Zoom MicTrak M3 User manual

Quick Tour
© 2022 ZOOM CORPORATION
Copying or reprinting this manual in part or in whole without permission is prohibited.
You might need this manual in the future. Always keep it in a place where you can access it easily.
The contents of this manual and the specifications of the product could be changed without notice.
www.zoom.jp/docs/m3
An Operation Manual with more detailed explanations and other documents
related to this product can be viewed on the following website.
You must read the Usage and Safety Precautions before use.

2
Inserting microSD cards
• Supported recording media:
microSDHC: 4 GB – 32 GB
microSDXC: 64 GB – 1 TB
• Estimated recording times
32 GB: 11 hours
256 GB: 88 hours
• Always turn the power off before inserting or removing a microSD card.
• To remove a microSD card, push it further into the slot and then pull it out.
Installing batteries
2 AA batteries
Use only one type of battery (alkaline, NiMH or lithium) at a time.
• Set the type of battery used correctly so that the amount of remaining battery charge can be shown accurately.
The M3 Edit & Play app can be used to set the type of batteries used by the M3.
• Power can also be supplied through the USB (Type-C) port by connecting a commercially-available mobile battery
or a dedicated AC adapter (AD-17).

3
Using the M3 Edit & Play app to make M3 settings
The M3 Edit & Play app can be used to make settings for the M3.
Date and time
This is used in the names and le data of recordings.
If power is not supplied for a long time, the date and time settings stored in the mic will be reset.
Set this before use.
Battery Type Setting the type of batteries used allows the battery charge to be shown correctly.
Auto Power Off
function This function will turn the power off automatically if it is not used for the set amount of time.
Installing M3 Edit & Play
Download M3 Edit & Play from the product
page on the ZOOM website (zoomcorp.com)
to the computer.
Follow the installation guide to install M3
Edit & Play on the computer.
zoomcorp.com
M3 Edit & Play

4
Connecting the M3 to M3 Edit & Play
Connect the M3 with the computer.
Turn the M3 on.
Launch M3 Edit & Play.
USB (Type-C)
“Connected” will appear at the top left
of the app screen.
Use a USB cable that supports data
transfer.

5
Setting the date and time
When connected to M3 Edit & Play, the date and time will be set automatically to be the
same as on the computer.
Setting the battery type and automatic power off function
Battery Type Select the type of batteries used in the M3.
The options are Alkaline (dry cell), Ni-MH (rechargeable) and Lithium (dry cell).
Auto Power Off
This can be set to turn the M3 off automatically if not used for a certain amount of time.
The options are 10 minutes, 60 minutes, 10 hours, and Off (Never).
The factory default setting of the M3 for the Auto Power Off function is 10 hours.
Disconnecting the M3 from M3 Edit & Play
Disconnect the
USB cable.
USB Type-C
Other M3 Edit & Play functions
·Checking the open space and remaining recordable time of the SD card loaded in the M3
·Checking the M3 rmware version
·Playing WAV les that were recorded by an M3 and stored on the computer
·Adjusting the stereo width* and volume of WAV les that were recorded by an M3 as
well as playing and exporting those les
*With M/S RAW format les only
·Normalizing and converting to 24-bit linear WAV format
See the Operation Manual for procedures to use M3 Edit & Play.

6
Setting up the mic
Attaching the shock mount
Attaching to cameras, including single-lens reex and mirrorless

7
Making synchronization with camera images easier when editing
Use a cable to connect the (line out) jack on
the M3 to the audio input jack on the camera.
Then record the M3 sound with the camera too.
• To prevent vibrations from being transmitted through
the connection cable to the M3, secure the cable to
the shock mount.
• Adjust the recording level so that the audio does not
distort on the camera. See the camera operation
manual for details.
Recording Level
-40
CH1
-20 -12 -6 0dB
CH2
Checking the recording eld
The M3 is a mic with focused directionality We recommend monitoring the sound with head-
phones to ensure accurate miking.
can be used to change the headphone volume.

8
Turning the power on
Always format microSD cards in order to maximize their performance after purchasing them
new or using them with a different device.
Formatting the microSD card while starting up
All the LEDs will blink, and the microSD card will
be formatted.
The POWER, STEREO and LO CUT indicators will
light, and the REC/PLAY indicator will blink.
Press and hold while pressing . Press .
Pressing another button will start the unit without for-
matting.
All data previously saved on a microSD card will be deleted when it is formatted.
Starting up without formatting the microSD card
Press and hold .

9
Making M3 settings
Adjusting the recording level is not necessary because the M3 records in 32-bit Float WAV
format with dual A/D converter circuits.
Setting the stereo width
This changes the side mic volume and the
stereo sense of the recorded audio.
The options are Off, 90º or 120º.
Using the low cut function
This reduces wind and other noise.
Remaining battery charge indications
Remaining battery charge
sucient Lit green
Remaining battery charge
low
Blinking orange
(slowly)
Almost no battery charge
Blinking orange
(quickly)
POWER indicator
REC/PLAY indicator

10
Recording
When recording with the M3, in addition to recording files that mix in side mic signals to
capture stereo, RAW recording les that capture signals from the mid and side mics as is are
also recorded on the microSD card.
This ends recording.The REC/PLAY indicator will light red
and recording will start.
Pressing and holding to start recording will activate REC HOLD mode, which disables the use of other but-
tons. Press and hold again to stop recording.
Playing recordings
This stops playback.The REC/PLAY indicator will blink
green, and the last recorded le will
be played.
Using the M3 Edit & Play app, the stereo width of RAW recording les can be adjusted precisely as they are played
back and exported as stereo les.

11
Functions of parts
■Top
① Built-in shotgun mic (mid-side format)
This is a super-directional shotgun mic.
The inclusion of a side mic enables stereo
recording.
② POWER button/indicator
This turns the power on/off.
This lights when the power is on.
Lit green: Remaining battery charge is suf-
cient or external power supply
is connected
Blinking orange (slowly):
Remaining battery charge is low
Blinking orange (quickly):
Remaining battery charge is
very low
③ STEREO button/indicators
This adjusts the stereo width. When set to
OFF, the mic can be used as a mono shotgun
mic.
④ LOW CUT button/indicator
Low frequencies can be cut to reduce the
sound of wind and pop noises, for example.
⑤ PLAY/STOP button
Press this to start/pause playback of the most
recently recorded le.
⑥ REC button and REC/PLAY indicator
Use this to start and stop recording.
The REC/PLAY indicator shows the operation
status and remaining battery charge of the M3.
■Left side ■Right side
⑦ LINE OUT jack
This stereo mini jack can be used to output
sound. Connect this to the external input of
a single-lens reex/mirrorless camera, for
example.
⑧ USB (Type-C) port
This can be used to supply power from an
external source, connect to a computer for
use as an audio interface and make settings
with the dedicated app. This supports opera-
tion on USB bus power.
⑨
VOLUME (+/−) buttons
Use these to adjust the headphone volume.
⑩ Headphone output jack
This can output sound to headphones.
■Back
⑪ microSD card slot
Insert a microSD card here.
■Bottom
⑫ Battery cover
Open this when installing or removing AA
batteries.

Z2I-4747-02
ZOOM CORPORATION
4-4-3 Kanda-surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062 Japan
zoomcorp.com
Other functions
USB Mic The M3 can be used as a USB mic. When used as a USB mic, it functions with 48kHz/24-
bit linear resolution.
USB le transfer By connecting with a computer, data on the microSD card can be checked and copied.
Product names, registered trademarks and company names in this document are the property of their respective companies.
All trademarks and registered trademarks in this document are for identification purposes only and are not intended to infringe
on the copyrights of their respective owners.
Troubleshooting
There is no sound or output is very quiet
→ Check the mic orientation.
→ Check the connections.
→ Check the headphone volume.
Built-in mic sound is distorted
→ Move the M3 away from the sound source. Use a
windscreen if air is blown at the mic.
Recording is not possible
→ Conrm that the microSD card has open space. The
available recording time can be checked with M3 Edit
& Play.
→ Conrm that a microSD card is loaded properly in the
card slot.
Cannot stop recording
→ Pressing and holding to start recording will
activate REC HOLD mode, which disables the use of
other buttons.
Press and hold to stop recording.
The recorded sound breaks up
→ Use the M3 mic to format the microSD card.
→ We recommend using microSD cards that have been
conrmed to operate with this recorder. See the ZOOM
website (zoomcorp.com) for information about microSD
cards that have been conrmed to work with this unit.
The unit will not power on
→ Check the power supply.
Computer does not recognize it even though it is
connected to a USB port
→ Use a USB cable that supports data transfer.
→ Check the audio input/output device settings.