Super Members BTM_Pix Posted June 4, 2019 Super Members Share Posted June 4, 2019 First of all, this is not some big comprehensive review but just a brief look and some samples that I took on the first day that I took it out. OK, with that disclaimer out of the way, lets have a look at it. The H3-VR is an integrated ambisonic microphone array and recorder and you can find the full product information here https://www.zoom-na.com/products/field-video-recording/field-recording/zoom-h3-vr-handy-recorder Basically, what it allows you to do is record the output from its 4 microphones either as a stereo binaural track or as a 4 channel ambisonics B format which you can then manipulate in post to effectively simulate changing the mic position after the fact. If you want a bit of a primer on ambisonics then this link will sort you out https://www.waves.com/ambisonics-explained-guide-for-sound-engineers I've mentioned the H3-VR a few times in responses in various threads about field recording, particularly with regard to ambient tracks, so on my last trip I decided that it was time to put my money where my mouth was and actually buy one. Well, with the proviso that I found one cheap enough, which I did, so here we are. First impressions are that it is much smaller than I had expected which is no bad thing and very, very light so its not going to be a problem to mount it on a camera. Here it is on the very diminutive OG Pocket Cinema Camera which I was using for testing it with. Incidentally, the foam shield is included in the box but I'd budget for a deadcat if you are using it outdoors and I'd probably also caution against mounting like it is here as it is very prone to handling noise even as transference from operating the camera controls. It is very straightforward to use as it has a good menu system and you can record in an array of stereo and B format modes and it also has a headphone monitor which you can select to be stereo or binaural. This option is also available on the line out so for the examples further down they are sent to the camera as a binaural mix but still recorded in B format in the recorder for later manipulation if necessary. To make post sync easy, you have the option for it to send a tone burst to the camera at the start of each recording and the H3-VR also has an inbuilt gyro so that it knows which way is up as it where in terms of where the microphones were during the recording. This function is also used for shooting 360 videos as it allows the unit to be connected upside down under a 360 camera to keep it out of shot and also enables you to use it in end-fire mode. Specs wise, it can record in various formats up to and including 24bit/96Khz so you can have a decent amount of headroom for your recordings but there is also a limiter and lo cut filters to give you a bit more security. My interest in this system is partly for VR but primarily for general ambience recording to create a more immersive soundscape with the ability to do some manipulation of the sound targeting in post production. Its worth bearing in mind that until very, very recently, having a B format microphone array and recording setup (let alone one that can fit in a large pocket and runs off two AA batteries) was a very specialist niche with a price tag to match so you'll have to manage your expectations about matching something like that but I've got to say that for me its going to be a very useful little item to supplement rather than replace other sound recording gear I've got. For these examples, I chose two different scenarios (although they are only about 15 minutes walk away from each other in Tokyo!) to illustrate its use in capturing soundscapes with different densities and degrees of subtlety. The audio on these is from the line out of the H3VR set to binaural stereo straight into the OG Pocket Cinema Camera whilst the H3-VR was recording them internally in the 4 channel B Format (Ambix in this case). Make sure you put some decent headphones on to listen and you should be able to pick up some degree of height and rear positioning of sounds within the environment and as objects move around it. If you want to experiment with manipulating the B format files, Zoom have a standalone player that enables you to do this This is available free from https://www.zoom-na.com/products/field-video-recording/field-recording/zoom-h3-vr-handy-recorder#downloads And I have put the original B format files from the H3VR from the videos above for you to download and use with it here https://mega.nz/#!RqYQXSpB!Ydluy4G-ouMIEJbJyWWTAzcG4DIUU47G2GNKhMyVpJM OK, thats it for now, as this is very much just an initial look at it and I'll return to flesh it out with more information as I use it a bit more but hope some of you can find some use in it. newfoundmass, webrunner5, heart0less and 5 others 4 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webrunner5 Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 Wow all those people look like cattle being led to slaughter. Remind me Not to move there lol. What was up with those Go Karts running down the street! Oh nice video by the way. ? BTM_Pix 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newfoundmass Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 You're one of my favorite users @BTM_Pix. Thanks for this! BTM_Pix 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Members BTM_Pix Posted June 4, 2019 Author Super Members Share Posted June 4, 2019 7 minutes ago, webrunner5 said: What was up with those Go Karts running down the street! Its a live version of Super Mario Kart that you can do there. Braver than I am riding those things round there ! 2 minutes ago, newfoundmass said: You're one of my favorite users @BTM_Pix. Thanks for this! Aww shucks, thank you. Although....hang on...Only ONE of your favourites ?!?!? I'm hurt now webrunner5 and newfoundmass 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newfoundmass Posted June 4, 2019 Share Posted June 4, 2019 4 minutes ago, BTM_Pix said: Its a live version of Super Mario Kart that you can do there. Braver than I am riding those things round there ! Aww shucks, thank you. Although....hang on...Only ONE of your favourites ?!?!? I'm hurt now I take it ALL back! I looked at this mic for my stereo mic search and it definitely piqued my interest, but $299 was just not feasible right now, since I needed two. I ended up going with the Tascam TM-2X which I like a lot and got one of them used in like new condition for a steal, but I'm definitely looking at this for the future. These mics interest me, especially for my pro wrestling work, because I think it can help make it more immersive because crowd reaction adds so much to the overall performance, and sometimes it can come off as a lot more muted than I'd like even when I try to mic the audience since the audience is on all sides of the performance. WWE, the major league, obviously handles it well given they have major league production. But for these smaller events the budget obviously isn't there for me to have an intricate set up with multiple mics all over the building, so something like this that does a "good enough" job of getting all sides of the action / crowd makes me kinda salivate! Hoping the two TM-2X at least improves things a little bit! ? BTM_Pix 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Members BTM_Pix Posted June 4, 2019 Author Super Members Share Posted June 4, 2019 1 minute ago, newfoundmass said: I looked at this mic for my stereo mic search and it definitely piqued my interest, but $299 was just not feasible right now, since I needed two. I ended up going with the Tascam TM-2X which I like a lot and got one of them used in like new condition for a steal, but I'm definitely looking at this for the future. Ah yes, I remember that was one of the threads I was pimping it in ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Members BTM_Pix Posted June 5, 2019 Author Super Members Share Posted June 5, 2019 One thing that I forgot to mention is that with the optional BTA-1 adpater (£30) you are able to control the H3-VR over bluetooth with an app that also includes metering. With the v2.0 software, the H3-VR can also use the adpater to pick up wireless timecode from an UltraSync BLUE unit and embed it into the recorded files for easier post-sync. I haven't been able to try this because the BTA-1 is proving a bit elusive to buy but I'll report back when I find one ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thephoenix Posted June 5, 2019 Share Posted June 5, 2019 funny i was having diner with a member of my family that is a sound guy (don't know the exact term in english) he mixes audio. it was telling me about this saying it was pretty impressive for the price and explaining that even for the "dumb" it could be worked pretty easily in post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Members BTM_Pix Posted June 29, 2019 Author Super Members Share Posted June 29, 2019 Just curious as to whether anyone actually downloaded the Zoom Ambisonics Player and had a play with the B-Format files, particularly anyone who has their computer attached to a 5.1 system ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronFilm Posted June 30, 2019 Share Posted June 30, 2019 On 6/6/2019 at 6:18 AM, BTM_Pix said: One thing that I forgot to mention is that with the optional BTA-1 adpater (£30) you are able to control the H3-VR over bluetooth with an app that also includes metering. Oh darn, I didn't know you needed to buy an extra accessory to use bluetooth with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Members BTM_Pix Posted June 30, 2019 Author Super Members Share Posted June 30, 2019 10 hours ago, IronFilm said: Oh darn, I didn't know you needed to buy an extra accessory to use bluetooth with it It offers great additional functionality, particularly the timecode element of it with v2.0, but yeah its annoying it isn't inbuilt and the price comparative to the unit itself is also a bit harsh. I can't find one locally either so I've got to order one from Germany which won't make it any cheaper ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronFilm Posted June 30, 2019 Share Posted June 30, 2019 Have you used any other ambisonic mics before that you can compare it against? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Members BTM_Pix Posted July 1, 2019 Author Super Members Share Posted July 1, 2019 28 minutes ago, IronFilm said: Have you used any other ambisonic mics before that you can compare it against? I worked with the Soundfield company itself when it changed hands from AMS/Calrec about 25 years ago so I sold/demoed/rented quite a few ST350 systems to broadcasters and studios. The H3VR is not quite at that level In fairness though, it only costs about the same as the flight case did for those so its punching well above its weight. For what it is as at this sort of level I think its actually pretty good to be honest. Its not going to fulfill a fantasy of being a magic bullet for a "record all/point later" device for primary audio but as a simple way for recording general ambience in a surround format to supplement it then it has a lot going for it for me. Emanuel 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3DstuffTokyo Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 I just got one of these and wondering what is best format to record in where you can convert to whatever you need in post? Hoping to use in VR where I can use binaural or ambisonic You in Japan? Any other way to get in touch? Sincerely, steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronFilm Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 20 hours ago, 3DstuffTokyo said: I just got one of these and wondering what is best format to record in where you can convert to whatever you need in post? If you're converting it in post, then record in A Format 3DstuffTokyo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Members BTM_Pix Posted June 26, 2020 Author Super Members Share Posted June 26, 2020 On 6/25/2020 at 8:15 AM, 3DstuffTokyo said: I just got one of these and wondering what is best format to record in where you can convert to whatever you need in post? Hoping to use in VR where I can use binaural or ambisonic You in Japan? Any other way to get in touch? Sincerely, steve As @IronFilm says, A format will give you the most flexibility as it is a raw recording of each of the four capsules and the Zoom Ambisonics Player app can then convert that to B format (or to stereo, binaural and 5.1 too) for you to then drop in to your editing system. The B format encoder that is built in to the H3VR will save you the step of having to run it through the Ambisonics Player app, something which, due to app not having a batch process capability, can become quite tedious and time consuming if you have a lot of clips. Because I am inherently a lazy bugger, thats why I record on the H3VR in B format to avoid the extra steps and use its internal down mix feature to record a live binaural feed into the camera as often the latter is all I need but can still have the option to tweak it using the B format files during the edit if I need to. 3DstuffTokyo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronFilm Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 1 hour ago, BTM_Pix said: Because I am inherently a lazy bugger, thats why I record on the H3VR in B format to avoid the extra steps Get yourself a Zoom F8n (and an Ambisonics mic) then you can be BOTH lazy and record the raw as well for later on. 3DstuffTokyo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Members BTM_Pix Posted June 26, 2020 Author Super Members Share Posted June 26, 2020 6 minutes ago, IronFilm said: Get yourself a Zoom F8n (and an Ambisonics mic) then you can be BOTH lazy and record the raw as well for later on. I'll be lazy and poor then though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronFilm Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 9 minutes ago, BTM_Pix said: I'll be lazy and poor then though True, we're living in the "VR Winter" right now. Nobody is splashing around big dollars on VR projects so you can be recuperating your pricey investment. Best stick with the Zoom H3-VR! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3DstuffTokyo Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 Thanks folks! Some time ago ...Bought a ThetaV and the overpriced, now useless (with any new Thetas) TA1 and was pretty disappointed. Have been saving up for Sennheiser AMBEO and Sound Devices MixPre-6 II kit but it's just taking to long... The stuff is up to 50-75% more expensive here in Japan too! Had to get something else for other VR cams and figured this thing a good buy without having to blow too much of my budget. btw... I don't really agree with the "VR winter" thing.. on the contrary actually because of the virus crisis (at least in the Asias)! We all just need to keep plowing forward together to improve or skills and ideas ....get quality content out there and generate more enthusiasm! BTM_Pix 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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