Zoom Q8 User manual

User Guide
Safety and Operation
Precautions must be read
before using this unit.
© 2014 ZOOM CORPORATION
Copying or reproduction of this User Guide in
part or in whole without permission is prohibited.
Q8

Parts and their functions
1
Left side
Top
XY mic
REC
button
MIC GAIN
adjustment knob
(Can be changed)
Mic attachment
(sold separately)
POWER
button
Track
buttons
Input
volume 2
Input
volume 1
PLAY/PAUSE
button
Speaker
UNLOCK
button
Parts and their functions

Parts and their functions
2
Front
Video
recording
LED
Lens
Display
Opening and closing the LCD screen
HDMI port
USB port
Headphones
jack
Input 2
jack
Input 1
jack
Charging LED
Back
1
2
3
XLR
TRS
1 : GND
2 : HOT
3 : COLD
TIP : HOT
RING : COLD
SLEEVE : GND

Parts and their functions
3
Battery cover
Right side
NOTE
Connecting the battery
1Slide the battery cover down to remove it.
2Install the battery as shown in the illustration and reattach the battery
cover.
Parts and their functions (continued)
11
22

Mic overview
4
Mic overview
Raising the mic
1. While pressing the UNLOCK button, raise the mic
until it reaches the fixed position.
Lowering the mic
1. While pressing the UNLOCK button, lower the mic.
CAUTION
Do not force the mic arm without pushing the UNLOCK button. Doing so
could damage the main unit.

Mic overview
5
Mic overview (continued)
Attaching the mic
1. Attach the mic to the main unit and push it into
place until it locks.
Disconnecting the mic
1. While pressing the buttons on the left and right
sides of the mic, pull it out of the main unit.
CAUTION
t 8IFOEJTDPOOFDUJOHUIFNJDEPOPUVTFUPPNVDIGPSDF&YDFTTJWFGPSDFDPVMEEBNBHFUIFNJDPS
the main unit.
t 7JEFPSFDPSEJOHXJMMTUPQJGBNJDJTSFNPWFEEVSJOHSFDPSEJOH

Connecting mics to Inputs 1 and 2
6
You can connect mics, mixers and other devices to the Inputs 1 and 2. The L/R input
from the XY mic and Inputs 1/2 can be used together to record up to 4 tracks at the same
time.
Connection examples
Recording audio is possible in the following kinds of situations.
Concert video recording
t-3JOQVUNJD1FSGPSNBODFPOTUBHF
t*OQVUT-JOFPVUQVUTGSPNNJYFS
PA mixer
Input 2
Input 1
L/R inputs
Guitar performance video recording
t -3JOQVUNJD 0GGNJD SFDPSEJOHPG WPDBM BOE
guitar
t*OQVU7PDBMNJD
t*OQVU(VJUBSNJDEJSFDU
Vocal mic
Guitar mic
Input 2
Input 1
L/R inputs
Connecting mics to Inputs 1 and 2
NOTE
$POOFDUEZOBNJDBOEDPOEFOTFSNJDTXJUI9-3QMVHTUP*OQVUTBOE1IBOUPNQPXFS
777DBOCFTVQQMJFEUPDPOEFOTFSNJDT→1

Display overview
7
Display overview
Main Screen
Level meters
PAD setting
Phantom power
setting
LO CUT setting DYNAMICS settings
Stereo link setting
Timecode
When recording: shows recording time
When paused: shows available recording time
Status icon
Shows current operation status
Video recording mode
Remaining battery
charge
Connected mic
Type of connected mic capsule
Camera SCENE setting
Open Menu Screen
Output volume
Adjust volume of headphones/
built-in speaker
Open Playback Screen
Open FILE list
Record/stop
Zoom status bar
Audio quality setting
Video resolution
setting
Open Mixer Screen
Zoom in/out
NOTE
t 8IFOZPVQSFTT UP[PPNJOUIF[PPNTUBUVTCBSXJMMTUPQPODFBUUIFHSFFONBSL1SFTT
again to zoom in more.
t *G ZPVUPVDIBOZXIFSFPUIFSUIBO B CVUUPO PSBMMPX TPNFUJNFUPQBTTXJUIPVUPQFSBUJPOUIF
buttons will disappear and only the level meters will be shown.

Display overview
8
Playback screen
Playback position bar
Shows video playback positionTouch to change
the playback position
File name
Name of video file playin
Remaining battery
charge
Output volume
Adjust volume of headphones/
built-in speaker
When paused
Delete
Delete the video currently
playing
Video length
This shows the length of the video
in hours: minutes:seconds.
Audio switch
Select the audio played
(only appears for files recorded
using MOV+WAV or
MULTI AUDIO)
Main Screen
Return to Main Screen
Information
Show information about the
video currently playing
Timecode
Shows playback position
(seconds)
Play/Pause
Skip to beginning of
current video
Next video
NOTE
t "GUFSTPNFUJNFQBTTFTXJUIPVUPQFSBUJPOPOMZUIFWJEFPJNBHFXJMMCFTIPXO5PVDIUIFTDSFFO
to show the other information again.
t -FWFMNFUFSTDBOCFTIPXOPOUIFQMBZCBDLTDSFFO4FF4ZTUFNTFUUJOHTPOQBHF

Display overview
9
Display overview (continued)
Mixer Screen
NOTE
8IFO *OQVUT  BSF TUFSFPMJOLFE UIFZ BQQFBS
EJGGFSFOUMZPOUIF.JYFS4DSFFO
Return to
Main Screen
L/R tracks Input 1 Input 2
Input1/2 shared settings
Settings that affect both Inputs 1 and 2
Mic option
Set according to the mic type
Level faders
Adjust individual track
volumes
Pan knobs
Adjust audio left-right
balance
LO CUT
(See "LO CUT" on page 35)
DYNAMICS
(See "DYNAMICS" on page
34.)

Charging the battery
10
Charging the battery
1. Turn the off.
2. Connect a USB power source (running computer or
ZOOM AD-17 AC adapter (sold separately)).
8IJMFUIFCBUUFSZ JT SFDIBSHJOHUIF$IBSHJOH-&%PO
the back of the will stay lit.
3. After charging completes, disconnect the cable from
the USB power source.
"GUFSSFDIBSHJOHIBTDPNQMFUFEUIF$IBSHJOH-&%XJMM
become unlit.
NOTE
3FDIBSHJOH UIF CBUUFSZDPNQMFUFMZ UBLFT BCPVUIPVSTNJOVUFTXIFODPOOFDUFEUPB
DPNQVUFSBOEBCPVUIPVSTNJOVUFTXIFOVTJOHBO"$ BEBQUFS5IFBNPVOUPGUJNFSFRVJSFE
XJMMWBSZEFQFOEJOHPOUIFDPOEJUJPOT
CAUTION
t 5IFCBUUFSZXJMMOPUDIBSHFXIJMFUIFSFDPSEFSJTPO
t 5IFTVSSPVOEJOHUFNQFSBUVSFTIPVMECFCFUXFFO¡$BOE¡$¡'BOE¡'XIFODIBSHJOH
"UPUIFSUFNQFSBUVSFTUIFCBUUFSZDPVMECFDPNFIPUEBNBHFEPSXFBLFOFE
t %POPUMFBWFUIFDBCMFDPOOFDUFEGPSBMPOHUJNFBGUFSDIBSHJOHDPNQMFUFT
t :PVNVTUBMTPGPMMPXUIFIBOEMJOHJOTUSVDUJPOTJO8BSOJOHTBOESFRVFTUTSFHBSEJOHTBGFCBUUFSZ
VTFPOQBHF
2
2

Setting the date and time
11
Setting the date and time
If the date and time are set, the recorder can add the recording date and time to files.
1. On the menu screen, touch .
2. In the sub menu, touch Set Date.
3. Touch an item to be changed to select it, and touch
and to set the current date and time.
4. After completing the setting, touch to close the
submenu.
1
2
3
4

Formatting SD cards
12
Formatting SD cards
You should format SD cards for use with the .
1. On the menu screen, touch .
2. In the sub menu, touch SD Card.
3. In the sub menu, touch Format.
4. On the confirmation screen, touchYes.
5IJTXJMMTUBSU4%DBSEGPSNBUUJOH4FMFDU/PUPSFUVSO
UPUIF4&55*/(NFOV
"GUFSGPSNBUUJOHDPNQMFUFT%POFXJMMBQQFBSBOEUIF
4&55*/(NFOVXJMMSFPQFO
NOTE
*GUIF4%DBSETXSJUFQSPUFDUJPOTXJUDIJT0/JUDBOOPUCFGPSNBUUFE
CAUTION
t "GUFSQVSDIBTJOHBOFX4%DBSEBMXBZTGPSNBUJUVTJOHUIF UPNBYJNJ[FQFSGPSNBODF
t "MMEBUBQSFWJPVTMZTBWFEPOUIF4%DBSEXJMMCFEFMFUFEXIFOJUJTGPSNBUUFE
2
3
4

Video recording mode overview
13
MOV mode
5IFGPVSDIBOOFMTPGBVEJPGSPNUIFNJDDBQTVMF-3JOQVUTBOEFYUFSOBMJOQVUTBSFNJYFEUP
TUFSFPBOETBWFEUPHFUIFSXJUIUIFWJEFPJOBTJOHMFWJEFPmMF.07GPSNBU
The can save individual unmixed audio files at the same time as video files.
Video file
ZOOM0001.MOV
Mixer
Video
Input 1
Mic capsule
Input 2
Video recording mode overview

Video recording mode overview
14
MOV+WAV mode
"VEJPmMFT8"7GPSNBUBSFTBWFEGPSFBDIBVEJPUSBDLBUUIFTBNFUJNFBTWJEFPmMFT5IFBVEJP
GSPNUIFNJDDBQTVMF-3JOQVUTBOEUIFBVEJPGSPNUIFFYUFSOBMJOQVUTBSFTBWFEBTTFQBSBUF
files.
Audio file
ZOOM0001_LR.WAV
ZOOM0001_INPUT12.WAV
ZOOM0001_INPUT1.WAV
ZOOM0001_INPUT2.WAV
Video file
ZOOM0001.MOV
Mixer
Video
Input 1
Mic capsule
Input 2
Stereo link: ON
Stereo link: OFF
NOTE
t 0OMZL)[8"7GPSNBUTCJUDBOCFTFMFDUFEXIFOSFDPSEJOHJO.078"7NPEF
t *O.078"7NPEFBVEJPDBOOPUCFPVUQVUGSPNBO)%.*57

Video recording mode overview
15
STEREO AUDIO mode
5IFGPVSDIBOOFMTPGBVEJPGSPNUIFNJDDBQTVMF-3JOQVUTBOEFYUFSOBMJOQVUTBSFNJYFEUP
TUFSFPBOETBWFEBTBTJOHMFTUFSFPBVEJPmMF7JEFPJTOPUSFDPSEFE
Audio file
ZOOM0001.WAV
Input 1
Mic capsule
Input 2
Mixer
Video recording mode overview (continued)

Video recording mode overview
16
MULTI AUDIO mode
5IFBVEJPGSPNUIFNJDDBQTVMF-3JOQVUTBOEUIFBVEJPGSPNUIFFYUFSOBMJOQVUTBSFTBWFEBT
TFQBSBUFBVEJPmMFT8"7GPSNBU7JEFPJTOPUSFDPSEFE
Audio file
ZOOM0001.WAV
ZOOM0001_INPUT12.WAV
ZOOM0001_INPUT1.WAV
ZOOM0001_INPUT2.WAV
Input 1
Mic capsule
Input 2
Stereo link: ON
Stereo link: OFF
NOTE
t 0OMZL)[8"7GPSNBUTCJUDBOCFTFMFDUFEXIFOSFDPSEJOHJO.6-5*"6%*0NPEF
t *O.6-5*"6%*0NPEFUIFOBNFTPGUIFmMFTDSFBUFEEFQFOEPOUIF0/0''TUBUVTPGFBDIUSBDL
4FF4FMFDUJOHUSBDLTUPSFDPSEPOQBHF
t *O.6-5*"6%*0NPEFBVEJPDBOOPUCFPVUQVUGSPNBO)%.*57

Selecting tracks to record
17
1. Press the buttons of the tracks that you want to
record.
NOTE
5IFJOEJDBUPSTPGUIFTFMFDUFE USBDLCVUUPOTMJHIUSFE
and you will be able to monitor the signals input on
UIFTFUSBDLTUISPVHIIFBEQIPOFTMJOFPVUQVU
2To record Inputs 1/2 as a stereo file (stereo link),
press both of their track buttons at the same time.
5PFOEUIFTUFSFPMJOLQSFTTUIF USBDL CVUUPOT GPS
*OQVUTBUUIFTBNFUJNF
NOTE
5IFTUFSFPMJOLPGUIF-3USBDLTDBOOPUCFEJTBCMFE
NOTE
4UFSFPMJOLTFUUJOHTDBOBMTPCFNBEFVTJOHUIF*OQVUTIBSFETFUUJOHTPOUIF.JYFS4DSFFO
Selecting tracks to record
1

Selecting tracks to record
18
NOTE
File names when recording in MOV+WAV mode
5SBDLSFDPSEFE 'JMFOBNF Description
-3JOQVU ;00.OOOO8"7 Stereo file
*OQVU ;00.OOOO@*/1658"7 Mono file
*OQVU ;00.OOOO@*/1658"7 Mono file
*OQVUTTUFSFPMJOLBDUJWF ;00.OOOO@*/1658"7 Stereo file
File names when recording in MULTI AUDIO mode
5IFOBNFPGUIFmSTUmMFJT;00.OOOO8"74FDPOEBOEMBUFSmMFTXJMMIBWFUSBDLOBNFTBEEFEUP
their names.
t-3JOQVUTPO
5SBDLSFDPSEFE 'JMFOBNF Description
-3JOQVU ;00.OOOO8"7 Stereo file
*OQVU ;00.OOOO@*/1658"7 Mono file
*OQVU ;00.OOOO@*/1658"7 Mono file
*OQVUTTUFSFPMJOLBDUJWF ;00.OOOO@*/1658"7 Stereo file
t-3JOQVUTPGG*OQVUTPOTUFSFPMJOLBDUJWF
5SBDLSFDPSEFE 'JMFOBNF Description
*OQVUTTUFSFPMJOLBDUJWF ;00.OOOO8"7 Stereo file
t-3JOQVUTPGG*OQVUTPOOPTUFSFPMJOL
5SBDLSFDPSEFE 'JMFOBNF Description
*OQVU ;00.OOOO8"7 Mono file
*OQVU ;00.OOOO@*/1658"7 Mono file
t*OQVUPOMZ
5SBDLSFDPSEFE 'JMFOBNF Description
*OQVU ;00.OOOO8"7 Mono file
t*OQVUPOMZ
5SBDLSFDPSEFE 'JMFOBNF Description
*OQVU ;00.OOOO8"7 Mono file
/PUFOOOOJOUIFmMFOBNFJTBGPVSEJHJUOVNCFS

Adjusting recording levels
19
Adjusting recording levels
You can adjust the recording level manually. You can use this in combination with the auto
gain function according to the type of sound being recorded.
Adjusting recording levels manually
1. When using the XY mic, turn on the mic.
When using Inputs 1/2, turn on the left side of
this recorder.
2. Adjust the level so that the recording and track key
LEDs do not blink even when loud sounds are input.
NOTE
t *GBOJOQVUDMJQTUIFSFDPSEJOHBOEUSBDLLFZ-&%TXJMM
blink.
Using the auto gain function to adjust the recording level
1. Touch DYNAMICS on the Mixer Screen, and make
settings according to the use.
8IFOFOBCMFEUIF will automatically adjust the
gain for suitable recording levels.
NOTE
'PSEFUBJMTBCPVUVTJOHUIFBVUPNBUJDHBJOGVODUJPO
TFF%:/".*$4POQBHF
Mic Input 1/2
1
1
1
2
2