How's the replacement one? Can we expect follow-up video on Zoom M3? I'd love to watch/hear your opinion on M3 especially if the notorious RF issue got better or even got completely fixed.

Amazing! Looking fwd to getting one

Great detailed video!!!

Thanks for the video, it helps me, in addition with the FocusPulling video (he find high RF interferference) and the comments of the plastic materials and fragile build of the M3 to choose for me (record shoot and go videos with de Sony Fx30) the F3 with the deity mic that you also compare in another video (I have already the F3). Saludos

Thanks for this! I'm curious how this will work with the new iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max with the USB-C instead of lightning port. I've experienced hissing with my old MKE400 and looking to get rid of that.

Wayne, I'm a believer of Float 32bit technologies. I really like my zoom F2. I have triple. back up sounds, one to F2, one to main cam and third to action cam. I use the waveforms on cams to match or sync the F2 waveforms and will only use the F2 sound. I think the F2 with the Sennheiser lav blocks all the crazy sounds out in the field. I'm so spoiled on it, that I still use that workflow at my home recordings. Yes there are lots of prep with different checklists to make sure I have back up recordings but it's only part of my maturity learning to be a videographer. Your video is great but now I have to start counting my pennies to buy it. Good weekend!

Thank you for the excellent review. Please if possible put a link to downlaod the .WAVE file?

hi thx for the video and your thoughts but how does it compare to the ZSG-1 and the H1 Essential ps I'm a beginner and my main aim is to record wildlife but also some city ambient sounds thx

Something I might pick up on sale for sure just as a convenience product for a quick shoot where everything is all in one.

I have the FX30 with the XLR mount and a Deity MIC....do you think if I added the M3 on top of the XLR I would get interference having two mics so close together....I want to use the Diety just for filming crowds....but on interviews I would like to hit the record button on the M3 for 32 bit backup....however I was not sure if having the mics so close on the same camera I would get interference...what are your thoughts...

can this not universally be connected to it start to record when one start recording on the Lumix GH camera ? like a universal remote control for the tv?

Two days ago I ordered the AT8024. I didn't know about the Zoom M3, but... I already own one cheap (much cheaper!) on-camera mic that has decent audio quality, is switchable between mono and (m/s) stereo, is all plastic and has no radio shielding, so the M3 doesn't tempt me much. Mine is the Nonsha NA-Q7 that probably isn't made anymore. The lack of shielding doesn't mean that it picks up Radio Moscow, as my 10m cables did back in the eighties, but that it picks up a constant 50 hz hum from the A/C in my house - especially when I'm near a lamp. (No, not 60 hz - I live in Europe). So really it's only usable outdoors. It was only about $60, so I wasn't surprised. By the way, I also own the Sennheiser MKE 440 which has the directional stereo that I'm looking for in a camera microphone. It's very good in many ways, but the tiny diaphragms make the sound a little thin. By the way, I know 32 bit is all the rage, but I haven't yet ruined any take by clipping, so I don't feel a need.

Looking at this months after you made it. Great points rarely made by youtube content creators, especially masking "dirty noise" with a music soundtrack. I've seen several of your vids now on mics and I'm impressed by how you don't do this. The M3 looks worth exploring - not convinced by the DJI Mic 2 though especially the wireless aspect.

What you're saying is the 32 bit float recording device is doing its job very well, but it records the dynamic range that's given to it. It depends upon the devices/microphones hardware delivering the input. Garbage in garbage out. It does do the sound man out of a job essentially or maybe they're needed to select equipment.

Hi Wayne, thanks for your great video including all these details. You motivated me to purchase one ;-). I got my M3 Mictrak now and as i am recording most of the time during my traveling i would like to save my recordings on my iPad. I read in the handbook that it should be possible. But with which software can i copy the files, *.wav and *raw.wav? The edit & play App is not available in App store and not on ZOOM page. I was able to connect my M3 with the iPad by USB-C cable and use it as a microphone. I also switched on by pressing the Stereo button and than the Power button to get the orange light for Datatransfer. But no App pops up and i could not see the M3 somewhere on the iPad to copy the data. It would be great if you have a solution for me.

I would probably use this and keep a back-up audio device for the bigger jobs just in case.

Hi Wayne, do you agree, that the normalization in the edit & play software does not make sense if i have a recording with very large and very small level in one file? For me the normalization and compressing etc. need to be done in the post production with splitted pieces from the file. Thanks for an answer, Andreas

I've been on the fence with this one and ended up playing around with my F3 to have it sit on top of my a7siii with a pencil condenser mic. If I line out into the camera I can record both on the F3 and the camera at the same time. I suspect you rigged something like that as well before the M3 came out... lol. Yes it's heavier... but it's a tank compared to the plastic. I might still get it just because of all the cool functions and the weight... but we'll see... (I ended up getting a Cajon instead as my most recent audio related purchase 🤣) Good to see you back with a follow up to your last M3 video. 😁👍

I have Zoom H5 and P4, and both of them do terribly regarding RF interference shielding. You almost made me buy M3, but now I have to think twice.

How would the microphone work bringing to concerts for recording audio? No video, just as a concert audio recorder for rock concerts? 32 bit means I don't have to worry about clipping. small enough to clamp onto different surfaces.

Hi Wayne, RF Interference was fixed?

Thank you for the excellent balanced review. I'm concerned about the rf interference. I've been looking at the Rode Stereo VideoMic X. Which would sound better, the Zoom or Rode? I take videos of trains and had used a Sennheiser MKE 200 but unfortunately it picks up interference from the overhead wires above the railway tracks so is next to useless. I could be better off with the Rode VideoMic X and it's metal construction.

Can it record stereo and mono on sparate lines at the same time?

Very good review. The mic isn't compatible with my equipment. But it does have some great features.

Thanks, Wayne! Another great review. The plastic body really is a sin on this device

If the output to camera is too high I guess the headphone output could be used instead, as its output level can be changed. And then monitor the sound on the camera's headphone output, which is probably the best way to do it anyway (so you can be sure there's no problem with the connection from the mic to the camera). Setting the stereo width in post - without necessarily using the "raw" file - can be accomplished using an MS plugin such as the free Voxengo MSED (if your editing software supports VST plugins). Always record at 120 degrees, then in post production you can reduce that to mono (or less stereo) using the plugin, even if you are simply working with the audio recorded direct to the camera. Or you could increase the width beyond 120 degrees. Light weight is also very relevant if the mic is being used in conjunction with a gimbal - the lighter the better. Never mind the plastic build, feel the lack of weight. And contemporary plastic can be remarkably robust in practice. RF... well, I think two, or maybe three, reviewers have mentioned it. The rest haven't, and it's not audible on their samples. The Tascam X8 had some issues with strange HF lines on the spectogram, and Tascam have recently said that it was a problem with the first production run, but was fixed afterwards. (Tough on early adopters but maybe they returned it anyway). Maybe the same will apply with the M3. It's odd that there's very few reviews on KZfaq at the moment apart from the first flurry on release. I almost get the feeling that the first production run was small, and that it's out of stock until further runs are produced - which might not suffer from the RF issue. All speculation, but I don't think the M3 should be written off until there are more end-user reviews which might, or might not, reveal RF problems. In practice, the biggest downside with the M3 is that it doesn't come with a dead cat windshield - the foam one is unlikely to contend with other than a slight breeze. Great review, thanks!

Good stuff thank you, but this is not the only option if you wanted a mic that can do stereo and mono. I use the Azden SMX-30V and it can even fully mix the 2 options in-mic in real-time, but that post mixing feature is slick if you remember to record in the M3.

Wayne, I had to laugh when you applauded the M3 Mic Trk for light weight, then booed it for being plastic- but then you covered that seemingly contradictory gotcha. And I get it. Still, it is funny. What I really like is your last couple of sentences, RE, who is it for. I think you nailed it there, and I think you were talking about me. I don't mind plastic generally as I'm careful with equipment and no longer climbing mountains or forging rivers. Yeah, but I do have the Zoom F3 so I can get along without the M3 and you showed us some mics to direct-connect to the F3. Also, if I want to call it an on-camera recorder I can just pull out the velcro strips. 🤣🤣Thanks for another outstanding and thorough sound equipment review!

thinking about mounting that on the end of a boom pole, to record dialogue for an indie short film - on location - what do you think? Strong option?

Very good video! I have two big issue with M3 and I hope you can help me with your experience: 1) internal recording is only 16 bit and I didn't find a way to change this setting by software. 2) 32 bit recording don't start when I press rec on camera: I have to press rec on mic to start recording so it's very frustrating! Is there a way to fix these issues? Thanks

Great review. The features of this mic look great, but the RF interference would be a deal breaker for me, living in Bangkok and doing most of my filming in the city it just would not be practical as even more expensive mics suffer from interference here. Even at my studio, which is on the outer edge of the city it can be an issue (but I am not so far that I have foxes in my yard). But normally Zoom makes some fantastic products, I have used many of their recorders over the years and they always delivered and were rock solid. My old H6 traveled all over the world with me and never skipped a beat.

Спасибо за видео, очень полезно! Если можно сравните с RODE VideoMic GO II

When you edit the files, which one do you use? Regular one or Raw?

Hi Wayne, I hv Zoom H5 & thinking to add the SSH6 mic capsule. Or should I buy this M3 instead? I'm going to use it standalone, on camera & as usb mic

If you power the zoom m3 with a USB C long chord that works as an antenna and you will pick up RF noise! If you power the m3 through internal batteries and not through USB C cable while recording then there will be no RF noise.

does it also have blue tooth timecode like the F2

Have you seen they’ve recalled certain units due to the RF interference?

is there a way to connect the M3 into an iphone or ipad? if yes, will it transmit 24bit or 32bit audio?

Zoom R4 MultiTrak is out... so your predictions of a camera with 32 bit float audio might appear soon at zoom headquarters...

I had to return my when it first came out, buzzing everywhere. Got a new one, so much better

Zoom and Plastic, name a more iconic duo -__- I've bought multiple Zoom products in the past, and as much as I commend them for making devices with very useful features that can be applied to various use cases, the build quality of alot of their products (mostly outside their handy recorders) are just not up to par as "pro-sumer" gear. The idea behind each product is sooo good on paper, but once you have it in your hands, you can't help but be disappointed. (e.g. L-8 mixer, U-series audio interface, Podtrak etc.)

like the video, would have loved it with chapters. :(

Being stereo is a deal breaker. Edit: okay you can make it mono so all good. It rocks again haha

the only problem I see with this....if I do 30 videos each ranging from 1 to 10 minutes in one morning sessions...I would have to sink each video with the audio...which would be a lot of work...I believe the GH7 has 32 bit float....but my fx30 only has 24 bit...the syncing in post would be like putting a puzzle together every time

Love the sound and feature set of this mic but the build quality and poor shielding just ruins it for me. It’s like they tried to hit the videomic ntg price and just failed. If rode charged £300 for an ntg with built in 32bit float no one would complain and they would sell a boat load. So that’s all zoom had to do take this mic and encase it in high quality components and charge 300 for it and everyone would be happy 😂

RF issues are resolved: please update your video - now its perfect!!

I hoped this would be a good field recorder setup, but alas, it only records in 48khz/24...all the 32bit float goodness in the world can't make up for that... no where did I see the specs or research further, so that is on me, but they should have to call out max khz as much as they do the 32bit float. I think this will have a great spot in the world, but not for high quality field recording for resale samples. Just my two cents. Great video though, you always do it right.

Omg I didn’t realise it was stereo! What a shame! I HATE stereo microphones. Just awful!!!

I tried to watch this because I was interested. Your ridiculous white glasses were so distracting I couldn’t