Can anyone recommend a good multitrack recorder?

[Richard Monroe]

Actually I have a question about Zoom R24. Can you can record 8 inputs, three times and have 24 different instruments on separate tracks when synced to a DAW?

I realized this may be wishful thinking...

Yes, it can do that whether or not it is synched to a DAW. It's 8 in, 24 out. And both R16 and R24 have available 3-band EQ on each track, and on the master tracks as well. It just doesn't have dials, like a mixer. And frankly, bit depth is not as huge of an issue as people would lead you to believe. I recorded a full length mastered CD in 16bit/44.1kHz, and guess what? The world did not come to an end.-Richie

 

[loudyouth]

Yes, it can do that whether or not it is synched to a DAW. It's 8 in, 24 out. And both R16 and R24 have available 3-band EQ on each track, and on the master tracks as well. It just doesn't have dials, like a mixer. And frankly, bit depth is not as huge of an issue as people would lead you to believe. I recorded a full length mastered CD in 16bit/44.1kHz, and guess what? The world did not come to an end.-Richie

Thanks! Yeah, I was just listening to an album in 16 bit. It sounds fine.

 

[D_Vincent]

Zoom R24 would definately be my choice.

 

[Oancient1]

Zoom R24 would definately be my choice.

The only hesitation I would have on the R24 is the the bad experience I have had with my Zoom drum machine -- cheap plastic construction that did not hold up during what I consider normal operation.

 

[Richard Monroe]

The only hesitation I would have on the R24 is the the bad experience I have had with my Zoom drum machine -- cheap plastic construction that did not hold up during what I consider normal operation.

I fully understand your concern. Zoom is manufactured by Samson, which has a history of poor build quality and quality control issues. There is some evidence that there have been changes in the Zoom mindset. Most relevent to this thread is the case of Zoom H4 vs. H4n. The H4 was the H4n's predecessor. There are a few still out there, and they can be had for about $200, as opposed to the H4n at about $300. The H4 does *everything* the H4n does, except...survive. It has a history of dropped data, fragile build construction (especially the buttons, which were notorious for dying under real world use), and worse, a fatal flaw in the gain staging. The nimrods actually put the compressor/limiter after the preamp in the signal chain, so on loud sources that overload the preamp, engaging the comp/limiter produces quieter clipping! How nice.

The H4n followed very shortly thereafter, and is an obvious response to the end-user complaints regarding the H4. It has robust construction, a corrected signal chain, improved preamps, and the buttons don't die. I've been using mine for 2 years with no problems, except for high humidity condensation on the mic diaphragms, which all mics are subject to, and requires drying them out. Yay! No failed buttons, no data drops, and no software compatibility problems.

Am I saying the R16/R24 can't fail, break, or be defective? Absolutely not. It does appear, however, that Samson learned something from the H4 marketing disaster. They had a great idea, but tried to build it too cheap. The R16 and R24 are both based on the H4n platform, and end-user reviews support the idea that they got it right. Will it last 10 years? The jury is still out on that one, for about 8 more years. But if history holds true, I'm hopeful that by the time they die, they'll be obsolete.

Understand- I'm not disagreeing with you. I had the same concerns as you, based on the history of Zoom, but the H4n has made a believer out of me. It's interesting to note that Sweetwater is now carrying the H4n/R16/R24, and they previously refused to carry Zoom due to reliability issues.-Richie

 

[loudyouth]

So much great insight. I'm unfamiliar with the company for the most part.

After putting things into persepective I'm actually leaning back towards the Tascam US-1641. I realized that it is so compact that taking it on the go wouldn't be too hard. It has the perfect amount of inputs and if I ever need more, I can daisy chain another one.

 

[stevieb]

I have a Zoom R16. I was dissapointed that the R24 has the same 8-channel inputs as the R16 (although it does have things like a built-in drum kit...)- I was expecting twice as many input channels.

Of course, there is a solution- buy TWO R16's, and USB- 'em together. That gives you 16 full input channels, and 32 outs. Sweet.

 

[moresound]

Sweet.

Totally

 

[KeithStares82]

Bang for buck, the R24 is hard to beat. Most multitracks only download recorded tracks to your DAW. The Zoom can do that, *or* it can record direct to the computer, and is compatible with most recording software. It records up to 8 tracks simultaneously, has 8 XLR/1/4" combo inputs, 6 of them with 24V or 48V phantom power, including one that can be configured for high-z (a direct guitar/bass input). It also has built in stereo mics, and can run on batteries. It has extensive FX, modeling, and sampling capabilities. That's the good news. Here is what I consider it's biggest limitation: It can only do all of that in 16bit/44.1 kHz. It *can* record in 24bit/48kHz, but if it does, it's a stereo recorder- only 2 tracks simultaneous recording, and you can't use all of that FX, modeling, and sampling. Considering its price, and its other capabilities, that's a reasonable trade-off. Pretty much, name any other machine that comes even close in capabilities, and it will cost a lot more, and I can rattle off a good sized list of the things the Zoom does that it *can't* do.

From the little H4n, to the R16, to their bigger brother, the R24, this line of recorders represents a new concept in portable recording devices, which can act as self-contained, battery-powered standalone recorders with removable media, *or* as computer controllers, using the DAW of your choice. The only things I wish they had are a built in CD-R drive, and global 24 bit recording capability. Best of luck-Richie

Actually you CAN record 8 inputs at once when set to 24 bit. And you can have it set to 24 bit/ 44.1khz also. It seems a popular misconception about this issue and perhaps the manual could be clearer buy it definitely works. The only limitation is that above 44.1kHz the on board effects are disabled.