I was about to buy an F8n when I noticed it was discontinued and the manufacturer site. I have my pro on pre-order I'm looking forward to having a professional recorder upgrading from an iPod classic with Voice memo attachment/ alisas pro< track. Sounds like rather than re-doing it they just made improvements which is very good to hear. I was so worried they were going to turn it into an octopus recorder.
You have to control the level somewhere. Some workflows will benefit from it happening at the recorder. Just saying it isn’t necessary is true for the recording but ignores the whole workflow. Sometimes shit gets complicated. What would be nice is +10 or +20 on the level so it only protects from insane levels getting through.
Awesome video :) When recording in 32bit with a dynamic mic (like the SM7B), can I stop using a cloudlifter CL1? Or is using a cloudlifter still advised? The noise floor on the F8 and F8N without a cloudlifter has always been a problem for me.
Why do you love advanced but still a digital limiters over analog limiters? MixPre 10 II seems better in every way than Zoom F8n Pro except for the price that is eye-watering. Frankly, Zoom F8n Pro is much better value. The only downside is that they did not manage to cram another 2 channels of audio coming from external capsule or trs input. Just one additional source say from the mixer. No wide dynamic range, no super clean preamps. Just simply another input. Would be very handy for daisy-chaining them as you can trigger on from the other through BNC input, I believe.
Oh I love the way it sounds. I think of the limiters in the MixPre 10 II and SD 6 series it sounds the best. If someone really is loud into it you get the most natural sound.
Lots and lots of the very VERY BEST sounding audio field recorders on the market do not use analog limiters, but digital ones instead. (Sound Devices is a bit old fashioned in still sticking exclusively to analog) Such as the Zaxcom Deva24, or Zaxcom Nova (or my own Zaxcom Maxx that I have), or the Sonosax SX-R4+
Any thoughts on F8n pro vs mixpre ii 6 or 10? Agonizing here trying to chose. Think one man band: commercial work and shorts; maximum 4 people crew. PS: I also liked the arm/PFL buttons, I rented an F8n before, non pro. You mention the headphones amps on the F8n pro as being inferior. How bad is it? If I were to do folley and whatnot, would that be a deal breaker? I'm trying to understand in what situation I might need that kind of precision.
I just did two days where it was spoken word and music and some instruments. I never even thought about it. All the pros of usability outweigh the slightly less awesome headphone amp. I still have a 10 II and didn’t think bringing it. Dual recording, easy buttons and app. I probably only notice because I have both and have intensely compared them. I noticed first because I was comparing the F6 to a SoundDevices 688. Of course listening to the SoundDevies was better. It made sense. But then when I checked the files the F6 was clearly more detailed and better. F8n Pro vs MixPre isn’t as different but still different. SoundDevices is just great at headphone amps.
@@elvisripley I was listening to this Curtis test of Mixpre 6 vs F8 vs 633. When you say "different" - is it just like that? Because I'm listening with Sony MDR 7509HD headphones and there is a difference. My preference is 633, mixpre6 and F8 in that order. I saw the 633 used price and I tamed my horses lol. But a mixpre 6 I can do that.
@@cubul32 oh yeah if you have a preference then go for whatever you like. The F8n Pro is for sure much better than the F8 and F8n but it is also different. Which video are you talking about?
@@elvisripley Btw it's not that I just prefer it. I find that the audio is clearer, less distorted; idk I'm not a sound guy not sure how to describe it. Sounds better.
The F8n Pro is a "better" machine than a MixPre10 But the F8n vs a MixPre6?? For your only/main machine??? EASY decision!! The F8n is streets ahead better in every way
Well, if Zoom would only add overdub capability... I am really interested in the SD Musician plugin, but would choose Zoom over SD in a heartbeat, because of the lower price. If only they had overdub in their F-Series.
Oooo wow so you're saying that the F8N Pro is almost as clinical sounding as a Sound Devices? What ever Sean from Sound Devices meant by clinical. That was what he said to me about the Fs and even their own Mix Pres. That to him they aren't as clinical as the 8 recorders. Which replace the 744-T and the like. Interesting. Hay I don't fully disagree. The F4 add blew my mind. I thought it was recorded with a bunch of Rode NT1-A mics it sounds so dam Sound Devices real. I was like bruh this F4 thing sounds like a freekin 744-T which was $4000.
How does the sound quality compare between the f8 and F8n pro? Not noise level, but actually the sound quality for say acoustic music recordings? I have the F8n amd am thinking of buying either F8n pro or mixpre 10 ii for location music work. So interested in your opinion.
I haven’t heard an F8 in a long time but it sounds about like the F8n and so does this. Just lower noise floor. MixPre 10 II sounds equally good but slightly different. If you need to do critical monitoring the headphones on the MixPre sound better but not the recording.
@@elvisripley This is really useful - thank you. That could be why don’t hear many comments comparing the sound of them - if they were pretty much identical there would be no point in comparing. I owned the F6 for a bit (which like the F8n pro also has 32 bit recording) and that sounded really good - better than the F8n I think. I regret getting rid of it but I hated the ergonomics. Hence I was sort of hoping the F8n pro might be similar to the F6 in audio quality (ie better than the F8n).
@@MarkHarmer well I think it does. I think that extra smoothness the F6 has comes from the better processing. Back to back they seems close. I am booked for a couple months. Maybe someday I will be home long enough to post a comparison.
Hi.. I will tell you the set up that i has it and i need your help.. So thier is a sound come from the stage and analog mixer and my f8 zoom recorder so how i can get the perfect set up to connect the audio from the analog mixer to my f8 zoom recorder and take it out to the cameras? I hope you help me and answer my question.. Thanks
@@elvisripley no i have to get the sound of the presenter from the analog mixer to my f8 zoom recorder and send it to the cameras so what's better to used main out or sub out?
Hello I have a question for you please.my question gos like this.if am recording in a noise environment and I recording the talent voice loud very well it possible to have a issues in post.tanks ahead,
I am going to guess if you are asking if 32bit helps record dialog in a noisy environment? The recording won’t be better but you might have a very very small benefit to post processing. You still need the voice to be louder than the noise.
@ yeah I use a bag. You can get adapters for those npf batteries that does the same thing but you still need to have a place to put it. A small bag is the way to go.
you can use NPF Batteries with an adapter from Smallrig (3168) and an Hirose to DC cable...The adapter converts the voltage from 7V to 12V (needed for the F8n Pro)
Almost ALL sound mixer will be using a BDS (battery distribution system) to power their bag. With in the past the old option that was popular was an NP1 battery into the BDS, but these days people would usually use the newer smart batteries. So just do it the normal way people always would, and NOT rely only upon the internal batteries. That's just madness, and totally abnormally weird.
Hello, I'm looking for an audio interface+recorder for my drumkit. Would this one fit and whats would be the cons and pro's compared to the Zoom l-16 and Tascam model 16?
@@elvisripley So what I'd like is also being able to fastly record my drums, without having my computer around. I guess the f8n pro is better for that? And it's also able to be used as audio interface, right? If I'd like to use it as monitor, I only could adjust the volume of each channel and do the post processing afterwards on each channel? Or do I miss something?
If you are recording 24bit then it is super super clean now. If you are recording 32 bit then theoretically you don’t but it has to be controlled somewhere. That is the main purpose of my request to have some options to limit over 0dB values. Just keep it from showing up in the editor 50dB over.
I love how straight forward to the point you were with this video. Great information from someone who uses this in a real world scenario.
30dB lower than normal, which means -45dB digital scale peaks or something like that, is not a real world scenario.
This recorder is simply amazing!
I was about to buy an F8n when I noticed it was discontinued and the manufacturer site. I have my pro on pre-order I'm looking forward to having a professional recorder upgrading from an iPod classic with Voice memo attachment/ alisas pro< track. Sounds like rather than re-doing it they just made improvements which is very good to hear. I was so worried they were going to turn it into an octopus recorder.
That is exactly right. A great improvement where needed and still similar function.
Good to know!
That’s all I need to hear, I’m in!!! 👍
Dude thank you so much for making this video! I'm sold!
This is good to know
Why don’t you use the sounddevices mix pre 10 ii
Perhaps I don't need a mix pre-10 and I can just get this
I have both and am not sure when I would prefer to use the MixPre 10 II.
Get the F8n Pro, it is a better machine than the MixPre10 ;-)
Why would you need limiters if you’re recording in 32 bit?
You have to control the level somewhere. Some workflows will benefit from it happening at the recorder. Just saying it isn’t necessary is true for the recording but ignores the whole workflow. Sometimes shit gets complicated. What would be nice is +10 or +20 on the level so it only protects from insane levels getting through.
Awesome video :) When recording in 32bit with a dynamic mic (like the SM7B), can I stop using a cloudlifter CL1? Or is using a cloudlifter still advised? The noise floor on the F8 and F8N without a cloudlifter has always been a problem for me.
You might actually. The noise floor is so much lower.
I can hear more of a hiss off the f8n pro than I can on the f8n at the start of the video
Why do you love advanced but still a digital limiters over analog limiters? MixPre 10 II seems better in every way than Zoom F8n Pro except for the price that is eye-watering. Frankly, Zoom F8n Pro is much better value. The only downside is that they did not manage to cram another 2 channels of audio coming from external capsule or trs input. Just one additional source say from the mixer. No wide dynamic range, no super clean preamps. Just simply another input. Would be very handy for daisy-chaining them as you can trigger on from the other through BNC input, I believe.
Oh I love the way it sounds. I think of the limiters in the MixPre 10 II and SD 6 series it sounds the best. If someone really is loud into it you get the most natural sound.
Lots and lots of the very VERY BEST sounding audio field recorders on the market do not use analog limiters, but digital ones instead. (Sound Devices is a bit old fashioned in still sticking exclusively to analog)
Such as the Zaxcom Deva24, or Zaxcom Nova (or my own Zaxcom Maxx that I have), or the Sonosax SX-R4+
the difference in sound quality between the F8N VS F8N PRO is noticeable when you are recording between -12 to -24 ?
Any thoughts on F8n pro vs mixpre ii 6 or 10? Agonizing here trying to chose. Think one man band: commercial work and shorts; maximum 4 people crew. PS: I also liked the arm/PFL buttons, I rented an F8n before, non pro.
You mention the headphones amps on the F8n pro as being inferior. How bad is it? If I were to do folley and whatnot, would that be a deal breaker? I'm trying to understand in what situation I might need that kind of precision.
I just did two days where it was spoken word and music and some instruments. I never even thought about it. All the pros of usability outweigh the slightly less awesome headphone amp. I still have a 10 II and didn’t think bringing it. Dual recording, easy buttons and app. I probably only notice because I have both and have intensely compared them.
I noticed first because I was comparing the F6 to a SoundDevices 688. Of course listening to the SoundDevies was better. It made sense. But then when I checked the files the F6 was clearly more detailed and better. F8n Pro vs MixPre isn’t as different but still different.
SoundDevices is just great at headphone amps.
@@elvisripley I was listening to this Curtis test of Mixpre 6 vs F8 vs 633. When you say "different" - is it just like that?
Because I'm listening with Sony MDR 7509HD headphones and there is a difference. My preference is 633, mixpre6 and F8 in that order. I saw the 633 used price and I tamed my horses lol. But a mixpre 6 I can do that.
@@cubul32 oh yeah if you have a preference then go for whatever you like. The F8n Pro is for sure much better than the F8 and F8n but it is also different. Which video are you talking about?
@@elvisripley film cameras. Used to shoot with dslr, recently got a RED komodo.
@@elvisripley Btw it's not that I just prefer it. I find that the audio is clearer, less distorted; idk I'm not a sound guy not sure how to describe it. Sounds better.
Hey Elvis, thanks for this great and helpful video. When you did the limiter hiss test on f8n Pro, did you record at 24bit or 32bit float? Cheers.
24/48 everything was set like on the F8n.
@@elvisripley Oh yeah you did mention, thanks!
I gotta get one now. LOL
Please tell me what should I buy Mixpre 6 ii or Zoom F8n pro?
Its complicated and subtle. I like the Zoom F8n Pro more. More channels, more features, and also nicer limiters if you want them.
Having those standard bnc connectors for timecode in/out is something that the MixPre does not have so it's more "pro"
The F8n Pro is a "better" machine than a MixPre10
But the F8n vs a MixPre6?? For your only/main machine??? EASY decision!! The F8n is streets ahead better in every way
Well, if Zoom would only add overdub capability... I am really interested in the SD Musician plugin, but would choose Zoom over SD in a heartbeat, because of the lower price. If only they had overdub in their F-Series.
why would you want the limiter on for 32bit?
You have to control the level somewhere. Some workflows will benefit from it happening at the recorder.
Oooo wow so you're saying that the F8N Pro is almost as clinical sounding as a Sound Devices? What ever Sean from Sound Devices meant by clinical. That was what he said to me about the Fs and even their own Mix Pres. That to him they aren't as clinical as the 8 recorders. Which replace the 744-T and the like. Interesting. Hay I don't fully disagree. The F4 add blew my mind. I thought it was recorded with a bunch of Rode NT1-A mics it sounds so dam Sound Devices real. I was like bruh this F4 thing sounds like a freekin 744-T which was $4000.
I'd rather use a F4 than a 744!
How does the sound quality compare between the f8 and F8n pro? Not noise level, but actually the sound quality for say acoustic music recordings? I have the F8n amd am thinking of buying either F8n pro or mixpre 10 ii for location music work. So interested in your opinion.
I haven’t heard an F8 in a long time but it sounds about like the F8n and so does this. Just lower noise floor. MixPre 10 II sounds equally good but slightly different. If you need to do critical monitoring the headphones on the MixPre sound better but not the recording.
@@elvisripley This is really useful - thank you. That could be why don’t hear many comments comparing the sound of them - if they were pretty much identical there would be no point in comparing. I owned the F6 for a bit (which like the F8n pro also has 32 bit recording) and that sounded really good - better than the F8n I think. I regret getting rid of it but I hated the ergonomics. Hence I was sort of hoping the F8n pro might be similar to the F6 in audio quality (ie better than the F8n).
@@MarkHarmer well I think it does. I think that extra smoothness the F6 has comes from the better processing. Back to back they seems close. I am booked for a couple months. Maybe someday I will be home long enough to post a comparison.
Hi.. I will tell you the set up that i has it and i need your help.. So thier is a sound come from the stage and analog mixer and my f8 zoom recorder so how i can get the perfect set up to connect the audio from the analog mixer to my f8 zoom recorder and take it out to the cameras? I hope you help me and answer my question.. Thanks
What’s the sound? Is it there if you go straight to a camera?
@@elvisripley no i have to get the sound of the presenter from the analog mixer to my f8 zoom recorder and send it to the cameras so what's better to used main out or sub out?
@@just.decide_platforms. main if you have xlr inputs on your camera.
Hello I have a question for you please.my question gos like this.if am recording in a noise environment and I recording the talent voice loud very well it possible to have a issues in post.tanks ahead,
I am going to guess if you are asking if 32bit helps record dialog in a noisy environment? The recording won’t be better but you might have a very very small benefit to post processing. You still need the voice to be louder than the noise.
yes but not 32bit when recording with f8n
@@waheedalao9675 oh then get the mic close to the voice and record 96khz or higher and hope for the best.
What about battery usage?
I don't have any hard data. I use a 45 Wh V-mount battery in the bag and it lasts 6-8 hours. A 98 Wh battery has never run out during the day.
@@elvisripley I saw some reviews it's power hungry, but that is compared to F3 and F6 models, which is prosumer.
@@comptondc3353 oh yeah the F3 goes forever and the F6 does too. Its not really a fair comparison.
i really miss the sony npf mount :( i simply do not like normal batteries ... how long do they last ?
I never have used the AA port. I use 45-50 Wh V-Mount batteries connected to the hirose port. Lasts for 1-3 days of production.
@@elvisripley ahh okay legit... how do you mount it ? Or do you have it in an orca bag or something?
@ yeah I use a bag. You can get adapters for those npf batteries that does the same thing but you still need to have a place to put it. A small bag is the way to go.
you can use NPF Batteries with an adapter from Smallrig (3168) and an Hirose to DC cable...The adapter converts the voltage from 7V to 12V (needed for the F8n Pro)
Almost ALL sound mixer will be using a BDS (battery distribution system) to power their bag.
With in the past the old option that was popular was an NP1 battery into the BDS, but these days people would usually use the newer smart batteries.
So just do it the normal way people always would, and NOT rely only upon the internal batteries. That's just madness, and totally abnormally weird.
Hello, I'm looking for an audio interface+recorder for my drumkit. Would this one fit and whats would be the cons and pro's compared to the Zoom l-16 and Tascam model 16?
Well it would sound better. Better preamps and stuff. But it isn’t built for what you want so the interface might not be awesome after a while.
@@elvisripley so which one would record better quality? The tascam model 16 or zoom f8n pro?
@@florisvandrunen957 They are so different. You might like having the mixer set up for your drums so the Tascam style.
@@elvisripley So what I'd like is also being able to fastly record my drums, without having my computer around. I guess the f8n pro is better for that? And it's also able to be used as audio interface, right? If I'd like to use it as monitor, I only could adjust the volume of each channel and do the post processing afterwards on each channel? Or do I miss something?
@@florisvandrunen957 if mobile recording is more your priority it might be better. It is for sure more portable.
no need limiter in F8n Pro anymore....
If you are recording 24bit then it is super super clean now. If you are recording 32 bit then theoretically you don’t but it has to be controlled somewhere. That is the main purpose of my request to have some options to limit over 0dB values. Just keep it from showing up in the editor 50dB over.
@Elvis Ripley i need your help please