To be more precise, Zoom F8, F6 can link the trims so if you have to do
stereo, Ambisonics or other kind of recordings where gain have to be
matched, it is perfectly possible. Not sure about the offset. This
specific task is a quite old technique used when recorders didn't have
enough S/N ratio to cope with a very dynamic environments (I used it
quite a fair amount), which then remained with the advent of digital
when, for some obscure reasons, people thought to aim to 0dBfs to get
decent recordings. With the unbelievable S/N noise quality we got today
in any recording devices, I personally don't see the point for it, I
just record quieter and you I have all I need.
The F6 has 32bit float recording (Steinberg introduced that 20 years ago
though), and 192 Khz too, which today seems to be the only selling point
for the new machines out there, like without it all sounds crap. I guess
the next F8 series will follow with the 32bit thingy and it's already on
the 192Khz. Rest assured that if you overload the input electronic there
is not 32bit to save you, so keep recording quieter (how about -32dBfs
in an average active forest/wood?) and the more enhanced dynamic range
will come to help to lift everything up in post, if needed.
Both brands produce very nice sounding machines, and with Zoom you
usually get more for the money. The choice it's just a matter of
personal taste and the MKH8020 will sound fantastic on both machines. I
don't own one myself but if I was in your same situation right now I
would go for the F6, to help to keep the weight and equipment footprint
at minimum.
Emanuele Costantini
On 12/09/2019 15:35, Wilbur Hershberger
[naturerecordists] wrote:
>
> Hello Stella,
>
> Yes, the latest firmware, v 3.03, fixed the issue of recording at
> 192kHz sampling rate. I would chose the MixPre over the zoom for two
> basic reasons; the headphone amplifier is superior in the MixPre and
> the channels can be linked in stereo pairs so that one gain control
> adjusts the gain for both channels and the other channels gain control
> adjusts the offset. So, you can record with one mic and have the left
> channel set to record at -10dB relative to the right channel. If the
> gain needs to be adjusted, only the right channel???s gain knob needs to=
> be moved, both channels gains are adjusted and the offset is
> preserved. It is trivial to readjust the left channel???s gain back to 0=
> for stereo recording. With the Zoom, all of the knobs are independent
> and you have to adjust both channels gains anytime the levels have to
> be changed. For studio work, that might be ok, in the field it is a
> real inconvenience to have to look at and adjust two controls.
>
> The new mark II MixPre units have some new circuitry and enhanced
> functionality, including 32-bit float recording. In that mode, you
> cannot clip the inputs of the A/D converters. That would allow you to
> make stellar recordings of thunderstorms without having to worry about
> where the gains are set. Just set the gain for a nice level and
> record. Anything that looks clipped can be normalized in post to a
> better level and nothing will have clipped. This is a game changer in
> natural sounds recording endeavors. Also, the MixPre-3 now can record
> at 192kHz sampling rate, the mark I could only go as high at 96kHz.
> I hope that this helps,
> /
> Wil Hershberger/
> Nature Images and Sounds, LLC <http://www.natureimagesandsounds.com>
> Hedgesville, WV
> The Songs of Insects <http://www.songsofinsects.com/>
>
>> On Sep 12, 2019, at 10:00 AM, Stella Aquilina
>> <> [naturerecordists]
>> <
>> <>> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Will - I read your
>> articlehttp://songsofinsects.com/microphone-choiceand read that there
>> were some issues with the MixPre-6 with a high sampling rate. Have
>> those issues been resolved with the software update? If one is
>> interested in insect ambiance and envisions using a pair of MKH8020
>> would you still recommend the MixPre over a Zoom? Thanks in advance
>> for any updated info.
>>
>
>
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