Zoom F8 Initial Impressions: Audio Recorder for Enthusiast Filmmakers

When I first saw the Zoom F8 audio field recorder prototype at NAB 2015, I was a little skeptical. How can 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. I’ve now been shooting with it for almost four weeks and I’m quite impressed with most aspects of this recorder. It looks like it will meet my needs quite nicely - corporate videos with a one or two person crew.

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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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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Audio Technica AT4053b Hyper Cardioid Condenser Microphone

Amazon: https://geni.us/NKGA

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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Anton Bauer Digital 90 Gold Mount Battery

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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D-tap to Hirose cable

B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/937170-REG/remote_audio_captaphir_anton_bauer_powertap_d_tap_p_tap.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/RECAPTAPHIR/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xRECAPTAPHIR

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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.