Our group consists of our company and six (6) subsidiaries. They are, ZOOM HK LTD., which is mainly responsible for office procedures for shipments to distributors in various countries, ZOOM North America LLC, Sound Service GmbH, Mogar Music S.r.l., HookUp Inc., and one more company, the sales hubs in the major countries.

 

The main business of our group is the development and sales of electronic musical devices, and under the basic philosophy of "We're For Creators," we aim to improve our brand power by providing tools that enable creators around the world to create more unique and original works of art and to be a company valued by our stakeholders related to our group, such as the shareholders, employees, and business partners.

 

Our group develops products in our company (Japan), but currently all production is outsourced to subcontracted EMS companies (Note 1), and our company does not own a factory. The branded products manufactured mainly in China are shipped through us to Mogar Music S.r.l. for southern Europe, Sound Service GmbH for central Europe, ZOOM North America LLC for North America, and to the distributors in each country for other regions. The products themselves are shipped directly from warehouses in China or Hong Kong to those in Japan or to distributors in each country. In addition, the products from domestic warehouses and distributors in each country are shipped directly or through wholesalers to music stores, electronics mass-retailers, and online retailers and sold to end customers in stores or via the Internet.

Although the segment information is omitted because our group operates in a single segment of the electronic musical device business, the main products of our group are classified into the following categories:

Product category

Product (Pic)

(1) Handy Audio Recorder (HAR)

The handy audio recorders of our group are the high-quality linear PCM recorders (Note 3) that record uncompressed audio, rather than the compressed digital audio, such as MP3 (Note 2), used for music distribution. The product was developed for musicians playing rock music by applying the recording technology cultivated in Multi Track recorders, but in addition to musicians, it is also used among the creators in the video and broadcasting fields as an audio recorder. The H8 is an easy-to-operate flagship model with a 2.4" color touchscreen.

 

 

 

H8

H8

(2) Digital Mixer/ Multi Track Recorder (DMX/MTR)

The digital mixer is an electronic device that converts multiple input audio signals into digital signals, adjusts volume and sound quality, and mixes multiple audio sounds. The Multi Track recorder is a recording device that provides freedom of choosing multiple tracks (units of recorded data) for recording and playback and allows multiple recordings, such as creating a base musical composition, recording a song on another track, and further recording a song with a different scale on another track. In September 2022, the new generation Multi Track recorder R12 with a 2.4" touchscreen was launched.

V3

R12

(3) Multi-Effects (MFX)

The effectors (Note 4) of our group are Multi-effects that incorporate multiple effects using digital processing. The free combination of the built-in effect types is available, and the created tones are recorded on the main unit and recalled for use by stepping on a footswitch.

Since the release of the 9002 based on the concept of compact Multi-effects attachable to guitar straps in 1990, we released a variety of products that include models for bass guitar, acoustic guitar, and models per their price levels, as well as models that are widely compatible across a variety of acoustic instruments, such as saxophone and harmonica. In December 2022, we launched the G2 FOUR and G2X FOUR Multi-effects processors loaded with the newly developed multilayer-IR (Note 5) function.

Q2n-4K

G2 FOUR G2X FOUR

(4) Professional Field Recorder (PFR)

The professional field recorder is for creators in video-related industries and sound designers and is intended for outdoor use offering such features as 32-bit float recording (Note 7) with an overwhelmingly vast dynamic range (Note 6) and timecode (Note 8) for high-precision synchronization with video. In January 2022, we launched the 32-bit float field recorder, F3, in a compact and robust palm-size body, followed by the highest-end model, the F8n PRO, in February.

P4

F3

(5) MicTrak Recorders

We launched the MicTrak Series (M Series) as a new product category in December 2022, integrating the microphone sound collection technology that we cultivated in our handy audio recorders and the 32-bit float recording technology that we developed in our professional field recorders. An unprecedented microphone-type recorder series allows single shot recording without rehearsal, eliminating the need for input gain (Note 9) adjustment, and is equipped with a microphone and high-performance preamp (Note 10) that can withstand high sound volumes. For more information, in the sales shown by category, MicTrak recorders are included in professional field recorders due to the small share in consolidated sales in the current fiscal year.

 

iQ7

M3(Mシリーズ)

(6) Handy Video Recorder (HVR)

The handy video recorder of our group is for music designed for recording in high-resolution audio (Note 11) quality. Currently available products support 4K video quality, allowing the uploading of high video and audio quality movies to video posting sites, such as YouTube provided by YouTube LLC, and SNS. The flagship product Q8n-4K is compatible with the latest V2 standard for interchangeable mic capsule systems; in addition, the 2CH mic input terminals allow it to be used not only for recording band practice or taking selfies of singing while playing but also for live streaming and Web conferencing as a high-quality sound webcam for PCs and Macs.

GCE-3

Q8n-4K

(7) Microphones (MIC)

The lineup of the iQ series and Am7 are recording microphones that can be connected to the iOS devices provided by Apple Inc. and the Android OS devices provided by Google LLC to allow CD-quality stereo recordings. At the same time, we provide the HandyRecorder App with high-quality sound recording and editing functions, and the Mobile HandyShare App that allows high-quality image and high-quality sound movie capturing using the smartphone’s camera image and our microphone. We are also upgrading our lineup of the ZPC-1, a matched pair of pencil stereo mics that allows for full-scale stereo recording.

F2

ZPC-1

(8) Vocal Processor (VCP)

A lineup of effectors that can add musical harmonies to the human voice, such as vocals and voices, convert it into a robotic machine voice, and even integrate a voice changer to control voice quality characteristics that vary with gender and age. The desktop vocal processor, V3, is a typical product that is helpful for podcasters and video distributors.

F4

V3

(9) Audio Interface (AIF)

The audio interface is a product that serves as the audio entry/exit point to the computer. Since only digital signals are accepted by the computer, the audio interface is responsible for the conversion from analog to digital when inputting audio into the computer and from digital to analog when listening to the audio from the computer. In June 2022, our group launched the AMS series, a new audio interface that can be utilized for both music production and live distribution in addition to the existing lineup.

 

F4

AMS-44(AMSシリーズ)

(10) Brands Offered by Mogar

A sales agent in southern Europe of our group and the consolidated subsidiary Mogar Music S.r.l. handles product brands other than those of our company as well. Brands other than those of our company imported and sold by Mogar Music S.r.l. as a sales agent are classified as the independent category Mogar Brands.

 

(11) Brands Offered by HookUp

HookUp Inc., which became a consolidated subsidiary in January 2021 as a result of share acquisition, handles product brands other than those of our company. Brands other than those of our company imported and sold by HookUp Inc. as a sales agent are classified as the independent category HookUp Brands.

 

(Notes) <Glossary>

 

1. EMS Companies

EMS refers to Electronics Manufacturing Service, and an EMS company is a subcontracted manufacturer of electronic devices.

 

2.MP3

One of the technologies used to compress audio files and the file format created with it.

 

3. Linear PCM Recorder

IC recorder records audio data in linear PCM format without compression. Linear PCM is one of the formats for converting analog signals, such as audio, into digital data but without the compression that can cause degradation of sound quality.

 

4. Effector

This device adds variety to the tone of guitar, bass, and other instruments and is classified into a single effect pedal with built-in Multi-effects in a single body.

 

5. Multilayer IR

A signal processing technology that can naturally vary characteristics based on three impulse responses captured at different volume levels (loud, medium, and soft) aiming at reproducing the characteristics of a speaker cabinet, which dynamically vary in response to input volume.

 

6. Dynamic Range

The ratio of the minimum to the maximum value of processed audio signals, representing the amount of volume control information.

 

7. 32-bit Float Recording

A recording method that adds an 8-bit exponential multiplier to 24-bit linear. Has an advantage that the sound does not deteriorate when turned up for editing from a low sound volume (gain) recording.

 

8. Time Code

The electrical signal that encodes time and time information required in the production sites of image products, such as motion pictures and TV programs.

 

9. Input Gain

The amplification of electrical signal through an amplifier in an electric circuit or the amplification value.

 

10. Preamps

A type of amplifier used primarily to regulate the output signal from audio devices.

 

11. High Reso Audio

According to the definition by JEITA, any audio with either a sampling frequency (kHz) or quantization bit rate (bit) higher than the CD specification is referred to as high-resolution audio, where the CD specification here is 16-bit/44.1 kHz, or 48 kHz.