Attention filmmakers, sound designers, and mobile engineers! Bringing yet another powerful product to market, Zoom has introduced the new F8n multi-track field recorder with all the customizable fiddly bits, boulder-like solidness, and situational flexibility you could ask for! Add to that some powerful workflow enhancements and you've got a top-notch recorder ready for use around the world.
At its core, the F8n is a compact, portable, lightweight multi-track recorder with eight inputs, ten tracks, and audio resolution up to 24-bit/192 kHz. All eight inputs utilize locking XLR-1/4" TRS combo jacks with switchable mic/line settings and microphone preamps, which provide phantom power, a low EIN of -127 dB, and up to 75 dB of gain. Each input channel has a level control, 6-segment LED meter, and PFL solo—great for checking individual mic or line sources for distortion and tone. Zoom's Advanced Look-Ahead Hybrid Limiters incorporate a 1 ms delay to prevent clipping and deliver 10 to 20 dB of headroom for all eight channels. This delay lets the limiters analyze and act upon the signal before the files are recorded. A 1/4" headphone jack, stereo TA3 mini-XLR balanced main outputs, and two 3.5mm unbalanced sub outs allow versatile monitoring and routing to an external mixer or camera.
A pre-record function will grab up to six seconds of signal prior to pressing the record button. Record in MP3 or BWF-compliant WAV format to SD cards; there are two slots for SD/SDHC/SDXC cards up to 512GB each. Additionally, you can record to your computer via USB at the same time. There's nothing like the safety net of a simultaneous backup while recording! Tag your recordings via the built-in slate mic and switch, clean up your low frequencies with the high-pass filters, and configure the customizable I/O delays for proper offsets. Integrated Mid-Side decoding simplifies mixing mics recorded in an M-S setup, and dual-channel recording creates redundant safety tracks. If you happen to be using an Ambisonics-compatible microphone, the F8n's Ambisonics mode is a welcome blessing. It empowers you with A-to-B decoding, linking for gain and settings, and custom metering. Not only are recordings simplified; the mixing process is made easier, too! Zoom's AutoMix software acts like an intelligent expander, automatically and dynamically changing mix levels to lower often-distracting ambience.
Operations are efficient and smooth, thanks to front-panel transport buttons and a 2.4" backlit color screen, which displays channel and stereo output meters, recording settings, timecode and real-time readouts, and more. Speaking of timecode, the F8n has a Temperature-Compensated Crystal Oscillator (TCXO) for generation of timecode, accurate to 0.2 ppm even when powered off! Timecode I/O is provided on standard BNC connectors. Allowing remote access from iOS devices, the Zoom F8 Control App hosts controls for the mixer, transport, file information, and more.
Bonus capabilities include compatibility with Zoom 10-pin mic capsules, alerts for low battery and recording status, and powering via eight AA batteries, an external DC power pack, or the included 12 VAC adapter.
Whether you're a sound designer, on-set mixer, field recorder, or touring musician, consider the F8n for your remote recording needs. Feel free to stop by the B&H SuperStore or visit our website to check it out!
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