Zoom R16? Any experience or opinions?

[Sethcao]

Originally Posted by Brackish

Well, I'm not much familiar with the R16 but I guess the first question would be: Do any of your mics require phantom power to operate?

Well, i have a Samson 7Kit, which is composed, as far as i can tell, by 5 dynamic mics and 2 condensers, so i do think i could link them all (the 2 condensers would go to the phantom power i guess) but i'm not quite sure, being new to this...
Thanks for your help!

[gvdv]

In the spirit of this thread providing some experience of the Zoom R16, I wanted to say that I swapped my recently bought Boss BR800 for the R16 earlier today, and have found that the R16 is able to do perfectly what the BR800 could not do.

Specifically, I wanted a portable recorder to simultaneously record two XLR's (mics.), and a stereo line-in source (CD player). In other words, I wanted to be able to record these sources 'live'. I also wanted to be able to ride the CD fader so that I could raise and/or lower the level to complete silence while monitoring (I didn't care what the recorded signal did because my plan was to export the tracks to computer for editing).

Simple, right? Wrong.

Although the BR800 has an 1/8" stereo input, in addition to being able to accommodate the line-in another way (going straight into the 1/4" inputs), I could NOT eliminate the line level signal when monitoring. Even trying turning the gains to zero did nothing beyond lowering the recorded signal a little. And this was not a case of track leakage - the signal was significantly louder than that. I was all over various forums, including this one, trying to find a solution to this, and beyond hoping that whatever CD player I might be using has an output control that I can turn down to zero, there has been no resolution to this dilemma.

Enter the Zoom R16.

The only reasons that I didn't originally go for the R16 were that it did not have a built-in drum sequencer (useful for songwriting if I couldn't be bothered to fire up my Mac Pro), and that it is quite a lot bigger than the Boss BR800.

However, the R16 has a significant number of advantages over the Boss (exporting to .WAVs, rather than to a 'native' file formate; simultaneous 'true' 8 track recording - the BR800 can only do 6, I think, simultaneously; 16 track playback, rather than the BR800's 8 track playback; and ease-of-use).

So, I exchanged the Boss for the Zoom today, and lo-and-behold, instant gratification; at the same time as recording the two mics., I can reduce the CD line input to total silence when recording/monitoring (and if I want to, I can do that by reducing turning the gain control to zero).

I also feel that Zoom has struck a very good balance between using hardware controls (gain knobs and faders) and software menus. Even though I had to use the manual to get me up and running, when I had run through the procedures for basic recording once or twice, I didn't have to return to the manual because the ways to do basic recording were quite logical (the manual is, however, too complicated, vague and inadequate in other ways).

I do not plan to use the R16 as an interface or a control surface, so I cannot comment on its effectiveness for those uses.

I hope that this has been helpful.

GVDV.

[Brackish]

Originally Posted by Sethcao

Well, i have a Samson 7Kit, which is composed, as far as i can tell, by 5 dynamic mics and 2 condensers

On the surface of it, it seems your mic kit would work with the R16.
Just put the two condensers on the phantom channels and put the
dynamic mics on the other channels. I would think this would work.

[Chris Cassius]

I was thinking about buying this and using 6 outs from an MPC for drums, 2 outs from my ASR-10 for samples. I was previously using an Mbox2 but since I was forced to do a factory reset on my computer, I've been having issues with the drivers and I'm just looking to get back into recording my beats again; I'm also getting tired of having to record 2 tracks at a time and the Zoom R16 looks like it could solve both problems. The reviews seem decent and what I've read of this thread looks promising as well.

Anyone see any issues arising from the MPC/ASR combo with the Zoom R16? Thanks

[chris319]

The Zoom R24 has phantom power on six of its eight mic inputs but it also has a problem with unexpectedly recording white noise. A fix for the latter is supposedly in the works and "coming soon":

Zoom Gear & Home Recording Forum • View topic - R24 Major Bug.... tracks start recording white noise partway

[NorseHorse]

Chris 319, the problem described in that link sounds like what I experienced with the Zoom R16. I have experienced it twice. It isn't true white noise, but it is a blown-out (i.e. mostly exceeding full-scale) version of what you recorded. Never got a chance to trouble-shoot it, but I speculate that it wrote 24-bit scale data into a 16-bit scale without adjusting, if that makes sense to you.

Chris Cassius, your set-up sound feasible. Happy recording!

[carlosacosta]

i'm new and registered upon finding this thread.

i'm thinking of getting an r16 or two, but am worried about drivers, latency and sound quality. have listened to some recordings on youtube and i'm liking the sound, but read about problems with mac osx.

annyone care to help? sorry if this was answered already, but did not want to read two years worth of tread.

MACBOOK PRO i5 4G ram
LOGIC 9
MAINSTAGE 2
DRUMS, BASS, GUIT, VOCALS, KEYS, E-DRUMS

THANKS FROM PUERTO RICO

[JulianFernandez]

I´m using the R16 as a portable studio to record rehearsals and it´s working great... guys are fascinated with the quality of it!
Congrats Zoom!

[matskull]

Hi guys, I didn't read the whole thread but I've got a pretty simple question concerning the R16.

Can it do direct monitoring from all 8 input with level adjustment on each of them?

I'd like to use it to record my band's rehearsals and also to monitor ourselves while rehearsing, I would buy an headphone amplifier with multiple headphone outputs so we could all use in-ears and play to a metronome if we'd want to.

[bobspez]

Originally Posted by matskull

Hi guys, I didn't read the whole thread but I've got a pretty simple question concerning the R16.

Can it do direct monitoring from all 8 input with level adjustment on each of them?

I'd like to use it to record my band's rehearsals and also to monitor ourselves while rehearsing, I would buy an headphone amplifier with multiple headphone outputs so we could all use in-ears and play to a metronome if we'd want to.

Yes. The R16 has RCA stereo left and right output jacks. You can get whatever output from all 8 channels (with whatever level or gain or effect / panning is set on each track) in whatever you plug the stereo out line into (like a headphone amp or an amp or PC). I also take the stereo out from the R16 and plug it into the line in on my PC. Using the headphones out on the PC I can also play along with YouTube videos or mpg files on the PC.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by bobspez

Yes. The R16 has RCA stereo left and right output jacks. You can get whatever output from all 8 channels (with whatever level or gain or effect / panning is set on each track) in whatever you plug the stereo out line into (like a headphone amp or an amp or PC). I also take the stereo out from the R16 and plug it into the line in on my PC. Using the headphones out on the PC I can also play along with YouTube videos or mpg files on the PC.

Seems good, if I don't use any effects or processing on the R16, how would be the latency, is it direct monitoring?

I don't wanna rehearse with my band and hear a latency, that would be pretty annoying and it would probably make it hard to play tight.

[bobspez]

Originally Posted by matskull

Seems good, if I don't use any effects or processing on the R16, how would be the latency, is it direct monitoring?

I don't wanna rehearse with my band and hear a latency, that would be pretty annoying and it would probably make it hard to play tight.

As long as you are using the out jacks and cable to connect to the R16 to a headphone amp, there shouldn't be any latency at all. I found that connecting the R16 with the USB cable to the PC, and using the PC to record, the latency was unacceptable. I think anything over about 25 ms of latency is a problem. Using the R16 as a DAW controller, I think the latency was about 40ms for me. Just being in a room, I think there is about 1ms of latency for every foot a sound source is from your ear.

Are you going to use wireless to connect the band members headphones to the headphone amp? I don't know if that will introduce latency issues or not.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by bobspez

As long as you are using the out jacks and cable to connect to the R16 to a headphone amp, there shouldn't be any latency at all. I found that connecting the R16 with the USB cable to the PC, and using the PC to record, the latency was unacceptable. I think anything over about 25 ms of latency is a problem. Using the R16 as a DAW controller, I think the latency was about 40ms for me. Just being in a room, I think there is about 1ms of latency for every foot a sound source is from your ear.

Are you going to use wireless to connect the band members headphones to the headphone amp? I don't know if that will introduce latency issues or not.

No our headphones would be wired. I want the latency to be really low because it can be really annoying to sing with latency in the headphones.

thanks

[Zoombie666]

Hi Guys! I am a newbie here... and I am happy to have the chance to talk with people that looks like "knows his shit" :D

I am having a problem with the Zoom R16:
it's a kind of huge latency and "shitty" sounds that appens without a specific reason.

I am using a MACBOOK Pro and loocking on the internet I saw many people with the same problem:

http://2090.org/zoom/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=16392

Logic Pro Help :: View topic - Zoom R16 latency problems30

Input Monitoring latency

Do you have any advices?

I solve the problem for some minutes when I deconnect and reconnect the ZOOM but this is too boring expecially because you record a good take and when ear it again it's all delayed wih "popcorn" sound all over...
thanks in advance!

[bobspez]

Originally Posted by Zoombie666

Hi Guys! I am a newbie here... and I am happy to have the chance to talk with people that looks like "knows his shit" :D

I am having a problem with the Zoom R16:
it's a kind of huge latency and "shitty" sounds that appens without a specific reason.

I am using a MACBOOK Pro and loocking on the internet I saw many people with the same problem:

http://2090.org/zoom/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=16392

Logic Pro Help :: View topic - Zoom R16 latency problems30

Input Monitoring latency

Do you have any advices?

I solve the problem for some minutes when I deconnect and reconnect the ZOOM but this is too boring expecially because you record a good take and when ear it again it's all delayed wih "popcorn" sound all over...
thanks in advance!

I have a PC and I tried using the Zoom as a recording interface with several different recording programs (Including the Cubase LE software that came with the Zoom). I experienced latency with every program I tried and decided the Zoom R16 is great only as a stand alone recorder. Maybe a computer with a super fast sound card might have better luck, but I had no luck using the Zoom to record on a computer. That said, it's very easy to download the tracks on the zoom to the computer using the USB cable. Once I have the wav files downloaded, I use the computer to edit and mix the tracks. Used that way, the Zoom R16 works great.

[Brackish]

Originally Posted by bobspez

the Zoom R16 is great only as a stand alone recorder.

How's the hiss going mic-in through the pres?

[studer58]

Originally Posted by Brackish

How's the hiss going mic-in through the pres?

Well I use a DAV BG8 as pre's, and go into the R16 at line level...there isn't any hiss !

[Brackish]

Originally Posted by studer58

go into the R16 at line level...there isn't any hiss !

Well that's good news! I would imagine that means line level bypasses the R16 pres.

How's the R16's ADC seem? You satisfied with end result when using the BG8 as the front end?

[studer58]

no, unfortunately it doesn't bypass the R16's pres, although I assume that on 0 gain level their effect is minimal. I'd love to find a way to bypass them, but I suspect the innards are pretty crowded ! I'll post a few samples in the coming days for you to check out.

[Vapour Trails]

I placed an order for the Zoom R16 yesterday through Cascio Interstate music. Using a coupon code, I got it for $331!

My intention is to use it as a recording interface with REAPER, mainly for recording drums (practice, grooves, playalong). After looking on the Reaper forums, I found people using the r16 flawlessly as an interface.

If that doesn't work I can always use it as a stand alone. This is a nice fallback as I already gave up on the idea of buying the M-Audio Ultra 8r interface because I was worried about compability/latency. Seems with the Zoom you get the best of both worlds.

I will update on my success or failure using it as a interface in the coming weeks.

[bobspez]

Originally Posted by Brackish

How's the hiss going mic-in through the pres?

I must have missed the email notification from gearslutz for a few months, so I didn't see this question and the follow ups in June...
I don't really notice a hiss using a vocal mic and micing my guitar amp. I guess it can depend on the mics. I use a pair of 30 year old Realistic Radio Shack mics. They are the Realistic Highball2 600 OHMS Omnidirectional Mics. I put them in inputs 5 and 6 with Phantom power on and with Insert effects off, panned at L4 for Track 5 and R2 for Track 6. Both tracks are EQ'd the same with 46 Reverb and 20 Chorus with the EQ settings as follows: Hi EQ at G=0db, F=8kHz, Mid at G=0db, F=1khz,Q=0.5, and Lo at G=0db, F=125Hz, Faders at 74 for Track 5 and 111 for Track6 .. Stero link off.
I find the sound to be very clean as far as I am concerned with the gain set at Mic for both tracks. I actually run into more noise (hum) when connecting other equipment such as a drum machine or pre amp output into the R16 at line level. I tried using a hum eliminator but that reduced the decibels too much.
I have been using the R16 for a little over a year now, and after playing with a lot of different methods, I find the best sound for me is to plug my guitar into an amp, or plug it into an effect/preamp and run that into an amp, and use a single mic in a floor stand about 6 inches from the center of the amp speaker or speakers. The vocal mic is in a floor boom stand and is placed as close to my mouth as possible (a couple of inches) without being close enough for me to hit while singing and playing.
For drums, I plug a drum machine (I use my old Zoom MRS1044 recorder's built in drum machine, connecting the headphone out stepped down from stereo to mono) into the high Z input of my bass amp and turn it up loud enough for both mics to pick up.
While I am singing and playing and recording, I am monitoring the sound through full sized closed ear headphones from the R16's headphones out, which pretty much cuts out all the sound not coming out of the R16 .
Once a week I jam live on-line with my friend who lives about 80 miles away. We both log onto Fender's e-jamming service (costs $10 a month for each of us). I plug the R16 L/R outputs (using a mono to stereo connector cable ) into my PC's stereo mic-in jack, and monitor both my friend's and my sound by connecting my headphones into a stereo output jack on one of my PC's external speakers.
With on-line e-jamming, I record my tracks live with the R16 while my friend records his tracks live on his PC using e-jamming, and we email our tracks each other, and take turns mixing the songs on our PC's. He uses Cakewalk and I use Cool Edit Pro. Jamming on-line introduces about a 15ms latency so we play some sync notes at the start and end of each song to make it easier to line up the tracks when they are mixed on the PC.

Bob

[Vapour Trails]

Originally Posted by Vapour Trails

I placed an order for the Zoom R16 yesterday through Cascio Interstate music. Using a coupon code, I got it for $331!

My intention is to use it as a recording interface with REAPER, mainly for recording drums (practice, grooves, playalong). After looking on the Reaper forums, I found people using the r16 flawlessly as an interface.

If that doesn't work I can always use it as a stand alone. This is a nice fallback as I already gave up on the idea of buying the M-Audio Ultra 8r interface because I was worried about compability/latency. Seems with the Zoom you get the best of both worlds.

I will update on my success or failure using it as a interface in the coming weeks.

I received the R16 over the weekend and took it out of the box yesterday. The time between opening the box and recording with 6 mics directly to Reaper as an audio interface was < 30 mins. No pops, clicks and crashes, it works great! Very easy to use and setup.

The only odd thing I noticed is if you are using it as an audio interface and you turn off the R16, it shuts off your computer! You need to disconnect the USB cord first, then power down the R16.

Here is a short groove I recorded yesterday.

http://soundcloud.com/leningrad-sky/shadows

[wufei]

Hi I just recently purchased my R16 and so far it exceeded my expectation, I used to have the TASCAM DP01, R16 is lot better. I dont even need DAW to record a music, so quick.

I would like to share my recording. No editing on DAW here but just punching in here and there.

From a Window - YouTube

[bobspez]

Awesome recording. Great sound, and great performance. Great video!

Bob

Originally Posted by wufei

Hi I just recently purchased my R16 and so far it exceeded my expectation, I used to have the TASCAM DP01, R16 is lot better. I dont even need DAW to record a music, so quick.

I would like to share my recording. No editing on DAW here but just punching in here and there.

From a Window - YouTube

[wufei]

Thank you very much sir

[selbalicious]

Wow! Great recording! Ultra clean. Great use of effects. Great song, great stuff.

Talk about your multi-instrumentalist here! Great job!

I had a drum kit as a small lad (6th grade). I gotta get another one, preferably electric.

Here's a URL of a recently recorded live performance (onto the R16) by one of my bands (Baja Dunes):

Baja Dunes Live at Thomas O'Neil Cellars on 2011-12-10 : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive

It is a straight 8-channel recording of:
Kevin Vocal (1)
Lee Vocal (2)
Katie Vocal (3)
Lee Guitar (4)
Kevin Keys (5/6 - from Motif XF7)
Kevin Drums/Bass (7/8 - from Motif XF7)

Mixed down in Sonar Essentials X1.

What a machine!

[brixtonslag]

I love my R:16 to bits. This is some stuff I've done at band rehearsals with it:

thelightprogramme's sounds on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

Very basic set up, Kick, Snare, Overhead left, Overhead right, bass, guitar, vocal, spare. It's taken me as little as four minutes to set up before! :-)

It's got a 16gb card in it, which ticking over at 44/24 will give you four hours with all eight tracks going.

[Highphi]

I recently recorded my friends band using the R16. It worked well and the sound I got out of it was truly surprising! You can listen to the project here: Electric Soul | Winnipeg, MB, CA | Rock / Fusion / Funk | Music, Lyrics, Songs, and Videos | ReverbNation

All the tracks were recorded using the R16. I engineered all of them except Red Baron.
I cut all the tracks by recording live off the floor and then adding minimal overdubs on a DAW. Used the FMR RNP on overheads and vocals, other than that, it's all the stock mic pres. I recorded at 44.1khz / 24bit. In my opinion the converters sound like crap at 16bit, but somehow really shine at 24!

So in the end, I do recommend the unit, great sound at a great price. However when recording to the SD cards the unit can be finicky. We experienced the white noise issue and lost some good takes to it. Also the unit can hang up mid take. So you have to find a card that works well with it because not all do. Hope this post helps.

Cheers!

[selbalicious]

Originally Posted by brixtonslag

I love my R:16 to bits. This is some stuff I've done at band rehearsals with it:

thelightprogramme's sounds on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

EGADS this is brilliant stuff! Great recording. Ain't life grand?

[selbalicious]

Originally Posted by Highphi

I recently recorded my friends band using the R16. It worked well and the sound I got out of it was truly surprising! You can listen to the project here: Electric Soul | Winnipeg, MB, CA | Rock / Fusion / Funk | Music, Lyrics, Songs, and Videos | ReverbNation
Cheers!

EGADS AGAIN!!! (That's TWO "egads" in one day).

ALSO brilliant stuff. Oh Sparrow: LOVE LOVE LOVE the delay on the guitar...gives it the "another brick in the wall" echoey thing (please don't be offended at that reference...at my age, comparing you to Pink Floyd is the highest praise!).

Anyway...again...life is grand.

Now where's the R32 Zoom!