Boss BR-800 vs Zoom R16

[alfstone]

Hi everybody

After some years of intensive use, my BR-600 is beginning to show its age  , so I was looking around for alternatives.
The first obvious solution could be the BR-800: similar approach I've used for years, but...I have someway the sensation that I've been reading, here and elsewhere, not so enthusiastic comments about this recorder in general, and expecially when talking about its USB connection to a computer (for me very important).

By the other hand, I read everywhere great reviews of the Zoom R16: it's less expensive, records directly .wav files, everybody talks about great sound, no one complaints about the USB connection, there is also a drive for USB pendrives, so files can go easily from/to any computer...it would be perfect, but there is something that I would like commented by the friends here who use (if any...) the Zoom R16: the Boss BR-600 has only a couple of line inputs. So, pushing the button relative to the various tracks, I can record on track 2, or 4, or 1, or 1/2 or 7/8 and so on. But everything comes (in my situation) always from that stereo line input.

Now: what comes inside those line inputs of the BR-600? The Rec-out from a 16-channel Edirol Digital Mixer: this way, instead of plugging/unplugging cables (I HATE plugging/unplugging cables... ), I have all my music hardware (GT-Pro; Yamaha MagicStomp, Behringer V-Ampire Bass Pro, Axon AX-50, Roland VG-99, Roland SonicCell, Roland GR-30 guitar synth) , connected to the mixer, and from the mixer to the line-in input of the BR-600.

NOW...

If I understand well, this kind of situation is not allowed with a Zoom R16, since, if I connect the rec-out of the mixer (as actually) to the inputs, for instance, 7/8 of the R16, I could record only on tracks 7/8 and 15/16...right? Or did I misunderstand?

If that's right, what is the right solution to a such situation?

Since the mixer has several outputs (apart the rec-out, it has a jack main out L/R; a jack ALT out L/R; and a jack AUX SEND L/R), I was thinking: could it be possible to connect, for instance:

Rec-out -> inputs 1 & 2 (in stereo) of the R16
Main-out -> inputs 3 & 4 (in stereo) of the R16
Alt-out -> inputs 5 & 6 (in stereo) of the R16
Aux Send -> inputs 7 & 8 (in stereo) of the R16

This way the same signal, regardless of the active inputs on mixer , would arrive to the R16 inputs, but I could choose on which tracks to record...
Could this be the solution? Or am I absolutely wrong? Or maybe things are much more easier?
Thanks!
Alfredo

[SdC]

I'm in exactly the same position as you... my BR600 is just not all I want it to be...
I have a similar type of setup as you, with a 12-ch mixer to the line-in of the BR600.
I would like the ability to record multiple tracks simulaniously; the BR800 does 4, the R16 does 8, and can be used to cooperate with DAW which is now more important to me than anything as I want to use more MIDI sequencing capabilities. The BR800 also loses out for me on the COSM effects; it makes productions sound too "plastic" for my taste.
But I also contemplated the routing dilemma with the R16/24. I came to the conclusion that it may now be time to take a step up with the Tascam 2488neo http://tascam.com/product/2488neo/overview/ and eliminate the separate mixer altogether or use the INSERT bus on the mixer's individual channels.

[alfstone]

Hi SdC,

I made the same question on the Zoom forum, and I got two answers:

***

As long as your mixer truly truly truly has the exact SAME signal going out all of those outputs you mention, then yes, this would be a GREAT way to have your own sort of "patch bay" and never unplug anything. You just choose which tracks on the R16 to "arm" for recording and as long as all 8 tracks on the R16 (or perhaps all the stereo pairs) are receiving the same signal, you're good to go.

***

...and this made arise in me the doubt if, in general, there are differences from the outputs of a mixer...  

***

If you want to use the Zoom R16 as a recorder, you could just connect the single input like you're used to (let's say inputs 3 and 4 since I'm assuming it's stereo and doesn't need phantom power. This leaves input 1 open if you need the hi-Z on, inputs 5 and 6 open for anything phantom powered, and inputs 7 and 8 open for the built in mics ), record and instrument, then when the track has been recorded, instead of what you've done with the boss, name your recording and move it to another track. (Say, tracks 9&10). So you still have inputs 3&4 armed for recording... you don't need to switch that. Now record your second instrument. Name it and move it to tracks 11&12. Etc.
While it's true that you can't use the SWAP/BOUNCE button to move stereo tracks, you can easily reassign them with the PROJECT --> FILE menu. I do it all the time and it works fine.

***

Mmmmhhh...this moves me towards the R16...

[alfstone]

...or use the INSERT bus on the mixer's individual channels.

SdC, could you please explain me better what do you mean with your last phrase?

Thanks

Alfredo

[64Guitars]

Winter NAMM starts January 13th. I think it would be wise to wait and see if any new recorders are announced by Roland, Zoom, and others.

http://www.rolandconnect.com/

[SdC]

As long as your mixer truly truly truly has the exact SAME signal going out all of those outputs you mention, then yes, this would be a GREAT way to have your own sort of "patch bay" and never unplug anything. You just choose which tracks on the R16 to "arm" for recording and as long as all 8 tracks on the R16 (or perhaps all the stereo pairs) are receiving the same signal, you're good to go.

***

...and this made arise in me the doubt if, in general, there are differences from the outputs of a mixer...  

***

You could create a splitter cable for the signal from "line out" to go to some stereo pairs on the R16, but then you'd give up on the option of recording multiple instruments at the same time.

If you want to use the Zoom R16 as a recorder, you could just connect the single input like you're used to (let's say inputs 3 and 4 since I'm assuming it's stereo and doesn't need phantom power. This leaves input 1 open if you need the hi-Z on, inputs 5 and 6 open for anything phantom powered, and inputs 7 and 8 open for the built in mics ), record and instrument, then when the track has been recorded, instead of what you've done with the boss, name your recording and move it to another track. (Say, tracks 9&10). So you still have inputs 3&4 armed for recording... you don't need to switch that. Now record your second instrument. Name it and move it to tracks 11&12. Etc.
While it's true that you can't use the SWAP/BOUNCE button to move stereo tracks, you can easily reassign them with the PROJECT --> FILE menu. I do it all the time and it works fine.

***

Mmmmhhh...this moves me towards the R16...

Yes I suppose that's possible, but that still seems a bit of a hassle to me...
I'm moving towards the TASCAM because of the ease of mapping inputs to tracks. Off course it's all a personal thing. The Tascam (24-track) is 795 euro's over where I live, the Zoom R24 (also 24 track) is 500 euro. For the extra sliders and the extra storage and the extra screen size, and the input routing, that's enough usability for me to justify the difference.

[SdC]

...or use the INSERT bus on the mixer's individual channels.

SdC, could you please explain me better what do you mean with your last phrase?

Thanks

Alfredo

My mixer, an Alesis R12, has ïnsert" jacks for each channel, there you can pick up the signal before level slider, but after pre-amp.
In that scenario I could use the line out from the mixer as monitor or drive headphones on a jam session, while recording the channels dry.

[SdC]

Winter NAMM starts January 13th. I think it would be wise to wait and see if any new recorders are announced by Roland, Zoom, and others.

http://www.rolandconnect.com/

For me, the upgrade is still a few pay checks away....

[bruno]

I really like my BOSS BR-1600, the COSM guitar amp emulation is brilliant - and once you get your head into it, is really quite simple to use. However, I bought mine for £550 a couple of years back, its now £950 wtf. If I was looking now - I'd probably go for the Zoom - ZOOM is 24-bit as well - just on bang-for-buck. I really don't understand BOSS's pricing for the BR-1600!