Advances in video have made filmmaking accessible to creators everywhere. But the accessibility of professional audio devices has not kept pace. Field recorders, with essential features such as time code, have been unobtainable for most. Until now.
The F8 is made for serious filmmakers and sound designers.
With 8-input/10-track recording, super low-noise preamps, and support for 24-bit/192 kHz audio, the F8 captures the highest-quality audio.
Mic pre’s
Outfitted with our finest mic preamps to date, the F8 features an extremely low noise floor (−127 dBu EIN) and high gain (up to 75 dB), with +4 dB line inputs.
High-resolution audio and advanced limiters
The F8 can record at 24-bit/192 kHz resolution and is equipped with onboard limiters designed to provide overload protection. Limiting can be applied to all 8 channels simultaneously at full resolution, with 10dB of headroom and controls for setting threshold, attack, and release.
The Features
The F8 provides every option you need to create professional field recordings:
- Phantom power (+24V/+48V) can be turned on and off for each input individually.
- Plug in any Zoom mic capsule.
- 10 tracks—8 input channels, plus a stereo mix track*—allow you to simultaneously record stereo and surround sound.
- An onboard mixer with flexible routing of all inputs and outputs (pre- and post-fader). Each channel has controls for pan, input/output delay, filtering, and limiting.
- The F8 can be mounted to a tripod and attached to your camera using the included mounting bracket.
* Stereo mix track not recorded when 192 kHz sampling rate is selected
Redundancy is always good… Always.
Dual SD card recording
Record on two SD/SDHC/SDXC cards*, up to 512 GB each, simultaneously, allowing you to instantly backup or split recordings (for example, save eight tracks onto one card and a stereo mix onto another).
* View list of confirmed compatible SD cards.
Three power sources
A 4-pin Hirose connector allows the use of external 9-16 volt DC battery packs. Internal power is provided by 8 AA batteries. The F8 can switch power sources from a DC battery pack to the AA batteries at a user-defined voltage level for uninterrupted recording. You can also use the supplied 12 volt AC adapter when not on the go.
File protection
Files are saved periodically during recording. This provides an extra level of protection in the event of unexpected file interruption, for example, power loss or the removal of an SD card.
Dual-channel recording
The F8’s dual-channel recording mode allows you to create safety tracks on inputs 1-4, each with independent level, limiting, delay, phase inversion, and high-pass filtering.
Pre-record
The pre-record function allows you to capture up to 6 seconds of audio before you hit the RECORD button.
Comprehensive headphone monitoring
Out in the field, it’s important to be able to quickly check levels as you’re recording. With the F8, it’s simple. A single display lets you monitor single or multiple tracks, as well as any of the Main or Sub outputs, via a dedicated ¼” headphone jack with a front panel volume control.
Signals can be freely routed to the left and/or right headphone channels, pre- or post-fader, and the headphone output can be switched to mono. You can set headphone alert tones for low battery, recording start/stop, or recording errors.
The F8 comes equipped with a built-in 100 mW headphone amplifier, allowing you to monitor in the noisiest of environments.
SPECS
| RECORDING MEDIA | |
|---|---|
| Dual SD card slot supports: | 16 MB–2 GB SD cards 4 GB–32 GB SDHC cards 64 GB–512 GB SDXC cards |
| INPUTS: 1-8 | |
| Connectors: | XLR/TRS combo jacks (XLR: 2 hot, TRS: TIP hot) |
| INPUTS: XLR (MIC) | |
| Input gain: | +10 – +75 dB |
| Input impedance: | 3.3 kΩ |
| Maximum input level: | +14 dBu (at 0 dBFS, limiter ON) |
| Phantom power: | +24/+48V 10 mA maximum for each channel |
| THD (Total Harmonic Distortion): | 0.009% max (1kHz, 22Hz-22kHz BW, Input Gain min, -10dBu input) |
| INPUTS: TRS (LINE) | |
| Input gain: | −10 – +55 dB |
| Input impedance: | 28 kΩ |
| Maximum input level: | +34 dBu (at 0 dBFS, limiter ON) |
| THD (Total Harmonic Distortion): | 0.010% max (1kHz, 22Hz-22kHz BW, Input Gain min +10dBu input) |
| INPUTS: ADDITIONAL INFO | |
| Equivalent input noise: | −127 dBu or less (A-weighted, +75 dB input gain, 150Ω input) |
| Frequency characteristics: | 10 Hz – 80 kHz +0.5 dB/−1 dB (192 kHz sampling rate) |
| A/D dynamic range: | 120 dB typ (−60 dBFS input, A-weighted) |
| Crosstalk: | −90 dB or less (between adjacent channels, 1 kHz) |
| MIC IN: | ZOOM mic capsule input (use disables Inputs 1/2) |
| SLATE MIC: | Built-in mic for voice memos can freely be assigned to tracks |
| OUTPUTS: MAIN OUT 1/2 | |
| Connectors: | TA3 connectors, balanced output (2: hot) |
| Output impedance: | 150 Ω or less |
| Reference output level: | −10 dBV (Normal Output Type), −40 dBV (Mic Output Type), 1 kHz, 600Ω load |
| Maximum output level: | +10 dBV (Normal Output Type), −20 dBV (Mic Output Type), 1 kHz, 600Ω load |
| OUTPUTS: SUB OUT 1/2 | |
| Connector: | 3.5mm stereo mini unbalanced output jack |
| Output impedance: | 100 Ω or less |
| Reference output level: | −10 dBV (Normal Output Type), −40 dBV (Mic Output Type), 1 kHz, 10kΩ load |
| Maximum output level: | +10 dBV (Normal Output Type), −20 dBV (Mic Output Type), 1 kHz, 10kΩ load |
| HEADPHONE | |
| Connector: | 1/4″ unbalanced stereo output jack |
| Output impedance: | 15 Ω or less |
| Maximum output level: | 100 mW + 100 mW (32Ω load) |
| D/A | |
| D/A dynamic range: | 106 dB typical (−60 dBFS input, A-weighted) |
| RECORDING FORMATS: WHEN WAV SELECTED | |
| Supported formats: | 44.1/47.952/48/48.048/88.2/96/192 kHz, 16/24-bit, mono/stereo/2-10 ch poly, BWF and iXML |
| Maximum simultaneous recording tracks: | 10 (8 inputs + stereo mix) 8 (with 192 kHz sampling rate) |
| RECORDING FORMATS: WHEN MP3 SELECTED | |
| Supported formats: | 128/192/320 kbps, 44.1/48 kHz, ID3v1 tags |
| Maximum simultaneous recording tracks: | 2 |
| RECORDING TIME | |
| Using a 32GB card: | 30:51:00 (48 kHz/24-bit stereo WAV) 7:42:00 (192 kHz/24-bit stereo WAV) |
| TIME CODE | |
| Connector: | BNC |
| Modes: | Off, Int Free Run, Int Record Run, Int RTC Run, Ext, Ext Auto Rec (audio clock can be synchronized to timecode) |
| Frame rates: | 23.976ND, 24ND, 25ND, 29.97ND, 29.97D, 30ND, 30D |
| Precision: | ±0.2 ppm |
| Supported input levels: | 0.2 – 5.0 Vpp |
| Input impedance: | 4.6 kΩ |
| Output level: | 3.3 Vpp |
| Output impedance: | 50 Ω or less |
| POWER SUPPLIES | |
| Batteries: | 8 AA |
| AC adapter: | AD-19 DC12V 2A (center plus) |
| External DC power supply: | HIROSE HR10A-7R-4S 4-pin connector (1 pin: −, 4 pin: +), 9–16 V |
| CONTINUOUS RECORDING TIME: WHEN RECORDING 2 CHANNELS AT 48KHZ/16-BIT WITHOUT HEADPHONES | |
| Alkaline batteries: | 8.5 hours or more |
| NiMH (2450mAh): | 10 hours or more |
| Lithium batteries: | 12.5 hours or more |
| CONTINUOUS RECORDING TIME: WHEN RECORDING 8 CHANNELS AT 48KHZ/24-BIT WITH HEADPHONES | |
| Alkaline batteries: | 4.5 hours or more |
| NiMH (2450mAh): | 6 hours or more |
| Lithium batteries: | 8.5 hours or more |
| CONTINUOUS RECORDING TIME: WHEN RECORDING 8 CHANNELS AT 192KHZ/24-BIT WITH HEADPHONES, PHANTOM POWER AND DISPLAY BACKLIGHTING | |
| Alkaline batteries: | 1 hour or more |
| NiMH (2450mAh): | 2 hours or more |
| Lithium batteries: | 3 hours or more |
| DISPLAY | |
| 2.4″ full-color LCD: | 320×240 |
| USB: MASS STORAGE OPERATION | |
| Class: | USB 2.0 High Speed |
| USB: MULTITRACK AUDIO INTERFACE OPERATION (DRIVER REQUIRED FOR WINDOWS, NOT REQUIRED FOR MAC) | |
| Class: | USB 2.0 High Speed |
| Specifications: | 44.1/48/96 kHz, 16/24-bit, 8-in/4-out |
| USB: STEREO MIX AUDIO INTERFACE OPERATION (NO DRIVER REQUIRED) | |
| Class: | USB 2.0 Full Speed |
| Specifications: | 44.1/48 kHz, 16-bit, 2-in/2-out |
| Note: iPad audio interface operation supported (Stereo Mix mode only) | |
| EXTERNAL DIMENSIONS | |
| Main unit: | 7.0 in. (W) × 5.5 in. (D) × 2.1 in. (H) 178.2 mm (W) × 140.3 mm (D) × 54.3 mm (H) |
| WEIGHT | |
| Main unit only: | 2.1 pounds (960 g) |
