Zoom R16

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jim Lad
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Jim Lad

Jim Lad

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I'm devoting the next three hours to learning how to record on the Zoom R16, standalone mode.
I'll try and come up with a track for you by day's end.
I'll also be using the AKG Solid Tube and AKG C451 EB if any-one's interested.
 
:listeningmusic:Well that was interesting.
I've uploaded an MP3 there so go ahead and listen but look for the quality of the recording and try to ignore the singer.
I followed the simple instructions on how to open the project and set up each track using the mics as previously mentioned.
They're good mics and I know them fairly well so any failing will be on the part of the Zoom.
I payed no attention to the LEDs when I set up each track so the Solid tube was on vocals and recorded perfectly but the 451 was very low.
So when I transferred the raw .wav files into Mixcraft, I boosted and compressed the heck out of the guitar track and it came out clean and sounding just like it should.
The vocals were deliberately challenging in the dynamics and again, came out clear with no distortion that I can hear.
I added a little reverb to each track and mixed them down to .wave files at 24/44.1 and transferred them into Wavelab 5 where I checked them for normalizing. No need. They were at 0dB (possibly due to the Acoustica compression preset).
Next I declicked them and dithered the file down to 16/44.1 and finally converted it over to MP3.
So what you hear is recorded on the Zoom R16 on good mics and edited in my preferred software.
Regardless of the singing and playing and looking only at the quality of recording I have to say that the Zoom R 16 stands up as a standalone recorder and with a little more care with the set up, I would have absolutely no hesitation about using that machine to record album tracks.
It has a flash card so you can record right in front of it, runs on batteries or power supply and has 8 combination XLR inputs, one headphone and one pair of speaker outputs.
The Zoom R 16 is for real when it comes to recording.
It's fine as a DAW controller and from my experience, a little weak as an audio interface (compared to others) but usable.
:listeningmusic:
 

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Not bad for just a quick set up, eh?
I have it sitting on the desk all of the time and not using it but if the Korg packed it in tomorrow, the Zoom R16 could take over in an instant.
 
That is great for a quick set up and it seams a lot easier.
 
The preamps don't sound that bad. Have you tried a ribbon in them?
 
I've parked the ribbons but I wouldn't expect that the Zoom could handle them on its own.
The budget ribbons all require 80dB of gain and no DAW or Audio Interface offers that, to my knowledge.
I'd have to hook up the Joe Meek 3Q or Golden Age Pre (That's all I've got) but don't see any reason why the Zoom would
in any way negatively affect that sound.
I think they are decent preamps but without checking the specs, can only guess that they are down around 40dB. Similar to the Fast Track Pro.
I could be wrong.
 
Thanks Jim, I really enjoyed that! I wish I had found this thread before I made my decision on my interface upgrade. I liked a lot about the R16 but also heard many bad things from reviews and feedback. I went with the M-Audio/Avid Fast Track C600 but fear I may miss the ease of use of a stand alone. I came from the old analog studio days of engineering and still trying to get my head wrapped around DAWs and such.

Anyway, I enjoyed your song and it shows that no matter how you record something, if it's a good song and well done performance, that's all that matters!

Thanks!
 
Jim,
I love your voice!
I have an R16 & simialrly mine's there as back up. I did use it as an interface on one project & it wasn't too bad but I quite like the fact that the inputs on my INCA break out box face me & I don't have to turn/reach around things to plug stuff in. That'd be my biggest beef with the R16. I'd suggest that they were so concerned with making it DAW compatible they forgot that good old 4 Track portastudios had the "inputs" at the front & that made them extremely easy to use/set up.
 
I've thought about getting these, but after reading a bit, found that they won't record at 48k, which is needed for sync to video. The r24 does record at 48k, but i've heard that the clock is "all over the place" meaning that sync could be a b*, especially when you need to sync, for example, tracks recorded (also at 48k) from another system. I'm aware that sync isn't great to start off with when you're trying to do it with recording from different devices when there is no sync lock between the two, nevertheless, i routinely sync this way, and doesn't seem to be a problem when working at lower budget and pristine audio isn't needed. Does anyone have experience with that on the r24? Converting from 44.1 to 48 from an r16 to make it sync to video i've head is possible, but i was never able to find a workflow. A simple conversion doesn't do it.
 
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