Zoom R-16

  • Thread starter Thread starter bstarstudios
  • Start date Start date
bstarstudios

bstarstudios

Useless Thoughts
anyone tried the Zoom R-16, 16 track multi track recorder. im looking to get one, either that or a presonus firestudip (both different). anyoen used ot tried one?
 
bstarstudios said:
anyone tried the Zoom R-16, 16 track multi track recorder. im looking to get one, either that or a presonus firestudip (both different). anyoen used ot tried one?
Click to expand...

I use the older Zoom HD16 and I love it. I've recorded a few albums on it and a lot of live gigs. It's never let me down and I've always been very pleased with the sound quality.

Check out a review of the R16 at Soundonsound.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep09/articles/zoomr16.htm
 
for $400 its like a cool multi tracker. i really like because it has 8 inputs for drum miking and the ability to transport tracks to a computer if needed. its between one of those and a presonus firestudio for me. i like the idea of recording without a computer.
 
bstarstudios said:
for $400 its like a cool multi tracker. i really like because it has 8 inputs for drum miking and the ability to transport tracks to a computer if needed. its between one of those and a presonus firestudio for me. i like the idea of recording without a computer.
Click to expand...

Yeah that's why I like it. It's portable, so I can record drums in a good sounding hall or room, I can record any gig anywhere. I never use it for mixing though, I always transfer to my computer for mixing on Sonar - the lack of dynamics on each channel and the grainy reverbs make the zoom a no-no for mixing for me.
 
yeah im looking at it for its portableness and not needing to tote my mac book and lots of cables out (i record for other bands in their practice spaces). when you import a project to your daw, does it put each track on its own track. meaning is the snare seperate from the kick sort of thing.
 
Ive heard nothing but great things about the zoom.



:cool:
 
i was going to go firewire interface for drums, but everything ive read about the r16 makes it sound well worth it, its my next large purchase for sure. beyond the 1-2 milisecond delay between playback and recording it sounds solid. great for recording band demos and making ep's.
 
bstarstudios said:
yeah im looking at it for its portableness and not needing to tote my mac book and lots of cables out (i record for other bands in their practice spaces). when you import a project to your daw, does it put each track on its own track. meaning is the snare seperate from the kick sort of thing.
Click to expand...

Recording bands live is one of the things I use it for.

Each track is stored as an individual wav. when you import it to the daw it is labelled track 00 and so on. So if you've mic'd the snare then you have a snare track etc.

I've heard that the included mics on the r16 make pretty good room mics too.
 
yeah i did lots of research on it, i like the multitracking capabilities and the added mics on it. def getting it.
 
i purchase done of an R16 a few weeks ago as my first step into home recording and i love it! easy to use plenty of cool features and portable! i purchased mine off ebay for a great price so i'm super stoked!
 
Awesome Zoom R-16

Just got mine about 3 weeks ago and am already getting amazing tracks off it. Trying it out at a live gig this Friday night with a full rock band so will let you know how it goes. This is the 3rd Zoom piece of stuff I have owned and am always impressed with quality and especially the ease of use. Like I said, I am a beginner to the home recording scene and the R-16 is very forgiving of my shortcomings.:) Highly recommended.
 
I've had mine for about 6 months now. It's performed flawlessly. I use it mostly in interface and controller mode and it's been a joy to use.:cool:
 
*thumbs up*

It's very great to hear so many positive things about the r16 from people who ACTUALLY use it. Before I got mine (and before I read about it on this board) I read and heard a lot of negative things about it from people who NEVER used it. it can't do this and can't do that, there's no hold button, only two phantom inputs, only 16 bit, etc.

Yeah, its not perfect but for $400 brand new (got mine for $300) and does a hell of a lot more than a two track recorder and you DON'T need a computer! From the bit of research I did, its one of the very few that records to SD card so Zoom is starting the idea of multitracking to SD card--NOT hdd or CD or DVD or bluray!

You probably won't find an r16 in a multimillion dollar studio but we are not millionaires and its better to start multitracking now for $400 than just reading about it and not experiencing it for yourself.

If you don't want to use a computer all the time to record music and if you're interested in an affordable, durable, portable multitrack recorder, seriously consider the zoom r16.

It may be a good idea to get a headphone amp if you don't want to use monitors so each person you record can hear the music. I picked up some b-ringer one for $27 so it doesn't even need to be a $100 headphone amp. Unfortunately, you can't send a specific mix to the individual player but that probably wouldn't be necessary anyway.
 
I've got one. Love it. The portabilty is amazing. There's about to be an R24 with, you guessed it, 24 channel capability. 8 - simultaneous with drum machine I think.

I remeber when an intro four-track tape machine cost $2400. I remember the first Tascam four-track cassettes were about $400 (WAY out of my price range at the time).
 
I've been using one for almost 6 months now---recording live from the stage. Here's some thoughts:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=297086

Not a lick of trouble. Ridiculously light, compact and easy to transport and operate. The power went out at a club date about a month ago again the R-16 just instantly switched over to the internal batteries ---nothing to record but nothing lost and nothing to reset when the power came back on. I haven't had a chance to sync two R16s together via USB. Using it as a USB host to download files to a flashdrive only lets you download one file (track) at a time, not an entire "Project"---that's a little clunky (but you have two other methods of offloading/uploading/downloading that are more versatile). What can you say---there is nothing near its price point that is like it. I'd recommend going to the Naiant website and getting some in-line pads if you're going to record keyboards or other hot signals----the channel attenuators do have an operating range that can be pinned and uncontrollable with a hot signal. No problem with an in-line pad.

I don't mix in the R-16---I generally use Reaper. Editing on the R-16 is fast but clunky (for me) and nothing like my personal workflow.

If I lost mine, I'd immediately order another.

Paj
8^)
 
So can you use it as a control surface for Reaper or other software too?
 
Reaper works with surface controllers?
I really should take a look at that software.
 
Wish14 said:
So can you use it as a control surface for Reaper or other software too?
Click to expand...

Yup. I use it in controller mode with Sonar...usually while it's being used as an interface. It can also be used as a controller with another interface, so it's pretty flexible.
As a control surface, it runs Mackie control emulation, so any DAW that supports that, and most do including Reaper, should pick it up with no problems.
 
Had a look at the Controller menu in Reaper.
Doesn't have the Zoom R16 nor do I see a "Generic" setting anywhere.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top