![]() ![]() This is where I start to get a little nit-picky. The front panel has a minor imperfection that can really throw a wrench into the gears. But my complaints about the F4 aren’t limited to the back of the device. I’ve never encountered a situation where a recording was lost due to the SD card popping out so it seems like Zoom was trying to fix a non-existent problem. The screw-in panel mostly serves to keep the battery pack in place but the SD card slots are needlessly placed behind the panel. Thankfully the screw is mounted in the panel door so you never have to worry about dropping/losing the screw but it’s a pain to have to deal with it anytime you need to remove or change cards. The cards don’t create a carrying problem by jutting out or anything but for some reason they’re hidden behind a screw-in panel. You have to record the audio onto a memory card and SD is your only option. WHY?!!! I listed how to get around the previous problems with the rear panel but there is absolutely no way to avoid this. The placement of inputs and battery consumption pale in comparison to the SD card access, logically. It’s only upon starting this section that I realized my largest complaints about the F4 have to deal with the back of the device. The back panel also features the battery pack, which can be a problem of its own. ![]() While the right bag fixes most of these problems, it’s an obstacle to climb over either way. You most likely won’t be using the rear mic input but if you had to, wouldn’t you rather those be with the others? Timecode sync is in an incredible help in the editing process but you can survive without it (especially if your camera records scratch audio). I understand that you may not be utilizing these inputs most of the time so the inconvenience isn’t that great but you can’t help but wonder if there was a better place to put them on the device. Timecode sync is being used more and more lately, especially when collaborating with another team, making easy access and connectivity essential. On the back of the device you’ll find some very important inputs such as timecode sync in & out. This imperfection of the device is less impactful if you have the right bag as previously mentioned but without one the F4 can be a pain to set up and tow around a set. I realize that one might be hesitant to use this feature in case you accidentally mix out a sound you wanted to be captured, that’s why I also love the F4’s file saving system. It’s incredibly convenient to be able to have a mix for a mic 4 inches away from the subject’s mouth and a different mix on a mic that’s 4 feet away, all going into the same recorder. For example, in interview setups I prefer the subject to wear a lav but I love to have a boom as a backup. ![]() I love how separate mixes can be applied to separate tracks when recording with multiple microphones. With the use of hard limiters, faders, and so many more options you can really lock in your focus on capturing the desired audio. The F4’s on-board mixer solves a lot of those problems. ![]() As an audio engineer, you’re always looking for tools to help you get the best audio in any environment. You’re searching for ways to mix out the unwanted noise or mask it with other audio and it can be a real setback for a project with a quick turnaround/delivery. As an editor, it can be a grueling experience to mix audio when you have rough raw footage. This is easily my favorite aspect of this recorder. ![]()
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