Zoom R24 Recorder : Interface : Controller : Sampler

The Zoom R24 is a one-stop, full-featured master of many trades in a multi-track recording solution. It’s a 24-track recorder. It’s a sampler. It’s a drum machine. It’s a DAW (digital audio workstation) control surface. It’s an espresso maker. OK, perhaps that’s a bit of a stretch as far as the espresso goes but would it really surprise anyone? The Zoom R24 is many things to many people. Let’s discuss…

Building on the heels of their ever-popular R16, the fine folks at Zoom have taken a huge leap forward and upped the ante quite a bit! You get 8 simultaneous tracks to record to at 16/24 bit and 44:1/48-kHz WAV, allowing for multiple microphone setups as well as guitars and electronic instruments via ¼” inputs. Mix ‘em, match ‘em, get creative…you can on the Zoom R24. Playback can consist of 24 tracks at a time. Mix it all down right there inside the R24 using the onboard mastering tools. Sweet!

As an Audio Interface, you can hook the R24 up to a computer and begin tracking into the DAW of your choice (or just fire up the included Cubase LE production software). You can use 8 inputs at once as well as 2 outputs, all operating simultaneously. When recording at the CD quality rate of 44:1 kHz, you’ll be able to tap into the Zoom R24’s built in DSP effects and use them in your computer productions.

As a DAW controller, the R24 is ready out of the box to control transport functions such as Play, Record, Stop and other mixing operations. This is, hands down, the most comfy way of working your DAW this side of a mouse. It works in Mackie Control emulation mode and supports many major DAW applications.

As a Sampler, the R24 gives you 24-voices triggered by 8 pads and savable among 3 banks. You can take audio WAV files and loop, slice and dice to your heart’s content. A time-stretching feature allows you change tempos without affecting pitch. Use these loops seamlessly in your full productions, alongside your audio tracks, all inside the R24.

As a Drum Machine, the Zoom R24 outfits you with 10 types of drum kits using high-quality PCM samples. Choose from 472 preset patterns (intros, fills, endings and other phrases) or create your own from scratch and save them to one of the 511 user locations. Play the drum sounds on the built-in pads or save an entire phrase to a pad and trigger it on the fly…outstanding!

But wait, there’s more…

There’s a built-in pair of highly sensitive condenser microphones, cleverly designed and built-in right on the handles. Vocals and instruments are captured in professional, wide dynamic range clarity. How handy is that?! A built-in tuner can be used for either guitars or vocals to check pitch. An onboard metronome can act as a click-track and be routed to the headphone output only…so very useful for live scenarios (think Drummers) on multiple levels!

For you guitarists and bassists, you can plug directly into the R24 and engage a Hi-Z switch to match the high impedance signal. Choose among the included 18 types of guitar amp models or 6 types of bass amp models. Use up to 3 of the onboard 150 DSP effects (1 insert effect and 2 send/return effects) simultaneously. Slap compression and EQ on 8 channels at a time. Generous!

So where does all your great work go when you’re finished? You can backup to your computer via the USB 2.0 port quickly and painlessly. Alternatively, you can archive to a USB flash drive. How flashy! In addition, you can save to a SD and SDHC card. The card slot is right there on the side of the R24.

What’s that? You really need to record 16 tracks and play back 48 tracks simultaneously at any given time? No problem! You can connect 2 Zoom R24 (or substitute a Zoom R16) machines to each other via a USB cable allowing for perfect synchronization. This setup makes for an extremely capable recording system suitable for whatever you need to capture and wherever inspiration takes you.

If that inspiration takes you to an open field fear not…the Zoom R24 runs not only on the included AC Adaptor, but also on 6 AA batteries. You can even power the unit via USB when using it as a control surface/audio interface with your computer. Brilliant!

So what exactly is the Zoom R24? It’s everything you need to create, track, mix, master, control and distribute your musical masterpieces and then some. What is it not? An espresso machine.

R24 QUICK FEATURES:

Multi-track Recorder:

Audio Interface

Sampler

SPECIFICATIONS

[Recorder]

●Physical Tracks : 24 ●Simultaneous Recording Tracks : 8 ●Simultaneous Playback Tracks : 24 ●Recording Data Format : 44.1/48kHz, 16/24bit WAV ●Maximum Recordable Time : 200 minutes / GB (44.1kHz 16-bit, mono tracks) ●Projects : 1,000 ●Markers : 100 / Project ●Locator : Hours / Min. / Sec. / msec or Bars / Beats / Ticks ●File Editing : Divide, Trim ●Other Functions : Punch-In / Out (Manual, Automatic), Bounce, A-B Repeat, Undo / Redo, Metronome

[Audio interface]

●Input Channels : 8 ●Output Channels : 2 ●Quantization : 24bit ●Sampling Frequency : 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96kHz

[Mixer]

●Faders : 9 ●Level Meters : 4-Segment LED ●Track Parameters : 3-Band Equalizer, Pan (Balance), Effect Send x 2, Invert ●Stereo Links Track pairs : 1/2 to 23/24 selectable

[Effects]

●Algorithms : 9 (CLEAN, DISTORTION, ACO / BASS SIM, BASS, MIC, DUAL MIC, STEREO, 8 x COMP EQ, MASTERING) ●Types : 150 ●Modules : 7 for Insert, 2 for Send / Return ●Patches : 330 for Insert, 60 for Send / Return ●Tuner : Chromatic, Guitar, Bass, Open A/D/E/G, D modal

[Sampler]

●Playback Data Format: 44.1/48kHz, 16/24bit WAV ●Voices: 24 ●Editing Functions: Trim, Time-stretch

[Rhythm]

●Voices: 8 ●Sound Format: 16-bit Linear PCM ●Drum Kits : 10 ●Pads : 8 (velocity-sensitive) ●Precision : 48 PPQN ●Rhythm Patterns : 511/project ●Patterns : 511 (472 factory, 39 blank) / Project ●Beat : 1/4 - 8/4 ●Tempo : 40.0 - 250.0 BPM

[Hardware]

●Recording Media : SD Card (16MB-2GB), SDHC Card (4-32GB) ●A/D Conversion : 96kHz 24bit delta-sigma ADC ●D/A Conversion : 96kHz 24bit delta-sigma DAC ●Display : 128 x 64 pixel LCD (with backlight) ●Inputs : 8 x XLR-1/4''Phone Combo Jack / Input Impedance: (Balanced input) 1kΩ balanced, 2nd hot, (Unbalanced input) 50kΩ unbalanced, (Hi-Z Input) 470kΩ / Input Level: -50dBm to +4dBm continuously variable ●Built-in microphones : Omnidirectional condenser microphones Gain: -50dBm to +4dBm continuously variable ●Phantom Power Supply : 48V / 24V ●Master Output : 1/4"TRS Phone (balanced) / Output Impedance: 1kΩ / Rated Output Level: +4dBm ●Headphones Output : 1/4''Stereo Phone Jack, 20mW x 2 (at 32Ω load) ●USB : [B type (USB2.0 High-Speed compatible)] Audio Interface / Control Surface or Mass Storage Class operation [A type (USB2.0 High-Speed compatible)] USB Host capability ●Power Requirements : AC adaptor (DC5V/1A/center positive) or AA size (LR6) battery x6 ●Battery Life : 4.5 hours (with backlight on and phantom power off) ●Dimensions : 376(W) x 237.1(D) x 52.2(H) mm ●Weight : 1.3kg (without batteries)

R24 USB Audio Interface System Requirments