Zoom F8N Pro field recorder is a 32-bit float, field multi-track recorder designed for audio recordists in film, television, and broadcast. F8N Pro provides up to 5 hours of operation using the caddy-less 8x AA battery cell drawer, and can simultaneously record up to ten tracks of audio, recording to two SD/SDHC/SDXC cards if desired. This field recorder can be used as an 8-in/4-out USB audio interface, operating at 96kHz. A 10-pin connector positioned on the rear of the unit allows the user to connect optional and interchangeable audio input capsules to provide a number of different input methods including X/Y or mid-side pickup, or additional audio inputs.
Internal processing allows the user to employ look-ahead ‘hybrid limiters’ that adds a 1ms delay that anticipates any input signal clipping, high pass filtering, phase inversion, mid-side decoding, and Zoom AutoMix software. Time code I/O on BNC connectors can be adjusted to frame rate of 23.976ND/24ND/25ND/25.97ND/25.97D/30ND/30D with a precision of +/-0.2ppm. An Ambisonic mode can be used to achieve A to B decoding when combining with the Sennheiser AMBEO microphone, see SENNHEISER MICROPHONES - Multichannel, Ambisonic Surround Sound. Bluetooth LE protocol enables the wireless connection of the iOS Zoom F8 Control app to remotely monitor and adjust input levels, start/stop recording or playback, or monitor battery status.
The recorder can be powered via 8x AA battery cells, external DC battery pack via Hirose connection, or included AD-19 12V DC power supply.
Battery life
Notes: (1) Recording 2 channels at 48kHz/32-bit floating/16-bit linear/24-bit linear to SD1 with MAIN/SUB OUT OFF, TIME CODE OFF, LED/LCD Brightness 5, 32Ω headphones, PHANTOM OFF. (2) Recording 8 channels at 48kHz/32-bit floating/16-bit linear/24-bit linear to SD1 with MAIN/SUB OUT OFF, TIME CODE OFF, LED/LCD Brightness 5, 32Ω headphones, PHANTOM OFF. (3) Recording 8 channels at 192kHz/32-bit floating/16-bit linear/24-bit linear to SD1/2 with MAIN/SUB OUT ON, TIME CODE Int Free Run, LED/LCD Brightness 60, 32Ω headphones, PHANTOM 48V.
The front facing panel of the F8N Pro has transport buttons, including backlit play/pause and record buttons. A green backlit power LED is positioned in the lower right-hand corner and a rotary headphone output level controller is positioned to the centre of the recorder. Above the transport buttons each of the eight input channels has a dedicated rotary input level control, PFL switch, and 6-stage LED level meter. Above the headphone volume control, a menu button and jog wheel allows the user to adjust settings as well as scroll through the menu that is displayed on the 2.4inch, 320x240 pixel full colour backlit LCD that can be set to monochrome mode if desired.
The left side of the recorder has four locking balanced Neutrik XLR/TRS combo inputs for channels 1-4, Hirose connection, USB port, and two SD media slots. The right side of the F8N Pro has four more balanced Neutrik XLR/TRS combo inputs (channels 5-8), sub output on 3.5mm unbalanced jack socket, 6.3mm headphone output connection, and two TA3 connections for main out. These TA3 outputs can be converted to 3-pin male XLR connectors using the optional TXF-8 breakout cable. The rear of the field recorder has BNC I/O connections for time code, 10-pin MIC IN for optional capsules listed below, DC power supply connection, and access to the caddy-less battery tray.
Included accessories: Zoom AD-19 12V AC power adapter, operating instructions.
Optional accessories: FRC8 F-Control, PCF-8n carrying case, ECM-3 extension cable, ECM-6 extension, CMF-8 camera mount adapter, TXF-8 TA3 to 3-pin XLR cable.
Supported format: 44.1/47.952/48/48.048/88.2/96/192kHz, 16/24-bit linear, 32-bit float, BWF and iXML; 128/192/320kbps, 44.1/48kHz, mp3. Recording media: SDHC card, 4GB to 32GB; SDXC card, 64GB to 1TB. Input gain: +10 to +75dB, mic; -10 to +55dB, line. Input impedance: 3kohm or more, mic; 5kohm or more, line. Maximum input level: +4dBu, XLR; +24dBu, line (at 0dBFS, limiter on). Phantom power: +24/+48V, 10mA maximum, mic inputs. Equivalent input noise: -127dBu or less, A-weighted, +75dB input gain. A/D dynamic range: 113dB typical. Crosstalk: -90dB or less. Output connectors: 2x balanced TA3, main out 1/2; unbalanced 3.5mm jack, sub out 1/2. Output impedance: 150ohms or less, main; 100ohm or less, sub. Headphone output: 18ohm, output impedance; unbalanced 6.3mm stereo jack socket, connection; 100mW + 100mW into 32ohm load, maximum output level. Power requirements: 8x AA battery cells/AD-19 DC adapter/DC-HIROSE cable. Consumption: 15W. Dimensions (W x D x H): 178.2 x 140.3 x 54.3mm. Weight: 1200g.