ZOOM Digital Multitrack Recorder (R12)

Awe man this machine is awesome… be on the lookout for some work I might drop after I polish it with this bad boy 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

I've been using portable recording studios for decades, beginning with a TEAC 4-track cassette studio in the 1980's, a decade or so ago I had a Zoom R16 used in conjunction with my laptop studio software. All served their purpose well at the time, technological limitations notwithstanding.Now in 2024 I'm using the latest Zoom multitrack device, the R12, and, after some initial frustrations have to admit that I'm in love with this thing. The main difference between this device & the others I've used is the R12 features a small color touchscreen to control most features. Initially the "small" aspect seemed a little doubtful; is it possible to edit, copy, paste, drag things around etc on such a tiny screen? The answer is YES, I've had no problems with this aspect, although I've made it even simpler by employing a disc-type stylus instead of my fingers, which can block out parts of the screen from view, I have slim fingers so if you have stubby or large fingers a stylus would definitely be advised.The sound quality of recorded material is more than acceptable for most uses, CD quality certainly.The portability of the unit was a big selling point for me, I'm primarily a singer with an extremely loud voice lol, which can be a blessing or a curse, in the case of having neighbors close by definitely a curse, so I needed something small that I can bring with me in the car to isolated locations to record vocals, this fits the bill perfectly. It runs on either a USB-C cable & adaptor, 4 AA batteries, or a power bank. Using the latter I have yet to have it die during use, and sometimes I've used it most of the day, so really happy with the power options.The unit itself easily gets 5 stars, but I'm giving this only 4 stars for one reason alone: the user manual is ABYSMAL. Absolutely terrible, only the most basic functionality explained, it'll show you how to set up the unit & not really much more beyond that. The official Zoom online "tutorial" videos are little more than commercials for the unit, nothing in-depth at all.I was very close to returning the unit for a refund, because it didn't seem possible to upload my original instrumental backing tracks for me to add vocals to, there are zero instructions in the manual to accomplish this, and without this capability I really don't have much use for the device.Very happily, I stumbled on the videos of a YouTuber named "Gaz Render", who has a series of tutorial videos on this and other portable studios. This guy should be paid by Zoom, as he's done what they should have done from the start: in depth explanations and demonstrations of all functions of this device and others (especially the Zoom R20, which is very similar to the R12 and many of the functions identical in execution)So if you purchase either the R12 or R20, you are going to want to bookmark/favorite this user, you will save yourself major time & headache in doing so.Now that I'm very familiar with this little Zoom R12, I find using it to be a total breeze, the results more than acceptable, and (as long as you're not expecting high-end Protools studio results) I have absolutely nothing bad to say about it. Worth every penny!

Having used the Zoom R12 Multi Track Portable Recorder extensively, I can confidently say it's a game-changer for my recording projects. The touchscreen interface simplifies the editing process, allowing me to fine-tune my recordings effortlessly. With 8 tracks at my disposal, I've been able to capture intricate layers of sound with ease. The 2 combo inputs have proven invaluable for accommodating various instruments and microphones, ensuring versatility without sacrificing quality. Whether in the studio or on the move, this recorder has exceeded my expectations, making it a must-have for any serious musician or podcaster.

Easy to use...I like it!!

This producted frustrated me. it was not as easy and simple as the video made it appear. I opted to return this one and go with another program bassed system that has worked out better for me.

No tengo ninguna queja el producto lo recibi tal cual su descripcion

Where do I start? No manual. Downloaded a manual useless, might as well have been in another language. A nice simple how to would have been great. Nothing just this microscopic touch screen with a bunch of cool features. That nobody can use. Unless you're a sound engineer. I'm just a schmuck in my living room trying to record some songs I wrote and it's like trying to pull eye teeth. This damn thing is going back and I'm never buying something like this again.

Package just came in like it was opened product and not New like advertised