Zoom F8 Input Limiters

Zoom F8 Audio Recorder

B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1140426-REG/zoom_zf8_f8_field_recorder.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/ZOF8/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xZOF8

DVeStore: http://www.dvestore.com/pro-audio/recording/zoom-f8-multi-track-field-recorder/#aid=6242

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When I first saw the Zoom F8 audio field recorder prototype at NAB 2015, I was a little skeptical. How could they make a pro level field recorder for only $1000? Most of the pro level devices are priced at least twice that, and those with 8 mic inputs are often 3 to 4 times that. But the specs looked really, really good on the most important things: the preamps and analogue to digital converter.

So I put in my preorder and took a chance. What I did not realize at the time, is that the input limiters that should prevent clipping when things get really loud are digital instead of analogue limiters. This is usually a serious disadvantage and render the digital limiters useless because the clipping and distortion damage are done before the audio gets into the digital part of the recorder.

However, there's a reasonably happy ending: because the Zoom F8’s pre-amplifier and analogue to digital converter produce a dynamic range of 120dB, I’ve found that things generally work ok until you get the most extreme screaming, as far as dialogue is concerned. In this episode we take a closer look with an audio sample you can hear to assess how well the F8 does in cases where dialogue suddenly turns to screaming.

If you’d like to improve your sound recording for film skills, please have a look at our Sound Recording for Video course over at http://school.learnlightandsound.com

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Gear covered and used to shoot this episode:

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Audio Technica AT4053b Hyper Cardioid Condenser Microphone

Amazon: https://geni.us/XStaMoI
B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/642499-REG/Audio_Technica_AT4053B_AT4053b_Hypercardioid_Condenser_Microphone.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/AUAT4053B/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xAUAT4053B

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Electrovoice RE20 Dynamic Microphone (for the voice over recording)

Amazon: https://geni.us/VdcJu3G
B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/76681-REG/Electro_Voice_16207816_RE20_Cardoid_Voiceover.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/ELRE20/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xELRE20

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Powering the Zoom F8: Eneloop Pro AA Rechargeable Batteries
(about 3 - 4 hours when phantom powering 1 shotgun or cardioid mike plus 2 wireless lavalier mikes)

Amazon: https://geni.us/LxeQXV8

B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1148532-REG/panasonic_bk_3hcce_4be_eneloop_xx_aa_4.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/PABK3HCCE4BE/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xPABK3HCCE4BE

Anton Bauer Digital 90 Battery via hirose DC input
(about 25 - 30 hours with the same configuration)

B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1053652-REG/anton_bauer_8675_0092_digital_battery_series_digital.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/ANDIG90GM/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xANDIG90GM

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Music copyright Curtis Judd 2012

Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.