Forget about clipping, forget about gain, and forget about hassle; just power on the Zoom F3 portable 2-track field recorder and press record to capture clear, distortion-free sound from your external XLR mics in an instant for your next video shoot, interview, or sound design excursion. With two premium mic preamps and 32-bit float technology, the F3 handles the softest and loudest sounds you can throw at it while avoiding distortion, maintaining low-noise performance, and freeing you from the responsibility of adjusting gain. Recordings ruined by clipped converters and poorly set preamps are things of the past.

From the real-time waveform display and one-touch controls to the flexible powering options and precision timecode functionality, the F3 is properly equipped to please novices and demanding veterans alike. Whether you need long-duration stereo recording for an interview, redundant capture of dual-mic setups for a video shoot, or failure-proof recording on location, the F3 has the modes, resolutions, and media support to handle your crucial audio tasks. Plus, its operational versatility ensures that the F3 will always enhance your workflow, be it simple, complex, or always changing. You can feel confident using it as your main recorder, a USB audio interface for your dedicated computer rig, or a backup unit for added safety.

Zoom F3 Recorder + KSF3 Stingray Belt    Holds F3 and Two Receivers/Transmitters    For Videographers and Sound Recordists    2 Ultralow-Noise Mic Pres via XLR Jacks    No Gain Adjustment Needed    32-Bit Float Recording Avoids Clipping    Headphone and Line Outputs    Hold Switch Averts Unintended Operation    USB Power / 8 Hours via AA Batteries    microSD Card Recording / USB Audio I/O

The F3 utilizes dual A/D converters and 32-bit float recording technology to capture intensely loud signals without clipping the converters and bring in extremely quiet sounds without overwhelming noise, all without requiring any gain adjustment from you. Record with confidence, knowing that you can just connect your microphones and start recording to attain crisp, clear audio.

Two balanced mic/line inputs with locking XLR jacks and switchable +48V phantom power make the F3 an ideal match for professional microphones such as handheld dynamics and shotgun condensers as well as line-level feeds from a dedicated field mixer.

The F3 supports high-quality sample rates between 44.1 and 192 kHz, in mono or stereo uncompressed BWF (Broadcast Wave File) format. No data compression means that no quality is lost in the creation of the audio files.

Maximize portability by recording directly to a microSDHC/microSDXC card (available separately) for up to 1TB of storage space.

While the line output enables straightforward routing to your camera, DSLR, or secondary recorder, a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack with dedicated volume control offers convenient audio monitoring.

To keep up with the pace of on-location production, the F3 can be powered via two AA alkaline, Lithium, or NiMH rechargeable batteries, a Zoom AD-17 power adapter (available separately), or a USB Type-C battery pack (available separately). With up to eight hours of run time on AA batteries, all-day shoots are no problem for the F3.

Since the F3 has a USB Type-C port, simply connect it to your computer via a USB cable (available separately) to transfer files to your computer or use the F3 as a 2x2 USB audio interface capable of 32-bit float / 96 kHz resolution.

Add the separately available Zoom BTA-1 Bluetooth adapter and UltraSync Blue (from Timecode Systems or Atomos) to take advantage of high-precision timecode that realizes accurate synchronization with video.

For convenient wireless remote control from an iOS/Android mobile device, connect a Zoom BTA-1 Bluetooth adapter (available separately), then use the free F3 Control app via Bluetooth.

Intuitive one-touch buttons—record, play, stop, and volume up/down—provide fast, hassle-free operations with no menus to wade through. The onboard screen shows real-time waveforms and clear indication of battery status, recording time, and more. Per-channel buttons let you quickly zoom in or out for a better view.

Flip the Record switch down to the Hold position to engage the Hold function, which prevents interruptions to the recording caused by accidental button presses.

With its minimalist profile, the lightweight F3 attaches to boompoles via hook-and-loop fastener (available separately) or slips into a pocket to be hidden from sight.

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. Is there a compact mic add-on solution like the h5 for ambient sound or is it jerry-rigs only?

A: The Zoom F3 is not compatible with any proprietary mic modules like the H6 and H8.

Q: 2. What microphone(s) would you suggest with the F3 to record nature sounds?

A: A stereo microphone such as the Sony ECM-MS2 Stereo Electret Condenser Microphone (BH #SOECMMS2) would pair nicely with the Zoom F3 2-Input / 2-Track Portable Field Recorder for capturing nature sounds.

Q: 3. Can you control multiple F3 units from the App?

A: No, the Zoom F3 Control App can only be used to control one Zoom F3 Portable Field Recorder.

Q: 4. Could you connect a shotgun mic, like say a sennheiser mkh416, directly to the f3? Or need some sort of adapter?

A: The Zoom F3 2-Input / 2-Track Portable Field Recorder offers 48V phantom power from both XLR microphone inputs and could easily connect a shotgun microphone such as the Sennheiser MKH 416.

Q: 5. How much current does the zoom f3 draw?

A: The manufacturer has not provided a specification for the current draw of the Zoom F3 Portable Field Recorder.

Q: 6. Can I connect this to the JBL Partybox 710 to record music?

A: Yes, you can use the 3.5mm line out from the JBL PartyBox 710 Wireless Speaker to connect to the input on the Zoom F3 Portable Field Recorder to record audio directly from the PartyBox.

Q: 7. Can zoom f3 use 14500 3.7v lithium battery?

A: The Zoom F3 is not designed for use with 14500 batteries. It can accept AA batteries, USB bus power, or the AC power adapter.

Q: 8. What is the best USB-C external power bank to use with the Zoom F3?

A: BH #GO21950 is an excellent compatible solution to consider.

Q: 9. Any M/S support? It would be good if it could decode M/S mics at the headphone output - no real need to convert M/S in the actual recording.

A: At this time there is no information from Zoom about M/S support on the F3 Field Recorder.

Q: 10. Can you provide power from the to the USB port?

A: The Zoom F3 Field Recorder can be powered via USB. This can be through a computer's USB port, a power bank, or wall charger.