Topic: Zoom R-16

[saysiadog]

http://musicianstools.wordpress.com/2009/01/26/zoom-r16-coming-soon/

What do you guys think of this?  $399 looks to be the retail price.  Not bad!

[illconditioned]

http://musicianstools.wordpress.com/2009/01/26/zoom-r16-coming-soon/

What do you guys think of this?  $399 looks to be the retail price.  Not bad!

Wow.  That looks perfect.  I'm thinking this would be good for ambisonic/surround recording too.

  Richard

[flintstone]

Interesting.  Maybe I don't need that Sound Devices 788t after all...

Zoom R16
    * 8 balanced combination XLR / 1/4-inch microphone inputs
    * 48V phantom power on 2 channels.
    * 1 Hi-Z input for direct connection of guitar or bass
    * Built-in stereo condenser microphones
    * 24-bit/48kHz linear PCM recording in WAV format
    * supports SDHC cards up to 32GB
    * Battery operation for remote recording
    * Professional quality mastering effects, multi-band compressor, normalizer and more
    * Connect 2x R16s via USB for synchronized operation and 16 tracks of simultaneous recording capability.
    * MSRP $399
 

[cybergaloot]

Interesting. For $399 you have to wonder if the preamps will be any good. It would be nice it they had phantom power on more than two channels but what do you expect for this kind of money? The ability to use it as a control surface is interesting. We'll just have to see what the drawbacks are once the "gee wow" factor has worn off. I wish I could fine find some decent pictures. What's the power input for example?

[tfs8271]

Gee wow 

[Ozpeter]

Phantom on 2 channels only?  Thank you and good night, I'll stick with my D888.  That will chop off a goodly hunk of the potential market.  But for anyone who doesn't need fully featured mic inputs it's obviously very attractive.

As for preamp quality - it seems to me that these days you have to work pretty hard to produce a downright bad mic preamp even in a low cost device.   I'd be more concerned over general build and component robustness quality when the price is so low.

[saysiadog]

Phantom power is actually on 4 channels the way I read it...or I should say saw it.  Phantom power is on channels 5,6,7, and 8.

http://zoomforum.us/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=12765

Click on the link and look at the pictures "Lee" posted.  Zoom in on the one beginning with, "This picture shows the..." and you'll see this.  Keep in mind I'm only going from the picture as there isn't that much info available yet.  Still...looks interesting!

What doesn't make sense to me is why they would put mics on this kind of machine.  I wonder if they have a stand adapter for this one?

[cybergaloot]

Yep, it does look like phantom power on four channels switched on in pairs. Odd that their description doesn't point that out. I also see 5V 1A for power input. It also looks like the meters are four segment LEDs. It might make a fun toy but certainly doesn't look like a work horse.

[flintstone]

http://audiopalace.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/dsc00044.jpg

in this photo, the switch above channels 5 and 6 is labeled "phantom on/off"
and the switch above channels 7 and 8 is labeled "Mic," which I think refers
to the built in mics.  So I'd say only one XLR pair can be fed phantom power.

The blurry photo of the rear shows a power input labeled 5V 1A, so external
battery power should be no problem.

Flintstone

[saysiadog]

Flintstone you are indeed right...my bad!  My mind was playin' tricks on me!  I really wanted it to be there!  That changes my thoughts about this unit almost completely.

[Nick's Picks]

the preamps will blow.
BUT...

that doesn't mean this can't be made to sound good...or be used w/any preamp in front of it.
very cool little deck.  Perfect for many of my newer recording projects that require more than 4chan.

[heyitsmejess]

what sounds good to me is the ability to chain 2 together.

i am not now, nor ever will be (more than likely) a professional,  but this would easily give me 16/32 channels to play with at an affordable price.