Zoom F8n Audio Recorder: Initial Impressions

At the National Association of Broadcasters meeting earlier this year, Zoom announced their update to the F8 audio field recorder - the F8n. The focus of this update was to address many of the things that users complained about on the original - hybrid limiters that were ok, but not perfect, line inputs only on 1/4”, mediocre headphone amp, and consumer line level output among others. I had a chance to work with the F8n for a few hours. Let’s see how they did addressing these items. From my point of view, it looks like the F8n is a very nice step up from the original F8.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses at https://school.learnlightandsound.com

Links to gear discussed and used to shoot this episode:
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Zoom F8n Audio Field Recorder

Amazon (US, UK, FR, DE): http://geni.us/aXim

B&H: https://bhpho.to/2JvAnmj

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Zoom F4 Audio Field Recorder (similar but with 4 microphone inputs, monochrome screen, no app control)

Amazon: http://geni.us/CCMgC

B&H: https://bhpho.to/2Aplb5d

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Zoom F-Control surface with linear faders

Amazon: http://geni.us/yWCZLQ

B&H: https://bhpho.to/2LCiYsV

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Juicebox V-Mount Cine Battery - good way to power the F8n, F4, F8 all day long

Amazon: https://geni.us/oyDp

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D-tap to 4 pin Hirose Cable (to feed power from cine battery to F8n, F8, F4)

B&H: https://bhpho.to/2JmOY7v

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Remote Audio BDS V4 Battery Distribution System

B&H: https://bhpho.to/2LjxXI1

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Remote Audio Hi-Q Battery (98 watt-hours)

B&H: https://bhpho.to/2ssm3V4

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Sennheiser MKH8050 Boom Microphone - this is the microphone I used

B&H: https://bhpho.to/2zozur3

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Schoeps CMC641 - this is the microphone my daughter used

B&H: https://bhpho.to/2gshfsv

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Aputure COB 120t - This is the light I used as a key in the talking head clips

Amazon: http://geni.us/lHTcfa
B&H: https://bhpho.to/2yUWD4z

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Aputure Light Dome Soft Box - Used to soften the key light

Amazon: http://geni.us/74in

B&H: https://bhpho.to/2z9bRSw

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Lupo DayLED Fresnel Light with Barn Doors - Used for the “rim/hair” light

650, 1000, & 2000 in daylight, tungsten, or bi-color
B&H: https://bhpho.to/2DtVJhQ

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Blackmagic design Ursa Mini Pro Cinema Camera - used for some of the product shots

B&H: https://bhpho.to/2AKJOcN

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Sigma ART 24-70mm f/2.8 OS Lens (Canon EF Mount)

B&H: https://bhpho.to/2kjsI2x

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Panasonic GH5 - Used for some of the product shots

Amazon: http://geni.us/Efb6r

B&H: https://bhpho.to/2BcorBk

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Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - incredibly versatile lens that is on the GH5 most of the time

Amazon: http://geni.us/uMsKam

B&H: https://bhpho.to/2i6s2gv

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Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd

Music - MzA by Cary Judd, used with permission

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