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.

I don't throw 5 star reviews around unless the product truly deserves it. The Zoom F3 deserves it. I use it mainly to record thunderstorms and as an audio interface when I livestream stuff. Since you can't predict how loud thunder is going to be, this recorder makes it fool proof. No matter what, you wont clip...unless you overload the mic, of course, but that's not the recorder's fault. This takes all the guesswork out of recording audio. You still need proper mic placement to get good sound, but with the F3, you just hit record and never have to worry about levels. It's awesome. Don't listen to the hipsters who claim that not knowing how to manually set gain is somehow going to ruin your ability to record good clean audio. I say use the technology that makes your life easier. One less thing to worry about makes my life easier. The audio is crystal clear. The battery life is pretty good using rechargeable lithium batteries. I had both inputs using phantom power, with the screen light permanently on, recording at 48kHz, and the batteries lasted 5 hours and 45 minutes. If you need to continuously record for longer than that and can't for some reason stop recording to change the batteries, use a power bank.

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.