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Be ready to READ!!
By: bassybill55
Submitted: 10/24/2021
Product Rating
Product Review
I've enjoyed exploring the capabilities of this little unit, YouTube videos are helpful as well.
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Make sure you read the whole owners manual First!
By: Jeff W.
Submitted: 4/5/2021
2 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
The main feature I like about the Zoom R16 is how light and "not" bulky it is. I also like the idea that it uses an removable SD card for audio storage, not a permanent limited storage space. So far I haven't found anything I really dislike about it, but I've only had it since January and I've only been able to start recording my band with it for about the last month. It's good for making good basic recordings. I haven't used all of the features yet, but it does do exactly what I wanted it to do.
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Clean recordings
By: Dj Coke
Submitted: 3/4/2021
Product Review
I had to take a little course on you tube to figure it out but once that was done it was easy. Nice built in effects, pan features and smooth punch in capabilities. I only wish it had some 1/4 inch input . For the price, it is definitely worth it.
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Intuitive design
By: Bill
Submitted: 2/26/2021
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
This is far more intuitive for the average musician. Sounds good and provides a value that I haven’t seen in many of any other stand alone units. Great for people just beginning to learn about recording as well as someone who has much more experience and is looking for a super portable option.
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Great Price with Great Quality!
By: D. WGNZ
Submitted: 12/29/2020
3 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
This item is one of the best investments I’ve made musically.
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Good for beginners or pros
By: J.T.
Submitted: 7/3/2020
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
I am new to recording and wanted something that I could grow into so to speak. I like that it works well as a stand alone recorder , or you can interface it with your favorite recording software. The control feature let's you have physical faders when mixing. You can take it to rehearsal and use the built in mic's to record ideas on the fly. All in all a great little recorder.
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It's a nice toy
By: Alfonso A.
Submitted: 6/25/2020
3 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
it's a nice equipment, but won't bring out the quality expected. Sound card does not seem to be studio quality. It's a good beginners option but not great for advance recording.
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Workflow greatly improved
By: JOE MURRAY
Submitted: 6/5/2020
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
I was previously running a separate piece of gear for every task. This r16 does the work of all of those and more. I can record and mix without changing gear and then control my daw with minimal effort. Such a time saver and the sound quality is excellent. Thanks AMS for super fast shipping.
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Great price
By: Nickdawg
Submitted: 3/30/2020
4 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
More than I expected.the take anywhere feature is great!
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Ease of use
By: Larry
Submitted: 3/9/2020
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
Really simple to start recording. Within 20 minutes you can be laying down tracks. For and old guy, simplicity is the key. Being a song writer and guitarist this is great for practicing and creativity. Being portable and quick to set up means you can record any time at any location. Wish I would have had this 30 years ago. I will be purchasing a second one in the future.
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My gateway into computer recording
By: Matt Rogers
Submitted: 1/2/2020
2 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
Thanks to the R16, I have been gently and seamlessly guided into the world of DAW based recording. After years of hard disk recording, I was quickly able to record tracks to the R16 and open the files in the included Cubase software. This part is an ongoing learning process, but I'm really enjoying it. Thanks Zoom!!
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Compact ! High Quality & user friendly
By: WBeaumont
Submitted: 11/27/2019
11 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
This small but powerful is perfect for the amateur & professional engineer alike. 8 XLR inputs is amazing for Drums & your off to the races ..... I love it
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Big upgrade!!
By: Jesse
Submitted: 11/1/2019
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
I needed more inputs for recording and this thing absolutely did the trick! Have only recorded as many as 6 channels so far but it's been amazing. Has worked well as a standalone recorder and with the included Cubase software as an interface. Have had zero problems with it to date and it's been nothing short of amazing! Would highly recommend it to anyone!
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Great Alternative
By: Lonzenator
Submitted: 4/6/2019
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
To give an opinion of this piece of gear, begs some background. First, I come from the era of the tape-based Tascam and fostex 4 tracks. I have owned everything from purely analogue units to fully computer (mac and PC) based rigs. My favorite was the Fostex fd-8, back in the late 90s. After that I built a full 24 track rig with a large format mixing desk and an Alesis HD24. A couple years ago, I needed to down size, so I moved to strictly computer based. I still use the computer for VSTs and midi stuff, but this little rig has freed me up to just pull it out and start recording. Does it sound like my old focusrite pres, no, but it sounds really good. Does it match a mixing desk costing $$$K, no, but the sound is solid. I have found that it is easy to use. It is the closest thing I have found to that old Fostex unit. It has brought the fun back to recording my work. I dinged it a star because it lacks midi and even my 90s Fostex had that. I must say, I really like it.
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The mixer that works with my keyboards
By: Isaiah Cobb
Submitted: 4/5/2019
Product Review
Well I like this thing a lot, it does so much for me like the recording I'm able to on the dime quick setup and record my playing with two keyboards and my iPad running garage band Hammond organ sounds makes my mixes seamless without relying on another person. It also save my recordings for future use, plus the capability of interfacing with my laptop give me more than enough. I can also do quick recording of reshersal and adding my ax at any time. One thing that help the most is I'm able to loop my recordings while I'm doing something else in live situation such as church. Thank you zoom this is better than my 4 channel beherringer mixer many more user's friendly items I haven't yet tried in this unit but will soon need not to mention 16 channels and stereo capabilities my goodness good unit made for us musicians
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Love it.
By: Big E
Submitted: 10/24/2018
2 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
I took a break from DAW to back to simple recording. AmS made it affordable to get the gear I need.
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A little beast!
By: Josh J
Submitted: 6/5/2017
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
This thing is amazing. I bought it to track beats out of my MPC 2000XL's 8 outputs and maintain timing. Now I can track 8 at once in 24 bit right to the until, and transferring files to the computer from the sd card is as easy as it should be. This solved all my problems and is fun to use. My only complaint is this until, like all the other multitracks these days, have no midi. I can be creative and track a beat out in one pass, but with midi it really adds a lot of function as far as adding things later, and more flexible all around. But, I knew that before I purchased, just wish they still utilized it. Thing can run on batteries too, pretty cool. I can't comment on it as an interface yet, but I do plan on trying it. But right now, I'd rather just just record right to the unit anyways. Awesome product.
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Does what it says
By: Eric Marshall
Submitted: 11/8/2016
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
I purchased the unit strictly as a daw controller to expand my inputs. It's important to note that the units can NOT daisy-chain, like certain other controllers, but can work together with the help of a free asio program available on the web. The system is slightly quirky as far as startup, and one should only use the first unit as a controller, as they tend to argue over which channels to control. Together though, they did add eight inputs to the system, and have been working all sixteen seamlessly on an album project.
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8 Track mixer, with all the frosting...
By: Drew
Submitted: 1/26/2016
2 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
Looking for a solid mixer, I landed upon this bit of kit here, and it delivers quite the length more. * 8 inputs, 1/4" cords or all XLR inputs, plug it in.
I wanted something for that "live" momentum, so I've not really dealt with the DAW side of it, but it records the tracks splendidly. Which can then be transferred off the SD-Card digitally.
Any "cons" would be that it takes a lot of amps to Volume this, at the start, I felt like I was MaXing all volumes; I've since gone away from computer speakers (headphone out) to real monitors (1/4" output)...and that made the difference.
This is a mixer... all the extra stuff, recording+DAW is a splendid plus. I've got guitar, synth, mic, drum machine, Nintendo DS Etc, running into this mixer and I always press record before jamming about...with no doubt; this is what I needed.
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8 tracks live and so much more
By: BB Ready
Submitted: 4/3/2014
4 people found this review helpful.
Your general opinion of this product.
I bought this unit to enter into the world of digital recording. Luckily it records all by itself without the DAW software. The learning curve for interfacing the R16 and using the DAW is a little steep for me. For now I can use it stand alone. I like that.
Seems very light weight. Good for portability, not so good if it gets pulled off the desk by an inserted cable. Have to keep eyes on that! Combo input jacks seem light weight, I guess time will tell.
As a stand alone recorder it was easy to start multi tracking immediately. I'm going to deal with the learning curve on the R16, then deal with the DAW. The manual is helpful for the recorder, not so much for interfacing with the DAW.
8 track simultaneous recording. I would make the thing heavier (metal case).
Recording sounds good. Amp models for guitar are ok for scratch tracks, I'll record my amp with a mic thank you very much!
Remains to be seen.
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Amazing!!
By: Ray - RDG
Submitted: 8/23/2013
3 people found this review helpful.
Your general opinion of this product.
Out of box straight to rehearsal. Tracked guitar in stereo, bass direct, and four mics on kit (kick, snare, & stereo overheads). Amazing! Super clean, really simple.
Great quality... light as a feather, but solid!
Still learning the menus, but all in all it's a snap to get up and recording.
Being able to record and mix 8 tracks at a time is awesome!
Clean
So far so good!
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JUST DON"T KNOW YET
By: ANTHONY BLACKMON
Submitted: 8/1/2013
2 people found this review helpful.
Your general opinion of this product.
I've had it approx. 28 days and I don't understand it enough to make a fair honest accessment .i'm from the Jurassic period (analog age) and this is a complete 360. lot of tech stuff I have no clue . the operational manual is not much help at this time .I actually learn more from you tube . the more I work with the recorder the better I get .
its very light . plastic shell . to early to comment on how dependable it is .
just saying for me . its very difficult at this time . I will get better on it . I didn't learn to play guitar overnight and this is my attitude on the Zoom 16.
this recorder does so many things . I couldn't begin to pick a best feature with what little knowledge I have of digital recording .
I've recorded two songs only using 6 tracks and the sound was good. ( instrumentals )
I've had it 28 days . and its still working .
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Value, Value and Value.
By: dwCrooner from San Jose, CA, USA
Submitted: 6/20/2011
I like Zoom products. I've owned a Zoom A2 acoustic guitar pedal for a few years and love it. You can hear what I've done using the Zoom R16 on my HD format music videos at my YouTube channel "dwCrooner". You can hear an MP3 file in 320kbps originally recorded in wave format on the R16 at SoGoStage.com in their Audio section. The song title is "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" by dwCrooner.
This device is about getting studio quality sound from the clear channel default settings. The many whistles and bells don't really add a lot of value to the end result.
All I did was to carefully read the manual, make a few notes in the manual in my own words to clarify concepts for future reference and then create my first simple three track song. Everything worked exactly as represented. My second recording was ten tracks.
This is its true strength. I'm just blown away by it. My 1970 Gibson J45 with a Rare Earth pickup has NEVER sounded so good. It does just as good with vocals, too.
I've only had it for about six weeks at the writing of this review. However, it seems to be well built.
Your general opinion of this product.
A steal at $400. I wouldn't take $400 for mine now. If you go to a reputable recording studio to do an audio CD you're probably going to spend over $10,000 there before you're done.
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You get out what you put in!
By: Jeff Bigger from Hinsdale, IL, USA
Submitted: 4/8/2011
When I first saw this unit I was amazed at how small and light it was. So I was initially a little skeptical. But the sliders work fine for 45mm sliders and the input and output jacks seem top quality. So far the electronics have also been 100% so at least short-term I'm very satisfied with the unit.
There's really not one feature that stands out in my mind besides the recording quality this unit has.
The fact that you're recording to an SDHC card and not a hard drive is nice because if you eliminate the noise floor in your studio, you're there.
I'm a guitarist/vocalist who has been given the task of recording engineer and so I was a little nervous at first. But as I started to record with this unit I was immediately impressed with how intuitive it is once you master the basic operating strategy. The manual was very good on most topics and I'm also learning as I go. But it's a lot of fun so I don't mind at all.
Like the title of the review says: You get out what you put in. It's very accurate in terms of overall sound reproduction.
I've had it for a month now and no problems so far.
Your general opinion of this product.
My overall opinion of this device is extremely favorable.
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Great Recorder
By: AMH from Eastern Kentucky
Submitted: 8/31/2010
So far so good.
I love being able to record 8 tracks simultaneously. The effects aren't the best but I have seen worse. The built in condensor mics or ok. I really like being able to transfer the tracks to my pc and mix them with a daw. And I have used it as interface as well and am very pleased with the results.
I started recording with the R16 immediately but it took me a while to learn how use the other functions. I'm still learning everytime I record.
The sound is very good and accurate.
So far so good.
Your general opinion of this product.
I have used the R16 quite regularly since I bought it in March 2010 and I am very pleased with the results I get everytime. This is a very good recorder.
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great!
By: Doc from Roseburg, Oregon
Submitted: 8/9/2010
Yes, looks and feels good.
I like the amount of time available to record on SDHC. Also battery operation.
Very easy to use
So far no problems.
Your general opinion of this product.
Now that I am actively using this I love it. Very easy to carry and set up at gigs.
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I love this unit
By: Anthony Quentin Bates from Las Vegas, Nevada USA
Submitted: 7/28/2010
1 person found this review helpful.
Yes. at first I had a problem with the plastic housing but, after I started recording, I got past taht fact.
The ability to record anywhere. The versitility of this unit is unbelievable.
Out of the box I was up and running in practically no time.
The sound is accurate. My test recordings were as true as if I were playing live.
very reliable
Your general opinion of this product.
It can do a lot of good things given the right conditions.
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NICE!
By: from
Submitted: 7/28/2010
Only time will tell.
Got 13 years out of my last recorder before the sliders and pots started failing, and it cost 3 times the price of this one.
If it lasts 5 years I will be pleased.
Would be nice to also have 8 outs, but for the price it does what I need.
If you have used a multi-track, it's not hard to figure out.
Supremely clean.
What comes out is exactly what went in.
Too soon to tell.
Your general opinion of this product.
Exactly what I was looking for to replace my old Fostex DMT-8VL (except for the multitude of outs), very portable, and doesn't have the noise of the HD spinning that was the bane of the Fostex.
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As a DAW Interface Forget it.
By: Bob in NJ from NJ, USA
Submitted: 7/1/2010
Too soon to tell
As a recorder, downloading the wav file via USB to a PC, and then using Cubase or any other audio software to master the tracks, this unit is superb. Even if I had gotten it to work as a DAW interface, the latency of 12 to 24 ms and the inability to use the built in insert effect with the DAW would have prevented me from using it as an interface to record on the PC with Cubase or any other DAW software.
This is just a review of the Daw feature. After 2 hours installing the driver and Cubase, could not get this to work as a computer interface with the Cubase LE4 on my 1.6Ghz PC with 1.2GB of Ram and an integrated sound card.
Superb.
Too soon to tell.
Your general opinion of this product.
Great recorder. I like the sound, the insert effectand ability to record 8 tracks simultaneously at 44.1Khz
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Great Sound
By: Bob in NJ from NJ, USA
Submitted: 6/24/2010
Hope so.
The sound, recording multiple tracks at once, the insert effect preamps models.
I have owned Zoom MRS 1044 for several years, so there was a very quick learning curve.
Great tone.
Only had it a month. It came without the Cubase DAW software and I called AMS on 6/5, 6/10, 6/17, and 6/22. AMS told me it was mailed on 6/11, then said it was mailed on 6/18. Still no software. I gave up and called Zoom
directly on 6/24. Maybe now I will get my software.
Your general opinion of this product.
I don't see how you can beat this for the price. I bought the scratch and dent and got $100 off as well.
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Crystal Clear Recording
By: Jim
Submitted: 5/27/2010
1 person found this review helpful.
I agree with other reviews that the plastic case is kinda scary, but it should be fine.
I like the removable SD card but I also like the fact that once you set your EQ's and other settings, you can recall them from your previous recording. Perfect for recording my band!
This is fairly easy to use and figure out.
You can set the tone any way you like, I think it's great.
Haven't had it very long, but I don't forsee any problems.
Your general opinion of this product.
So far so good. Everyone comments on the crystal clear recording.
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Love It!
By: Ron from Richton, MS, USA
Submitted: 4/8/2010
The plastic is worrisome but I was worried about my zoom H4 being sturdy enough and It's been going strong for 3yrs now. I won't know how dependable till I've had it a while.
The best feature is the SD card memory vs. hard drive and with 8 simultaneous tracks to record with a live recording a small band is a breeze. It would be nice if it had the RT-223 drum machine built in.
Zoom makes the most user friendly products. I had it up and running in minutes and within an hour had recorded and overdubded a simple instrumental.
If you keep your levels out of the red and record everything flat (eq) it sound just like what you recorded. I don't know a lot abou 16v24bit res. and all that. It sounds awesome to me. It's only rock n roll any way right?
I've only had it a couple of weeks, but believe me it will be tested. I play with two bands and it'll get lugged around to every show and practice.
Your general opinion of this product.
Light weight and portable, runs on batteries or DC, may be a little fragile, we'll see. The white plastic body is attractive but might tend to look a little dirty after being used a while. Dark gray or silver would not show the dingy's as bad.
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R16 - a very portable recording studio
By: Uncle Willie from Cross Junction, Virginia
Submitted: 12/28/2009
1 person found this review helpful.
Appears well-made, sturdy plastic case. Lightweight and portable. The user interface is intuitive and well designed. Input jacks and controls are reasonably durable.
The internal effects chain is applicable as channel input, or a track insert, or as a send/return, or as a mastering effect. There is no external send/return. Individual channels must be recorded wet if individual track effects are desired although it appears possible to solo a track through external effects to another track, and mix the two later. I haven’t tried it yet. This is not a problem if you intend to offload individual “dry” tracks to your computer for further editing and mastering, possibly using the enclosed Cubase software. Ability to record up to eight tracks is a real plus even if you are overlaying your instruments. For example, recording your stereo drum machine, guitar and vocal in one take (four tracks) is a lot easier than doing it in multiple overlays.
I would have preferred individual pan and EQ knobs, but the EQ button menu is relatively easy to use. The up/down buttons cycles through the pan, hi, mid, low, reverb and chorus sends, the track buttons select the track affected, and the knob adjusts the value which shows up in the window.
The 44kHz/16bit 1141kbps PCM (.wav file) encoding complies with online publishing requirements. Reproduction is near 100% faithful IMO.
SD cards are relatively shock proof and removable. They can be replaced if damaged, and allow archiving of projects offline. Track and master files can also be archived or offloaded via USB and can be dragged-and-dropped using windows explorer.
Your general opinion of this product.
Despite the effects limitations, this is a great little portable recording studio. I used it both as a mastering recorder and a multitrack for my latest online album. It’s portable enough to record your band on site or to take along anywhere to mix down tracks. This is the future of sound recording. Buy one!