ZOOM: R16 Recording Interface, Cubase LE 5, humble beginner

[gregg.mckiernan]

Hey all,

So I have been curiously toiling away with recording techniques since I was 15 or so, but at 19, those 4 years of experience have taught me a lot about USB recording interfaces (such as those by M-audio or Presonus) but my pop just recently purchased a 16 track recorder/USB interface by ZOOM and it came with Steinbergs Cubase LE 5. Up until this point I have used Cool Edit Pro 2.0, which is an effective program, but I have recently sought to expand my knowledge into this much more complex software.

To give you the logistics of my rig, the ZOOM interface has a sample rate of 44.1kHz, but I am sure with some tinkering that could be improved. I will be running up to 8 tracks simultaneously through the interface into Cubase, but when it comes to the software I am completely out of the water.

What I aim to accomplish, is to have 8 tracks taken straight from the ZOOM interface, through the mixer in Cubase, and to be able to apply real time playback out of my PA system (This is another rut I have fallen into, in regards to using my laptop as the mixer for raw audio, how then would I produce this audio through my PA system. I will read up on the ZOOM interface as to whether or not its mixer is active while not in Record, but rather Interface mode (when in Record it draws power externally, when you turn it off, it immediately feeds to interface mode using USB power.)

Another alternative I have just brought to my own attention is the availability of having a TAPCO 12 track analog mixer, which is what I currently have hooked up to my PA. I will post images of the gear, but keep in mind that my knowledge of Steinbergs Cubase LE 5 is much more limited than that of my analog sound production. I look forward to open discussion on the topic, and appreciate any insight that you may have!

Thanks,
Gregg

 

[TetraFish]

Just doing a quik read, it sounds like you have to record the 8 tracks direct to the zoom and then transfer them. If you record direct to the computer you can only do two at a time.

 

[trumpino1]

Just doing a quik read, it sounds like you have to record the 8 tracks direct to the zoom and then transfer them. If you record direct to the computer you can only do two at a time.

After reading this it sparked interest so I did a little test and I recorded 4 tracks simultaneously right to the computer. So I'm pretty sure you will be able to record all 8 to the computer.

As far as using it for a live show or something I don't think you can do it because of Latency (I think that's the right word). At least on my computer when I monitor while I record there is a little delay from the time I pick an instrument to when it makes its way out of the monitors. If this is not what you are asking then I'm sorry.

 

[stevieb]

I own a Zoom R16. Interface to the computer is USB, so you can only export two tracks from the R16 to the computer, digitally. I can't imagine any reason you could not export 8 or even 16 from the R16 to the other ZOOM device (which you do not identify further) as they are made by the same company. The R16 comes with a version of Cubase, so you can probably just open up the file on the R16's card in the Cubase 5LE on your computer, and/or save the file on the computer, thus effectively doing what you want to do much easier and quicker.

Can't figure out why you are wanting to go through so many redundant or pointless steps, though. I'd record the tracks to the R16, mix them down to 2 tracks (stereo) and play them from there directly to the PA. KISS.

 

[Wish]

You can use the zoom as an interface for 8 simultaneous tracks in (at CD quality) and 2 out via the usb. You can record at a higher bit rate (96k maybe? don't quote me), but then you are limited to 2 simultaneous tracks in.

I use it with Reaper and have no problems recording 8 tracks at once into the computer.

 

[Wish]

I also use it as a control surface for Reaper. The Zoom is a slick little device. Kinda like a swiss army knife for recording.

 

[gregg.mckiernan]

Hey all, thank you for your comments,

After some tinkering away before rushing off hurriedly to school, I managed to get these two simple configurations going, and I believe that they will serve as building blocks for my experimentation in Cubase,

Firstly, I had 4 inputs active on my ZOOM R16 (I noticed a post saying I referred to another piece of ZOOM equipment, but I only have the R16) which was in Interface mode. In Cubase I was able to set the Device Properties so that I had 8 default mono input buses, which were attributed to inputs 1 through 8 on the Interface. As for output, I placed the stereo L-R outputs to the Interface, and ran those through two channels on my PA. The only difference between this configuration and another I coined while experimenting today, is the L-R instead of being routed through my PA, are through a pair of studio monitors for getting a taste of the raw sound.

I do believe I've answered my question, so thank you all for your time.