Sound for Video Session: ZOOM F6 Setup & Q&A

In this week's session, we run through the ZOOM F6's menus to solve common questions and issues. Then we answer your sound for video questions.
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 school.learnlightandsound.com including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. We have a course on sound for live-streaming with the ATEM Mini and just added Introduction to Izotope RX for Dialogue Audio.
Gear I often use or that we mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVE Store, Waves, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
- ZOOM F6 32-bit float audio recorder - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/pCFS
- Mackie DLZ Creator - B&H, Amazon geni.us/42KrX0
- Earthworks ETHOS microphone - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/8G8UdBB
- Sound Devies 888 field recorder/mixer - Trew, B&H, Sweetwater geni.us/zAryW4J
- Sound Devices MixPre II Series Recorders - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/O8e0
- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Amazon geni.us/InspOl
- Canon C200 Camera - B&H geni.us/9Zi4m4a
- Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 lens - B&H, Amazon geni.us/kZyU7e
- ATEM Mini Extreme & Extreme ISO - B&H, DVE Store, Amazon geni.us/b8my
- Allen & Heath SQ5 Digital Mixer - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/sRxFU90
- Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channel, pre-amp, EQ, compressor - Sweetwater, B&H geni.us/9ZfE77
- Universal Audio 6176 channel strip pre-amp, EQ, compressor - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon geni.us/505L55n
The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself: geni.us/G7by
Copyright 2023, Curtis Judd
00:00 Start
02:43 Beginning of stream
04:35 All about the Zoom F6
08:52 Setting date & time
10:46 Brand preferences
12:24 Do limiters damage sound?
15:07 F4 features we miss
16:57 Limiters & 32-bit float
18:14 More on the F6
39:26 When to use 32-bit float?
46:06 Zoom value-for-cost
47:36 Troubleshooting audio/video sync
49:57 Editing with 32-bit float
51:17 How 32-bit float works
54:37 Low vs high-impedance headphones
56:14 DEITY PR-2
56:32 Recovering clipped audio
58:37 F-series headphone jack
59:07 Loudness for dialogue vs music
1:01:17 Boom backup for lav interviews
1:03:16 Low noise floor for 32-bit float
1:06:12 Avoiding changing noise floors
1:07:24 Exporting stems with effects
1:08:36 Script analysis?
1:10:01 End of stream

Пікірлер: 41

  • @TommysPianoCorner
    @TommysPianoCorner8 ай бұрын

    For the internal clock battery, Zoom advised me to plug the unit into usb-c mains power and leave it switched on overnight. After doing this, it is no longer necessary to keep setting date and time. I now periodically do this just to be on the safe side.

  • @curtisjudd

    @curtisjudd

    8 ай бұрын

    Yes! This keeps the internal clock battery charged. 👍

  • @aygie
    @aygie11 ай бұрын

    9:45 The F6 does have a rechargeable battery, I was having this issue and reached out to Zoom who advised the same as you are - attach a battery and let the device run for an hour or so and the internal battery will recharge. 👍🏻

  • @curtisjudd

    @curtisjudd

    11 ай бұрын

    Thanks for confirming 👍

  • @malapropia
    @malapropia7 ай бұрын

    I've looked at so many videos about the F6 and this was far and away the most informative and the easiest to watch! Thank you!

  • @curtisjudd

    @curtisjudd

    7 ай бұрын

    Glad it was useful!

  • @lorageproductions
    @lorageproductions11 ай бұрын

    Thanks so much! We use it for our production work because we work with a very small crew and it's fantastic.

  • @curtisjudd

    @curtisjudd

    11 ай бұрын

    👍

  • @crooklynx972
    @crooklynx97211 ай бұрын

    Thank you Chris, That was a great refresher stream about the F6. The F6 is an amazing machine, I bought mine after watching your initial review. To the undecided ones, If you don't need all the extra features of the Mix pre there are no reason to spend the extra money. With a good headphone, phone or tablet this is a great system.

  • @curtisjudd

    @curtisjudd

    11 ай бұрын

    Glad the F6 is working well for you!

  • @KlausKusserow-ClassicalGuitar
    @KlausKusserow-ClassicalGuitar5 ай бұрын

    I was here to let me talk into a ZoomF8, now I'm going to order a SD MixPre 10 II... Thanks:-)

  • @yjsound
    @yjsound2 ай бұрын

    Hi, Super great video to understand about f6 and difference between 32bit and 24bit for field recording. Even though I'm a professional sound designer, I'm always learning so many things from your KZread channel. Thank you !! From South korea, -June

  • @jidenshaotoko
    @jidenshaotoko7 ай бұрын

    Hey Curtis! I'm new to the world of audio, but have been learning a lot from your videos. Really appreciate the effort you put into your content. Just figured I'd leave a comment about something you said on the 32-bit float portion of this one, where you describe the converters as "brittle on the high end". I've been trying to find a way to describe this unpleasant characteristic I get from my Sennheiser MKE600 paired with a Zoom H5 and you basically did it for me with your description. I don't even know if that's the hardware's fault or just my inexperience with mic positioning or other factors I don't know about that might be causing this harshness on the high-end. It almost sounds like distortion even though it doesn't look like so as the waveform doesn't get anywhere near the peak.

  • @curtisjudd

    @curtisjudd

    7 ай бұрын

    Yes, the MKE600 is great for its price, but can sound a little brittle in the higher frequencies. That's part of what sets the higher end microphones apart from mics like the MKE600.

  • @christopherfisher3420
    @christopherfisher342010 ай бұрын

    Thank you for another excellent video Curtis. I just purchased a Zoom F6 and Rode Wireless Pro set. Do you know how much input delay I should add to my boomed, wired mic to compensate for the Rode Wireless Pro mics?

  • @LearnLightAndSoundSessions

    @LearnLightAndSoundSessions

    10 ай бұрын

    RØDE cites latency for the Wireless PRO system as 6ms. I’d give that a try. 👍

  • @fredrobinson6733
    @fredrobinson67334 ай бұрын

    I tested recording my voice from a Sennheiser G4 Receiver into the Zoom F6. First I set the Zoom's INPUT to MIC, then I set it to LINE. I did this because I wasn't sure which to set as, in theory the Sennheiser gear ought to output a LINE signal, but I'd read that it sorta does and sorta doesn't, it's weak LINE or hot MIC - a kind of inbetweeny thing. Anyway: I then placed both of these files into a DAW (Nuendo) to compare them, and there was literally zero difference in levels, noise nor anything else between the two. I then realised that (as per normal for how I operate), the recorder was set at 32bit Float. So I thought, maybe, because levels really don't matter at all with 32bit Float, there really _is_ no difference in how the recorder handles the signal, regardless of the setting you choose (MIC vs LINE). So, to check this hypothesis, I set the Zoom to 24bit Linear instead of 32bit Float. Sure enough, the TRIM setting becomes active, and the Zoom defaults to +10 when LINE is selected, and +30 when MIC is selected (these differing TRIM settings produced the same level/noise again in its recordings, i.e. set to MIC at +30 then to LINE at +10). So I suspect the LINE vs MIC input selection is totally irrelevant for 32bit Float. And for 24bit, the option you choose makes no actual physical difference in the input circuitry as such, only different TRIM settings in the software. This is further revealed by the fact that range of Trim when on MIC goes from +12 to +75, but on LINE goes from -8 to +55. Surprise surprise, the exact same range but with a 20dB offset. So really, the device is faking that Mic vs Line makes a difference, and as such 'MIC/LINE' by the input jack really means that it's dual-purpose rather than 'switchable' as such. NB: None of this is about the Zoom's LINE OUT, a separate topic altogether. Anyway Curtis; I wanted to know if this matches your knowledge. And PS: Thanks for all the great video reviews and knowledge.

  • @agentsixsix
    @agentsixsix8 ай бұрын

    I'm curious why you not use the internal velcro strips to attach and center the F6. I saw them flapping around in the breeze when you're demonstrating at the end of the video.

  • @curtisjudd

    @curtisjudd

    8 ай бұрын

    I'm sorry, I don't know which part of the video you're referring to or which velcro straps.

  • @agentsixsix

    @agentsixsix

    8 ай бұрын

    @@curtisjuddOh, sorry, I hope I didn't make you search too much... this comment of mine was for another F6 video. A review of the K-Tek bag. The creator of that video clearly had less knowledge than you! That's a compliment for you, so that's a bonus! 😉

  • @QLFProductions
    @QLFProductions6 ай бұрын

    I'm an event recorder and the events can go up to 5 hours long. The F6 has no problem battery wise but if you record externally, trying to sync audio is a nightmare so feeding into camera is the solution and here is where I need your help. Since I can't use 32bit and event's have loud music, clapping and speech I need to understand how to control levels. My Zoom H4N has an auto mode that does it for me based on my target db setting. But it doesn't have the quality of the F6. I own an F6, does it have an auto setting? Would that be auto mix? My understanding is that auto mix is for when you are using 2-6 mics. What if you are using one mic for the whole event? I use one AT 4053B and surprisingly it works externally in 32 bit and sounds great for events with a little post processing. My issue is with long events so I want to feed in camera. Does auto mix work with one mic?

  • @LearnLightAndSoundSessions

    @LearnLightAndSoundSessions

    6 ай бұрын

    Automix does not do anything for one mic alone.

  • @HeathcliffBlair
    @HeathcliffBlair11 ай бұрын

    Hi Curtis. Thanks for the video. I still have a strange brain-block about trim and rec levels, ie - if the Zooms have a pre-set trim level, then what is the rec level doing? I presumed they were the same thing and thus you could adjust the actual recording level (ignoring the mixer level function for the moment) via the front pots. So trim is adjustable and not set in stone? Thanks again.

  • @curtisjudd

    @curtisjudd

    11 ай бұрын

    On the F6, trim IS adjustable when recording in 24-bit, 16-bit, or MP3 modes. In 32-bit float mode, trim is not adjustable.

  • @HeathcliffBlair

    @HeathcliffBlair

    11 ай бұрын

    @@curtisjudd Thanks Curtis. I just tried recording with the F6 in both rec level and reference lvel mode. In rec level mode, guess what, you CAN adjust the rec/trim level via the knobs during recording in 32bit float. However, in reference level mode, the trim can only be adjusted prior to hitting the record button. Try it. 🙂 I think something similar is applicable to the F8n Pro. I have one, and it seems to work that way. It's a strange implementation. I remain bewildered by the point of it! 😄 Although, it's probably a feature for LR mixes rather than multitrack sound gathering, which is my usage. Thanks again.

  • @curtisjudd

    @curtisjudd

    11 ай бұрын

    @@HeathcliffBlair On mine I can adjust while recording, yes, but it is fader level, not trim, when in 32-bit float mode. That's not a problem, since the noise floor is so low, but technically it is post fader, not trim.

  • @avimukta1
    @avimukta14 ай бұрын

    Best avoided if possible in audio you get what you pay for .

  • @blurblopOfficial
    @blurblopOfficial5 ай бұрын

    i have Zoom F6 using in bag for field recording and small outdoor interviews, I want to upgrade which Sound recorder is best for carrying in bag and have best of all functions

  • @LearnLightAndSoundSessions

    @LearnLightAndSoundSessions

    5 ай бұрын

    If you need a pro recorder, look at the Sound Devices 833. If prosumer, look at ZOOM F8n Pro or Sound Devices MixPre.

  • @blurblopOfficial

    @blurblopOfficial

    5 ай бұрын

    @@LearnLightAndSoundSessions Thank you so much for suggestion

  • @livemusicreportscustommusi4245
    @livemusicreportscustommusi424510 ай бұрын

    I wanted to learn about the limiter on the line out. First thing you do is point to the headphone out side and then talk about the line out on the other side. Then you say if you aren't set at the correct level for line out you will clip... What about the limiter for the line out?

  • @LearnLightAndSoundSessions

    @LearnLightAndSoundSessions

    10 ай бұрын

    You can set the output limiter, yes, but the sound will be severely limited if the audio exceeds 0dB by a substantial amount. So yes, it helps, but it doesn't sound great in all situations. I still advocate for setting your levels responsibly so that the audio which goes to camera will also sound good and will NOT be severely limited.

  • @beng4797
    @beng47977 ай бұрын

    Soundies, I love that ahha

  • @curtisjudd

    @curtisjudd

    7 ай бұрын

    🎙🎧

  • @zenbil61
    @zenbil618 ай бұрын

    hello curtis, I have a zoom f3 recorder and the headphone impedance value shows 15 ohms. Can I hear sound with a 32 ohm headphone? Thanks in advance for your answer

  • @curtisjudd

    @curtisjudd

    8 ай бұрын

    Yes.

  • @xray111xxx
    @xray111xxx11 ай бұрын

    32 bit reminds of the true definition of what a preamplifier should do. Attenuate your level with a fader. All you need. So true 32 bit is not a panacea. would be cool if someone created a portable O scope that shows various tones the AC waveform shapes to set and be sure you are not clipping. DC belongs no where in your audio. You know just like a parade on your RGB values in video.

  • @curtisjudd

    @curtisjudd

    11 ай бұрын

    Thanks! I like analogue gear, but at some point, to do this show on KZread, we have to convert to digital. 😉

  • @nathanksimpson
    @nathanksimpson11 ай бұрын

    What is that little French(?) crab doing back there? Also why doesn't Sound Devices have such a nice app?

  • @curtisjudd

    @curtisjudd

    11 ай бұрын

    LOL on both counts! The crab is Pincer and he's the mascot for this show. As for the SD Wingman app...I'd love to see Sound Devices make it more functional.