Zoom MRS8 Digital Multi-Track Recorder

8 physical tracks, each with 10 Virtual-takes. Programmable drum/bass machine. Uses SD (Secure Digital) cards only.

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Zoom MRS8 Digital Multi-Track Recorder reviews

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160 People rated this product : * * * * * * * * * * 6 out of 10

 

15 People wrote reviews

Read all Zoom MRS8 Digital Multi-Track Recorder reviews...
* * * * * * * * * * 9 out of 10

"Great machine for a solo musician/singer song writer."

Feature:
This is a small personal studio, it is not meant for recording more than one instrument at a time. Stating this... I found the features to be great. You can do most "anything" within this recorder. If I had to say something negative... it would be that you can only record to the SD card. They are inexpensive nowadays, and a one gigabyte card will give you the abilty to record several "complete" songs, but you will have to take the files to your PC/Mac and download the software to convert to a .wav file. This is slightly inconvenient, but understandable due to the size of the unit. I tried to download the software to my Mac, but my OS (10.4.8) is higher than they recommend. It may work, but I needed to unstuff the file and my Mac, recently bought, does not have that ability I suppose. I would have to purchase something to unstuff the software apparently. Works fine with Microsoft XP. The non converted file is proprietory, so the software from ZOOM is needed. The external microphone is sensitive and works well. I have used this option and it does work fairly well for laying down inspiration quickly if need be, but it is not my preferred method of capturing something. Mastering within the machine is an excellent feature. Adding recorded songs to a sequence play is very nice too. The virtual tracks, though common in all digital machines, it a wonderfull way to get something good without having to re-do a track. I use this feature all the time. Though you have to choose the best take, with bouncing and the virtual tracks combined, this enables you to layer pretty deep. An undo button would be great on any recorded track though. It may be just me but it doesn't seem to let you use the drum machine and add personal hits with the drum pads at the same time. It is easy to multitrack though, so perhaps that is what the thinking was.

Quality:
I think it is very well made. It has hit the floor a couple of times.... sorry ZOOM, but all worked fine afterwards, thank goodness. Very reliable. I have taken it to band practice, so it is very portable. I am impressed overall.

Value:
I think it is worth more than the going price. It is an excellent value. Works very well. For a single musician, you can record complete songs that sound very good.

Desirability:
How it looks is secondary to me.

Sound:
My experience is that the recorded track sounds exactly like how it went in. Clear definition between the tracks. The internal effects are not too bad, especially if you tweak them some. I am very happy with the sound quality.

Ease of Use:
It was tough to do anything deeper than just laying down tracks from the get go. The manual was difficult to understand. But... since owning this machine for a year, I do not know what my problem was and it didn't take a year to figure it out. There is still options I haven't used. I now find it relatively easy to record the tracks and add effects and do a master track. The bounch function works well. Track 7 and 8 are stereo tracks so there is only really 4 "single" tracks. For most of my needs, I just bounch the recorded tracks to a stereo track and instead of wiping out trackes 1-4 to gain more space for recording, I use the vitual tracks to add to the mix. Seems obvious I know, but it opens up the machine for lots of layering.

Support:
I emailed Samson about my the stuffed file and OS system I have, and never got a reply. Samson was the only contact I could find. The ZOOM website sent me there. Perhaps my email didn't go through. Perhaps the answer was so self evident (too high an Mac OS and I need stuffit delux/expander or something..duh!...so they didn't reply. Regardless, a response is always appreciated no matter how weak the question.

Overall:
I have had it for a year and was planning on using it as long as it worked. I now have the funds to upgrade, which I will do, but it isn't because there is something wrong with this machine. Funds were limited first time around and this was a great deal. Given the same initial circumstances, I would buy it again. My uprade will be another ZOOM machine and basically I want to upgrade because a internal CD burner and the abilty to record more than one instrument at the same time would be very nice. Never having used a competitors digital recordert, I can't offer comparisons. Since I "know" ZOOM's logic, so to speak, I am sticking with ZOOM with my next purchase.

Submitted: 3/14/2007

Style of Music: Alternative Rock. Accoustic with electric guitar mix and keyboards.

7 of 7 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

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* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10 zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

"Great bang for the buck!"

Feature:
Internal mic is very good. Sub-par guitar FX. Good vocal and mastering effects. Drum machine is good and not too hard to program, just be patient with the manual. Up to 1GB SD cards can be used. This is pretty adequate for me. Card manager software (from Zoom site) is pretty simple and functional.

Quality:
Seems very solid so far for something this small. Dunno about the drum-pad, although it seems pretty solid.

Value:
Great bang for the buck if you're starting out. I suspect it's pretty damn good even if you're an experienced at recording---as long as you know the limitations.

Sound:
Sound capture is good. Use good outboard gear (guitar, mic, cables etc.). Don't blame the Zoom if the gear is crap. Drum machine is great for what I'm doing, FAST programming method is excellent. The built-in reverb, chorus, vocal and mastering fx are pretty good for what I'm doing (I'm a novice). But the guitar FX, are well...kinda sucky. I was hoping they'd be at least as good as my old 606 pedal, but they're not. I'm sure some good tones can be obtained via tweaking, but it's easier for me to record from my amp (VOX AD30VT) or external Zoom G2.1u pedal. Use the Zoom like a recorder/mixer and you'll be happy, don't buy it for the guitar FX. Vocal and mastering fx are good though.

Ease of Use:
Takes a while to get used to, just be patient. Use track sheets (always wise) and note down the settings. At this price point, a lot of the functions are going to option menu-driven (plastic knobs and buttons cost $$$). As you move up to the MRS-802, MRS-1608, more of the features get dedicated controls. I just started recording and my current plan of attack is to use the MRS-8 as a recorder and then if I run out of tracks, export to PC to mix/master. The bounce function works well and is easy to use...sorta (read the manual).

Support:
Haven't had to call Zoom/Samson yet. But the high rating is because there's an EXCELLENT user forum online! Lots of helpful gurus out there.

Overall:
Great starter recorder that you will NOT outgrow.

Submitted: 7/13/2006

Style of Music: Progressive metal, some blues, acoustic rock

3 of 3 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

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Read all Zoom MRS8 Digital Multi-Track Recorder reviews...

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About This Product!
Description
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From Our Catalog
The Zoom MRS-8 is a full-featured compact 8-track digital recorder with an incredible array of professional recording features including a fully programmable Drum/Bass Machine with touch-sensitive pads.

Beyond the drums, the MRS-8 has a huge array of instrument, vocal and mastering effects and extensive digital editing capabilities. With 8 physical tracks, each with 10 Virtual-takes, you have up to 80 recording tracks to play with. The MRS-8 has 2-track simultaneous recording at an optional non-compressed, 16-bit linear, 44.1 sampling rate with 24-bit AD/DA resolution. It records to SD memory cards, currently compatible up to 1GB. The MRS-8 comes with a 128MB SD card included, to get you on your creative way right out of the box.

The MRS-8 offers simultaneous playback of 8 audio tracks plus the drum and bass tracks. A Sequence Play function allows a number of songs to be played back continuously. A Dedicated Master Track is built-in, for mix-down, so there is no need for an external master recorder. Connection-wise, the MRS-8 has everything you need including a 1/4 in. Hi-Z input for Guitar, an XLR combo jack for an external microphone or line level signal, stereo RCA master outputs, headphone out, and MIDI out so MIDI Time Code or MIDI clock can be sent for synchronizing with external devices. Also, the MRS-8 comes with an amazing-sounding front panel mini-condenser microphone.

The MRS-8 is a complete compact recording studio, great for laying down ideas or complete multi-track CD quality music.

Features:
8 physical tracks, each with 10 Virtual-takes, giving you up to 80 recording tracks

2-track simultaneous recording with a 16-bit linear, 44.1 sampling rate and 24-bit AD/DA resolution for pristine digital quality

Programmable drum/bass machine with touch-sensitive pads, and killer Zoom sampled drum sounds

Simultaneous playback of 8 audio tracks plus the drum and bass tracks, as well as a Sequence Play function that allows a number of songs to be played back continuously

Records to SD memory cards, currently compatible up to 1GB. The unit comes with a supplied 128MB SD card

Zoom's famous multi-effects including 8 algorithms and 100 effect types.

Seamless Digital Track Editing functions include Copy, Erase, Trim, Fade I/O, and Reverse as well as Auto punch-in/out and Track bounce functions

1/4 in. Hi-Z input connection for Guitar, an XLR combo jack for an external microphone or line level signal, stereo RCA master outputs, headphone out, and MIDI out

Mini-condenser microphone built into the front panel

Smaller then a laptop computer and runs on 4 AA batteries or AC Power (optional)

Technical Info

Recording times using the SD Media card format (16-bit compressed/44.1khz sampling):
128MB: 50 min.

256MB: 101 min.

512MB: 202 min.

1025MB: 403 min.

Data Card (*): SD memory card (16MB to 1GB)

Project: Maximum 1000

A/D Conversion: 24-bit, 64-times oversampling

D/A Conversion: 24-bit, 128-times oversampling

Sampling Frequency: 44.1 kHz

Signal Processing: 24 bit

Display: 55 x 35 mm custom LCD with backlight

Lo-Z/Hi-Z Switchable Input: 1/4 in. phone jack (Lo-Z: Input impedance 10k ohms / Hi-Z: Input impedance 470k ohms)

Balanced/Unbalanced Input: XLR / 1/4 in. phone combo jack (Balanced: Input impedance 1k ohms, 2nd hot / Unbalanced: input impedance 10k ohms)

Input Level: -50dBm < variable < +4dBm

Master Output: RCA pin jack (L/R), Output load impedance 10k ohms or more, Rated output level -10dBm

Headphones Output: 1/4 in. stereo phone jack, 50mW into 32 ohms load

MIDI: Out

Dimension: 300(W) x 165(D) x 60(H) mm

Weight: 1.1kg without batteries

Power Requirements: AA size (LR6) battery x 4 (optional), or AC adaptor DC9V/300mA / Center minus type

Battery Life: Over 4 hours (with alkaline batteries)

Optional Accessories: AD-0006 (AC adaptor), AA size battery
Smaller than this catalog and under 2-1/2" thick, the MRS-8 makes 8-track, 24-bit recording ultra-portable. Its built-in mic preamp, drum and bass module, and digital effects make it a full-on workstation. Records WAV/AIFF files to SD memory cards (128MB card included). Runs on optional adapter or AA batteries.

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