This looks interesting!



Zoom R20: 16-track portable multi-track recorder with touchscreen

It would be better if all 8 inputs were on Combi Jacks

And if it had 8 outputs

What would be really awesome would be a a simple 16 in and 16 out digital recorder that records to SD cards and would work with any analog mixer

Should be simple to make and would sell very well. Think of it as a 2021 version of ADAT

And it should have at least one stereo send-return! Ahhh they miss send-return again!!

Agreed - bummer that all of the inputs aren't the combo XLR/TRS jacks. That would otherwise be a really attractive mixer/recorder for lots of hardware synths and drum machines.

Perhaps the USB-c can offer Midi I/O… but yeah too bad no built-in Midi DIN .
When the official specs are released maybe we’ll know and also if USB Midi is something that can be added later via firmware update if not included at launch.

Ok, it gets more interesting. I found this article that says yes, it does have USB MiDi

https://www.synthanatomy.com/2021/11...-recorder.html

The writer laments the 44.1k sample rate but perhaps this too can be upped to 48k or higher via firmware.

I sort of understand why no send/returns (no need for cue mixes, and it has built in effects), but it's still painful when you want to use just a couple outboard effects.

Don't get this critics. This will be a successor to the old R-series, will be very small and dirt cheap for what it offers. Those who want more, can get a Tascam Model series or Zoom Livetrak.

I just want combo jacks. The no sends/returns thing is because its a relatively small add on that makes it much more versatile. It's not that complicated.

Saying 'it's going to be cheap' doesn't really help anyone. It can be cheap but it only has two 1/4" jacks, which makes it a lot less convenient. I have a zoom handheld recorder with more combo jacks.

The old R series had combo jacks on all the inputs

The problem with the Zoom Livetrack and the Tascam Model series, is that as actual mixers they pretty much suck

That's why it would be cool if someone made a simple digital recorder with say 16 inputs and 16 outputs, that way you could use it with any analog mixer you wanted

Japanese website is now live:

https://zoomcorp.com/ja/jp/digital-m...recorders/r20/

Looks interesting to me but that 44.1k limit is frustrating. Please Zoom, consider enabling a 48K mode even if it means cutting down track count a bit.

I love the Model 12 as a mixer and recorder. And I don't see any halfway affordable quality mixers on the market with 16 inputs. I own the SSL SiX, but this is a four channel mixer for 1.400,-. Although it has much more to offer...
But doesn't the Midas XR18 comes close to what you want? O.K. not 16 outputs, but 6 aux busses.

User Manual (Japanese) is up and reading through it seems pretty cool . It features a drum machine, synth engine, and tons of FX from the G6 unit. It can render the synth parts and Export stems for DAW mixing.

Priced right I’m sure Zoom will sell buckets of these.

https://zoomcorp.com/media/documents/J_R20.pdf

Can you not just use a different cable?... TS to male XLR:
https://www.thomann.de/gb/the_sssnak...audiokabel.htm
https://www.thomann.de/gb/the_sssnak...audiokabel.htm

That's what I've done, with my Zoom H8 (only has 2x combi).

I'm a bit miffed that Zoom are focussed on bringing new products to market, when the promised EHX-8 is now a year later than promised, leaving the H8 unable to achieve the quoted input spec.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...capsule-for-h8

They are selling the H8 as '12 channels':
https://zoomcorp.com/en/de/handheld-...-recorders/h8/
... But that's BS until they finally deliver on the EHX-8.

I could but its just more stuff I have to buy that makes this less valuable.

Correct: I fully expect the item *is* less valuable because of this design decision. So if we imagine it would be, say, £20 more expensive with combis, then you can use that £20 discount you are getting to purchase a few cables at £2.80 each and then you're evens.

The mainstream of users, presumably micing up drum kits and guitar amps, needn't pay that extra.

Everyone's a winner?

Just to add that I do actually agree with you. I'd far rather have combis [even if that added a bit to the cost]... But the problem is quite easily overcome.

weird naming... nothing relates to '20'

2 combi inputs
8 inputs overall
16 tracks on sd card

price should be quite low as it's a bare bones layout that relies on a touch screen
£299?

The issues with the Tascam Model Series is they are supposed to be a mixer that can also record, but they fail as an actual mixer. You get very very limited insert points so you are very limited in the use of outboard, they don't offer direct outs, and they don't offer many aux sends or even sub groups

That makes creating headphone mixes or monitor mixers difficult, things that are important if you tracking multiple musicians which is why you need 12 inputs

There are plenty of small affordable mixers that offer inserts, direct outs, sub groups, and aux sends in the sub $600 space. Mackie, Yamaha, and Beringer to name a few

I currently use a Beringer X32 for complex tracking, with the X-Live Card installed I can record up to 32 tracks at once direct to SD cards, or go USB to my DAW

I also run a Tascam DP-32 but I feed that from a separate Analog Mixer feeding with Sub Groups/Busses from the mixer

i just need to learn to read japanese....

zoom has many many fx in other units..i'd expect a ton of FX inside it.

Are those going to be better than vintage Lexicons or OTO BAM?

Q.how many people with a £1500 s/h lexicon are looking to plug it into a budget mixer that will probably retail for £299.?



A .. not many!

The previous R series told the audio to "enter in rear" instead of through the top panel, so they could use combo jacks for all and still keep a low profile.

The L series has 5 headphones outs, and you can use them as sends. The R series is more basic.

MIDI was a forgotten casualty of y2k. It may have also kicked someone's dog, or offended the wrong person in the industry. I'm glad it's finally worked its way back to at least a seat on the USB bus. Maybe by the next generation it'll have its very own socket again. ABBA has a new album.

Well this is recorder first of all.
I am joking about Lexicon 224 https://reverb.com/p/lexicon-224xl-d..._source=google but if this thing relies mostly on onboard effects, it's important to know the quality of these effects, where do they stand compared to average pedals, etc.

zoom have a great history of fx, maybe not quite lexicon but pretty darn good roland or such quality

Sadly reading the Midi specs it looks like the Midi implementation is for a Midi Keyboard Input only in order to record midi notes for the Synth engine and does not offer any Midi Clock I/O. This makes me have a sad.

Why oh why the open hostility to Midi Clock on modern multitracks? Do these guys really want to piss off electronic music buyers on purpose? Why intentionally limit your market to just guitar based artists? Surely enabling USB Midi Clock means an hour of coding at most right?

Midi Clock - Tascam Model 12

I just thought that your statement that the Model 12 "fails as an actual mixer" is inedequate. It is a great mixer and recorder, esp. for the money. It just doesn't offer what you want. "Failed" sounds like it has an intolerable low sound quality or doesn't do well, what it is supposed to do.

"That makes creating headphone mixes or monitor mixers difficult, things that are important if you tracking multiple musicians which is why you need 12 inputs "


The Zoom Livtrak series offers up to 6 independant monitor mixes, that is kind of its unique selling point.
I prefer the Tascam, because I don't need this feature and I like the Tascam for having all controls of all channels at hands all the time.

For small bands the Tascam is a great live mixer. I use the sub-out and/or one of the aux busses as a monitor. If you're playing with many musicians at a large stage, where everyone needs a monitor besides his amp, you definetely would use something else or simply have a house PA with a mixing engineer.

The Mackie, Yamaha and Behringer mixers under 600,- I have experienced offer less sound quality than the Tascam, although I have to admit I only now the current Yamaha MG line and don't like it. The Behringers and Mackies I have experienced or owned are at least 10 years old.