Zoom R20 - First Walk-through Impressions 

Bigger .wav files for more accurate editing would be great !

Is It rechargeable or It requires me tò buy batteries each time?

How about recording in stereo ?

Just thinking about the ability to plug in a touch screen externalonitor? Comments anyone

Yeah I was almost considering upgrading from my R16 but that is a deal breaker for me.

Get a cheap submixer like Subzero from gear4music

Why don't you use TRS to XLR convertor cables (or jacks) for the keyboard line level outputs and they can then go into any channel? Or DI to any channel without needing Hi-Z switches. If you want to ensemble record then use a couple of inexpensive DI boxes and hey presto - no limits.

Your ipad has 8 built in preamps?

Your iPad most definitely does not do everything that this does.

@@DaveyMulholland Maybe not for you, as far as I know, and Yes ! And Yes ! A iPad can do all of this , a 1000 times over plus more. We talking about Apple. not Amazon tablets.

@@TheIllynow you buy any budget friendly preamps interface , What are we talking about here 🤷🏽‍♂️

@@DaveyMulholland a Apple IPad can do it , plus more.

If I'm gonna use a touch screen, iPad makes a lot more sense than Zoom R20. For going dawless style, I'd prefer the Tascam Model Series.

The R8 is fine in the audio quality.

Good idea. We ran out of time for the R20 in this session, but hope to do this in the future.

I don't think it's supposed to be the end-all of mixer/recorders. There is still the R24 or the L20. I actually like it because it's small and has only 16 tracks. That's all I'd want to fool with away from my "real studio" :) Good for grab-and-go stuff. If I needed more, I'd make other arrangements :) Sometimes you need a full stack of Marshalls sometimes just a Pignose :)

Yes! I would love to see some of these with 4x 3.5mm or balanced trs inputs so I can plug in multiple synths without a bunch of xlr adapters

that s why i dont buy these toys...preamps are crap, so i can t record shit

You can get around it by printing the effect to the track then reuse the effect on the next thing and keep printing and reusing. Then use a reverb effect for the send effect for all channels. It explains how to use the effects in the manual.

@@philreid984 by printing im assuming you mean to freeze the track?

@@KyleYoung143 I'm not sure what freeze the track means 😄 Print to the track as I use it mean to run an instrument through an effect as it's being recorded. Guitar played through a chorus while it's recorded has the chorus effect permanently on the recorded track, no way to change it after the the fact. It's printed to the track. Is that the same as freezing the track?

@@KyleYoung143 After I looked it up, yes I think that is the new school term, mine is old school tape talk 😄

The PodTraks are more tailored for podcasting and are great for that purpose. They are also great for what you'd be using it for. The R20 can be used for all of those purposes as well, but is definitely marketed to projects with a lot of inputs, live multi-mic'd podcasts, whole band sessions, and live music. The R20 also has more features to shape the sound than the PodTraks. So It's going to depend on your preferred workflow and what task you are trying to do.

Yes you can do it.

Thanks for watching. We didn't do that specifically when we had it out, but it sounds like you could do that with the R20.

No

Thanks for watching. No it does not.

The actual full manual is available on the product website.

How are you liking it? I just got one and am not pleased. Thinking about returning it.

@@spencerk.7424I have gradually found its limitations and my workarounds. I really like my Tascam DP-008 for recording on my own. It has just two inputs--assignable to any track--and can only record onto two tracks simultaneously. I got the R20 for recording my group; more inputs, more tracks to record at the same time, better for live capture of multiple musicians playing together, then being able to mix the separate tracks. I am keeping the R20 specifically for that purpose, because playing with a group is my real thing. At home on my own, I still prefer my Tascam. The real question is if it meets your own purposes.

Completely agree about Zoom needing to include more TRS inputs. Maybe an R30 soon? I'm on the fence between something like this R20, Maschine Plus, Akai Force or MPC Live 2. Or maybe the best of both worlds such as creating on Maschine Plus but tracking it on the R20. I play keys, synth, guitar, bass, and drums. I don't mind DAWs for editing & creating but I'm not a fan of mixing or mastering or EQing. Which do you suggest? So many options out there these days!

Why don't you use TRS to XLR convertor cables (or jacks) for the keyboard line level outputs and they can then go into any channel? Or DI to any channel without needing Hi-Z switches. If you want to ensemble record then use a couple of inexpensive DI boxes and hey presto - no limits.

you get latency when using external audio interfaces, on the mpc.....that sux

We didn't get into those two aspects in this video unfortunately, but yes, the R20 have 120 loops built in and also built in synth sounds you can use by plugging in a MIDI keyboard!

I have a drawer of those 1/4 to XLR transformer adaptors so that's not a problem at my house :)

Why couldn't you ?

lol cuz that’s the whole point of an r20

Pretty sure the R20 records the entire mix in one sound file to the SD card, not individual files split out on each track. It's a great idea you have here. Your current set-up sounds pretty tight and seems to work well for your application. If you wanted a recording and quick mix and export that same night, then the R20 could do that for you.

@@Pixelproaudio Well, I pulled the trigger on the Roland Studio Capture which I will use with an old HP laptop and Sony ACID. Yeah, I know, who uses ACID any more. It works and I know it. The fact that the Studio Capture interface is a ten year old design and still in production contributed to my decision. With 12 XLR ¼” combo inputs plus coax and trs for 16 tracks to record on DAW - and other design features like the independent channel selection of phantom power - I bought it. An 8 channel input box is just not quite enough to record a four piece ensemble if they all have vocal mics, instruments - keyboard stereo - that’s already nine. Throw in a drummer… Eight ¼ “ balanced outputs to go back in to the band’s mixer - let them keep their live mix. I’m just intercepting pristine, dry audio from the sources.

And...back it goes. I should have believed the bad reviews saying how noisy the Studio Capture is. Terrible buzz and hum. I don't get it

You can only save to the SD, not the other way. You could input your music into one of the inputs and then plug in a mic on the next track and record both at the same time.

@@Hellyaman I own the r8 and the r24 for years. You must be so miserable

So, I guess this is not for you then 🌞

@@philreid984 well it looks awesome for some one new to the zoom line or coming from an r8 or an r16. I will wait and see if they come up with a 24 track.

@@descargamusicalny That would be cool! I got this so I could be more portable and be able to bring tracks back to my desktop recording outfit where more tracks can be laid. Yes if this was my only way of recording, this would be lacking, for me but for some, it could be just enough.

@@philreid984 yes, same as you that is why I first got the r8 on the used market just to try it, then I picked up the r24, I use the r24 for video work, tutorials and so on. The r20 looks promising. I would love for roland to come up with an updated version of their vs multitrack recorders, those things were awesome.

What? Wow…so what’s the point of this device?

@@mont-doggBeats there are many other things that are usable features on the r20, you can record your mpc over analogue for example... but for me there were too many compromises with this device for my needs and i didn't keep it long.

You know, I've looked at this and what could be happening is, these come with a protective plastic screen on them when they ship. I still have mine on. I wonder if they didn't peel it off?

The touchscreen is a very cool aspect. We wouldn't say it's very unresponsive, but you have to be deliberate when it comes to pressing it. Probably to avoid unwanted edits or selections. The plastic covering was still on there when we demo'd it, but don't think that was causing any issues.

No it does not.

It can loop. However, the screen is not very responsive. The app is not ready yet and it 100% requires the app to fully function. It cannot search. No folders. Everything has to be in the root of the SD Card. I would wait till firmware updates and the app is available. I returned mine. I was way more impressed with the R24. The R20 is essentially Acid Pro in a box but 50% functional without the app. No drum kits. Only loops. Don't be fooled by the FM synth - 18 presets and no way to edit them or add to them. 1 MIDI track only. Just not ready yet.

It is an external power supply.

No, it's a few drum loops in there and they are not programmable.

@@philreid984 🙄

@@LacunaComanche Yep :( Still you could load your own loops in there. I got it more for live or multiple instrument to record so that wasn't an issue for me.

It's not just the size of the screen, it's the convenience of the touchscreen 😉

No not necessarily, it has some dynamics adjustments, so if you wanted to master you song, it should be within your DAW.

It really depends on the software or DAW you are running it into as it doesn't need computer access to run on it's own. It only uses a computer to act as an audio interface with a DAW on the computer or transferring files back and forth to the computer and the R20 and someday in the future with a firmware update, a surface controller for a DAW running on a computer.

We haven't been able to A/B directly to compare, but generally the Soundcraft product would be above the Zoom in terms of quality. However, the functionality of either unit is different and therefore one might have better value to you based on what you are try to do.

Another unfortunate problem is you can take one region and split it into two regions, but you cannot take two regions and join them into one. Very limiting

What do you want to plug into it? The xlr connectors are mic inputs, not line level.

this video is a joke. that mixer does not do half the stuff they say and who would buy a mixer for a drum machine sound that would probably never be used and it does not control any daw what so ever.

@@slumphouseent. What part is the lie, hip me please? I dig it doesn't have 8 1/4 combo jacks and no programmable drum machine or battery power and built in mics, like the earlier R series. A lot of folks miss those 1/4 combo jack cause they got a lot of 1/4 in. stuff to plug in. It's not good for that. 😖 😄 The surface controller for DAWs is supposed to come with a firmware update. It does work as an audio interface right now, I've used it.

@@philreid984 you cant control logic or ableton. if you are then make a vid and show the world

@@slumphouseent. I guess I missed the part where they said it worked with Logic or Ableton. I didn't hear them say that it would. I don't use those DAWs but the ones I have used with the R20 as an audio interface was Reaper, Cakewalk, Cubase, Adobe Audition so far .The firmware update to make the R20 useful as a surface controller hasn't been released yet so it doesn't work with any DAW right now like that, just as an audio interface right now. Besides my use for it was as a portable recorder away from my desktop-based studio. To capture live musicians in their environment then bring it back to manipulate in my desktop system, so my purpose and use for this unit is different than yours 😄 No problem, it didn't work for you and your purpose. Still to say they lied is harsh. The info on what the unit can and can't do was clear from the Zoom website. I'm glad you found a unit that worked for you though, Tascam I think 😄

@@fgerv i bought it when it first came out and it did not at that time but am in love with my tascam model 12. it seems to work like a champ for me.