Zoom R8 8 Track Digital Multi Recorder USB Audio Interface Controller
Multitrack recording has never been easier
The R8 provides eight tracks for recording and playback (up to two tracks can be recorded simultaneously) in full fidelity WAV format, making it ideal for both professional production and for use as a musical sketchpad. Battery operation allows for field recording and enables you to capture your musical ideas quickly. You can connect external microphones or line-level sources directly to the R8, or use the built-in stereo mic pair for minimal setup. You can also plug instruments such as electric guitar or bass right into the R8. When your multitrack recording is complete, you can use the R8’s internal mixer, complete with real faders, equalization, panning, and over 140 built-in DSP effects—including amp models and mastering effects like multi-band compression—to create a stereo mix with studio-quality sound.
Zoom R8 Recorder : Interface : Controller : Sampler –
Create music any way you like
The R8 is a pad sampler and rhythm machine too. Eight velocity-sensitive pads allow the triggering of up to 24 samples, drum sounds, or loops. Over 500 internal loops and drum patterns are provided, along with a 2 GB SD card which contains 500MB of loops and patterns from Big Fish Audio.
In addition, you can create your own custom samples and loops from recorded audio tracks. Quantization and time-stretching can be applied to ensure perfect synchronization. Three playback modes are available for each pad (Repeat, Gate, and 1Shot), and the onboard audio sequencer allows step entry when absolute precision is required.
Best of all, the R8’s multitrack recorder is fully integrated with the pad sampler and rhythm machine, allowing a wide variety of production styles to be accommodated. However you choose to build your productions, you’ll find the R8 to be the ultimate creative tool.
Control your DAW
If you use DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software, you probably love mixing in the box but hate mixing with a mouse. The R8’s Mackie Control™ emulation enables it to act as a full-featured control surface for popular DAWs such as Cubase, Logic, Ableton Live, and Sonar, adding physical faders and transport/status buttons that streamline the process of creating the perfect mix. In addition, five assignable function keys allow you to set marker points and initiate advanced editing operations.
Advanced features
The R8 provides dual inputs on combo connectors which can accept either XLR or ¼” balanced or unbalanced cables. Both can handle mic- and line-level signals, and Input 1 can also handle instrument-level signals from passive or active electric guitars and basses. Phantom power of +24 or +48 volts can be applied to both inputs, allowing the use of external condenser microphones. There are also dual balanced ¼” TRS output jacks and a headphone output with a dedicated volume control.
Over 140 studio-quality DSP effects are provided. These include insert effects such as equalization/dynamics processing and send-return effects such as reverb and chorus/delay. In addition, there are guitar amp, bass amp, and mic preamp models and effects specially designed for use on vocals and stereo instruments such as electronic keyboards, plus mastering algorithms like multi-band compression. Effects can be applied during recording and mixdown, or can be used for playback only.
A USB port allows the R8 to send and receive digital data and to act as an 2-input/2-output interface for DAWs such as the included Cubase LE. When operating at a sampling frequency of 44.1kHz, input signal can be routed through the R8’s onboard DSP effects.
Just 4 AA batteries—either alkaline or rechargeable NiMH—are required for power. Battery life when using alkaline batteries is more than 5 hours, even during continuous recording. Alternatively, you can use the included AD-17 AC adapter, which allows you to power the R8 from any standard wall socket. The R8 can also be powered via USB when connected to a computer.
The R8 records directly to SD cards, with support for both standard SD and SDHC cards up to 32 gigabytes, for a maximum of 100 track hours. Using SD media for recording ensures increased reliability and means that you never have to be concerned about hard drive failure.
State of the art editing with every multi-track recorder
The Zoom R8 comes with a free download license for Sternberg’s Cubase LE music production software, providing not just the ability to capture incredible audio in every box, but to do spectacular things with them.
Take your recordings to a more professional level. Steinberg’s powerful and state-of-the-art audio software used by creators around the world now comes with every Zoom R24, R16, and R8 purchase.
Currently includes:
Cubase LE8 for Mac OS X 10.9/10.10 and Windows 7/8/8.1
For information on license activation and upgrades, visit our Steinberg Software support page.
Features at a glance
8-track playback, 2-track simultaneous recording
Built-in stereo condenser microphones
Records directly to SD and SDHC cards up to 32 GB
Records 16-bit/24-bit, 44.1 kHz/48 kHz mono and stereo WAV files
Dual mic/line/instrument level inputs on XLR/TRS combo connectors
+24 and +48V phantom power
Dual balanced ¼” TRS output jacks
Headphone output with dedicated volume control
Control input for foot switch start/stop/rewind, punch-in/out, and patch up/down
Built-in metronome and chromatic tuner
Over 140 send-return and insert DSP effects, including amp/preamp models and mastering algorithms
User editing of effects parameters, with 370 patch memories for storage
Independent level, pan, and EQ for each track
Internal track bouncing and mixdown of multitrack to stereo
Flexible overdubbing and both manual and automatic punch-in/out
Loop playback with waveform zoom and user-defined start/stop points
Variable playback speed from 50% to 150%, without affecting pitch
Up to 100 marks per recording
Invert track phase function
Trim and Divide file editing
8-voice pad sampler with adjustable sensitivity
Rhythm machine with 160 drum and percussion sounds
Storage for 100 user-created rhythm patterns of up to 100 bars each
Manual play or step entry of rhythm patterns with adjustable quantization
Loop-based audio sequencer integrates recorder, rhythm machine, and pad sampler
Backlit LCD with contrast control for easy viewing in low-light environments
2-in/2-out USB audio interface for PC/Mac computers
High-definition 24-bit/96 kHz playback capability with DAW software
Control Surface functionality (Mackie Control emulation)
Full mixing and transport controls for Cubase, Logic, Ableton Live, and other DAWs
USB bus power
SD card reader function
Runs on 4 AA batteries, with alkaline battery life of more than 5 hours
AC adapter included
Steinberg Cubase LE DAW software included
Accessories
Here’s what comes included with the R8:
Operation manual
AC adapter (Zoom AD-17)
2GB SD card containing 500MB of drum loops from Big Fish Audio
USB cable
Steinberg Cubase LE software
Optional accessories
FS01 foot switch
SPECS
RECORDER
Track count:
8 (mono)
Maximum number of simultaneous recording tracks:
2
Maximum number of simultaneous playback tracks:
8 audio + metronome
Recording data format:
44.1 / 48 kHz, 16 / 24-bit WAV format
Maximum recording time:
200 minutes/1 GB (44.1 kHz 16-bit, mono tracks)
Projects:
1000
Markers:
100/project
Locator:
Hours/minutes/seconds/milliseconds and bars/beats/ticks
File editing:
Divide, trim
Track parameters:
3-band equalizer, pan (balance), effect send ×2, invert
Stereo link:
Tracks 1 / 2 ~ 7 / 8 selectable in pairs
Other functions:
Punch-in/out (manual, auto), Bounce, A-B repeat, Undo/Redo
EFFECTS
Algorithms:
8 (CLEAN, DISTORTION, ACO/BASS SIM, BASS, MIC, DUAL MIC, STEREO, MASTERING)
Patches:
310 insert, 60 send-return
Effect modules:
7 insert , 2 send
TUNER
Type:
Chromatic, guitar, bass, open A/D/E/G, D modal
RHYTHM
Voices:
8
Format:
16-bit linear PCM
Drum kits:
10
Precision:
48 PPQN
Rhythm patterns:
511/project
Tempo:
40.0 ~ 250.0 BPM
SAMPLER
Playback formats:
44.1 / 48 kHz, 16 / 24-bit WAV files
Editing functions:
Trim, time-stretch
HARDWARE
Recording media:
SD card (16MB – 2 GB), SDHC card (4 – 32 GB)
Analog-digital conversion:
96kHz 24-bit delta-sigma ADC
Digital-analog conversion:
96kHz 24-bit delta-sigma DAC
Display:
128 x 64 pixel LCD (with backlight)
Inputs:
Input 1-8
Type: 8 XLR/TRS combo jacks
Input impedance: (Balanced input) 1KΩ balanced (2 hot), (Unbalanced input) 50 KΩ unbalanced (1 with Hi-Z input impedance 470 kΩ (Hi-Z on), 2 with phantom power)
Phantom Power: 48V, 24V
Input level: -50 dBm < continuous < +4 dBm
Built-in stereo microphones
Type: Omnidirectional condenser microphones
Gain: -50 dBm < continuous < +4 dBm
Outputs:
Output
Type: TRS phone (balanced)
Phones
Standard stereo phone jack 20 mW x 2 (32 Ω load)
Mixer faders:
9 (mono × 8, master × 1)
Pads:
8 (velocity-sensitive)
S/N ratio:
93 dB
Control input:
FS01
USB
Mini-B type (USB 2.0):
Operation as audio interface/control surface and mass storage
USB AUDIO INTERFACE
Number of recording channels:
2
Number of playback channels:
2
Bit rate:
24
Sampling frequency:
44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 kHz
Compatibility:
Windows® XP SP3 or later (32-bit)
Windows® Vista SP1 or later (32-bit, 64-bit)
Windows® 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)
32-bit: Intel® Pentium® 4 1.8 GHz or faster, RAM 1 GB or more
64-bit: Intel® Pentium® Dual Core 2.7 GHz or faster, RAM 2 GB or more
Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later/10.6.5 or later
with Intel® Core Duo 1.83 GHz or faster and RAM 1 GB or more
USB 2.0 compatible port, Intel chipsets recommended
POWER
AC adapter:
DC 5V 1A (ZOOM AD-17)
Batteries:
4 AA batteries (5.5-hour continuous operation time with backlight on and phantom power off)
OTHER
Dimensions:
257 mm (W) × 190 mm (D) × 51 mm (H)
Weight:
780 g
