Zoom R24

I`m a Recording Artist and a Solo Singer and I record with Backing Tracks. This Recorder Is the Best, Because of the sound and the added features that enhance youre voice. Its a bit complicated in getting it set up, but Just follow the instructions and theres enough videos on you tube to help you as it did with me. The Only downside and disadvantage to this is, you cant assign one vocal track to all the others.... I.E Tascam dp 24sd if you assign the vocals track to Input c, you can assign the other tracks to Input c. With the R 24 you cant do that and I have to change the Mic to each and every track, but apart from that, Its a superb Multitrack Recorder..

This is a brilliant multi-purpose tool that would find a home in any musician’s toolkit.
I’ve been a confirmed soundcard/DAW recorder for 15 years now, but was looking for either an 8-input portable audio interface (to record band demos) or a handy portable digital recorder for rough and ready gig recordings and hey presto I discovered this.
It’s an 8-in, 2-out audio interface with built in DAW control surface, as well as an 8-channel simultaneous (up to 24 in total) digital recorder with built in effects as well as a pair of built-in condenser mics. 48V Phantom power is available in 0-3 groups of 2 channels. Each pair of channels can be configured as 2xmono or 1 stereo pair and a Hi-Z input is available on channel 1.
It also comes with a copy of Cubase 6 LE AI Elements (i.e. a cut-down version of Cubase). IIRC, you are “limited” to 32 audio tracks and 48 midi tracks – more than I’ve ever used!
I’ve barely scratched the surface of what this can do yet, but so far:
Knocking out demos of song ideas using the built in condenser mics is quick and simple and the built-in mics are great.
I got a great recording of my band’s (Power-pop 3-piece) last gig using the built-in condensers.
With a 5-year old laptop (dual-core Pentium) and the included Cubase LE I managed to get 1.5 ms input latency and 5ms output latency (at 24-bit 96kHz), certainly unnoticeable on my test recordings of simultaneous guitar, (->VST dynamics -> Amp Simulator -> Reverb) and the inbuilt condenser mics (2 channels -> VST dynamics -> Reverb) and no dropouts.
I haven’t really bothered with the inbuilt mixing and effects. It took under 10 mins to transfer 2 ½ hours of dual mono mixes to my PC using the Zoom in Card Reader mode. However, the manual claims that there are all manner of insert effects and guitar amp/stomp box simulations and a couple of FX send busses. The FX can be recorded or used only for monitoring allowing you to change them later.
Also, and I haven’t explored this, in Audio Interface mode, you are supposed to be able to apply FX and create a monitor mix whilst still having the audio come in dry. In other words you can send an effected mix to the performer in zero-latency, but still have the dry recording to add FX to at your heart’s content later/
Sometimes the controls can be a little fiddly and counterintuitive, but mostly, once you’ve got the hang of it you get the “oh yeah – that’s how it works” moment.
I really can see many, many uses for this. I have a soundcard that has some better features, I have a control surface that has some better features, but this has some better features than both and is one device! Add to that it’s a portable recorder and already I can’t see how I lived without it before!
Next project: Export drum backing track to recorder. Record acoustic guitar in kitchen for nice echo. Carry to living room for drier vocal recording. Export back to Cubase to mixdown. Try and do that with your built-in soundcard!

I sold my various sound card / mixer / recorder devices and bought this all in one unit.
Its excellent and very versatile and integrates well with my PC.

this is how it fits my life style ! ..

[1] Its portable and can be used on batteries for away from studio recordings, like a thunder storm outside, my friends accoustic piano or even into the bathroom for re-amping or vocals [every room is now a potential studio !].
The internal mics are pretty good or you can attach 6 external mics with phantom +48.

[2] As a doodle pad in my studio - I put my synths through the mixer and if I come up with a good riff I can record it immediately so I dont forget. I can also play along to practice with a vocal or guitar track.
Its nice to play away from the computer screen ! The R24 is very easy to operate just like an old multitrack taperecorder.
24 tracks is oddles of tracks !

There are sepeate volume controls [round the back] for Hphone & outputs, so its easy to turn off the monitor outputs when recording accoustic stuff and using headphones.


[3] For serious composing sessions, the R24 is connected to my computer as the sound card and DAW controller.
Connecting over USB is very reliable [also when using to connect to the SD card over USB - I can connect/disconnect many times and never need to reboot because somthing has got confused].

I cant really fault this unit, Its great but some points to note -

Stand alone recording at 44.1 or 48kHz
effects only available at 44.1
No Midi DIN.