On 24 Aug 2020, at 6:53 pm, Jerry Berrier <jlblists@...> wrote:

Hi all,

I have had the F6 for a couple of months and have really enjoyed trying out some of its features.
It's very easy to link two tracks for stereo recording, but only if you have the iOS app.
Without the app, the recorder is quite inaccessible.
I use a Wildtronics amplified parabolic system for recording birds. It has a set of stereo mics in it, along with a focal mic. It's nice to be able to record with all three mics simultaneously.
There's a lot I don't understand about the recorder. For example, each channel can be panned anywhere from full right to full left. Is that for making wide-angle stereo recordings? I don't know. The default for each track is Center, so that's where I leave it.
The F6 has no built-in speaker, so you have to either use the app to start and stop recording or listen with headphones to hear the record beep when you press the record button on the device. Some people are probably asking why would you ever record without monitoring with headphones? Good questions.

I look forward to trying out the auto-mix feature some day when I can be in a face to face meeting room with lots of people again.



-----Original Message-----
From: all-audio@groups.io <all-audio@groups.io> On Behalf Of Dane Trethowan
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2020 2:01 AM
To: all-audio@groups.io
Subject: [all-audio] Zoom F6 Recorder

Hi.
Apologies if the subject line was referring to the wrong recorder unit, the recorder we’re discussing here is the Zoom F6 and not the Zoom H6 which are 2 completely different recorders.
Yes, I have a Zoom F6 and Yes, I have read other reviews and opinions on this recorder.
Like every Zoom or every other recorder the Zoom F6 to me has its advantages and disadvantages over some of the other Zoom recorders I have here - actually I have quite a collection of the brutes - but all-in-all my favourite Zoom recorder is still the Zoom F8n for far too many reasons to enumerate here and even the H6 still punches above its own weight in a lot of areas so I guess people are going to have to do a little more homework before you but.
Don’t just take notice of reviews and information that dished out to you and don’t be afraid to ask questions of those who have these recorders so we may arm you with the facts and the knowledge before you go out and invest your hard money in one of these recorders.
Whatever the recorder there is a little learning kerb to be had.
Some recorders have a better layout than others, this can make a real difference in operation.
Okay so I’ve not done all that much work with the F6 yet and have only had the machine for a few weeks so some notes to begin with through observations I’ve made.
The menu system wraps around on the F6 where on the F8N the menu system has fixed starting and ending points.
The menu navigation is performed by small buttons not much bigger than match heads, not my ideal way of doing things but there we are, I much prefer the jog-dial of the F8N or even the spring rocker of the H6 or H2n.
32-bit floating point is an exciting development and the main reason why I bought the recorder but think carefully before you go out and spend your money.
Digital Recorders do have quite a bit of head room but like everything else they have there limitations so unless you really know that you’re going to be recording sounds from extreme soft to extreme loud then you might look at another recorder.
The absence of 6.25MM jacks is a bit annoying but not the end of the world of course, I guess it’s something that I’m used to.
And now for the real cruncher to be aware of if you’re thinking of using the Zoom F6 with an IOS device.
Yes this can be done and is aptly demonstrated on Mosen At Large but By Gee, it takes a bit of organisation to do and then you have to reconnect the Bluetooth and the iPhone every time you wish to start a session, sorry chums but that’s just not acceptable in my view when the Zoom F8n will connect via Bluetooth right out of the box if you have the latest firmware update installed.
Accessibility for the IOS App is about the same so if you’ve heard the Zoom F6 demo then you can pretty much sum up the F8N’s functionality with the F8 Controller App.
I’m yet to try one of the optional mixing surfaces available and I don’t know whether they consist of a touch screen or buttons, faders etc so perhaps someone can enlighten me here.
Think that’s all for the moment <smile>

On 24 Aug 2020, at 11:14 am, Hamit Campos <hamitcampos@...> wrote:

Hi Dain. On the RWP list there are like 3 or 4 guys including Neal
Ewers and Jonathan Mozen that have 1. Do you have 1? What do you not
like about the buttons and menus? I wanted 1 for the PCM 192 KHZ 32
bits floating point WAV. Also it’s an F recorder so I assume it’s got
the epic quality sound of the F4 F8 and now before it the F8N. Also
the fact it’s got 6 XLRs would make using 6 mics with it for 5.1 surround sound easier than with the H6.
Because with the H6 1 would need the EX H6 for starters than a power
box to spit phantom at those other 2 mics. If you do have 1 how have
you found pairing channals on it? Is it harder than the H6?

On Aug 23, 2020, at 5:22 PM, Dane Trethowan
<grtdane@...>
wrote:

Hi.
Was wondering if anyone on list had a Zoom f6 recorder and if so what
do you think?
I still have my Zoom F8N and H6 recorders and I have to admit there
are in my opinion a few things that put the F8N and H6 recorders
respectively above the Zoom F6, the main being layout of menus and controls.
I’m not at all knocking the F6 as its a beaut little compact recorder
with heaps of punch but like everything else the F6 has its flaws so
buy carefully if you’re looking at one of these recorders.