**Note**: 1) I was recovering from the flu when I recorded this and my voice was still rather raw and affected by the illness. 2) In the majority of the review I used a lavalier. If you'd like to compare the sound here with another video for reference, be sure to listen to an episode where I used the same mic: th-cam.com/video/9c74PsslcOk/w-d-xo.html
FUNNY story: My first experience with this recorder came at a wedding. The photographer put one on my as I was the officiant. I assumed it was a wireless microphone that would be switched on later via a sound board. I wore it for 30+ before the wedding not realizing I was actually being recorded. I took phone calls, told jokes and even went to the BATHROOM. I noticed after the wedding she said “let me grab your RECORDER” I immediately realized and was quite embarrassed. Fast forward after hearing the audio in the edited video later I immediately bought one and love it.
Thank you so much for the review on the zoom F1. This product makes so much sense when compared with the ridiculously expensive Lectrosonics PDR you recently reviewed. The Zoom F1 has great features and amazing quality at a price (not cheap) that is realistic for amateurs and aspiring pros.
Another great review. I contacted Zoom and asked if they would be selling the shock mount separately and when. I was told that in several weeks I should be able to get it directly from them... that was back at the beginning of March. As of today it's not available. I already own the Zoom H6 with the shotgun mic so I went with the F1 lavaliere version so I could use shotgun I already own from my H6 with the F1. I'm sure eventually the shock mount will be available and I'll be glad when it is. Note: I own both of the Zoom shot gun mics and I have to say I really like the way the F1 works with the Zoom SSH-6. The F1 has good control of the side mics.
I've bought my F1 about 2 years ago (2020), used it a lot when shooting outdoors until about 1 year ago. I really liked it. After a break of about a year, I used it today again. In between two recordings, the battery lid chose to break while I was outdoor, somewhere in the woods. Of course I had no backup system. (who on earth carries emergency backup systems, that's so …) That was most inconvenient. I could continue to record with holding the f1 in one hand, pressing the lid down with my thumb, and holding the camera in the other hand. Not too easy when the camera has 1.4kg and you can't switch hands. I always wondered how long the lid would live. For me it was about a year of use. Not too long.
Just a note; I have just reviewed the Zoom F1, and didn’t get any of the RF interference in my testing. Also, shockingly, the limiter did not add to the noise floor in my testing, my test got the same -60db noise floor (mostly likely room tone) with the limiter on and off. I’m extremely impressed with this little unit.
Thanks to the mention in your vid about the H1n, I learned about the F1- which is EXACTLY what I needed. Almost mistakenly bought the H1n. I really appreciate the overview.
Excellent review yet again! Always love the attention paid to lesser-known gear you show on your channel. I've always thought the form factor of the H1 was a little too difficult for my needs, but the F1 looks like a solid budget option for lavalier microphones.
That was an incredible review. I'm sold on the F1-SP bundle, I'm getting into video work and was absolutely disappointed reading all the negative reviews on RODE videomic products nowadays. This is a clean sounding, excellent alternative that also records into it's own SD card as a backup. I can appreciate that alot.
I've been using this unit for corporate video, and occasionally as a VO interface for LogicProX for about 18 months. It's an incredibly versatile little unit. My H5 is largely gathering dust now.
Great review! I've used both the F1 and the TASCAM DR10, and I prefer the F1 over the DR10 because: it's a little bigger, so the buttons are more solid and easier to manipulate; the screen is WAY easier to read; and the way the DR10 operates is not very intuitive, so I kept getting lost in terms of the current vs. most recent track. Also, for those of us who need reading glasses for pretty much everything, the F1 is far easier to read than the DR10. (People rarely have much to say about the UI design, but with more and more features getting jammed into these things, the UI is becoming increasingly important. Just going through a run-down of the buttons isn't sufficient IMHO. Rather, you need to actually go through some normal usage steps. The DR10 just confused the heck out of me for quite a while, but the F1 was much quicker to learn.)
I've recently purchased a Zoom H5. I was looking for something that has very low self-noise. Most of what I record is me talking softly (I record guided meditations). I was reasonably happy with my Zoom H4n Pro which I upgraded to a while ago from my Zoom H2n (I was generally happy with the sound quality of the H2n for most uses, but had some issues with it for recording meditations and so would plug in a lapel mic to record them, which generally worked well. I upgraded to the H4n Pro because I also teach and demonstrate meditation and hypnosis in front of audiences and wanted to mic up myself and potentially a demonstration subject and have this audio recorded for videos etc, not something I could do with the H2n and the Pro has reduced noise over the original H4n). Now my TH-cam channel is becoming more popular and companies are wanting to licence my meditations for apps etc I want to improve the quality further, so although everything I read said that the H5 had the same self-noise as the H4n Pro, it has the option to change mics, so I could use the shotgun mic to reduce pickup of other noises and hopefully have the focus on my voice, and maybe not have to be quite as close to the mic as I have to be when using the H4n Pro's XY mics. I saw a self-noise test (although I have watched so many videos etc before making my decision between the H5 or H6 and also possibly considering the Sony PCM- D100) that had the self noise about -40dB which was very high, but recordings I found online for what I would use it for seemed okay (the other thing I record is nature, often of quiet things, so I know apparently the Sony is best for this, but that doesn't have so much on board options, like XLR and is over twice the price and I couldn't find a clear self-noise comparison test). What I was thinking, and how I found this video, was that the F1 might have better sound, so buying and H5 and later an F1 where I can then use the same interchangeable mics, might be a good option, then I would have a lapel mic on something which could replace my H1 for when I give talks etc (where I don't want to be connected to a static recorder like with XLR mics into Zoom H4n Pro or H5), but also then perhaps a device that is easy to carry around for recording nature. In your video it seems the self-noise with this is below -60dB (unlike the test I saw for the H5 at about -40dB). I searched your channel to see if you have done the same test on the H5 with the same shotgun mic. Obviously if the F1 is essentially the same quality sound as the H5 and that maybe it was differences in testing (as one was done by you, the other by someone else) then it may not be worth getting the F1 when I have the H5, but if the F1 has something about it that makes it have lower self-noise (perhaps a change in how Zoom do things given it is a much more recent product) then it could be worth having the F1 for recording quiet nature sounds. I have really struggled to find comparisons or comparison charts etc giving this kind of information for different devices so that they can be compared. I read somewhere that the Sony PCM D100 is -127dB EIN, H4n Pro, H5 and H6 are -120 dB EIN, but I don't know what this difference between the two numbers means in practical terms. Also what I am more interested in is how loud is the self-noise when mics are compared at equal levels (I have heard that on the dial for the Sony, turning it to 4 gives the same level as a Zoom set to 7, so I would want a test of these devices set so that they are picking up the sound at the same level, which could mean, although I don't know, that when the Zoom reaches 10, the Sony may be at 7 and may have the same or lower noise, but still have room to turn up sensitivity for quieter noises, but I don't know what the noise would be like as the Sony passes 7 for example and whether it remains usable etc). So really the questions (following this long message) are, do you know whether the F1 and the H5 essentially sound the same with the same levels of self-noise and how does the F1/H5/H6 compare to the Sony PCM D100 for recording quiet things, not speech or towns or music etc, but bird song, rustling leaves, etc, and what advice would you give for how to find this kind of information out if you don't have access to the recorders to do your own tests and what, in real terms do the different numbers quoted as selling points mean (like is there a significantly noticeable difference between -127dB EIN and -120 dB EIN and how does (or does it?) this number relate to real-world use and what numbers or information should we be looking for. I just want the quietest recorder for nature and if I have to then I will save for getting the Sony in the future (which reviews etc seem to point to that being the best non-professional/under £600 recorder on the market for that kind of recording. Thank you for any help you can give...
Hi Dan, the F1, subjectively and to my ears, sounds similar to the H5 though I have never specifically compared them to each other in an intentional sort of way. I have not used the Sony recorder so I don't have any specific feedback on it. My subjective opinion is that the F1 and/or H5 can work nicely for recording ambient sound with the X/Y stereo microphone capsule. It isn't what the highest-end pros would use, but their setups would cost thousands of dollars more and would be less convenient to use.
Hi@@curtisjudd thank you, yes, I'm not at a level of affording thousands yet but want the best I can within my budget. I feel happy just having the H5 and in the future perhaps get the Sony specifically for capturing nature sounds if I feel I need it. For more the Zoom fulfills more things I need to do and with the modules and XLR inputs and better battery life than the H4n Pro it is probably the best option for now. Thank you for taking the time to reply.
Thanks very much. It's larger than I imagined, but the versatility looks good. The H1n includes some of the same display and control layout improvements over the H1. Thanks for underscoring that boom mounting a shotgun mic is far superior to mounting one on camera.
Excelente revision de un magnifico producto como el zoom f1. I used the zoom f1 for recording my sermons and the quality is superb. Thank you for your explanation, very detailed and well presented.
Thank you! I like my Tascam DR 10L. It also has the safety track and it’s smaller. But if you want the microphones on it then Zoom is the way to go. It’s great to have do many options now. Just a couple years ago this space was sorely missing this type of run and gun recorder. :)
I love your reviews. I'm always about a year behind when the products are released and when your reviews come up in my feed, but luckily its always before I buy one! lol. Love this!
Thanks Dave. You might consider clicking the bell icon to be notified when the videos come out, even if you don't watch them right away, you'll at least know you can refer to them in the future.
you all prolly dont care but does any of you know a way to get back into an Instagram account?? I stupidly forgot the login password. I would appreciate any help you can give me.
Thanks BFM! That is indeed a new light I’ve been working with over the last month. I’m very excited to tell everyone about it when it launches on March 30th (under embargo for now)!
Thanks for the video. Getting started in video and sound has been an issue. Your description of the Zoom F1 helps me decide on what product I need! That lighting in the car is cool as well
For those coming along later, this was lit with the Aputure F7, a 7 inch LED panel. Our review can be found here: th-cam.com/video/7XGsKgpbVwg/w-d-xo.html
Curtis, I've been a big fan of your since I started exploring audio/video recording a couple of years ago. I recently purchased the F1 for use with the SSH-1 (and other capsules). It serves as my shotgun mic for video recording with a Sony a6500. I have encountered 2 problems I didn't anticipate and I hope you can shed some light on those. First, it seems that the a5600 doesn't do well with the F1's line level headphone output. I really didn't predict that this would be a problem since Zoom sells a 3.5mm cable for the purpose of connecting a recorder to a camera and it is NOT an attenuation cable. Moreover, I have not seen you or any of the reviewers mention that this could be a problem. I purchased a 3.5mm 35dB attenuation cable and that did help, though I think perhaps it might work better with even more attenuation. Second, even when the 1st problem is addressed, there is a pronounced buzz on the camera recording that really makes the camera recording of the F1 output fairly unusable. Much to my disappointment, I will certainly have to record separate audio and synch it up in post for anything I try to record and publish. Moreover, I have been using this setup to do Zoom meetings and Skype calls. I can avoid problems with the synching up of audio and video if both the audio and video are transmitted over the same HDMI line from the camera. But with this problem, I'll have to have separate inputs into my computer for audio and video and will therefore have a synchronization problem. Perhaps that is a limitation of the camera. But again, I have not seen yourself or any other reviewers mention that as a potential issue. Usually, the reviewers focus on the quality and proximity of the microphone to the source. Noone ever says you can't get usable audio recorded to your camera without solving little known problems... What do you think???
From memory, I tested it with my Panasonic GH5 and did not experience a buzzing issue or a need for an attenuation cable. I wonder if it is an issue between the F1 and Sony? Any luck when you contact Sony and ZOOM support? Sorry I can’t test it here as I don’t have the necessary gear on hand.
The F1 would be able to record in stereo. You would be able to use a 3.5mm TRS split cable. The XYH-6 stereo capsule would also be compatible with the device.
Curtis Absolutely amazing and yes I have been paying attention.Learned so much from watching.Can't Thank You enough.I definitely recommend anyone watching to start from the beginning because Curtis is Amazing.Again Thank You.And glad I watched from the Start.Deb.👌👍
Also, the Tascam DR-10L is not capable of being used as an audio interface with a PC/Mac via USB. It is my understanding the Zoom F1 CAN be used in this manner. (Obviously not the main point of either pocket recorder, but nice to know if that option exists.) Love your videos and reviews!! Thanks!!
I wish this had a line out so that you could use it as a preamp. Line in from my Sarmonic Lav equipment and then line out through my camera and record straight onto my video track.
It's awesome to see that you keep responding to questions in your channel. Just shows how much dedication you have :) I'll throw in my question as we are in the process of setting up our own small studio for our own product review and intro. So we don't want to go too crazy on the budget but still want to produce decent audio results. What would you recommend would be a good start for us if we plan to use it in studio recording and maybe some outdoor recordings? Looking at the F1 and H1N but not sure if this is what's going to get us a solid start. Thanks
@@curtisjudd Appreciate the response. I just viewed your Rode Wireless Go review and also thinking about that. I guess what i don't understand at this point is, whether the wireless systems would already produce an awesome sounding video or would you still think the F1 having better preamps would still be the better buy? We just don't know which if it even will make a difference. 😊
@@LEDWORKSPHIILIPPINES I suppose it depends on what you're using now to record audio. Getting a microphone closer than a camera microphone WILL make a difference. If you're shooting talking head shots and the person isn't moving around too much, the F1 with the shotgun microphone module boomed above the person speaking will likely produce the best sound, assuming the room you shoot in isn't too boxy or reverb-y sounding.
Wow, crazy noise floor with the shotgun mounted on the camera. Very quiet with your lav mic. Thanks for the great review. I'm considering this one in addition to my two DR10Ls.
The F1 seems to be similar to newer Zoom H1n, but you have: 1) better external jacks; 2) interchangeable microphone; 3) a boxier design which allows better placement on DSLR cameras. Good pros and cons.
initially I wasn't sure what the bars were for aside from the shockmount, but seeing the belt application in your video I was pretty happy. That might be very useful on set. It would be nice if they shipped it with a fanny pack strap or watch/ankle band to be used in lieu of a belt, quicker on/off. & as ankle it could double as set prop ankle monitor for house arrest.
Super helpful review, Curtis! Thanks so much. I’ll pick up one of these for my church as they’re currently in the market right now for an affordable lav system.
Good and thorough review; I have the F1 myself and love it. Unfortunately, I chose the "LP" version and it seems Zoom is still not selling the shock mount by itself which really renders the benefits of multiple capsules somewhat useless. I even emailed their support and got a "maybe we will sell it by itself." Poor customer service on that part in my opinion.
Yes, completely agree. I picked up the XYH-6 X/Y capsule and I cant even really use it unless I strap it to a wall. I'm relying on velcro bundling straps that I normally use for cable management. I'm currently trying to find someone who has the shock-mount or can provide a thorough diagram of its dimensions. If I can get that info then I'll just begin 3d printing it.
That is strange just ordered mine I have had a love/hate relationship with the Tascam. I also have the H6 so I have the microphone modules, it is a shame you can't buy the shock mount. Doesn't make much sense?? Lets see what they do.
I just received an email just a moment ago from Zoom, they have availability of the shock mount for $29.99! Just a heads up for anyone who would like to order I suggest reaching out to them!
The battery door has caused lost audio for me at least 5 times. It usually wears out too and is impossible to replace without getting an entirely new unit. It used to be my favorite, but now I'm looking for a better solution. Note: All the issues are when this was used often as an on-talent lavaliere mic.
The zoom has two advantages over the Tascam; line-in and bigger screen. The tascam is smaller in both length and width which is great when placing the recorder on a talent or groom, it becomes almost invisible compared to the Zoom. The tascam also have a safety track which is much better then the limiter in the Zoom (which adds noise). If you don't care about a limiter or size then the Zoom is the way to go. If you care about size and backup safety track then Tascam is great. Also the build quality on the Tascam is great just as the Zoom. The Tascam was made to use only with a Lav mic. The Zoom seems to be made for on-camera usage. Also the Tascam is $20 cheaper. For my purposes (interviews, Weddings), I prefer the Tascam.
Hi Molten Pros, thanks for your insights. I agree that the Tascam is much smaller and a better choice if you have to hide it on a bride or groom. I still think the Zoom has a much better chance of survival than the Tascam if dropped on concrete.
Although I see no problems with the Tascam's build quality, I agree that the Zoom probably has better build quality than the Tascam. I am a longtime subscriber and I want to thank you for making high-quality review videos. Wish you all the best.
Great review. I too have the DR 10L and really like it. A safety track on the zoom and you would have a very attractive option there.............Oh and I'm still waiting for a $100 price drop on the Panasonic DMW-XLR1 XLR Microphone Adapter. Panasonic are you listening - "big grin". I still like my Sennheiser ME66 for a shot gun, its the only legitimate mic that you can use directly connected to a GH5 or iPhone with no other pre-amp.
Hey Curtis, nice review! I would be very grateful to see a comparison of the zoom f1 vs zoom h5 and zoom f1 mounted on camera with shotgun vs videomic pro + mounted on camera. Thanks a lot!
Hi Fabricio, I'll see if I can squeeze in a VMP vs F1 camera top comparison in. I hate shooting that way because it never sounds great, but that's definitely a fair comparison. I don't have an H5 so I cannot add that to the comparison, unfortunately.
Curtis Judd i totally agree with you, but i think in some cases is the only way to record audio so we have to make sure to use the right tool. it's a pity that you do not have an h5, but I hope you do some other comparison to have some reference, because the f1 promises to be a good portable option. Thanks for your work!
According to zoom customer support they have no immediate plans to impelement Safety Track option in F1 via firmware update. So I made the decision to purchase 2 x H1N instead, for use with lavaliers, because they cost only half and have a working limiter built-in. I will just use tape to secure the gain-dial and microphone cable so there will be no problems.
Fantastic video as always Sir. I do have one question... what if I attach the shotgun mic capsule and plug in an external mic simultaneously. What would happen in that case? Thanks for everything Curtis and keep up the awesome work. Best reviews on TH-cam by far 😁
Thanks for the review of the F1 and thanks for referring me to this review from the H1n. After watching both videos and a couple videos comparing the H1n and the H4n I think for the money the H4n is the ticket although I definitely don't like the weight of the H4n. However, I like the all-in-one features it offers. I will be using it with a Manfrotto FigRig and still deciding how to do the mount, wherein the H1n would be much preferred except for the safety track matter. I definitely want that feature just in case. Oh, I also despise using Micro SD cards. I love SD Cards.
Sounds like good reasoning. I would encourage you to consider the H4n Pro which has improved preamplifiers. If you haven't already seen it, here is our comparison video: th-cam.com/video/wJCjbLw5Lh8/w-d-xo.html Best wishes!
Great and thanks. After much consideration, I am going with the following arrangement to order Monday (tomorrow) from B&H. I'm going to use the Saramonic SR-AX100 Passive 2-Channel Audio Adapter for DSLR Cameras mounted on a side bar attachment to the bottom of the camera along with the VideoMic Pro and feed the output of the Saramonic directly into the mic input jack on either the Canon 80D or EOS M6 then via HDMI mount a Lilliput 5" 4K HDMI Field Monitor to which I can plug in the headphone jack and have a slightly larger monitor with which to utilize. This arrangement will give me internal audio recording and I will know first hand I have solid sound recording via the headphones either through the monitor or directly via the 80D's headphone jack. Lastly, I'll have fewer devices and external control of audio instead of having to use a menu.
Thanks for the great video review. Just saw that some other article review says there are 'micro USB port for data exchange to and from computer and use as an audio interface with computer or iOS device' Wonder if anyone tried the audio interface feature ... Believe in this little device can work very nicely in a run-and-gun situation with Raspberry Pi3 ... (with some sort of DIY Python scripts regarding real-time voice processing ) Thanks Curtis for the review :)
Thanks Accounting Clue, I mentioned that it can be used as an audio interface in the summary but didn't talk about it. Yes, it works on Mac/PC but haven't tried it on Linux. I'm betting it is possible to get it working without too much trouble.
Mesmerising to listen to all the numbers being delivered as if it was plain english. :-) Really enjoy your reviews. I got a small youtube channel, adventures in the wild, and I like the idea to record the ambient noice for background more that ranting or use music, but what recorder would you recommend? I have an old and fading Zoom H1, been looking at the Zoom H1n and now at the F1. But in doing so I have opened Pandoras box, there are SOOO many interesting recorders to choose from.
The F1 has interchangeable microphone capsules, so if you want to invest for the long term and potentially add other types of microphones for the future, e.g., a shotgun microphone to capture specific birds, then the F1 makes sense. If you just want stereo ambience, the H1n is a fine choice. In fact, there's a special deal on the H1n today and tomorrow. You can find the details at learnlightandsound.com
@@curtisjudd I have a question that might sound weird, none the less, I would love if it is a solution out there for it. I do kayaking, will need 2 types of recording on the fly, ambient noise (river flowing, birds singing, elephants playing, etc....) but at the same time I need conversation at times. Does such a recorder exist, where I can record 2 seperate tracks at the same time, one with stereo input and another track with lavalier input?
@@BackonTrailasia I'm not aware of any recorders this small with 3 inputs. The Sound Devices MixPre-3 would do the job but is quite a lot larger, a bigger commitment.
I got this recorder because I needed a tiny recorder for a lav mic. The biggest issue that I have with it though is the built-in microphone input has gain presets and worst of all has much more noise than my other recorders. I still like it for putting on top of a camera outside when I don't want a larger and heavier setup but unfortunately even the most inexpensive recorder I have seems to have much cleaner gain. It seems to be a good tiny recorder for microphone modules but the performance with the built-in mic input is a bit lacking. I have made some decent field recordings with it but for field recording size isn't as much of a concern so I prefer my bigger recorder. The big recorder does seem to get more attention though which is sometimes a downside in crowded areas. Needless to say for me it is a great compact setup for using mic modules on top of a camera but using it with a lav mic for a school district video was a huge mistake. Perhaps the lav mic I use is to quite for the F1 but somehow the cheapest recorder I own (Tascam DR-05) performs much better with the same mic. The stereo mics for the Zoom are much better than the DR-05 though.
@@curtisjudd Maybe mine is faulty. I did some tests and it definitely isn't my lav mic. The preamps with the mic modules are fine but the built-in 3.5mm input has a lot of hiss.
@@fixedfocusmediaofficial Yeah, I'm not sure. I borrowed the kit I used for this review from B&H and it was the kit with the shotgun mic attachment so I used my own lavalier microphones. Any luck contacting ZOOM support?
@@curtisjudd It's probably to late. I think it's past their warranty period but I'm going to do some experimenting because it has been awhile since I used it. I just remembered the hiss and at the time it was for a video for a local school district. I remember staying up past 3:00am trying to fix the audio and wondering why I didn't use the same proven equipment from last time. Who knows, maybe it was just really bad shielding but it sounded like preamp noise to me. They still liked the audio but it definitely wasn't anywhere near as good as the first time. I learned my lesson though as painful as it was. Squinting at a screen for that many hours till that early in the morning is something I never plan to do again.😆
Will this unit accept audio in on the USB connection and record on the SD card? I use an audio split cable on a helicopter helmet cable. Used to send the sound into an older GoPro, but I now want the sound into a field recorder, preferably without dropping another 100 dollars on having a different cable shipped to Norway...
Your reviews are extremely helpful, thanks a lot! I’m looking for “wearable” recording for lav mic. I thought to buy Zoom h1n, but you in your review told that F1 is more suitable for this task. I’d like to ask is there some record/preamp quality between this two? It’s to hard to compare them from reviews because you used different mics and recorded on H1N in the studio. F1 was recorded in a car, which makes sound worse (in my opinion). I’d like to get best quality out of lav mics.
Now I discovered that there are also 32 bit options on the market. Now I’m much more confused. Btw I already have rode wireless go and rode lavalier go. And not sure should I upgrade at all.
@@galachiev Of all those you've listed, I'd consider the ZOOM F2 if you want a recorder: th-cam.com/video/2y51ptCAOdI/w-d-xo.html But if you need a wireless system, I'd stick with the Wireless GO unless it is causing problems for you?
@@curtisjudd wireless go works fine. I’m just thinking maybe wired system with recorder instead of recording into camera will sound better. I’m not really happy with sound of mics. That’s why I’m always use a boom mic which sounds much better. But lavalier is very handy sometimes, that’s why I decided to look for a decent audio quality from them. Maybe all lavs just have no potential to sound as great as a boom or studio condenser mic. Or maybe I’m just using very cheap equipment (lavalier go, wireless go and recording to Fuji x-t4). You have much more experience with lav mics, that’s why I’m asking for advice. Very appreciate your answers!
@@galachiev Lav mics always sound like lavalier mics because they're worn on the body. You have to EQ them to get them sounding good. Here's how I approach that: th-cam.com/video/Jn6iB1SNvRQ/w-d-xo.html
I have three of these and use them quite often. I don't trust wireless, but I need their portability and wire-free setup. But I'm not necessarily happy with their lapels for a lot of my interview work. I do mostly non-profit interviews, and I personally finance this. With that said, what lapels would you recommend most for the F1? Specifically, I need three that are good lapels that are ok for external clip-on. I'm also looking for at least two that I can conceal. I know your options may not be inexpensive, and that's ok. I just don't want to spend $1000/lav, especially if the F1 couldn't handle the quality anyway.
One of the accessories you can attach to the zoom microphone port at the top is a module with 2 XLR inputs. I believe they do NOT supply phantom power so your microphones will either need to supply their own power or you could use dynamic microphones (which do not require power).
Yes, I was thinking about that but no phantom power. I see that you have the RE20 right? I heard you still need to get an extra device such as Cloudlifter to remove the noise from the amp. Thanks for the video and all the work you do
Hey Curtis - Great test and video. I have subscribed to your channel. I have just purchase F1-SP version, but will probably order the lav mic at a later date. I have a question. In Video when people shoot in RAW, in post they talk about having their favourite LUT's etc. So do you have an audio enhancer plug in that you would recommend? - I have Final Cut Pro X for editing. Cheers, Peter.
Hi Peter, congrats on the new recorder! I hope it works well for you! I don't have a preset audio enhancer. But I usually use this EQ technique and loudness normalize my audio after that. Here are a couple of videos outlining how I do these. EQ: th-cam.com/video/Jn6iB1SNvRQ/w-d-xo.html Loudness 1: th-cam.com/video/nOzZKEWJ5wk/w-d-xo.html Loudness 2: th-cam.com/video/lHNhxGojFRU/w-d-xo.html
If you mean, does it sound mid-range focused like a telephone, yes, sort of. It isn't "neutral" but a fair bit more mid range focused. Not my favorite.
Can I know what 's the model you are using pin microphone at 4:41 in Video? I have used zoom F1-LP but bundle pin microphone have poor performance I want better microphone but I dont know what should I buy for better sound could you tell me it?
My H6 just died, so I’m thinking of just getting this to make use of all the modules I bought for the H6. Hopefully all the module mics work with this. I won’t be buying the H8 or another H6 to replace it cause I just don’t trust spending that much on another zoom product. H6 was barely used or taken out into the field. We were using it as a interface and it just decided to stop working. It’s about 3 years old with barely any abuse. Just want to make use of the modules and perhaps use the F1 with the modules for traveling. Thoughts? Otherwise I’d have to sell my modules without a recorder somewhere.
Hi Curtis, for field recording (foley, ambient sounds) and voiceover/dialogue in filmmaking, which one would you recommend on a budget (enough for any of the three below)? F1 + shotgun mic / XY stereo mic H4n H1n Thanks.
It is surprising that they didnt include that safety track feature/option. That would push me more towards the Tascam DR-10L. Still an interesting little recorder and a nice "upgrade" to the H1. On an unrelated note, are you headed to NAB this year? I solidified my plans to go just the other day.
Well guess what... the battery door on my Zoom F1 Lavalier broke. Specifically, one of the tabs on the battery door broke off. This is a big problem because if one of the tabs on the door breaks off you can no longer power it unless you have something like a wire tie to wrap around the unit and through the belt clip to tie the door back down. The battery door has to be on correctly to complete the battery connection. On a positive note though, I contacted Zoom and they replaced the whole unit free of charge. I did however have to show them my proof of purchase, good thing I still had it. Plus I had only owned it for about 6 months. Personally I don't like the way the door is made and I don't like the lack of a lower level backup recording track but overall I'm still very happy with it and that I can use all my other mics that came with my H6 with it. In fact, with the two items I'm not happy about I'm still thinking about getting a second one so I guess those issues don't bother me that much :)
Well, technically it's on nobody's list. Roland botched delivery of this badly, for nearly 1/2 year. Still a ways away from release. Weird since they weren't really inventing anything new...
You have great reviews, especially for someone like me who is just getting into film making. I did have a question though. I am starting a new channel which is all filmed outdoors and was wondering if the Zoom F1 or the H1n with Rode Smartlav would be better in your opinion. Mostly the recordings would be dialog and environment/nature sounds.
Hi Curtis! Based on your experience with Zoom if I was in a market for ultra portable AV recorder with high quality of sound but was concerned about the quality of Video in Zoom Q8 should I wait for Q8's successor maybe or rather get F1 and try to pair it with some gopro-like or other tiny camera? The setup must be so small that it can be mouted safely on a sturdy microphone stand about 2,5m above ground.
If you need it now, I’d go with the F1 and action cam. If you can wait, that seems like a fine choice as well though I have no inside info on when Zoom will have an update to the Q8.
Have you tried the line input? I have a Zoom F1, and I tried to use the line input and with the Zoom set to Lo-, and the mic input hooked up straight to the line output of my receiver, and it is super distorted. It works fine if I use an attenuator, but without the attenuator, it is all distorted, with everything set to the lowest setting. Give the line input a try and see if it works. I looked for a setting in the menus to set the mic input to line input, but could not find one.
Hi Curtis! I have a question regarding using Zoom F1 with Sony RX0 II camera (I assume it is similar to all other older Sony cameras). I plugged it's headphone out with 3,5mm jack cable to mic input on Sony. When I set input level on Sony at 1/31 I get -6dB test tone from Zoom F1 sitting one bar below -3dB marking (whatever that means) and I tend to clip on Sony, even though on Zoom my voice reaches around -18dB on meters. When I set input level on Sony at 0/31 I get -6dB test tone from Zoom F1 sitting around -12dB marking (with channel 2 being slightly hotter). I don't clip, and signal is similar in measured strength on both devices but I am concerned about uneven signal on both channels on Sony. Am I doing something wrong?
Hi Paweł, no this is pretty typical. As long as they're not off by more than a dB, there is virtually no discernible difference to the ear. You'd have to be off by closer to 3dB to be able to hear a difference.
Great video! Would the audio quality with the XY capsule be the same if I recorded it with the H6 vs. the F1 recorder? I haven't understood yet if the interchangeable capsules have their own preamps or if this also goes through the internal preamps of the recorders.
@@curtisjudd Preamps on the H4npro, H5 & H6 are supposed to be the same. A person would expect them to sound similar, but the F1 is intriguing option so I'll also look into trying to answer this same question.
@@francoisnel5253 Per the specifications on the ZOOM site, the preamps in the H4n Pro, H5, and H6 each support different levels of max gain which would suggest they are not identical. They likely sound similar at the same gain.
Curtis 👍 Great Video like always. I have the zoom f1 and the tascam dr-10l. And when I use both in the same situation with the rode videomicro, the zoom f1 has way more noise floor and hiss as the tascam. I used the zoom f1 with sound Level M+ and the tascam with level M. I also tried in post to get both files to the same level. Do you have same experience? Thx
Hi, unfortunately, I didn't have the ZOOM lavalier to test, just the shotgun mic attachment. But it sounds like you should do a video comparing them since you have them both. 👍
@@curtisjudd Thx Curtis :-) I ordered a new Zoom F1...Maybe my F1 has a technical defect. Because the noise in the Zoom F1 was really extremely louder than the Tascam Dr10l. The problem was mainly with the "Rode videomicro" and I had neither a limiter or a low cut filter activated. Well .. next week comes the new Zoom F1 and I try it again.
@@Isarlog Servus Isarlog ;-) The answer is: No. In my opinion the zoom f1 has much more noise floor as the tascam. especially with the Rode Videomicro the noise is significantly louder. Maybe I'm really over-sensitive, but if I can hear the noise in a dialogue, it's too much for me. With the Tascam is much less. Likewise, it's much easier to reduce the noise in post-production without having heavy sound losses. I will soon make a video with a comparison. Honestly, I do not understand why many TH-camrs rate the noise as "acceptable".
@@089mic It sounds like you are unique in testing the F1 and RODE Video Micro. That is not a combination I tried. Keep in mind that in many cases, it is the microphone which contributes most to the noise floor. And in some cases, a preamp and microphone combination simply do not work well together. Thanks for sharing the results of your tests!
I was so surprised... Probably because of my illiteracy :))) Line in on the device is not stereo line in... it is kind of strangely wired balanced input or something ? I try to hack my USB mixer, by using pan I put my mic to the left channel, and my CP to the right. So I could have a two independent tracks on 2 track device :) and do not need 4 track recorder. My PC software digest this just fine. Zoom H5 Line-in digest it also... Zoom F1 input 3.5mm jack drops one of the channels...
@@curtisjudd my pleasure:) I hope you could maybe do some more qualified test/guess. My guess is, probably, mic-line is optimized for 3-pin lavalier microphones. (mono-but balanced? i do not know). And because of that, the proper Stereo-In is almost mixed down to mono... Probably everything works just fine with Zoom's, 2 channel, XLR capsule... but I could not confirm this, since I am on go, and try to keep the number of equipment to thr minimal nescecary level... Sincerely, Juansher
**Note**: 1) I was recovering from the flu when I recorded this and my voice was still rather raw and affected by the illness. 2) In the majority of the review I used a lavalier. If you'd like to compare the sound here with another video for reference, be sure to listen to an episode where I used the same mic: th-cam.com/video/9c74PsslcOk/w-d-xo.html
please don't stop making videos
Ok. 😀
FUNNY story: My first experience with this recorder came at a wedding. The photographer put one on my as I was the officiant. I assumed it was a wireless microphone that would be switched on later via a sound board. I wore it for 30+ before the wedding not realizing I was actually being recorded. I took phone calls, told jokes and even went to the BATHROOM. I noticed after the wedding she said “let me grab your RECORDER” I immediately realized and was quite embarrassed. Fast forward after hearing the audio in the edited video later I immediately bought one and love it.
😅
Chris, your audio equipment reviews are among the best on the Interwebs. Great job
Thanks Noah!
Thank you so much for the review on the zoom F1. This product makes so much sense when compared with the ridiculously expensive Lectrosonics PDR you recently reviewed. The Zoom F1 has great features and amazing quality at a price (not cheap) that is realistic for amateurs and aspiring pros.
Thanks Art.
No matter the equipment, if it's audio, I know I can Google Curtis Judd and get an immaculate review.
👍
Another great review. I contacted Zoom and asked if they would be selling the shock mount separately and when. I was told that in several weeks I should be able to get it directly from them... that was back at the beginning of March. As of today it's not available. I already own the Zoom H6 with the shotgun mic so I went with the F1 lavaliere version so I could use shotgun I already own from my H6 with the F1. I'm sure eventually the shock mount will be available and I'll be glad when it is. Note: I own both of the Zoom shot gun mics and I have to say I really like the way the F1 works with the Zoom SSH-6. The F1 has good control of the side mics.
Thanks for the insights, SpiderWayne!
May I ask how does F1 does compare with H6 in recording quality? I am thinking of buying one. Thanks!
I've bought my F1 about 2 years ago (2020), used it a lot when shooting outdoors until about 1 year ago. I really liked it. After a break of about a year, I used it today again. In between two recordings, the battery lid chose to break while I was outdoor, somewhere in the woods. Of course I had no backup system. (who on earth carries emergency backup systems, that's so …) That was most inconvenient. I could continue to record with holding the f1 in one hand, pressing the lid down with my thumb, and holding the camera in the other hand. Not too easy when the camera has 1.4kg and you can't switch hands.
I always wondered how long the lid would live. For me it was about a year of use. Not too long.
Oof. I wonder if ZOOM sells replacements?
@@curtisjudd I've emailed them. Let's see if and how they react. I'll update here.
Just a note; I have just reviewed the Zoom F1, and didn’t get any of the RF interference in my testing. Also, shockingly, the limiter did not add to the noise floor in my testing, my test got the same -60db noise floor (mostly likely room tone) with the limiter on and off. I’m extremely impressed with this little unit.
Ok, thanks for the details!
Thanks to the mention in your vid about the H1n, I learned about the F1- which is EXACTLY what I needed. Almost mistakenly bought the H1n. I really appreciate the overview.
👍
Excellent review yet again! Always love the attention paid to lesser-known gear you show on your channel. I've always thought the form factor of the H1 was a little too difficult for my needs, but the F1 looks like a solid budget option for lavalier microphones.
Thanks David!
That was an incredible review. I'm sold on the F1-SP bundle, I'm getting into video work and was absolutely disappointed reading all the negative reviews on RODE videomic products nowadays. This is a clean sounding, excellent alternative that also records into it's own SD card as a backup. I can appreciate that alot.
👍 happy recording!
Nice work for putting the summary at the start, and not trying to string us along for ages to work the youtube algorithm.
Thanks Greg.
I've been using this unit for corporate video, and occasionally as a VO interface for LogicProX for about 18 months. It's an incredibly versatile little unit. My H5 is largely gathering dust now.
Glad it has worked well for you!
WoW amazing sound, lighting and video quality, great job, super clean pro work :)
Thanks jantestowy123!
Great review! I've used both the F1 and the TASCAM DR10, and I prefer the F1 over the DR10 because: it's a little bigger, so the buttons are more solid and easier to manipulate; the screen is WAY easier to read; and the way the DR10 operates is not very intuitive, so I kept getting lost in terms of the current vs. most recent track. Also, for those of us who need reading glasses for pretty much everything, the F1 is far easier to read than the DR10.
(People rarely have much to say about the UI design, but with more and more features getting jammed into these things, the UI is becoming increasingly important. Just going through a run-down of the buttons isn't sufficient IMHO. Rather, you need to actually go through some normal usage steps. The DR10 just confused the heck out of me for quite a while, but the F1 was much quicker to learn.)
Fair points, thanks!
I've recently purchased a Zoom H5. I was looking for something that has very low self-noise. Most of what I record is me talking softly (I record guided meditations). I was reasonably happy with my Zoom H4n Pro which I upgraded to a while ago from my Zoom H2n (I was generally happy with the sound quality of the H2n for most uses, but had some issues with it for recording meditations and so would plug in a lapel mic to record them, which generally worked well. I upgraded to the H4n Pro because I also teach and demonstrate meditation and hypnosis in front of audiences and wanted to mic up myself and potentially a demonstration subject and have this audio recorded for videos etc, not something I could do with the H2n and the Pro has reduced noise over the original H4n).
Now my TH-cam channel is becoming more popular and companies are wanting to licence my meditations for apps etc I want to improve the quality further, so although everything I read said that the H5 had the same self-noise as the H4n Pro, it has the option to change mics, so I could use the shotgun mic to reduce pickup of other noises and hopefully have the focus on my voice, and maybe not have to be quite as close to the mic as I have to be when using the H4n Pro's XY mics.
I saw a self-noise test (although I have watched so many videos etc before making my decision between the H5 or H6 and also possibly considering the Sony PCM- D100) that had the self noise about -40dB which was very high, but recordings I found online for what I would use it for seemed okay (the other thing I record is nature, often of quiet things, so I know apparently the Sony is best for this, but that doesn't have so much on board options, like XLR and is over twice the price and I couldn't find a clear self-noise comparison test).
What I was thinking, and how I found this video, was that the F1 might have better sound, so buying and H5 and later an F1 where I can then use the same interchangeable mics, might be a good option, then I would have a lapel mic on something which could replace my H1 for when I give talks etc (where I don't want to be connected to a static recorder like with XLR mics into Zoom H4n Pro or H5), but also then perhaps a device that is easy to carry around for recording nature.
In your video it seems the self-noise with this is below -60dB (unlike the test I saw for the H5 at about -40dB). I searched your channel to see if you have done the same test on the H5 with the same shotgun mic. Obviously if the F1 is essentially the same quality sound as the H5 and that maybe it was differences in testing (as one was done by you, the other by someone else) then it may not be worth getting the F1 when I have the H5, but if the F1 has something about it that makes it have lower self-noise (perhaps a change in how Zoom do things given it is a much more recent product) then it could be worth having the F1 for recording quiet nature sounds.
I have really struggled to find comparisons or comparison charts etc giving this kind of information for different devices so that they can be compared. I read somewhere that the Sony PCM D100 is -127dB EIN, H4n Pro, H5 and H6 are -120 dB EIN, but I don't know what this difference between the two numbers means in practical terms. Also what I am more interested in is how loud is the self-noise when mics are compared at equal levels (I have heard that on the dial for the Sony, turning it to 4 gives the same level as a Zoom set to 7, so I would want a test of these devices set so that they are picking up the sound at the same level, which could mean, although I don't know, that when the Zoom reaches 10, the Sony may be at 7 and may have the same or lower noise, but still have room to turn up sensitivity for quieter noises, but I don't know what the noise would be like as the Sony passes 7 for example and whether it remains usable etc).
So really the questions (following this long message) are, do you know whether the F1 and the H5 essentially sound the same with the same levels of self-noise and how does the F1/H5/H6 compare to the Sony PCM D100 for recording quiet things, not speech or towns or music etc, but bird song, rustling leaves, etc, and what advice would you give for how to find this kind of information out if you don't have access to the recorders to do your own tests and what, in real terms do the different numbers quoted as selling points mean (like is there a significantly noticeable difference between -127dB EIN and -120 dB EIN and how does (or does it?) this number relate to real-world use and what numbers or information should we be looking for. I just want the quietest recorder for nature and if I have to then I will save for getting the Sony in the future (which reviews etc seem to point to that being the best non-professional/under £600 recorder on the market for that kind of recording.
Thank you for any help you can give...
Hi Dan, the F1, subjectively and to my ears, sounds similar to the H5 though I have never specifically compared them to each other in an intentional sort of way. I have not used the Sony recorder so I don't have any specific feedback on it. My subjective opinion is that the F1 and/or H5 can work nicely for recording ambient sound with the X/Y stereo microphone capsule. It isn't what the highest-end pros would use, but their setups would cost thousands of dollars more and would be less convenient to use.
Hi@@curtisjudd thank you, yes, I'm not at a level of affording thousands yet but want the best I can within my budget. I feel happy just having the H5 and in the future perhaps get the Sony specifically for capturing nature sounds if I feel I need it. For more the Zoom fulfills more things I need to do and with the modules and XLR inputs and better battery life than the H4n Pro it is probably the best option for now.
Thank you for taking the time to reply.
Thanks very much. It's larger than I imagined, but the versatility looks good. The H1n includes some of the same display and control layout improvements over the H1. Thanks for underscoring that boom mounting a shotgun mic is far superior to mounting one on camera.
Thanks BJ. Hoping to have a look at the H1n soon, too. Yes, always good to get that mic closer. Camera top is almost never the ideal option.
Excelente revision de un magnifico producto como el zoom f1. I used the zoom f1 for recording my sermons and the quality is superb. Thank you for your explanation, very detailed and well presented.
Thank you! I like my Tascam DR 10L. It also has the safety track and it’s smaller. But if you want the microphones on it then Zoom is the way to go. It’s great to have do many options now. Just a couple years ago this space was sorely missing this type of run and gun recorder. :)
Same ballpark with a good lavalier (not the one included with the Tascam).
Yeah. But TASCAM's DR-10L doesn't record stereo signal and it doesn't have stereo input jack.
Love that you put the summary right up front - very helpful!
Thanks!
I love your reviews. I'm always about a year behind when the products are released and when your reviews come up in my feed, but luckily its always before I buy one! lol. Love this!
Thanks Dave. You might consider clicking the bell icon to be notified when the videos come out, even if you don't watch them right away, you'll at least know you can refer to them in the future.
Awesome. Thank you for the info. Currently have a Tascam DR-10L, but switching to the Zoom F1. Keep up the good work!
Thanks and I hope the F1 works well for you!
Yet another great video Curtis.
Thanks SleepDroid Studios!
you all prolly dont care but does any of you know a way to get back into an Instagram account??
I stupidly forgot the login password. I would appreciate any help you can give me.
OK. That is one beautiful light you're using in the car. Looks like sunlight? Do tell please.
Thanks BFM! That is indeed a new light I’ve been working with over the last month. I’m very excited to tell everyone about it when it launches on March 30th (under embargo for now)!
Awesome. Can't wait - it's really, really nice looking. Thanks!
Golden hour for the Golden boy!! Lol love both you guys channels! 👍
Thanks for the video. Getting started in video and sound has been an issue. Your description of the Zoom F1 helps me decide on what product I need! That lighting in the car is cool as well
For those coming along later, this was lit with the Aputure F7, a 7 inch LED panel. Our review can be found here: th-cam.com/video/7XGsKgpbVwg/w-d-xo.html
Curtis, I've been a big fan of your since I started exploring audio/video recording a couple of years ago. I recently purchased the F1 for use with the SSH-1 (and other capsules). It serves as my shotgun mic for video recording with a Sony a6500. I have encountered 2 problems I didn't anticipate and I hope you can shed some light on those. First, it seems that the a5600 doesn't do well with the F1's line level headphone output. I really didn't predict that this would be a problem since Zoom sells a 3.5mm cable for the purpose of connecting a recorder to a camera and it is NOT an attenuation cable. Moreover, I have not seen you or any of the reviewers mention that this could be a problem. I purchased a 3.5mm 35dB attenuation cable and that did help, though I think perhaps it might work better with even more attenuation. Second, even when the 1st problem is addressed, there is a pronounced buzz on the camera recording that really makes the camera recording of the F1 output fairly unusable. Much to my disappointment, I will certainly have to record separate audio and synch it up in post for anything I try to record and publish. Moreover, I have been using this setup to do Zoom meetings and Skype calls. I can avoid problems with the synching up of audio and video if both the audio and video are transmitted over the same HDMI line from the camera. But with this problem, I'll have to have separate inputs into my computer for audio and video and will therefore have a synchronization problem. Perhaps that is a limitation of the camera. But again, I have not seen yourself or any other reviewers mention that as a potential issue. Usually, the reviewers focus on the quality and proximity of the microphone to the source. Noone ever says you can't get usable audio recorded to your camera without solving little known problems... What do you think???
From memory, I tested it with my Panasonic GH5 and did not experience a buzzing issue or a need for an attenuation cable. I wonder if it is an issue between the F1 and Sony? Any luck when you contact Sony and ZOOM support? Sorry I can’t test it here as I don’t have the necessary gear on hand.
Thanks, Curtis. ☘️ I still watch your videos even if I am not intrested in the product. there is so much useful information in your reviews.
Thanks Armen!
Great review as always Curtis. Thank you! I may be getting that soon.
Thanks Gus!
The F1 would be able to record in stereo. You would be able to use a 3.5mm TRS split cable.
The XYH-6 stereo capsule would also be compatible with the device.
Thanks.
Dude! I was just looking at this and thinking "I wonder if Curits has reviewed this yet".
Sure enough! 👍
Curtis Absolutely amazing and yes I have been paying attention.Learned so much from watching.Can't Thank You enough.I definitely recommend anyone watching to start from the beginning because Curtis is Amazing.Again Thank You.And glad I watched from the Start.Deb.👌👍
Thanks! 👍
Excellent review. Just bought the F1 and searched to see if you had made a review😀
I hope it works as well for you as it did for me!
@@curtisjudd First test worked perfectly :-)
IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER.
I LOVE THE TECH STUFF AS YOU DO.
KEITH KUHN
👍
Also, the Tascam DR-10L is not capable of being used as an audio interface with a PC/Mac via USB. It is my understanding the Zoom F1 CAN be used in this manner. (Obviously not the main point of either pocket recorder, but nice to know if that option exists.) Love your videos and reviews!! Thanks!!
Good point, thanks!
Always nice and pleasnt review! Thanks! I already have the H4N, but no cheap thing to attach it on the trouser. This F1 looks more convenient.
Thanks Stéphane!
Dude, you are amazing at these reviews. Fantastic work! Also what a great product.
Thanks John-Carlos!
I wish this had a line out so that you could use it as a preamp. Line in from my Sarmonic Lav equipment and then line out through my camera and record straight onto my video track.
That’d be a nice addition 👍
It's awesome to see that you keep responding to questions in your channel. Just shows how much dedication you have :) I'll throw in my question as we are in the process of setting up our own small studio for our own product review and intro. So we don't want to go too crazy on the budget but still want to produce decent audio results.
What would you recommend would be a good start for us if we plan to use it in studio recording and maybe some outdoor recordings? Looking at the F1 and H1N but not sure if this is what's going to get us a solid start. Thanks
I would think that the F1 would be a much more versatile option for you. Best wishes!
@@curtisjudd Appreciate the response. I just viewed your Rode Wireless Go review and also thinking about that. I guess what i don't understand at this point is, whether the wireless systems would already produce an awesome sounding video or would you still think the F1 having better preamps would still be the better buy?
We just don't know which if it even will make a difference. 😊
@@LEDWORKSPHIILIPPINES I suppose it depends on what you're using now to record audio. Getting a microphone closer than a camera microphone WILL make a difference. If you're shooting talking head shots and the person isn't moving around too much, the F1 with the shotgun microphone module boomed above the person speaking will likely produce the best sound, assuming the room you shoot in isn't too boxy or reverb-y sounding.
Wow, crazy noise floor with the shotgun mounted on the camera. Very quiet with your lav mic. Thanks for the great review. I'm considering this one in addition to my two DR10Ls.
👍
The F1 seems to be similar to newer Zoom H1n, but you have: 1) better external jacks; 2) interchangeable microphone; 3) a boxier design which allows better placement on DSLR cameras. Good pros and cons.
👍
initially I wasn't sure what the bars were for aside from the shockmount, but seeing the belt application in your video I was pretty happy. That might be very useful on set. It would be nice if they shipped it with a fanny pack strap or watch/ankle band to be used in lieu of a belt, quicker on/off. & as ankle it could double as set prop ankle monitor for house arrest.
Haha! Clever thinking!
Super helpful review, Curtis! Thanks so much. I’ll pick up one of these for my church as they’re currently in the market right now for an affordable lav system.
Thanks Scott. I hope it works well for the church!
Again, as always, a really great overview!
Thanks Curtis and keep up the good work
Thanks Marc!
Thanks Curtis, super informative. I've been eyeing this recorder also thanks for mentioning the Lav mic VT500 I wasn't familiar with it.
You’re most welcome!
Best video review of THE recorder a found. Good job!
Thanks!
Curtis, Your work is fantastic!
Just binge watched a few of your videos.
Thanks Jake!
as always, a thoughtful review. thank you for the effort and the sharing. i am a satisfied subscriber. thumbs up.
Thanks!
Another one of your great review. Love how you explain things. Thank you Curtis.
Thanks Tom!
Good and thorough review; I have the F1 myself and love it. Unfortunately, I chose the "LP" version and it seems Zoom is still not selling the shock mount by itself which really renders the benefits of multiple capsules somewhat useless. I even emailed their support and got a "maybe we will sell it by itself." Poor customer service on that part in my opinion.
Thanks. Yes, I agree, need to sell the shock mount separately or bundle it with all kits.
Yes, completely agree. I picked up the XYH-6 X/Y capsule and I cant even really use it unless I strap it to a wall. I'm relying on velcro bundling straps that I normally use for cable management. I'm currently trying to find someone who has the shock-mount or can provide a thorough diagram of its dimensions. If I can get that info then I'll just begin 3d printing it.
That is strange just ordered mine I have had a love/hate relationship with the Tascam. I also have the H6 so I have the microphone modules, it is a shame you can't buy the shock mount. Doesn't make much sense?? Lets see what they do.
I just received an email just a moment ago from Zoom, they have availability of the shock mount for $29.99! Just a heads up for anyone who would like to order I suggest reaching out to them!
Curtis Judd, PSA - Zoom just contacted me back and is selling the mount for $29.99.
The battery door has caused lost audio for me at least 5 times. It usually wears out too and is impossible to replace without getting an entirely new unit. It used to be my favorite, but now I'm looking for a better solution. Note: All the issues are when this was used often as an on-talent lavaliere mic.
Yeah, this is probably the worst in the ZOOM F series of recorders.
Another great review of what looks like an excellent recorder to have.
Thanks Todd.
The zoom has two advantages over the Tascam; line-in and bigger screen. The tascam is smaller in both length and width which is great when placing the recorder on a talent or groom, it becomes almost invisible compared to the Zoom. The tascam also have a safety track which is much better then the limiter in the Zoom (which adds noise). If you don't care about a limiter or size then the Zoom is the way to go. If you care about size and backup safety track then Tascam is great. Also the build quality on the Tascam is great just as the Zoom. The Tascam was made to use only with a Lav mic. The Zoom seems to be made for on-camera usage. Also the Tascam is $20 cheaper. For my purposes (interviews, Weddings), I prefer the Tascam.
Hi Molten Pros, thanks for your insights. I agree that the Tascam is much smaller and a better choice if you have to hide it on a bride or groom. I still think the Zoom has a much better chance of survival than the Tascam if dropped on concrete.
Although I see no problems with the Tascam's build quality, I agree that the Zoom probably has better build quality than the Tascam. I am a longtime subscriber and I want to thank you for making high-quality review videos. Wish you all the best.
Great review. I too have the DR 10L and really like it. A safety track on the zoom and you would have a very attractive option there.............Oh and I'm still waiting for a $100 price drop on the Panasonic DMW-XLR1 XLR Microphone Adapter. Panasonic are you listening - "big grin".
I still like my Sennheiser ME66 for a shot gun, its the only legitimate mic that you can use directly connected to a GH5 or iPhone with no other pre-amp.
Clayton Moore I’m using the little iRig box that gives phantom power. Let’s me hook up all my mics to the GH5.
I have one of those too.
Hi Clayton, thanks. Good luck on the price drop for the XLR1 :)
Love to hear your review of the new F2.
I've got one on preorder and plan to review it here. Thanks for the suggestion!
Hey Curtis, nice review! I would be very grateful to see a comparison of the zoom f1 vs zoom h5 and zoom f1 mounted on camera with shotgun vs videomic pro + mounted on camera. Thanks a lot!
Hi Fabricio, I'll see if I can squeeze in a VMP vs F1 camera top comparison in. I hate shooting that way because it never sounds great, but that's definitely a fair comparison.
I don't have an H5 so I cannot add that to the comparison, unfortunately.
Curtis Judd i totally agree with you, but i think in some cases is the only way to record audio so we have to make sure to use the right tool. it's a pity that you do not have an h5, but I hope you do some other comparison to have some reference, because the f1 promises to be a good portable option. Thanks for your work!
Curtis, this review was excellent. Thank you.
Thanks Steve!
According to zoom customer support they have no immediate plans to impelement Safety Track option in F1 via firmware update. So I made the decision to purchase 2 x H1N instead, for use with lavaliers, because they cost only half and have a working limiter built-in. I will just use tape to secure the gain-dial and microphone cable so there will be no problems.
Thank you Harri and best wishes!
I like it Curtis I can see its use in special situations
Me too.
Fantastic video as always Sir. I do have one question... what if I attach the shotgun mic capsule and plug in an external mic simultaneously. What would happen in that case?
Thanks for everything Curtis and keep up the awesome work. Best reviews on TH-cam by far 😁
It only works with one microphone at a time, unfortunately.
@@curtisjudd Thanks for the reply good Sir 😊
Curtis you are a true Jedi Master of Audio!!
Thanks Probhjot!
Thanks for the review of the F1 and thanks for referring me to this review from the H1n. After watching both videos and a couple videos comparing the H1n and the H4n I think for the money the H4n is the ticket although I definitely don't like the weight of the H4n. However, I like the all-in-one features it offers. I will be using it with a Manfrotto FigRig and still deciding how to do the mount, wherein the H1n would be much preferred except for the safety track matter. I definitely want that feature just in case. Oh, I also despise using Micro SD cards. I love SD Cards.
Sounds like good reasoning. I would encourage you to consider the H4n Pro which has improved preamplifiers. If you haven't already seen it, here is our comparison video: th-cam.com/video/wJCjbLw5Lh8/w-d-xo.html
Best wishes!
Great and thanks. After much consideration, I am going with the following arrangement to order Monday (tomorrow) from B&H. I'm going to use the Saramonic SR-AX100 Passive 2-Channel Audio Adapter for DSLR Cameras mounted on a side bar attachment to the bottom of the camera along with the VideoMic Pro and feed the output of the Saramonic directly into the mic input jack on either the Canon 80D or EOS M6 then via HDMI mount a Lilliput 5" 4K HDMI Field Monitor to which I can plug in the headphone jack and have a slightly larger monitor with which to utilize. This arrangement will give me internal audio recording and I will know first hand I have solid sound recording via the headphones either through the monitor or directly via the 80D's headphone jack. Lastly, I'll have fewer devices and external control of audio instead of having to use a menu.
Good luck with your new rig! Best wishes!
Thanks for the great video review.
Just saw that some other article review says there are 'micro USB port for data exchange to and from computer and use as an audio interface with computer or iOS device'
Wonder if anyone tried the audio interface feature ...
Believe in this little device can work very nicely in a run-and-gun situation with Raspberry Pi3 ...
(with some sort of DIY Python scripts regarding real-time voice processing )
Thanks Curtis for the review :)
Thanks Accounting Clue, I mentioned that it can be used as an audio interface in the summary but didn't talk about it. Yes, it works on Mac/PC but haven't tried it on Linux. I'm betting it is possible to get it working without too much trouble.
Great review as always Curtis, Thank you!
Cheers, Pete
Cheers!
Mesmerising to listen to all the numbers being delivered as if it was plain english. :-) Really enjoy your reviews. I got a small youtube channel, adventures in the wild, and I like the idea to record the ambient noice for background more that ranting or use music, but what recorder would you recommend? I have an old and fading Zoom H1, been looking at the Zoom H1n and now at the F1. But in doing so I have opened Pandoras box, there are SOOO many interesting recorders to choose from.
The F1 has interchangeable microphone capsules, so if you want to invest for the long term and potentially add other types of microphones for the future, e.g., a shotgun microphone to capture specific birds, then the F1 makes sense. If you just want stereo ambience, the H1n is a fine choice. In fact, there's a special deal on the H1n today and tomorrow. You can find the details at learnlightandsound.com
@@curtisjudd I have a question that might sound weird, none the less, I would love if it is a solution out there for it. I do kayaking, will need 2 types of recording on the fly, ambient noise (river flowing, birds singing, elephants playing, etc....) but at the same time I need conversation at times. Does such a recorder exist, where I can record 2 seperate tracks at the same time, one with stereo input and another track with lavalier input?
@@BackonTrailasia I'm not aware of any recorders this small with 3 inputs. The Sound Devices MixPre-3 would do the job but is quite a lot larger, a bigger commitment.
This is a god send solution for my Sony a6000 which does not have audio input
👍
I got this recorder because I needed a tiny recorder for a lav mic. The biggest issue that I have with it though is the built-in microphone input has gain presets and worst of all has much more noise than my other recorders. I still like it for putting on top of a camera outside when I don't want a larger and heavier setup but unfortunately even the most inexpensive recorder I have seems to have much cleaner gain. It seems to be a good tiny recorder for microphone modules but the performance with the built-in mic input is a bit lacking. I have made some decent field recordings with it but for field recording size isn't as much of a concern so I prefer my bigger recorder. The big recorder does seem to get more attention though which is sometimes a downside in crowded areas. Needless to say for me it is a great compact setup for using mic modules on top of a camera but using it with a lav mic for a school district video was a huge mistake. Perhaps the lav mic I use is to quite for the F1 but somehow the cheapest recorder I own (Tascam DR-05) performs much better with the same mic. The stereo mics for the Zoom are much better than the DR-05 though.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
@@curtisjudd Maybe mine is faulty. I did some tests and it definitely isn't my lav mic. The preamps with the mic modules are fine but the built-in 3.5mm input has a lot of hiss.
@@fixedfocusmediaofficial Yeah, I'm not sure. I borrowed the kit I used for this review from B&H and it was the kit with the shotgun mic attachment so I used my own lavalier microphones. Any luck contacting ZOOM support?
@@curtisjudd It's probably to late. I think it's past their warranty period but I'm going to do some experimenting because it has been awhile since I used it. I just remembered the hiss and at the time it was for a video for a local school district. I remember staying up past 3:00am trying to fix the audio and wondering why I didn't use the same proven equipment from last time. Who knows, maybe it was just really bad shielding but it sounded like preamp noise to me. They still liked the audio but it definitely wasn't anywhere near as good as the first time. I learned my lesson though as painful as it was. Squinting at a screen for that many hours till that early in the morning is something I never plan to do again.😆
A pleasure to whatch your videos, as usual.
Thanks Leonardo.
That thing sounds amazing as a boom!
👍
Zoom just makes great stuff in general
Yep.
Have good Sunday Curtis great video
You too, thanks!
Great review. Looks like a nice little recorder.
Thanks Nitsan, good to hear from you and hope all is going well!
Thanks. You too! :)
Thanks for the review. Well... that battery door will break. My school's h4 only works with tape on the door now.
Hi Rui. I hope this one is protected better with the metal side bar but only time will tell. :)
Hey Curtis! thanks again for your videos, you rock man.
Thanks for the feedback!
Nice review I'm going to pick up one.
Thanks.
Thanks Timothy. Happy recording! 🎤
Will this unit accept audio in on the USB connection and record on the SD card? I use an audio split cable on a helicopter helmet cable. Used to send the sound into an older GoPro, but I now want the sound into a field recorder, preferably without dropping another 100 dollars on having a different cable shipped to Norway...
No, just the 3.5mm input or the proprietary ZOOM connector.
@@curtisjudd OK, thank you for taking the time to reply.
For the price of only $199 it's a steal. Seems like it never stops snowing in Utah.
Hi Steven, good to hear from you! Yes, it is a steal. No snow for about a week. :)
your videos are so so helpful. keep making em!
Thanks John, will do!
Your reviews are extremely helpful, thanks a lot!
I’m looking for “wearable” recording for lav mic. I thought to buy Zoom h1n, but you in your review told that F1 is more suitable for this task. I’d like to ask is there some record/preamp quality between this two? It’s to hard to compare them from reviews because you used different mics and recorded on H1N in the studio. F1 was recorded in a car, which makes sound worse (in my opinion). I’d like to get best quality out of lav mics.
Now I discovered that there are also 32 bit options on the market. Now I’m much more confused. Btw I already have rode wireless go and rode lavalier go. And not sure should I upgrade at all.
@@galachiev Of all those you've listed, I'd consider the ZOOM F2 if you want a recorder: th-cam.com/video/2y51ptCAOdI/w-d-xo.html But if you need a wireless system, I'd stick with the Wireless GO unless it is causing problems for you?
@@curtisjudd wireless go works fine. I’m just thinking maybe wired system with recorder instead of recording into camera will sound better. I’m not really happy with sound of mics. That’s why I’m always use a boom mic which sounds much better. But lavalier is very handy sometimes, that’s why I decided to look for a decent audio quality from them.
Maybe all lavs just have no potential to sound as great as a boom or studio condenser mic. Or maybe I’m just using very cheap equipment (lavalier go, wireless go and recording to Fuji x-t4).
You have much more experience with lav mics, that’s why I’m asking for advice. Very appreciate your answers!
@@galachiev Lav mics always sound like lavalier mics because they're worn on the body. You have to EQ them to get them sounding good. Here's how I approach that: th-cam.com/video/Jn6iB1SNvRQ/w-d-xo.html
I have three of these and use them quite often. I don't trust wireless, but I need their portability and wire-free setup. But I'm not necessarily happy with their lapels for a lot of my interview work. I do mostly non-profit interviews, and I personally finance this. With that said, what lapels would you recommend most for the F1? Specifically, I need three that are good lapels that are ok for external clip-on. I'm also looking for at least two that I can conceal. I know your options may not be inexpensive, and that's ok. I just don't want to spend $1000/lav, especially if the F1 couldn't handle the quality anyway.
I'd have a look at the DEITY W.Lav Pro and W.Lav Micro: th-cam.com/video/4-kM_xN5sPA/w-d-xo.html
Looks good and very portable. I just wish it had an xlr input but i understand why it’s not there
One of the accessories you can attach to the zoom microphone port at the top is a module with 2 XLR inputs. I believe they do NOT supply phantom power so your microphones will either need to supply their own power or you could use dynamic microphones (which do not require power).
Yes, I was thinking about that but no phantom power. I see that you have the RE20 right? I heard you still need to get an extra device such as Cloudlifter to remove the noise from the amp. Thanks for the video and all the work you do
With preamps like the Zoom add-on XLR adapter, yes, definitely need a Cloudlifter or FETHead for dynamic mics like the RE20 or SM7B.
Thank you! Great review.
Thanks and you are welcome.
Hey Curtis - Great test and video. I have subscribed to your channel. I have just purchase F1-SP version, but will probably order the lav mic at a later date. I have a question. In Video when people shoot in RAW, in post they talk about having their favourite LUT's etc. So do you have an audio enhancer plug in that you would recommend? - I have Final Cut Pro X for editing. Cheers, Peter.
Hi Peter, congrats on the new recorder! I hope it works well for you!
I don't have a preset audio enhancer. But I usually use this EQ technique and loudness normalize my audio after that. Here are a couple of videos outlining how I do these. EQ: th-cam.com/video/Jn6iB1SNvRQ/w-d-xo.html
Loudness 1: th-cam.com/video/nOzZKEWJ5wk/w-d-xo.html
Loudness 2: th-cam.com/video/lHNhxGojFRU/w-d-xo.html
@@curtisjudd Thank you Curtis - Most helpful. keep up the great work you do. Peter.
@Curtis Judd Would you say the F1 is better suited to record telephone dialog over the h1? Or dialog in general? Thanks!
If you mean, does it sound mid-range focused like a telephone, yes, sort of. It isn't "neutral" but a fair bit more mid range focused. Not my favorite.
Can I know what 's the model you are using pin microphone at 4:41 in Video?
I have used zoom F1-LP but bundle pin microphone have poor performance
I want better microphone but I dont know what should I buy for better sound
could you tell me it?
That's the Voice Technologies VT500. We reviewed this microphone here: th-cam.com/video/9c74PsslcOk/w-d-xo.html
love your summaries... !!
Thanks!
Waiting for your F2 review and 32 bits explanations ;-)
Me too! Can't wait for the F2 to arrive!
My H6 just died, so I’m thinking of just getting this to make use of all the modules I bought for the H6. Hopefully all the module mics work with this. I won’t be buying the H8 or another H6 to replace it cause I just don’t trust spending that much on another zoom product. H6 was barely used or taken out into the field. We were using it as a interface and it just decided to stop working. It’s about 3 years old with barely any abuse. Just want to make use of the modules and perhaps use the F1 with the modules for traveling. Thoughts? Otherwise I’d have to sell my modules without a recorder somewhere.
Oh btw I went and bought the Mix Pre 6 ii as my main recorder but just looking to make use of the modules
Sell
@@curtisjudd thank you I highly respect your input
Hi Curtis, for field recording (foley, ambient sounds) and voiceover/dialogue in filmmaking, which one would you recommend on a budget (enough for any of the three below)?
F1 + shotgun mic / XY stereo mic
H4n
H1n
Thanks.
ZOOM F3
It is surprising that they didnt include that safety track feature/option. That would push me more towards the Tascam DR-10L. Still an interesting little recorder and a nice "upgrade" to the H1. On an unrelated note, are you headed to NAB this year? I solidified my plans to go just the other day.
Hi Dave, yes, hopefully they can add the safety track recording feature. Yes, I'll be at NAB and would love to meet in person!
Hopefully they will. Like you said, firmware. And cool! Sounds good. I'll reach out to you once it gets closer and we'll plan for it :)
Well guess what... the battery door on my Zoom F1 Lavalier broke. Specifically, one of the tabs on the battery door broke off. This is a big problem because if one of the tabs on the door breaks off you can no longer power it unless you have something like a wire tie to wrap around the unit and through the belt clip to tie the door back down. The battery door has to be on correctly to complete the battery connection. On a positive note though, I contacted Zoom and they replaced the whole unit free of charge. I did however have to show them my proof of purchase, good thing I still had it. Plus I had only owned it for about 6 months. Personally I don't like the way the door is made and I don't like the lack of a lower level backup recording track but overall I'm still very happy with it and that I can use all my other mics that came with my H6 with it. In fact, with the two items I'm not happy about I'm still thinking about getting a second one so I guess those issues don't bother me that much :)
Thanks! That’s really helpful info for those considering the F1.
Thank you for all your great work!
Interesting product. For nano budget production seems ideal.
Yes, interesting option.
Great review; looking forward to what you'll think about the forthcoming Roland R-07.
Thanks, looking forward to testing the Roland, too.
Curtis Judd have you had a chance to try the R-07?
Hi Rob, not yet, but it is on my list. Thanks!
Well, technically it's on nobody's list. Roland botched delivery of this badly, for nearly 1/2 year. Still a ways away from release. Weird since they weren't really inventing anything new...
Thanks for the update. It's on my "to review at some point in the future when they are actually shipping" list, then.
You have great reviews, especially for someone like me who is just getting into film making. I did have a question though. I am starting a new channel which is all filmed outdoors and was wondering if the Zoom F1 or the H1n with Rode Smartlav would be better in your opinion. Mostly the recordings would be dialog and environment/nature sounds.
I’d look at the Zoom F2 at this point: th-cam.com/video/2y51ptCAOdI/w-d-xo.html
Hi Curtis! Based on your experience with Zoom if I was in a market for ultra portable AV recorder with high quality of sound but was concerned about the quality of Video in Zoom Q8 should I wait for Q8's successor maybe or rather get F1 and try to pair it with some gopro-like or other tiny camera? The setup must be so small that it can be mouted safely on a sturdy microphone stand about 2,5m above ground.
If you need it now, I’d go with the F1 and action cam. If you can wait, that seems like a fine choice as well though I have no inside info on when Zoom will have an update to the Q8.
Have you tried the line input? I have a Zoom F1, and I tried to use the line input and with the Zoom set to Lo-, and the mic input hooked up straight to the line output of my receiver, and it is super distorted. It works fine if I use an attenuator, but without the attenuator, it is all distorted, with everything set to the lowest setting. Give the line input a try and see if it works. I looked for a setting in the menus to set the mic input to line input, but could not find one.
I'll give it a try, thanks.
Hi Curtis! I have a question regarding using Zoom F1 with Sony RX0 II camera (I assume it is similar to all other older Sony cameras). I plugged it's headphone out with 3,5mm jack cable to mic input on Sony. When I set input level on Sony at 1/31 I get -6dB test tone from Zoom F1 sitting one bar below -3dB marking (whatever that means) and I tend to clip on Sony, even though on Zoom my voice reaches around -18dB on meters. When I set input level on Sony at 0/31 I get -6dB test tone from Zoom F1 sitting around -12dB marking (with channel 2 being slightly hotter). I don't clip, and signal is similar in measured strength on both devices but I am concerned about uneven signal on both channels on Sony. Am I doing something wrong?
Hi Paweł, no this is pretty typical. As long as they're not off by more than a dB, there is virtually no discernible difference to the ear. You'd have to be off by closer to 3dB to be able to hear a difference.
Great video!
Would the audio quality with the XY capsule be the same if I recorded it with the H6 vs. the F1 recorder?
I haven't understood yet if the interchangeable capsules have their own preamps or if this also goes through the internal preamps of the recorders.
Great question! Unfortunately, I don't know for sure. I believe the modules each have their own preamps, but not 100% sure of that.
@@curtisjudd Preamps on the H4npro, H5 & H6 are supposed to be the same. A person would expect them to sound similar, but the F1 is intriguing option so I'll also look into trying to answer this same question.
@@francoisnel5253 Per the specifications on the ZOOM site, the preamps in the H4n Pro, H5, and H6 each support different levels of max gain which would suggest they are not identical. They likely sound similar at the same gain.
Curtis 👍 Great Video like always. I have the zoom f1 and the tascam dr-10l. And when I use both in the same situation with the rode videomicro, the zoom f1 has way more noise floor and hiss as the tascam. I used the zoom f1 with sound Level M+ and the tascam with level M. I also tried in post to get both files to the same level. Do you have same experience? Thx
Hi, unfortunately, I didn't have the ZOOM lavalier to test, just the shotgun mic attachment. But it sounds like you should do a video comparing them since you have them both. 👍
@@curtisjudd Thx Curtis :-) I ordered a new Zoom F1...Maybe my F1 has a technical defect. Because the noise in the Zoom F1 was really extremely louder than the Tascam Dr10l. The problem was mainly with the "Rode videomicro" and I had neither a limiter or a low cut filter activated. Well .. next week comes the new Zoom F1 and I try it again.
da Mic Did the replacement solve the problem?
@@Isarlog Servus Isarlog ;-) The answer is: No. In my opinion the zoom f1 has much more noise floor as the tascam. especially with the Rode Videomicro the noise is significantly louder. Maybe I'm really over-sensitive, but if I can hear the noise in a dialogue, it's too much for me. With the Tascam is much less. Likewise, it's much easier to reduce the noise in post-production without having heavy sound losses. I will soon make a video with a comparison. Honestly, I do not understand why many TH-camrs rate the noise as "acceptable".
@@089mic It sounds like you are unique in testing the F1 and RODE Video Micro. That is not a combination I tried. Keep in mind that in many cases, it is the microphone which contributes most to the noise floor. And in some cases, a preamp and microphone combination simply do not work well together. Thanks for sharing the results of your tests!
Anybody know of this model ever got a firmware update for safety track capabilities?
I haven't heard.
I was so surprised... Probably because of my illiteracy :)))
Line in on the device is not stereo line in... it is kind of strangely wired balanced input or something ?
I try to hack my USB mixer, by using pan I put my mic to the left channel, and my CP to the right. So I could have a two independent tracks on 2 track device :) and do not need 4 track recorder.
My PC software digest this just fine. Zoom H5 Line-in digest it also...
Zoom F1 input 3.5mm jack drops one of the channels...
Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
@@curtisjudd my pleasure:) I hope you could maybe do some more qualified test/guess.
My guess is, probably, mic-line is optimized for 3-pin lavalier microphones. (mono-but balanced? i do not know). And because of that, the proper Stereo-In is almost mixed down to mono...
Probably everything works just fine with Zoom's, 2 channel, XLR capsule... but I could not confirm this, since I am on go, and try to keep the number of equipment to thr minimal nescecary level...
Sincerely,
Juansher
@@mecniereba unfortunately I no longer have the F1 on hand to do any tests. Might be best to contact ZOOM support. Best wishes!