Zoom's 32-bit Tascam dr-10l Competitor

[sanveer]

F2 FIELD RECORDER & LAVALIER MIC

32-BIT FLOAT TECHNOLOGY IN OUR SMALLEST, LIGHTEST RECORDER EVER

 

BUILT FOR BIG THINGS

For podcasters, videographers, bloggers, journalists and more, the F2 is the perfect audio solution for creators on the move.

*F2 is available with or without Bluetooth

 

AUDIO ON AUTOPILOT

The F2 features 32-bit float recording technology, allowing you to record the loudest audio signals without worrying about clipping. It will also record the quietest signals in beautiful detail. And the best part is you don’t have to worry about setting the gain. Just plug in the lav and hit record.

PLEASE HOLD

Once you start your recording, use the F2’s HOLD switch to ensure you don’t accidentally stop recording.
 

LOCK ‘N LAV

Screw-lock connectors keep your lav plugged-in securely no matter the situation.

 

ALSO AVAILABLE WITH BLUETOOTH CONTROL

The F2-BT comes with built-in Bluetooth. And with the free Zoom F2 Control app the F2-BT can wirelessly start/stop recordings, display battery levels, adjust output volume, control lo-cut and more.

You can also pair the F2-BT with a Bluetooth timecode synchronization device to receive and write timecode to recorded files. See Bluetooth Control features here.
 

THE F2 EDITOR

The F2 Editor for PC and Mac allows you to adjust settings, format SD cards and more. Simply connect your F2 or F2-BT via a USB cable and launch the editor. The USB connection also makes it easy to transfer files to your computer. See the F2 Editor features here.

Narration and Voice Over

Whether a stroll through your garden, or the whispers and shouts of a dramatic reading, the F2 provides crystal clear recordings.

POWER

The F2 can record up to 15 hours (14 hours on the F2-BT) with two AAA batteries.

STORAGE

Record on microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC cards up to 512GB.

LAVALIER INCLUDED

The LMF-2 omnidirectional lavalier microphone has a low-profiled design, captures high-quality audio, and includes a windscreen and lapel mic clip.

RECORDING FORMATS

The F2 Field Recorder gives you the option to choose the recording format that works best for your projects. Choose from 44.1 kHz/32-bit float or 48 kHz/32-bit float mono WAV files.

 

 

[sanveer]

It's also competition to the Tentacle Sync TRACK E Pocket Audio Recorder with Timecode Support, since they both have 32-bit and time code. But the Tentacle at $349 is a lot more expensive. 

[MrSMW]

Also there is some tentacled thing from Germany but it’s about twice the price.

I have just been looking at various options to replace my current set up based on single Wireless Go with 3x Sony pocket recorders with either lav mics or Rode micros on stands.

But had drop out issues and don’t trust the Go, have had folks pull out lav mics at weddings plus clipping.

These F2’s look really good (for my needs) so will probably get a trio next Spring.

[sanveer]

5 minutes ago, MrSMW said:

Also there is some tentacled thing from Germany but it’s about twice the price.

I have just been looking at various options to replace my current set up based on single Wireless Go with 3x Sony pocket recorders with either lav mics or Rode micros on stands.

But had drop out issues and don’t trust the Go, have had folks pull out lav mics at weddings plus clipping.

These F2’s look really good (for my needs) so will probably get a trio next Spring.

Yes. Wireless can be a problem in when one doesn't expect it to (RF and dropouts mostly). The Tascam are also great with backup track  recorded at  –6/–12 dB. But this obviously doesn't need a backup. And the price is pretty good for what it offers. Only wish it had a tiny LCD for atleast checking the battery or other things. 

[KnightsFan]

This is cool. I was rooting for an F2 with 32 bit float on 2 XLR inputs and their new Zoom modules, more of a little brother to the F6. But this is a nice, cheap alternative to the Track E. I wonder if you can pair multiple F2's with the app and record them at the same time, maybe even in conjunction with the F6 which also connects to an app? Otherwise I can't see this being a useful replacement for lav mics, if each one needs to have the record button hit on each device individually. More useful for vloggers than filmmakers it seems.

[Thomas Hill]

1 hour ago, KnightsFan said:

if each one needs to have the record button hit on each device individually.

The Bluetooth version can start and stop wirelessly from the app.

[KnightsFan]

48 minutes ago, Thomas Hill said:

The Bluetooth version can start and stop wirelessly from the app.

Right, but what I was wondering is if the app can start/stop multiple F2's at the same time, or even a couple F2's and an F6 simultaneously? Because if not then it's fairly useless for a multi person setup.

[Marcio Kabke Pinheiro]

Waiting for our sound specialist @IronFilm to give his remarks. 🙂

But really, no audio level monitoring needed? "Clipped audio could be recovered", is it real?

(my interest is for record concert audio, high SPLs)

[sanveer]

1 hour ago, Marcio Kabke Pinheiro said:

Waiting for our sound specialist @IronFilm to give his remarks. 🙂

But really, no audio level monitoring needed? "Clipped audio could be recovered", is it real?

(my interest is for record concert audio, high SPLs)

I agree. @IronFilm will give us some insights we may have missed. I do with it had a fint little LCD. It makes me worried about battery life or some other things one needs to check. Probably which track is being played back or something else. 

[IronFilm]

Going to be interesting to read head to head reviews of the Zoom F2-BT vs Tentacle Track E
(as neither are available to buy right now, just in pre-order, so no unbiased head to head reviews are yet out)

Definitely either will be a big step up from the Tascam DR10L/DR10CS (or even worse, the Zoom H1 / lav combo! gasp), and massively cheaper than a Lectrosonics PDR/SPDR/MTCR or Zaxcom ZFR100/ZFR200/ZFR300/ZFR400.
 

[IronFilm]

On 11/11/2020 at 8:00 AM, sanveer said:

It's also competition to the Tentacle Sync TRACK E Pocket Audio Recorder with Timecode Support, since they both have 32-bit and time code. But the Tentacle at $349 is a lot more expensive. 

Not really, it is $349 vs $199 for the Zoom F2-BT, which needs the Ultrasync BLUE, thus for a single bodypack recorder setup with TC you're looking at an identical price either which way. (actually, the Zoom will be *more* expensive than Tentacles if you're not already part of the TCS Ltd ecosystem, as you'll have to get a USO too. And that is ignoring other little details, like the Zoom you still need to buy batteries and a Micro SD card for, but you don't need to for the Tentacle)

[sanveer]

3 hours ago, IronFilm said:

Not really, it is $349 vs $199 for the Zoom F2-BT, which needs the Ultrasync BLUE, thus for a single bodypack recorder setup with TC you're looking at an identical price either which way. (actually, the Zoom will be *more* expensive than Tentacles if you're not already part of the TCS Ltd ecosystem, as you'll have to get a USO too. And that is ignoring other little details, like the Zoom you still need to buy batteries and a Micro SD card for, but you don't need to for the Tentacle)

Interesting. Since it uses bluetooth for the time code sync, I am guessing that other (cheaper) standards may be open as possible timecode sync alternatives(?), as long as Zoom allows it (either open source or vendor agreements?).

 

Isn't this the product you're talking about for syncing. I am curious, don't newer bluetooth standards matter for faster and more accurate sync (and 5.0 also allows for 2 devices to be operated, simultaneously), or it's just the first frame (or first few, as multiple timecode messages, with the necessary information?), and then the last (or last few) to check whether there is accurate syncing happening between frames (and sound, and other information) to know the accuracy of the sync.

https://www.timecodesystems.com/product/ultrasync-blue/

 

Theoretically, shouldn't any smartphone be able to do this? Like an App on a smartphone do the same thing, at a fraction of the cost (especially if Zoom officially has a licence agreement with them), and with many other features that this may  lack. Like the LTC Timecode GenerLTCator Pro App. 

 

[IronFilm]

TC is basically just a line level audio signal, which is used as a highly accurate time stamp at the start of a video (or audio) file. 

This method over bluetooth is something different, unique to Timecode System Ltd. (same with Atomos too, if you want to have that timecode work together with others you need to buy into the TCS Ltd ecosystem)

[KnightsFan]

Both these "timecode enabled" bodypacks are hamstrung by a hodgepodge of proprietary protocols. I wonder if a better approach would be a 3.5mm TC input on the bodypack and let users use their choice of TC system. Wired TC can't infringe on any patents, right? Bonus points if they can start/stop recording via timecode presence the way the bigger Zooms can.

[IronFilm]

The Tentacle Track E can do this, take TC over the 3.5mm connection. 

But for the Zoom F2 to do this, that would require it to have a built in timecode crystal, which would increase the cost of the Zoom F2. 

[newfoundmass]

I was actually blown away at how small this is when seeing a picture of it in someone's hand. This is gonna sell like crazy to wedding videographers, I think. 

[MrSMW]

All I am interested in really is the non-clipping, locking lav, size and price.

Easy to stick the results from each (3 for me) on a timeline based on master Rode Wireless Go and auto-sync even if the latter has drop outs. Then delete the ‘master’.

That’s how I’m planning to work in 2021 with these F2’s.

It’s cheap and efficient and will deliver the results.

Anyone want to buy 3 Sony recorders and 3 Rode lav mics? 😘

[KnightsFan]

10 hours ago, IronFilm said:

The Tentacle Track E can do this, take TC over the 3.5mm connection. 

But for the Zoom F2 to do this, that would require it to have a built in timecode crystal, which would increase the cost of the Zoom F2. 

If I'm not mistaken, though, the Track E does it via the 3.5mm input, which means you'd need to disconnect the mic, jam sync, then reconnect the mic. At that point you may as well set time of day at the beginning of the shoot and use that instead of TC to sync, which you can do on virtually any recorder.

What makes a timecode crystal more expensive than normal time? I imagine that even without TC they keep track of time of day.

8 hours ago, MrSMW said:

Easy to stick the results from each (3 for me) on a timeline based on master Rode Wireless Go and auto-sync even if the latter has drop outs. Then delete the ‘master’.

That's not a bad idea, and at $350, it's same price as the Track E. I'm still not clear whether you can pair multiple F2's to the same app and have a single start/stop button for them, but even if so it is annoying to have another rec button to hit--or record all day and deal with a ridiculous file at the end. Maybe not a big problem for doc filming.

 

If these devices had a TC input that could start/stop from signal presence like the F4, then for about $20/device I could add TC to each plus my F4, with a single rec button controlling all at once along with metadata.

[IronFilm]

6 hours ago, KnightsFan said:

If I'm not mistaken, though, the Track E does it via the 3.5mm input, which means you'd need to disconnect the mic, jam sync, then reconnect the mic. At that point you may as well set time of day at the beginning of the shoot and use that instead of TC to sync, which you can do on virtually any recorder.

That's not even vaguely close to frame accurate, not even at the start of the day, let alone by the end of the day. A total no-go deal breaker of an approach for many applications. 

[KnightsFan]

20 minutes ago, IronFilm said:

That's not even vaguely close to frame accurate, not even at the start of the day, let alone by the end of the day. A total no-go deal breaker of an approach for many applications. 

Actually... if it's getting TC from an external source, it doesn't need its own TXCO at all. It's just reading serial input and writing it to the metadata of the file. And unless it has a very slow processor it will definitely be frame accurate.