Zoom R8 8 Track SD Card Recorder Interface and Controller

Product Information

Other Functions: Punch-In / Out (Manual, Automatic), Bounce, Marker, A-B Repeat, Undo / Redo, Metronome

USB: Mini-B type (USB2.0 High-Speed compatible)] Audio Interface / Control Surface or Mass Storage Class operation A USB port allows the R8 to send and receive digital data and to act as an 2-input/2-output interface for DAWs such as the included Cubase LE. When operating at a sampling frequency of 44.1kHz, input signal can be routed through the R8's onboard DSP effects. The R8 is a pad sampler and rhythm machine too. Eight velocity-sensitive pads allow the triggering of up to 24 samples, drum sounds, or loops. Over 500 internal loops and drum patterns are provided, along with 500MB of loops and patterns from Big Fish Audio.It also functions as an audio interface and can be connected to software via a USB. The USB also provides bus power, saving you from using the six AA batteries required to power it on the go.

It might not be the right product for those looking for something petite and portable (for rough demos or songwriting ideas).

Get our Newsletter

The Zoom R8 will suit songwriters who want to get their ideas down either for reference or to export for sharing with others. The drum machine and built-in effects add to the creative options and the faders make it easy to use.It won’t be suited to musicians looking for something that can record more than 2 sounds at once. For the purposes of testing the R8's own recording abilities, I worked up a demo song I'd been meaning to for some time, and was really pleased with my results. Zoom must surely have cut costs somewhere in the design, but no matter what they have done in this respect, it is still possible to get great-sounding recordings from this little device. Not quite studio quality, perhaps, but not a million miles away from it. When recording vocals, I was able to find a suitable limiter from the range of options, and for my guitar and bass there were plenty of good-quality effects to choose from. Even the standard rhythm sounds are pretty usable, although this is understandable, given that Zoom have long history in manufacturing stand-alone rhythm machines and effects processors. Powerful onboard effects processor includes GT-10/10B effects, VE-20 vocal effects and harmonies, and COSM-based acoustic-guitar body modeling To record guitar, just plug in, use the onboard tuner, select an insert effect and go. The amp sims, taken from Zoom's G2Nu, are very playable and suit a wide range of musical styles.

The built-in high-sensitivity stereo microphones are convenient for recording sketches of musical phrases and melodies as they come to mind. Use these mics for clear recordings of vocals and acoustic instruments.

MEDIA

It comes with editing software that you can use with the device connected via USB and this machine also works as a USB audio interface.To power it, you’ll need either 4 AA batteries or to use the included DC adapter. I've not used it as a sampler or audio interface. I've not used the in-build drum machine, so can't comment on those features.

Set up to 100 markers and directly move to them whenever you want. Also, use the A-B repeat function to play or re-record a designated interval and use auto punch-in and punch-out for efficient editing. The DSP effects, which include 146 types and 370 patches, can be used for recording, mixing and mastering. Insert effects are comprised of seven modules and include algorithms for guitars, basses, vocals and other sounds. One insert effect can be used simultaneously with the two types of send-return effects. 18 types of guitar amplifier models from our best-selling G2Nu and 6 types of bass amp models are included, so you can re-create a realistic amp sound simply by connecting a guitar or bass directly to the R8. Certainly useful as a musical sketchpad, the R8 is also capable of producing polished demos and can double up as a guitar practice tool by using the amp sims and playing along to the onboard rhythms. This is a great device for the price. I got it because I didn't want to spend my music time in front of a computer (I already do that for work). It's not as powerful or flexible as a DAW, but you don't have to sit in front of a screen, worry about latency, compatibility or software updates.The sequencer is very usable given the small screen size ! Very practical if you only want to record your bass line for the chorus once for example. I wouldn't use it for anything finer grained than that, though you can sequence down to bar level if you really want too. They typically have built-in condenser mics (often stereo condensers, some even have XLR inputs) that not only let you record, they also let you mix ‘on the fly’ too.