Zoom R16 - The Fray, Snow-Patrolish sounding test song

[Streetyify]

I like how you got some depth in this recording- alot of home stuff can sound a bit flat

[here2Bunknown]

Well that's a shame... The purpose for this unit was mainly so I could take it to practice and gigs and record into it directly so I can keep tracks separate. Ideally I'd record them all dry and play with effects later, but there's no way to do that and also use the effects on our PA (without running the effects on everything). Guess I won't set my hopes too high but I'm not super optimistic. Thanks for the input!

[NastyNatey]

@here2Bunknown I think the R16 can do what you want it to do. You could place it right before your PA in the signal chain..

[here2Bunknown]

@NastyNatey I should have specified that I only really cared about the reverb and chorus.I used it last night at practice and I'm content with those effects. Anything more than that I would probably do afterwards in a DAW.

[NastyNatey]

@here2Bunknown Glad to hear it worked out.

[here2Bunknown]

@NastyNatey Thanks. It took some tuning of the reverb and some chorus and EQing, but it's all pretty easy. Now I just need to see that it'll work with my laptop alright. It's got an AMD processor and that caused an error when I tried to install the drivers the first time. My desktop worked fine, but that's got an intel processor. You should post some more stuff. In addition to the demonstration of the R16, I liked what you did with this.

[NastyNatey]

@here2Bunknown Thanks, man! I didn't have much luck using the unit as a DAW interface with my computer. I tried recording a Cocktail Kit (3 inputs) and each input was way out of timing..I ended up buying a Presonus Firestudio Mobile and did away with the Zoom.. Let me know if it works for you.

[here2Bunknown]

@NastyNatey I've been using all 8 inputs for everything I've been doing so far. My drum mic setup isn't working out well but I'm using dynamic mics so although I haven't noticed any timing issues, it could be because I can't hear the drums well enough yet. I'm very disappointed that it looks like the mastering doesn't work the way the manual says- you can't just go back to a marker and fix a short section of a track. I have been using it successfully with reaper, but no luck in sonar X1 yet.

[here2Bunknown]

This is the best demonstration of the recording quality and effects that I've heard for this- thanks. I ordered one of these yesterday and was pretty concerned about the effects quality. I still need to hear the reverb on vocals (which will cause it to be returned if it sucks) but the effects you used and your final mix here is good quality.

[NastyNatey]

@here2Bunknown Honestly, I found the effects of this unit really cheesy. However, you can take this unit on batteries to a church or large hall, and record something with real reverb effortlessly...which is better then a bulky expensive rig.

[sommersmcc]

nice song-nice recording!

[hallster101]

how do you access the guitar effects?

[meadish]

Love the result. Do you know if it's possible to run a guitar through an analog stomp box straight into the Hi Z input on the R16 and get a decent results. I keep failing...

[NastyNatey]

@meadish Are you getting alot of buzz? I think the R16 has a gate/limiter in it`s effects, but i`m not sure if it`s adjustable and if it would make a difference if there is a great deal of buzz.

[meadish]

@NastyNatey Yeah, it is buzz, or just "unwanted" ugly distortion type noise. I will fiddle with the gate/limiter, thanks for the tip. It's part of the Insert Effects, right?

[NastyNatey]

@meadish A gate/limiter at the end of of your signal chain before the Zoom would be a wise investment, if the gate/limiter effect on the Zoom doesn`t pan out. Multi-tracking with that buzzing noise can be crappy and annoying. Even room ambience can double and become immense with mutiple overlapped tracks.

[NastyNatey]

i don`t mess much with the effects on the Zoom anymore..they should be in the insert effects, grouped in with all the mastering effects. I myself have been recording with a mic`d up 5 watt tube amp, the thing puts out tons o` hum and buzz...when I record drums, the mutiple microphones pick up the refridgerator and my roommate`s dog barking. I use the computer to do all the Gate/limiting and mastering..its easier...

[meadish]

@NastyNatey Thanks, it helps to hear about your findings. To explain more in detail what I tried to do, I am part of a duo, I sing and play guitar, the other guy sings and plays drums. We found it difficult to get the harmony singing right with the regular gear, but when we route the microphones through the Zoom and put on headphones it is much easier to hear what the other guy is doing to make sure the harmonies work. When I tried to connect the guitar straight to the Zoom is when I discovered

[meadish]

@meadish ...these problems. Basically all the stomp boxes sound bad, in particular the stomp box distortion effect sounds 'digital' and ugly, unlike when it is plugged into the amp when it sounds organic and warm. I'm picking up a number of mikes soon and hope that a miked up amp will sound better but I am thinking there should also be a way to fix the signal path even when not running via a miked up amp. Got a suggestion for what limiter/gate effect box early in the chain (not too high budget)?

[NastyNatey]

@meadish My friend uses a POD amp modeler/guitar effect unit to achieve a good sound without an amp. Analog stomp boxes sound their best when used with an amp to beef them up. Its your choice. A shure sm57 mic`ing a good amp with analog stompboxes is superior, in my honest opinion.. Its got soull!

[Claudemorelle]

sounds very clear, definately buying one of these.

[badger5000]

Awesome!

Took forever to load compared to your other videos for some reason, probably youtube.

Please tell me your piano set-up

[NastyNatey]

@badger5000 Thanks for your positive comment! I use an Maudio USB keyboard, the piano was done in FLStudio using Pianoteq. It is a bit pricey, but it is the best out there outside of using a real piano.

[spacepartysan]

this is very sweet!!