ZOOM R8

[geoff1711]

Hi All

has anybody used one of these recorders? if so how do have you got on with it?

thanks

Geoff

[Didier]

It's being reviewed on this month's French Guitarist magazine with very good comments.

Didier

[geoff1711]

Bonjour Didier

it's a pity that my French wouldn't be up to it!

Mind you whenever I holiday in France, which is most years, I never see guitar magazines on sale.

Geoff

[Garystrat]

Hi Geoff

This review from Music Radar might be of interest, it seems to provide the best of both worlds in terms of recording options:

http://www.musicradar.com/gear/all/reco ... 915/review

Gary

[roger bayliss]

Hi

I use the Zoom MRS 8 which is an SDD card version and also the MRS 4 and they are very good overall . The unit has all the features typical of the studios at this price range including Mastering presets and Mic/Line in and send return effects and they are all user tweakable. The R8 I think is a upgraded version of the MRS 8. You can usually only record 2 tracks at a time so no good for miking a whole band up or drums etc, but if you are just recording yourself against backing tracks they are sufficient.

A lot of people prefer the software route though with all the plugins but as a stand alone unit the Zoom do a good job. I wish it had an external send return bus but machines more than 3 times the cost have those sort of features.

[roger bayliss]

I should have said the Zoom R8 is DAW and can act as a control interface for software so best of both worlds really.

[geoff1711]

Hi Roger

I've often wondered about DAW, having never done any computer recording, how easy is it to do?

I know it comes with Cubebase LE, which I've already had with other bits and pieces, but on previous occasions I've not had much success in getting it up and running, also my PC and laptop are beginning to run out of space - a couple of years back 60 gig seemed a lot, however, all the Windows updates over the years seem to be choking the life out of them, to say nothing of the space Norton seems to take up.

My idea was to run it as a stand alone recorder like an old fashioned multi track recorder, I'm also looking at the next one up, although from various You Tube clips it seems you have to click on this and click on that, my old Tascam was a lot simpler, but I'm looking to make some backing tracks for my Fender G-Dec 3 amp which will accept MP3 tracks so maybe I'll have to climb the learning slope.

Geoff

[roger bayliss]

Geoff

The DAW capabilities simply allow the software to be controlled by the Zoom sliders and knobs. If you only have 60Gb and running out of space then the standalone facililties of the Zoom will be fine. You could upgrade your computer hard disk of course they are not expensive and you will need to reinstall all you OS and software. If you want to record more instuments then the Zoom R16/24 might be better and phantom power for mics needs consideration for condensor but not dynamics like the good ol Shure SM57 but if using line out from units like the multi function foot pedals and certain amps it's not a problem. With computer based software recording you will need a fairly good computer and latency can be a problem if your kit is slow. The Zoom I think would be a good option and when I checked out the Boss BR800 recently it is sadly lacking in editing features at least. Like all technolgy though you will need to spend time with the manual and get into it to use it well.

HTH

Roger

[RayL]

The R8 has that very useful feature that I keep banging on about - the ability to go into Record by pushing a footswitch. This means you can drop in something extra on an existing track, or make a correction, while your left head is ready on the guitar neck and your right is holding the plectrum.

You mention about looking at the next model up. That's a good thought, because only being able to record two tracks simultaniously is very limiting. Supposing you wanted to record yourself singing and playing rhythm guitar while backed with a stereo drum unit? For that you'll need to record four tracks simultaniously. Then you want add an extra lead guitar track and maybe a tambourine . . . . . you';ll be needing extra playback tracks too. Paying a bit more for extra simultanious recording tracks and extra playback tracks can be a good investment.

I use the Zoom MRS-1608, an older model with 8 track simultanious recording and 16 tracks of playback and even then I'm quite often running out of tracks, as I did when recording the music for The Triumphs new Youtube video, Meeksville (Down The Holloway Road)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYR2HhBWsCk
As well as vocals (double-tracked), k/b, guitar, bass and drums(several tracks needed for drums), the mix includes things like handclaps, fingersnaps and three saxes (alto, C tenor and Bb tenor). The tracks just filled up and I had to borrow an extra one from the Piccadilly Line at the beginning (joke)

Ray