What are the basic things you need to setup to get recording quickly with the Zoom F8 or F8n? We cover them here!
This is an excerpt from my upcoming course, Getting the Most From Your Zoom F8/F8n. Please consider my sound for film classes available over at the school.
Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:
Zoom F8n Audio Field Recorder
Sennheiser MKH 8050 Supercardioid Boom Microphone (used to record this segment)
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Are there any decent, low-self-noise, XLR based lavalier microphones you recommend? This question has come up quite often over the last several years. So in this episode, we have a look at and listen to the MAONO AU-XLR20, a very affordable XLR lavalier microphone which can be powered by the microphone input, or provide its own power.
You can access a sample wav file directly from the MAONO AU-XLR20 and Zoom F8n here.
If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses at our school including one that focuses on processing dialogue audio!
Links to some of the gear used in this episode:
MAONO AU-XLR20 Lavalier Microphone
Zoom H4n Pro Audio Recorder
Zoom F8n - The audio for this episode was recorded with the F8n
Lupo Superpanel Full Color 30 RGBW LED Light - used for that crazy purple background. Review coming soon!
Panasonic GH5s Camera - my favorite small camera for video
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - this is the the lens I use more than any other on the GH5s
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Music - Copyright 2018 by Cary Judd, used with permission
In this week's live Sound for Video Session, we'll take a shot at answering your sound for video questions. You can submit them live, or for future sessions, just sign up for free over at http://school.learnlightandsound.com and I'll email you when its time to submit.
Gear discussed in this episode:
dbx286s Vocal Channel Strip - an analogue preamp, compressor, de-esser which can be useful for live streaming
Oscar SoundTech Lavalier Microphones
Lavalier Microphones:
DPA 4160
Sanken COS-11D
Countryman B6
Voice Technologies VT500
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
If you use a Zoom F8 or F8n to record audio, there’s an iPad/iPhone app that allows you to wirelessly control your audio recorder. In this episode, we run through the features and settings available on the app to make setting up and operating your Zoom F8 and F8n easier and more convenient.
This is an segment from my upcoming course on the Zoom F8 & F8n which will be released in the next few weeks. If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses at the school, including one that focuses on processing dialogue audio!
Links to gear discussed and used to shoot this episode:
Zoom F8n Audio Field Recorder
Zoom F8 The older version released in 2015. Still great! (While supplies last) - This episode was recorded with the Zoom F8
Panasonic GH5s Camera - my favorite small camera for video
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - this is the the lens I use more than any other on the GH5s
Sennheiser MKH 8050 Boom Microphone
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Music - MzA - Copyright 2017 by Cary Judd, used with permission
In this week's live Sound for Video Session, we covered the new firmware 5.0 for the Zoom F8 that was announced just this morning!
Now, many of the software features in the new F8n are available to owners of the original F8:
Advanced Look-Ahead Hybrid Limiters
Zoom AutoMix™ function
Improved TC accuracy when powered off
Digital Boost for headphone monitor (up to +24dB)
Selectable headphone Volume Curve
New "Fader Mode" view for home screen
Maximum fader level increased from +12dB to +24dB
F8 Control iOS app can now work together with FRC-8
Ability to record to SD card and USB Audio Interface simultaneously
This is great news! Not only is Zoom taking good care of their existing customers by providing all of these new features for free, this gives potential buyers of their new F8n confidence that Zoom will continue to take care of them into the future.
See our initial impressions of the F8n video:
Gear Discussed/Used in this episode:
Zoom F8 Audio Field Recorder - This one is no longer being manufactured, but some retailers still have some and then you can probably pick up a used copy at a nice price.
Zoom F8n Audio Field Recorder - The updated version of the F8 with all of these features plus some new hardware features.
Zoom F-Control - Hardware mixing control surface
Zoom F4 Audio Field Recorder - The "little brother" of the F8
Panasonic GH5s - my favorite small camera
Panasonic 12-35 f/2.8 OIS II Lens - one of the most versatile lenses I've ever owned
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
A question I’ve received many times is, “If I record sound for video and studio style multitrack music projects, should I get the MixPre M instead of the MixPre?” In this session, we answer that question and also demonstrate the music plugin for the MixPre 10T, 6, & 3.
Special thanks to Cary Judd for making up a song, on the spot, with no preparation. I hope he wins a Grammy. Thanks also to Sound Devices for providing the music Plugin for my MixPre-10T. I bought the MixPre, they gave me the plugin for this video. No other payment provided and they did not review this before I posted it. They’re those kind of cool people.
Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:
If you’re recording sound for film and multitrack music projects:
Sound Devices MixPre-10T
Sound Devices MixPre-6
Sound Devices MixPre-3
For Musicians Only:
Sound Devices MixPre-10M
Sound Devices MixPre-6M
Sound Devices MixPre-3M
Electrovoice RE20 Broadcast Microphone
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Music Copyright 2018 by Cary Judd. Used with permission.
In this week’s session, we share an excerpt from the upcoming online course, “Getting the Most From Your Zoom F8/F8n Recorder.” In this particular segment, we cover the different types of meters and when you might want o use each type. - VU, peak, dBFS, and dBu. You’ll be a better audio engineer once you understand this.
Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:
Zoom F8n Audio Field Recorder (2018)
Zoom F8 Audio Field Recorder (2015):
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Outro music licensed from Artlist: Keep an Eye by Back to Dream. Artlist provides high quality music tracks for your film and video projects. You can receive two months off an Artlist account by using our link.
Many consumer grade recorders like the Zoom H4n and even many cinema cameras have XLR microphone inputs that don’t provide enough amplification or gain. The result is that recordings can come out much quieter than you’d like. Sometimes it is also due to weak output levels from consumer grade microphones. Then in post production, you might boost the level only to find that there’s a bunch of hiss or self-noise.
The FetHead Phantom from Triton Audio solves this problem for condenser microphones like shotgun or boom microphones.
Links to gear discussed and used to shoot this episode:
Triton Audio FetHead Phantom In-line Microphone Pre-amplifier - for condenser microphones like shotgun or boom mics. Bonus - can also work with dynamic mics B&H (US) Amazon (EUR)
Triton Audio FetHead In-line Microphone Pre-amplifier - for dynamic microphones B&H (US) Amazon (US & EUR)
Deity S-Mic 2 Shotgun Microphone: Coming Soon
DPA 4017b Professional Shotgun Microphone
Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro cinema camera
Panasonic GH5 - My favorite small camera for video
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - incredibly versatile lens that is on the GH5 most of the time
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Music - MZA by Cary Judd, used with permission
In this week’s session, we share an excerpt from the upcoming online course, “Getting the Most From Your Zoom F8/F8n Recorder.” In this particular segment, we cover how to set the gain trim, the various track knob modes, and demonstrate how to optimize your gain in relation to the limiters. Lots of fun!
Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:
Zoom F8n Audio Field Recorder (2018)
Zoom F8 Audio Field Recorder (2015):
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Outro music licensed from Artlist: Keep an Eye by Back to Dream. Artlist provides high quality music tracks for your film and video projects. You can receive two months off an Artlist account by using our link.
At NAB 2018, Deity Microphones announced their S-Mic 2, an affordable shotgun microphone targeted at independent filmmakers with some important improvements over the original Aputure Deity Shotgun Microphone. Deity refined the voicing on the S-Mic 2 for a fuller, more balanced sound. They also coated the circuit board to reduce the microphone’s self noise. Let’s take a closer look and a listen, and even compare it to the RODE NTG-4+, a similarly priced shotgun microphone, as well as a pro-level shotgun mic, the DPA 4017b.
Links to gear discussed and used to shoot this episode:
Deity S-Mic 2 Shotgun Microphone - Coming Soon, ships July 2018
Sound Devices 633 Audio Recorder/Mixer
Aputure COB 120d - This is the light I used as a key in the talking head clips
Aputure Light Dome Soft Box - Used to soften the key light
Panasonic GH5 - My favorite small camera for video
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - incredibly versatile lens that is on the GH5 most of the time
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Music - Elegance in Entropy - Copyright 2017 by The Vacationist, used with permission