Zoom F3 2-input Field Recorder (F3Zoomd1)

I recently connected my Zoom F3 to my Xone 92 mixer, and from the moment I powered it up, I knew this recorder was something special. Setup was incredibly easy — literally plug and play. Within minutes, I was ready to record, which isn’t something I can say for most recording devices I’ve tried over the years. I’m extremely particular when it comes to audio quality. Over time, I’ve experimented with many different recorders, interfaces, and setups trying to achieve that clean, dynamic, professional sound you hear on mastered tracks. The Zoom F3 completely exceeded my expectations. The 32-bit float recording is a total game changer. You don’t have to stress about gain levels or clipping — it captures everything perfectly, from the quietest moment to the loudest peak, with flawless headroom. It’s honestly hard to believe the difference until you hear it. After recording my DJ mix through the F3, I simply removed the microSD card, transferred the files to my computer, and listened back. The quality blew me away — full, rich, and crystal clear. It sounded just like a professionally mastered track straight from Beatport. The low end was tight, the highs were sharp without distortion, and the overall sound had incredible depth and balance. For me, the Zoom F3 has taken all the guesswork and frustration out of recording. It’s compact, solidly built, and produces results that rival high-end studio equipment. If you’re serious about your sound — whether you’re recording DJ sets, live performances, podcasts, or field audio — the Zoom F3 is absolutely worth it. I was genuinely excited listening back to my first recording. It’s rare to find a piece of gear that delivers exactly what it promises, but this one does. The Zoom F3 has instantly become a permanent part of my setup.

The Zoom F3 Professional Field Recorder is an excellent choice for those looking for high-quality sound in a compact package. With two XLR inputs and very low self-noise, it delivers clear and professional audio. The standout feature is its 32-bit float recording, which handles a wide range of sound levels, making post-production a breeze. The build quality is solid with a mix of metal and plastic, ensuring durability without adding extra weight. Power efficiency is another plus; it runs for over six hours on just two AA batteries. However, be aware that it doesn't have traditional gain controls and lacks 3.5mm inputs, which might be a downside for some. Overall, it's a fantastic tool for solo operators and those needing a portable yet powerful audio recorder.

Built like a tank, but compact. The interface and menus are intuitive. The screen is small but clear and adequate for the job. The sonic quality of the recording is excellent—transparent, very low noise floor. An affordable, high quality 32-bit float recorder.

I was an early adopter of this little gem, so I've had plenty of time to become familiar with it. The sound quality is impeccable and the 32-bit float feature avoids any need to set or monitor levels during a recording session - a huge benefit - and also matches the native format of some popular post-processing software. The unit is super-portable, seems rugged, and has what I would consider an ideal set of features for its intended use - nothing superfluous to take up extra space or drive up the price. Its main limitation is, of course, it offers only two inputs (no Decca trees allowed). Also need to be aware of its 10mA phantom max, both channels combined - many mics draw less than 5mA each, but some require as much as 10mA. I wondered initially whether the dual A/D converters would cause audible artifacts when transitioning between loud and soft, but so far have noticed no such problems. We need to be careful when picking it up, because the door over the memory card pops open when accidentally touched, ejecting the card - especially bad if the unit is on at the time. It can be mounted right on the mic stand using the handy little clamp at https://smile.amazon.com/ChromLives-Photography-Converter-Umbrellas-Shelves/dp/B07F72MS8Y/ref=sr_1_18?crid=C6N6J6278DHN&keywords=camera%2Bclamp%2Bmount&qid=1648163240&refinements=p_36%3A-1500&rnid=386442011&sprefix=camera%2Bclamp%2Bmount%2Caps%2C115&sr=8-18&th=1 which permits short mic cables. Highly recommended, if you don't need extra channels!

Wicked, wicked, wicked filmmakers tool. Almost the perfect product, simple to use and superior quality. You’re at the mercy of your mic too but this gizmo is a set it and forget it tool. A must for those who need a minimal crew footprint.

I’ve been using the Zoom F3 for a few months now, and it’s been a total game-changer compared to my old Zoom recorder. The 32-bit float recording is incredible — no more worrying about clipping or having to constantly ride gain levels. It’s just set it and forget it, which saves so much stress during shoots. It’s also surprisingly simple to use. The interface is super clean, the menu makes sense, and the build feels tough enough for wedding days and outdoor sessions. Battery life has been solid, and it pairs easily with lavs or shotgun mics depending on what I’m doing. If you’re on the fence about upgrading, this is the one. It’s small, reliable, and produces studio-quality audio in the field. Couldn’t be happier with it.

Great product. It worked wonderfully

Good recorder. Might be off-putting for old-school field recordists used to adjusting input gain. This is designed to be used in 32bit floating point, meaning turn it on and don't worry about gain. If you have to work old-school, making the front panel act as an input gain adjustment is tedious and buried in layers of menus. None the less, the mic pre-amps are quiet and dynamic and the audio quality is very high. The form factor is a blessing and a curse. Super small and portable, but infintesimally small and unusable switches for fat fingers like mine.

Ya la use en dos eventos y funciona increible, que pueda grabara de 2 fuentes distintas es más que suficiente para mi, que no tenga auxiliar no es problema, con un adpatador lo resuelves, que puedas monitorear el audio con audifonos esta bien, el factor tamaño, porstabilidad y material de construcción lo hacen ideal para la mayoria de las situaciones, la pantalla es excelente para condiciones de exterior, los menús son snecillos y la curva de aprendizaje es corta, es 32 bits. Ya salió la competencia de Tasam, pero por precio me voy por esta. Así que no lo duden.

When my Zoom H5 finally starting showing signs of dying after many years of sterling service, I upgraded to this F3, having read great things about 32 bit recording. And it's all true, you can set and forget the level. Some would say you don't even need to set, but you can set a ballpark to tweak level. I prefer to set it a little hot then bring it down after the fact, as my environment isn't perfectly sound treated, and while the device has an incredibly low noise floor, my room does not. The form factor takes getting used to after using an H5 which fits nicely in the hand, while this is a little cube type thing that would be awkward if it was bigger. But it isn't, so you can handle it however. It's small enough to attach to a camera with a coldshoe if you like, or screw on to a magic arm, or it's own tripod, it has belt loops, you can attach it that way. Or just drop it a big jacket pocket. Whatever works for you. Battery life seems longer than the H5, and if it isn't long enough, you can run it off one of those portable usb power banks. Pricewise it seems competitive, though keep in mind that it doesn't have built in mics or a mic capsule like the H5. I've seen images of field recordists sticking a pair of small tubular mics into the xlr jacks, but if you don't have the mics already, the cost of a complete solution around the f3 could be significantly more than for an H5 using its stereo capsule mics. My only real disappointment with it is that it doesn't display the file name when recording. I used to include that in the slate. Not much to complain about. At the end of the day it's a question of shopping around and getting the best price. I'm happy buying from amazon as I've found it very easy to return things if I'm not satisfied, and that being the case, you can buy it, check it out yourself, and if it doesn't knock your socks off, send it back -- they pay shipping. Doesn't get any fairer than that. Edit: Also consider the H4essential, a 32 bit version of the old H4. It has the mic capsule, though I've read its preamps are not as good as the F3. But if you're on a budget, a field recorder that comes with mics for a similar price might be worth considering.

Lo uso para cine documental, en el cual conecto un MKE600. Obtengo sonido limpio. Me encanta.

Compact, powerful and very versatile!

This is a super simple, super compact machine for my stereo rig. Love it!