Last winter Zoom took the location sound recorders world by storm with its F8, an affordable and compact 8-input, 10-channel solid-state recorder.
A few days ago the Japanese company unveiled the new F4, a 6-input/8-track field recorder that “offers creators Hollywood-quality sound for film at an unprecedented price”.
With four super-low-noise mic preamps, precise time code, and a solid metal build, the Zoom F4 is in the company’s words “the ideal recorder for creators looking to take their filmmaking projects to the next level”.
Like the multi-award-winning Zoom F8, the F4 is equipped with high-quality mic preamps, offering pristine recording and playback at resolutions up to 24-bit/192 kHz. For precise audio/video syncing, the F4 uses a Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator (TCXO) that generates time code at 0.2 ppm accuracy—a first at this price point.
For recording flexibility, the F4 features four locking Neutrik XLR/TRS combo connectors, a 3.5mm stereo input, and a Zoom mic capsule input for a total of six discrete inputs, all of which enable it to record up to eight tracks. The F4 also provides two Main Outs and two Sub Outs as well as a 1/4” headphone jack with dedicated volume control.
Compact and lightweight, the F4 weighs just 2.27 pounds without batteries and features a durable metal chassis. The F4 also includes a 1.9-inch white backlit monochromatic LCD display that makes the F4 suitable for all lighting environments, from the studio to the field.
Here’s a features comparison table (click on it to zoom up):
Price and availability
The Zoom F4 will be available in stores October 2016 for approx. $649.99. It can be already pre-ordered on Amazon. To read more, please visit the Zoom website.
