well...
Cheers,
Greg
That’ll be fun!
Hi! This is what I'll do with the F3 I bought - with em272 mics and a trail cam... I am using a H5n, but sometimes I got clipping...
Thanks for the video!
Ordered the F3 ~ one week ago and this little thing does everything I wanted:
small/moderately light for mounting it on the camera, sound with a M5 matched pair is very good.
Now I can do what I always wanted: ORTF microphone config on a video camera without large recorder or clumsy phantom power supply + the "32-bit safety".
Your video confirms the good audio quality (should have checked your measurements/comments before but went right this time ;-). Audio isn't that loud with an 80 Ohm headphone (32 would be better) but with 32-bit a headphone isn't no longer that important if you just want to record high quality ambience sound.
By the way: was also interested in the Tascam hot shoe XLR adapter but this thing is large, costs 2x the money. Plus F3 can be used for 2 additional channels (2x wireless lavalier + 2x ambience) or as safety recording at least for audio for two channels after feeding the line out into the camera.
Congrats on the new F3 and happy recording!
Great review, thanks, and a lovely machine! Pity about the battery door though. I have a Zoom F1. A fine device but its plastic door fastening mechanism gave out last year. The batteries are now held in place by wedging bits of metal between the broken door and the F1's belt brackets! Scary liability. Zoom's blind side regarding battery doors is inexplicable. Nevertheless, your review makes the F3 seem like an attractive proposition. Thanks again.
Thanks Heathcliff. Those little things…
@D R I emailed them about that ages ago. No reply! 😟
just a helpful tip for mounting. I used the Ulanzi F38 Quick release Top mounted to the F3 and the bottom plate mounted to my A7III Cage. fits perfect between the bars. Alternatively there are simple screws under the rubber pads of the side bars that can actually be removed without taking apart completely. Awesome video!
Thanks for sharing the tip 👍
My hobby is filmmaking, all amateur. In our club, we have some ex professionals, but it is the enjoyment of making the films we love. I am director, cameraman and soundguy on productions, this is ideal. Thanks Curtis for your views on this tool.
👍🎥🎙️
Hi Curtis, thanks for this great review. Just a quick question regarding setting the amplification level mentioned at 19:40 - I understand that you are meant to do this before hitting record, and changing it after the F3 is already recording won't affect the audio level of the recording, but if you set this wrong it's still recoverable in post thanks to the 32-bit float capability correct?
That is correct
DId you do the 32-bit demonstration 01:37 with the zoom H essential ? I really want to know the difference with the Zoom F.
The ZOOM F series preamps (F3 and above) are far superior to the H essential line.: ua-cam.com/video/1MsmGfaQeaQ/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared
@@curtisjudd Yes i really want the F1 but it's not 32Bits. I dont need XLR for outdoor. I guess i wait that Zoom releases a new F1 32bit.
Seems like a great solution for event panel video where there is a venue audio mixer and they are providing you an aux out from their board. Combine mic level out to a dji tx and you can monitor at the camera and have the floating point file intact for post
👍
Hi Curtis! Are you planning to review the Panasonci DMW-XLR2 32-bit float audio module?
No plans at the moment. I’m out of cash.
Hey Curtis! Great review and thanks. Just ordered one of these for voice recording based on the really low noise floor for fixed booth recording as well as a “doubling” for use as a 32 bit interface. The ability to color the voice and inflection from a whisper to a yell while reading and NOT need to use a Mac with the NT1 5th Gen in USB mode, or even a dynamic mic is appealing. Appreciate your work!
👍 note that your mic will need to be capable of capturing that dynamic range as well. Happy recording!
EIN is -127 dBu and max input level +4 dBu so 24 bit format is in practice enough (131 dB vs 144 dB). Signal to noise ratio of 32 bit float is 144 dB which is same as SNR of 24 bit fixed. SNR of 32 fixed format is 192 dB.
Thanks for the maths.
According to manual one can set input type to "line" (max level 24dBu) and still apply phantom power. That would be a solution for microphones that have higher than 4dBu max output.
Indeed, you are right.
What about recording line level DJ feeds? Will I be able to ensure the audio is not clipping coming into the f3? Sometimes the F6 when plugged into the line out of a speaker, I need to use an attenuator. My other workaround is to plug into the board and then set the f6 to mic level. But that’s not always an option and I usually like to have one recorder plugged into the speaker and one recording off the mixer or another speaker.
The F3 can handle line level signals up to +24dBu so should not require and attenuator cable.
This is an awesome review. I’ve been waiting for you to reviews this before making my decision to purchase one, and now I really want one ! Thanks for another great video and taking the time to make it so informative, not trying to condense everything into 10minutes.
Thanks Michael.
Thank you Curtis your review is as always informative, personal, fun to watch. The in depth analysis and comparison to other recorder options are much appreciated
Thanks Frank.
You are the best reviewer of audio by far!
Curtis, I am using my Zoom F3 as an audio interface and my question is this: how do I unplug my mic from it? Normally (on my Babyface pro), I'd lower the gain to zero, then turn the phantom power off, then physically disconnect my XLR cable. With this magnificent gadget, what are my steps? Thank you! Your videos help me with getting the gear I need! -Sergey
Turn off phantom power, wait a few seconds for things to settle, disconnect mic.
@@curtisjudd Thank you so much!
Thanks for the video. Still don’t know enough about this to decide whether I need this F3 or would it better to move up to a H4e or H6e, in case I need added features later on? Mainly for in car audio recording for two people, potentially two person interview too.
We have a review of the H4e coming tomorrow and I can confidently say that the H4e is NOT a move up in terms of audio quality. It is a step down. Much better preamps in the F3.
Not sure what I'm doing wrong. The F3 set to input 1 (input 2 is off). Securely attached to a MKE 600. Fresh battery in mic. F3 set to +48V phantom, and powered by a USB power block (fresh batteries in the F3). I pushed the record button up. Lights up red. Then, pushed to Hold. Recorded sounds from a movie on the TV (gain at 32). After 12 minutes, pushed the record button up to stop recording. Then, did another recording. Same procedure. Push up on record. Lights up red. Move button to hold. Wait another 12 minutes. Stop recording.
Turned F3 off. Removed the SD card (it was formatted before recording. 512 Gb Sandisk). Insert SD into computer. Only one WAV file shown, and it was only 4:30 minutes long. Don't know what I've done wrong. Can you advise? Thanks.
Interestingly, when the SD card is in the unit, and I use Finder, I see two files and both are 12 minutes long.
May be a problematic SD card? I’d recommend running a test on the card in the SD card menu. And if that’s not it, probably best to contact ZOOM support.
@@curtisjudd Thanks, Curtis. I ran the quick test and it passed. I used a second card (same type, size) and got the same results. Zoomcorp's website did say that certain 1 Tb Sandisk cards would not record correctly. I'm using a 512G Sandisk. The 512G cards listed do not include the ones I'm using. Mine are SDSQUAC, Zoom's listed are SDSQUA4.
Don't know why it would make a difference, but to be sure, I'm ordering a new SDSQUA4 and will try it. Hopefully, this will solve the problem. Thanks for responding. I'll let you know the results when I get them.
Curtis, you're going to love this next one. I did another experiment. When I turned the unit on, I could play the file, but it only played for 4 minutes. Decided to format the card and try it again. When I tried to format, the unit popped up the message: Error!. Tried multiple times. Nothing. Turned the unit off, then on again. Now, the formatting worked. Okay, next step: record 14 minutes. Used Finder, it found the file. When I clicked okay on the file, it said: Invalid File! I turned the unit off. Then, on again. Went to Finder and it said No File! I'm going to let Support know about all of this.
It's got to be the card. It can't come fast enough.....
@@cycleman55 I hope the new card solves this 🙏
"Exceeding maximum input level!" is the message I see on my F3 when plugging in my Rode NTG5. You use an NTG5 as well - do you get that message when plugging in the XLR cable to the F3? My Rode Filmmaker Kit lav set works just fine, as does my Rode NT1 studio mic.
Yes, that will happen as you plug in a mic, especially if the phantom power is on when you do. But once it settles, all is good.
Great review, thanks! One minor mechanical detail I've noticed is that, if you pick up the unit by holding the sides, it's all to easy to accidentally pop open the memory card door and disconnect the memory card. While it's easy to re-insert the memory card, it would be a disaster if it occurred during recording. Otherwise, my impression is that the various features have been very thoughtfully selected. Even some aspects that may seem puzzling make sense to me. For instance, a major reason to decouple the volume control from the recording level, after recording has started, could be to allow the user to adjust the headphone monitoring level without disrupting levels on the recorded file - which could be impossible to undo perfectly in post. I had actually worried about that possibility before learning that the amplification levels only affect the file if set before recording begins, so I was relieved to see that feature.
👍
Thanks! I recently bought one -very pleased so far. Orca bags now do a small bag for itt´s OK, well made and more weather proof.
👍
Hello and thank you very much for all the videos you put online. I have a quick question regarding the F3, as you know, you can add marks to the playback, but do you know how to modify them, move them or even remove them? I found absolutely nothing on this subject in all the available literature. Thanks in advance.
I don’t believe moving or modifying them is possible in the F3. Would need to do that in post.
One piece of information that might help a lot of your viewers is that I got this recorder specially for weddings and I am sure there is probably a way for a competent DJ to send me a better output with proper levels but most of the time, the signal ends up exceeding the input level (+4dBu) of the F3 and distort my audio. It happens less often with voices (speeches) cause a lot of the speakers don't hold the mic properly but I had a few announcers (MC) clip my input level before. So yeah, there's that. Understanding the specs is crucial; don't just run and buy anything that says 32bit float out there. Still LOVE my F3 though.
Thanks for sharing.
XLR barrel attenuator is crucial if you're getting main outs from the board or powered out from a the PA's loop-through. I have a -20/-30/-40dB, and just got the -50dB attenuator for those events where the DJ has everything blasted at max output.
@@OrenArieli O M G, I was exactly looking at 2 models of in-line attenuator from Shure and from Audio-Technica. My only hesitation was that I noticed they use phantom power and I was wondering if it would be an issue when plugging on the XLR « Link » port on the back of a speaker for example. Do you have any experience with plugging an attenuator to a XLR port that does NOT need phantom power?
@@jpemile attenuators do not 'use' phantom power. They are passive in nature, relying on resisive voltage dividers. So I've had no issues plugging them into a loop-through of a PA or a particularly hot main output from a mix board.
@@OrenArieli it makes total sense but I am right in front of the product page as we speak on B&H and it says « For use with all low-impedance and phantom-powered condenser microphones » which led me to believe that phantom power must always be enabled when using the attenuator XLR barrel.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the Zoom F3. I used mine for the first time on Thursday and absolutely love it. Looking forward to learning how to optimize it better for my needs. but straight out of the box and using it for the first time seemed fairly straight forward and easy to use. For a creative who is not audio savvy.... I captured some incredible audible at the interviews I filmed.
👍
i cant explain how many times i've watched this video...its just amazing
👍
So if I want to tape a live concert I should use the stereo setting with a left and right microphone? Mono wouldn't be used in a concert setting even though I'm using two microphones, correct?
Depends on the concert. Many are mixed mono, at least the smaller concerts.
I've been doing indie filmmaking for decades and this blows my mind. There are surely old timers who will poo poo float 32 because they spent so much time honing their gain level skills. No me. Any tool like this that frees me up to focus more on the art is fully welcome. Now they just need to make a camera that will record everything everywhere all the time in like 20k :)
Happy recording without worrying about clipping!
Hi Curtis, I’m having trouble lately with audio background noise clean up lately. I use era 5 for a while and it works great, but lately they stop their plugin and I couldn’t use it anymore? I do know how to EQ and clean up some of the bkground noise but I can’t don’t it all the time. Can you make a video and show us some other plug-ins that can replace era 5?
Izotope RX and Waves Clarity Vx are my two favorites for cleaning up general noise. I have a full course on RX and demonstrated Clarity Vx recently over on my second UA-cam channel: ua-cam.com/video/_aEsV7BPAKk/v-deo.html
You'll find the course over at school.learnlightandsound.com
@@curtisjudd Thank you very much Curtis, I will go check it out
Awesome little recorder. A few compromises but oveall I think they nailed it for the price point. This would be a great vlogger/starter UA-camr or even a low budget Indie film situation. I have the F6 and your course but I could see myself with one of these in a compact run and gun use case. Perhaps we will get a few of the compromises resolved in the 'n' version one day. It'll be interesting to hear what they give the F6 at that upgrade point. Thank you Curtis. You deserve to be to be too big to answer our questions personally, sir. Thank you for all the time and courtesy you have given thus far.
Thanks Alan!
The best review in youtube about this recorder. you are the best ,curtis. thank you
Thanks, Biju 🙏
I really liked the video. Will you also have a look at the Zoom F8n PRO when it hits the shelves?
Yes, we did an initial look at the F8n Pro in one of my weekly livestreams but will have a full review in about 3 weeks or so. Here's the initial look: ua-cam.com/video/dNtKuwWTaKo/v-deo.html
Main reason I went for the zoom f3 over the tascam x6 or x8 was because the zoom supposedly has lower pre amp noise levels. I do mostly ambient and quiet as well as some foley recording. I am interested in seeing how much of a difference in self noise there really is bewteen the zoom and tascam. Would you pick the f3 over the tascam for doing ambient recordings like birds, crickets etc.? If the tascam had almost equally good noise levels I would go with that instead since it would be a lot more versatile overall. I plan on hooking up a matched pair of se s8 mics to the zoom f3 as I know the built in mics on the tascam wouldn't compare.
From memory, the F3 was a bit cleaner.
Great review Curtis. A lot of people were waiting for it.
Thanks Baljinder.
Great review! A couple of questions: Can the Zoom F3 set the frame rate? Do you use the Samsung USB that you have in your Mixpre 6 to record backups? Could you share a link with the features? Many greetings.
1) yes. 2) no.
Wish they had a 4 channel version like the H6. Perfect size and inputs for my workflow. F6 is overkll
That’d be nice 👍
Thanks for the review!!! If i want to record loud sound in F3, what mic should i be using？
A mic with a Max SPL spec of greater than 130dB
So, Curtis, is the F3 not a good option for recording loud live music?
I was looking at the F3 to record my band's sets at our gigs. My plan is to use my Lewitt LCT140 condenser microphones up on the stage to capture the full band. We're not a heavy metal or super loud band, but it is amplified live music.
Thanks for the video.
Sure, that can work.
@@curtisjudd And just as a quick follow up....I saw your Tascam FR-AV2 vs Zoom F3 video. You still lean towards the Tascam? I do as well, but curious where you're at now between the two. Thanks, Curtis.
@@Jay-Go I do still lean toward the Tascam.
This is gonna be great for weddings!
👍
17:57 - can't record internally while using as a USB interface. Thanks, good to know. This simultaneous capability would be the whole reason I'd buy this recorder versus using a good USB mic like the Rode NT1 5th gen. So moving on to another product. I wonder if the Tascam Portacapture X8 can do both simultaneously?
Check with ZOOM support to confirm, they may have added that. I don’t remember whether the x8 can do that. The F6 and F8 can.
Wow what a complete review well explained I sure will like all your videos
👍
Good morning. Do you know the power of the Zoom F3's preamps? I would like to know to understand if it can make a Shure SM7B sound good. What do you think about it? Do you need the cloudlifter?
You do NOT need a cloud lifter when using the SHURE SM7B with the ZOOM F3.
@@curtisjudd grazie!
@@NevioManente Prego!
Hey Curtis, Awesome episode. I ask you a question somewhere and then find the answer to it in one of your videos :) I wanted to know if Zoom F3's preamps can produce better results than Tascam DR-60Dmkii. Looks like it can. Thank you very much once again!
👍
Hi Curtis, do you have any advice on how to reduce the noise floor when recording with the MKH 416? I see you put a HPF at 50Hz, and I tried to copy the other settings you used. I noticed in your F3 review video you were able to get the levels to around -60db, but mine still hover around -45db when I normalize the audio. I record in an office with lots of reflective surfaces, and low AC rumble. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, and thank you for your amazing videos.
I would do three things: 1) move the mic closer to you, 2) turn off noise sources in the room, and 3) use sound blankets to manage reflections. If you cannot do all of these, do as many of them as you can. I'd prioritize sound blankets and turning off AC while recording. Happy recording!
@@curtisjudd thank you Curtis!
Your reviews are so thorough and well done--- among the best out there, thank you for this, this will be helpful for those deciding on what recorder to get for their needs, Bravo!!!!!!
🙏
Thank you, Curtis. Your review of the Zoom F3 was very helpful. I'm of an age when forgetting tp press buttons is increasingly an issue. :) I ordered the F3 from Amazon using your link today - very happy to help, as I am grateful to you for sharing your insights so freely. BTW, the Zoom F3 is on special, $50 off until March 1.
Happy recording! 🎙️
Does it switch over from USB to AA batteries if the usb cable is pulled out and does it continue recording?
Yes
Great review as always... do think that there is a difference in the preamp or the noise floor between f6 and f3??
No, they sound the same and their specs appear the same as well.
Have been waiting on your review for this. Thank you
👍
hello curtis, regarding mic preamps, what is your preference between the mix pre and the F3? thank you.
I prefer not only the sound of the MixPre, but it is also able to handle higher output signals from microphones.
Thank you sir. I never owned a recorder and as someone hoping to do interviews as a one man team, this seems applicable to me. Appreciate the thorough review!
👍 happy recording!
Terrific review! How do you think this would sync with a BMDPC 4or 6K audio track?
Oops; should’ve clarified that I’m asking about a sync of the BMD track with the F3 in an NLE.
Just fine 👍
I'm shopping around, I mostly do interviews. But I've need doing more with my stabilizer and want to capture audio away from my camera with XLR K3m weighing it down on the stabilizer. I'm trying the H4n Pro and the H6 right now. I like the H6 best except I hate the XLR inputs not having locks. It seems like the F3 is going to better so I may return the others and get the F3. Sound is most important and XLR locks are important too. I may be able to find a way to secure the XLR cables on the H6 but I don't know how yet and I have a feeling it's going to be something that annoys me everytime I use it. If the F3 is most likely going to sound better, so it seems like the best for me. I am mostly run and gun, solo, doing it all. I need something predictable, quality and easy. I think two inputs will be fine most if not all the time when I'm using the stabilizer. My wireless system is two Sennheiser G3s with countryman lavs. If the F3 sounds significantly better than anything else I have than I may use it for everything. Do you worry about the power switch being easy to hit or record button? Someone was complaining about something like that on the f3. And do you think it'll be significantly easier, more predictable or at least consistently great audio, than the H6? It seems like the F3 is clearly the way to go for me.
I have NOT yet accidentally powered it off and there is a hold switch so if you engage that, you cannot accidentally turn it off. The F3 definitely sounds cleaner and can handle more dynamic range than any of the H series recorders. Seems like a good fit for you from what I can tell.
Is there any quality problem using 3.5mm-to-XLR adapter? There has to be some conversion but will I hear the difference?
It depends on the mic and the converter.
For a compact overhead rig, could you connect a zoom f3 to an XLR mic using an XLR male to female adapter/connector to eliminate the need for a cable? I don’t even know if such a m-f XLR dongle exists. Thinking kinda like using a deity hd-tx plugged directly into a mic. 🤷
If you can find one, it should work, yes.
I wanted to use a Centrance PivotMic, but their XLR pins are rotated 90 degrees from standard. However, they've posted a form on their site to gauge interest in making a version that's compatible with other recorders (like the F3). I tried to post a link, but that seems to get my comments auto-deleted (they just disappear). So head over there if you're interested. It would be a great setup for the F3.
Brilliant video, thanks Curtis. I’m torn between the MixPre and the F6 after seeing this. I love the feature you mentioned of the line out limiter that runs independently of the internal recording. I just also watched your mixpre series 2 video and it doesn’t look as if the MixPre has this option. Is that correct?
Correct.
@@curtisjudd thanks! Appreciated
Your works are like a lesson. Thank you for your hard working efforts.
Thanks Mustafa.
As far as I can see, if you want to use the F3 with high level sounds or with a high sensitivity mic and you are concerned about the +4dB limitation, you can simply set it to line input - which also offers phantom power and has the same input impedance - and you've got +24dB max level. So there's not really an issue in this respect. Am I right?
I don’t know. Have you tried it?
thanks for your amazing, thorough review, Curtis! I film protests. sometimes the audio can be very loud from speakers and bull horns. I use an Azden SGM-250MX Professional Compact Cine Mic. do you think this would be workable with the F3? currently I use the XLR adapter and it is quite hard to be adjusting constantly to the highly fluctuating sound levels in this environment.
to clarify, I use it with my XLR Adapter for my GH5
Seems like it should work well. 🙏
@@curtisjudd thank you!
Really interesting trying to predict audio level before recording in different environments.
Yes.
Hello Curtis ! Thks for this review. Could you tell us what's the size of the file (1min of recording for exemple)
That depends on how many channels you record. there's a file size calculator you can use here: www.sounddevices.com/support/ If you record 2 channels at 48kHz, 32-bit float, you can record for about 43 minute and that will take up 1GB on a card.
Great review. Thank you Curtis.
👍
Love my f6, thinking getting this one for the size. Thanks curtis.
Happy recording! 🎙
Hi Curtis, thank you for the great review.
👍
Great work, Curtis! I appreciate the detail you provided in this review to help me make an informed decision to purchase this recorder. I will be sure to use one of your links to help support the channel.
Thanks and happy recording!
Hi Curies would u mind to share some tips for mounting those recorders for field recording . like how to use on cameras on boom pole , on hand-held. as u know those cables ,even a light touch all make noise sometime it blows the whole job. would really like to see if u kindly share ur experience orz .
I would use a friction arm or shoe to 1/4” screw mount to attach it to cameras, but usually I keep it separate. But to protect the cables, I’d use hook and eye tape to attach the cable to the rig or tripod.
@@curtisjudd Thanks a lot . Orz
Great review, Curtis. Would love to know if you have a recommendation for an adapter to enable a 3.5mm mic to be used. I frequently use a small Rode VideoMicro for teaching and it would be great to be able to adapt it to the XLR. Thanks!
RODE VXLR+
11:02 do you tested loopback? I tried with iPad Pro - doesn’t do anything.
Tested on Mac, both in "tablet and Mac/PC" -> works
I guess it's IOS..
I just tested with macOS.
@@curtisjudd Yes, me too. I guess it would be interesting if someone could provide working use case for loopback on mobile devices.
Constructed working loopback case that made sense on iPad, so it’s possible.
Thank you, super informative. Would you be able to recommend an okay XLR mic (not expensive) for F3, for at home individual content creator?
Have a listen to the Audio Technica AT875r: ua-cam.com/video/8NknNRy2uXQ/v-deo.html
Just recently, I have seen this unit combined with a matched pair of capsule mics to create a high end stereo handheld recorder (foley etc) The mics just plug straight into the F3.
Nice
@@curtisjudd Perhaps this would make a nice short video, selecting mics, pickup patterns etc. I don't have a matched pair, but I do have a top notch stereo mic that I think I will pair with an F3 just for capturing high quality foley. Less hassle than using my MixPre. Every handheld (except maybe the top end Sony D100) are let down by the built in mics.
@@JohnnyMotel99 Can't wait to see your video!
any humming problem above 20khz like the Tascam Portacapture X8?
Not that I noticed.
Thanks so much for that in depth review. One Question: Is it possible to solo (or mute) one of the two channel, while recording? I would like to use it, for a MS Set-up. Therefore i need, to be able to check, the different Microphones singled out. Thanks, and greetings from Germany
You can dive into the menus and turn each input on or off, but no mute that I can see.
How important is it to set the amplification correctly before I start recording? Suppose I am recording a pretty low signal that requires x64 amplification to reach an adequate looking waveform on the monitor. Would setting the amplification to x64 before the recording starts produce a result identical to recording it at x1 and amplifying it in post?
Seems it doesn’t make much difference based on the samples I recorded.
Greetings. What is the maximum continuous recording time that can be achieved using one pair of AA batteries/accumulators? Not according to instructions, but in fact? I did tests for three days on different AA batteries and was able to get more than nine hours.
Sounds like you already have the answer. And we shared our results in the video.
So in order to synch audio with video when using the Zoom F3, does one slate with clapperboard and stick? 😎😎
Yes, or clap your hands.
Do you find preamps on that device matching those on F4/F8/F8n? Are they much worse?
They’re very similar, microphones will make a much bigger difference to the sound.