USER MANUAL Published January 7, 2015 Software Version 8.
ZFR OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................................. 4 SYSTEM FEATURES ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 KNOWING YOUR ZFR200 / 300 ...................................................................................................................... 5 HOME SCREEN EXPLAINED .................
FIRMWARE ..................................................................................................................................................23 UPDATING ZFR FIRMWARE ........................................................................................................................................ 23 INPUTTING AUDIO .......................................................................................................................................24 RECOMMENDED MICROPHONES ..............
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Manual Overview ZFR Overview The Zaxcom ZFR (Zaxcom Flash Recorder) is a small recorder that is the same size as Zaxcom wireless transmitter, and can accept standard lavaliere microphones. A stereo ZFR can accept two lavaliere microphones. The ZFR can be used as an easy way to record ISO tracks on multiple talent with no fears of being out of range or having to deal with RF issues.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Manual Recorder Layout Knowing your ZFR200 / 300 1 2 3 2 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 ZFR200 ZFR300 9 5
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Manual Recorder Layout 1. Power switch 2. Micro SD media slot To insert a Micro SD card, start with the screen of the ZFR facing you, turn the card so the finger contacts are facing you and pointing down towards the slot. Insert the card into the slot and press it down until you here a slight click. To remove the card, press the card in until you hear the same click again. 3. Microphone / Time Code input connector (3 pin Lemo) 4. LCD display 5. Card key 6.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Manual Home Screen Home Screen Explained Transport Status Segment Number STOP 01:02:30:00 003 I I I I Time Code Audio Level Meter Markings (-20, -10, 0 dBFS) Corresponds to the graphics on the case. Transport Status - Displays the current mode of the on-board recorder. • • • • STOP – Recording / Playback is stopped LREC – ZFR is recording and LOOP RECORD mode is enabled REC – ZFR is recording and NON-LOOP RECORD mode is enabled PLAY – The ZFR is playing back an audio file.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Manual Main Menu Main Menu Navigating the Main Menu • Press the MENU key to enter the menu. • To advance to the next menu press the MENU key again. Exiting the Main Menu • To exit the menu at any time press and hold the MENU key for 1.5 seconds Microphone Gain Adjust GAIN 20dB The microphone gain is adjusted from this menu. This page displays the gain setting in decibels and a meter that indicates the audio signal. The meter is displayed horizontally from left to right.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Manual Main Menu TC Jam Mode Select TC JAM MODE: AUTO-JAM NORMAL When using record run time code this menu controls if the ZFR will go into record when it receives a record run time code. • AUTO-JAM NORMAL– The ZFR will continuously jam time code via ZaxNet. • AUTO-LOAD REC RUN – The ZFR will continuously jam time code via ZaxNet and will start and stop the recording if the unit is receiving record run time code.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Manual Main Menu SD Card Format This menu will only appear if a card was inserted prior to booting up PRESS UP KEY 5X TO ERASE CARD The Micro SD card is erased and formatted from this menu. Please note that even though many cards are sold preformatted, you must format the card in the ZFR prior to any recording. Only cards formatted in the ZFR will work properly. Before formatting the card, you may want to name the ZFR.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Manual Main Menu Lock Page LOCK 5 LOCKED 01:02:34:01 Countdown clock starting at 5 seconds After the ZFR locks This page enables a lock function to prevent any accidental key presses. When you land on this page the countdown clock will begin. After 5 seconds the transmitter will lock and the display will indicated LOCKED followed by the time code. If you exit this screen before the 5 seconds is up the transmitter will not lock.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Extended Menu Extended Menu High Pass Filter HIGH PASS: OFF The high pass filter is turned on and adjusted from this menu. • The high pass filter range is 70Hz to 220Hz and can be adjusted in 10Hz increments. Record Format Set TX FORMAT: MONO (US) This menu is for adjusting the recording mode on the ZFR recorder. • US MONO - This setting is used for mono recording. • STEREO - This setting is used if you have a stereo ZFR and are recording a stereo source.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Extended Menu IFB Mode IFB RX TO TX: OFF (NORMAL RX) IFB RX TO TX: 0 SECS: TX ONLY IFB RX TO TX: 20 SECS Receive only mode. The ZaxNet transceiver will only receive ZaxNet and NOT go into transmit mode. Therefore no ZaxNet TC and/or audio will be transmitted. This shuts off the ZaxNet transmitter. Transmit only mode. The ZaxNet transceiver will only transmit ZaxNet TC and audio and will NOT receive wireless TC or ZaxNet commands. Receive then Transmit mode.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Extended Menu ZaxNet Transmit Frequency Set IFB TX FREQ: 2.420 This is where the ZaxNet transmit frequency is set. This is the frequency that the ZaxNet transmitter will broadcast time code and audio on for the purpose of confidence audio monitoring via an ERX receiver or Nomad. Please note this is just for quality control purposes and the expected range will be less than 20 feet. IFB Receive Pulse Set This menu will only appear if IFB is set to go into transmit mode.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Extended Menu IFB Record Beep IFB RECORD BEEP: OFF The IFB record beep is an audible beep that is heard on the ZaxNet confidence audio only. When the record beep is set to ON, and the ZFR is recording, the audio sent to the ERX via ZaxNet will have an audible beep, in 20 second intervals, giving you conformation that the ZFR is indeed recording. The beeps will only be heard in the ERX and will not be recorded on the card.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Extended Menu TC Jam Mode Select TC JAM MODE: AUTO-JAM NORMAL If you are using record run time code this menu controls if the ZFR will go into record when it receives a record run time code. • AUTO-JAM NORMAL– The ZFR will continuously jam time code via ZaxNet. • AUTO-LOAD REC RUN – The ZFR will continuously jam time code via ZaxNet and will start and stop the recording if the unit is receiving record run time code.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Extended Menu Group ID Set REMOTE CONTROL GROUP ID = 1 Group ID lets you set your ZFR to a “GROUP” that will be controlled via ZaxNet. So for example a ZFR set to Group 1 will be controlled by a ZaxNet transmitter set to Group 1 and a Group 2 ZFR will be controlled by a Group 2 ZaxNet transmitter. This allows a group of recorders to be controlled without affecting others.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Extended Menu Dynamics DYNAMICS The dynamics is a soft knee compressor that is located after the analog to digital converter. The dynamics will limit the dynamic range to prevent clipping during occurrences of loud audio. Dynamics is comprised of both a compressor and an expander, which operate jointly. The compressor in dynamics can set to mild or extreme compression and features a soft knee for more transparent operation.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Extended Menu Battery Type Set BATTERY TYPE: NIMH QRX This menu is used for a TRX to send battery data to a QRX receiver and is not applicable in the ZFR. Recording Mode Set RECORD MODE: LOOP RECORD Record mode sets what the ZFR will do after you reach the file capacity of the card. Regardless of this setting the card will only hold 256 files. • NON-LOOP RECORD (recommended setting) - Once the card has filled up, recording will stop and FULL will be displayed.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Extended Menu Automatic Record After Boot up RECORD ON BOOTUP ON Record after boot-up will let you set the ZFR to automatically go into record after the unit boots up. • ON - The ZFR will automatically start to record after it boots up. • OFF - The ZFR will wait for a ZaxNet command or a manual record trigger to start recording. ZFR Name Set NAME: SN1234 This menu allows you to change the name of the ZFR from the default name - which is the unit’s serial number.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Extended Menu Encryption Code Set ID1:000 ID0:000 If you set an encryption code the ZaxNet transmitted audio will be encrypted and can only be listened to if the receiver has the matching encryption code entered. When receiving an audio signal and the codes do not match, all that will be heard is white-noise or silence. So if using encryption make sure the matching receiver has the same code.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300Manual Recording Media Media While any size card will work we recommend using a 4GB Micro SD card. We also recommend that you buy a brand name card such as Transcend, SanDisk. You should always buy your cards from a reputable dealer because counterfeit cards exist and can cause recording issues. We also recommend that you test your card before taking them out into the field. Here is a simple testing procedure to determine if the card will function correctly: 1.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Manual Firmware Firmware Each unit is shipped with the latest firmware version installed. As newer firmware becomes available, it can be downloaded from the Zaxcom website: http://www.zaxcom.com/software-updates Newer version of Beta software may be found on the Zaxcom Forums: http://www.zaxcom.com/forum Each time a unit is powered up, the firmware version number is displayed briefly on the LCD screen.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Manual Wiring Diagrams Inputting Audio The ZFR use an unbalanced microphone input via a 3-pin micro-LEMO connector. You can use an unbalanced dynamic microphone or a powered lavaliere. You can also use a line-level input though an inline pad will be required. Recommended Microphones While any 3.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Manual Wiring Diagrams Balanced Line Level and time code Input Stereo Line Level – for stereo ZRF recorders 25
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Manual Support Product Support Register your product with Zaxcom: Download the latest Firmware from: Download the latest User Manuals from: Submit Technical Questions at: Submit information for Repair Services at: Join the Zaxcom User Forum at: Join the Zaxcom Face Book User Group at: http://zaxcom.com/support/product-registration/ http://zaxcom.com/support/updates/ http://zaxcom.com/support/updates/ http://www.zaxcom.com/submit-a-technical-question http://www.zaxcom.
Zaxcom ZFR 200 / 300 Manual Specifications Specifications Audio Dynamic Range: 104 dB Distortion: < 0.01% Frequency Response: Mode 0: 20 Hz to 16 kHz / T & M Mode 0.2 Hz to 16 kHz High Pass Filter: Off or 70 to 220 Hz, Steps: 10 (6 dB Per Octave) Mic Power: 3.3 VDC Mic Connector: 3-Pin Micro LEMO Input Range: -60 to -24 dBu Mic Impedance: 4.7 k Ω ADC Bit-Depth: 24 Bits Time code Reader / Generator Clock Accuracy: 1.54 PPM (1 Frame Out in 6 Hours) Time code Type: SMPTE Time code Frame-Rates: 23.
Zaxcom Warranty Policy and Limitations Zaxcom Inc. values your business and always attempts to provide you with the very best service. No limited warranty is provided by Zaxcom unless your ZFR (“Product”) was purchased from an authorized distributer or authorized reseller. Distributers may sell Product to resellers who then sell Product to end users. Please see below for warranty information or obtaining service. No warranty service is provided unless the Product is returned to Zaxcom Inc.
