zoom ps 02 - GOOD/BAD?

  • Thread starter Thread starter daled
  • Start date Start date
IMHO, depending on what your recording goals are,it really is not worth the money if your intentions are to dosome kind of serious recordings. No bus ops,no pres, no true monitoring application etc etc. You're better off purchasing a Tascam porta2 at an even lower price.
 
daled

I am very aware of the fact that Zoom does not make or claim to make profesional products. I am also aware of the fact that in my opinion their products suck, actually I think calling it "non-profesional gear" is an understatment. My music store is having a huge sale on these toys (the PS 02) as well. After trying it out I know why, IT SUCKS (just like every other piece of Zoom gear I have come in contact with). I could be more specific but I don't think there is a good thing about it, so I feel comfortable giving it an all around rating (in my book anyway) of "Sucks Ass". MISTERQCUE is right get a portastudio.
 
Thanks for the feedback guys. I dont have a grudge against all zoom products like Simcoe does but I do understand the limitations of this product. Probably the biggest turn off is the fact that you have to purchase an additional 64mb smart media card (which arent cheap!) to get any real recording time.
Ive already looked into the porta02 but the zoom ps02 interested me a little more because I could then mix the tracks on my CPU and burn them onto a cd for novelty value. Ill keep lookin though...
 
You mention mixing down to your computer. If you have a computer im sure you can rig it up somehow to be better (possibly even cheaper) than the zoom. What are the specs on the computer?????
 
I somewhat agree

Better PC than Zoom PS02
but .. better Zoom PS02 than tape Portastudio !

Ya, why don't you take the PC route if you already have one. N-Tracks is very very cheap but very very nice. You have at least a Pentium don't you ?
 
hongteck,
do you have any experience with the zoom???? I have tried it out just for the hell of it and think a good portastudio would beat it any day.


Daled,
Hongteck is right, N-track is a good, cheap program. I have also heard people say good things about Protools free (but I believe you can only reecord 8-tracks with it, but hey it is free). Either way combined with only a few megs of ram and some kind of pentium processor you get excellent results, compared to the zoom anyway. I am assuming you have an old computer just because you decided to look at the zoom instead of software, if this is the case you won't be able to record as many tracks as someone with a pent. 3 and 256 ram but don't worry you can "ghetto rig" it and have a decent set up to play around with. If on the other hand you have a new computer then thats a whole nother story.
 
Yeah, I know CPU would definetely be the way to go for the money. Actually the CPU im using this very minute is a complete piece of garbage that can barely handle the n-track demo BUT... I do plan on buying a new CPU next year anyway.
The thing that turned me off of CPU recording is that, unless you are willing to spare a fair amount of $, the only soundcards available in a decent price range only have 2 inputs. Looking back at this now, it seems like a somewhat trivial point because the both the P2-02 and the Tascam porta 02 can only record 2 tracks at a time either so for the $/sound quality CPU recording would definitely be the way to go. The biggest problem is that I live in an apartment so I need a unit that is portable (which a PC workstation definitely isnt!) so I can haul my equipment around for recording. I was really just looking at the PS-02 or the porta02 as a 'toy' ( as Carter would put it :) ) until I can afford an actual studio setup that would be able to produce the results that I am looking for.
In the end, I am seriously looking at a Roland VS 880 because besides being portable it also has a ton of onboard effects which saves me from having to go out and buy separate compressors, reverb, etc...
Im going down to the store today to mess around with some recording stuff. Ill keep you updated on what actually happens...
 
Carter Simcoe said:
hongteck,
do you have any experience with the zoom???? I have tried it out just for the hell of it and think a good portastudio would beat it any day.
Click to expand...

Have looked at it, considered it, touched it but never tried it. I'm judging it based on the features that it comes with... a build in drum machine (based on the Rhythm Trak), guitar effects (based on its existing models), its portability and the completeness of the system to get the work done. ... and also the countless people who have used it and comment that its good.

Anyway since you have tried it, I'm curious in what way don't you like it and in what way will a portastudio beat it ?
 
A portastudio is WAAAAY cheaper than the PS02!
Except,you don't get the so-called Rhythm tracks and it's a cassette tape-based recorder.
 
hongteck,
I am not saying the zoom is better by a head to head comparasin of the audio quality. The zoom's audio quality is much better than a porta studio's (even though it is pretty shitty compared to other digital recorders). The fact is the zoom is not intended (I hope) to be used to make profesonal or even demo quality recordings, it is supoesed to just be a scratch pad to get ideas down. For this reason I would much rather use a porta studio with some busses and all the controlls laid out in front of me than mess around with the smaller zoom and its digital controls. The zoom IS easy to use but it is not laid out as practically as a porta studio, plus you have to buy more memory to get any real use from it. Just my opinion.
 
thanks guys ! so there you go daled, Zoom PS-02 in perspective.
 
Palmtop Studio is good

"Im wondering if anyone has any advice or can inform me about any potential shortfalls, etc. Also, does nayone know of any webpages where I can download some mp3s recorded on a PS02? Thanks."

I've been playing with the ps-02 for a few weeks and love it. Many of the replies to the original post waste time slamming Zoom and its other products. Who cares, let's focus on this one. It is what it is, a slightly expensive practice machine and scratch pad. I can put together basic bass and drum parts riding home on the train, plug in my guitar when I get home and lay down a solo while watching my kid tear up the house. To me that is heaven. If you have the time and equipment to do a "real" mix on "real" equipment, do it. But if you're away from your set up and are struck with an idea, I know of no better tool out there for capturing the idea and getting started on realizing it. Sound quality is fine, built in guitar effects are fun to play around with, built in microphone is acceptable quality and very very handy, ability to bounce tracks infinitely is great.

The best resource I've found with links to mp3s and other zoom ps-02 stuff is the message board at http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/128321
Start there and work your way through the messages and links.

Who cares if you call it a toy or a tool. If it helps you get ideas down and work them into finished songs, it's a good thing. Make music!
 
Who cares if you call it a toy or a tool. If it helps you get ideas down and work them into finished songs, it's a good thing
Click to expand...

True, but once again, there are other things for the same price or cheaper that will do that job even better.
 
Name One

Ok, name any product in the same price range (or cheaper) that has a built in mike, three digital recordable tracks, a guitar input, multiple configurable effects, and software upgradeable rhythms and bass tracks. Oh, and it's smaller than a Walkman. Name one. Actually, name one product that is this portable and has multi-track recording, period. Try clipping a 4-track to your belt.
 
Like mentioned above, the PS02 is a cute scratch pad for noting ideas quickly. Yupper, a toy. If you truly want the VS-880, save your "instant gratification" dollars that you would spend on the PS02 and use them towards the VS-880. The VS-series is truly an excellent choice. If ya have $ to spare and can afford at least a 1680, then get the PS02 with your pocket change after getting a decent system.


Matt
 
Also,

Just found out it has a sampling freq of only 31kHz.

Thus, like I mentioned, it's probably good for a notepad, but you will NEVER get a decent recording out of it.


Matt
 
If you have $2000 that's another story

Obviously, if you spend $2000 on a multi track digital recorder you'll have a better system to play with than the $300 Zoom. Not a very fair comparison. By the way, Zoom PS-02 has built in effects including chorus, reverb, flange, compressor, etc.

"you will NEVER get a decent recording out of it"

That's just wrong. Listen to some of the MP3s floating around that were mixed from the PS-02. They sound fine. [Also, 32khz is the broadcast standard. If you think FM radio sounds ok, then you won't mind the PS-02's sound.]

The PS-02 is a great and flexible musical scratch pad you can take with you anywhere. A multi-track digital recorder is a real recording machine you keep in your studio. There isn't much point in comparing the two
 
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Once again the zoom is not intended (i hope) to create recordings of even demo quality, it is meant as a scratch pad. So why not have a scratch pad with some busses, and some real controlls you can actually put your hands on? I would much rather have a good 4 track than a little digital box if I was trying to get an idea down. Shure a 4 track wont fit in your pocket but neither will a guitar, keyboard and what ever else you need to get ideas down so whats the big deal? Anyway, you can argue all you want but if I was trying to get some ideas down I would much rather do it with a 4 track than sit around trying to figure out how many tiny buttons I have to press to get some little box to do what I want it to do. Just my opinion but I think it is a damn good one.
 
zoetrope said:
Obviously, if you spend $2000 on a multi track digital recorder you'll have a better system to play with than the $300 Zoom. Not a very fair comparison. By the way, Zoom PS-02 has built in effects including chorus, reverb, flange, compressor, etc.
Click to expand...

This is a very fair comparison considering the original poster stated "I was really just looking at the PS-02 or the porta02 as a 'toy'... until I can afford an actual studio setup that would be able to produce the results that I am looking for. In the end, I am seriously looking at a Roland VS 880." Not to mention the fact that VS-880's are selling used for under $699 and often DO include excellent on board effects (as opposed to Zoom crap).


"you will NEVER get a decent recording out of it"

That's just wrong. Listen to some of the MP3s floating around that were mixed from the PS-02. They sound fine. [Also, 32khz is the broadcast standard. If you think FM radio sounds ok, then you won't mind the PS-02's sound.]
Click to expand...

Let's examine why this comparison is wrong. Here are definite problems with the comparison between the PS02, MP3's, FM radio, and decent recordings:

1) MP3's and FM radio are adequate, not decent. Both formats are often played over computer speakers and car stereos in noisey environments. These playback mediums are crap and often don't illustrate the defects in limited bandwidth because they themselves have limited bandwidth. If you A/B a MP3 or FM radio recording with a CD quality or better recording, you WILL notice the difference.

If it is acceptable to record "adequate" crap, go right ahead. However, I guarantee you'll listen to your mix on a halfway decent stereo, or even decent headphones, and notice how much it sucks. You may get an adequate recording for a scratchpad, but you will not get a decent recording for creating a demo or even distributing to your friends.

2) The 31kHz sampling rate is compeltely inadequate for a decent recording. The 31kHz rate follows the Nyquist sampling theorem. Accordingly, frequencies of only up to 15.5kHz can be sampled without aliasing. To prevent this aliasing, filters must be employed to prevent any frequencies above 15.5kHz from being sampled. This results in an actual bandwidth of well below 15.5kHz. I hardly think (well below) 15.5kHz allows adequate frequencies to record a decent recording.

Here's a little experiment for you to prove the inadequacy of a 31kHz sampling rate to yourself: Run any CD through a graphic EQ or with a parametric low pass filter-type EQ. Adjust the EQ to eliminate all frequencies above 15kHz. A/B the EQ on with the EQ bypassed. Hear how crappy it sounds with all of those highs eliminated? That's what you're losing with a 31kHz sampling rate.

Thus, you will get a shit recording from the PS02. It's just a scratchpad.
 
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