Hello!

I'm looking for a recording solution. Until now, I was using for years my now very old Macbook with a MOTU interface and GarageBand. My main use was to note sketches and ideas. I never wanted to produce a proper recording to be sold.

Now my laptop is dying (and I sold my MOTU interface as well), so I was wondering which device I could use to record things. My attention got caught by a portable recording studio, the Zoom H8. I read some very positive reviews from the past iterations of this device (H5 and H6), but there are a very few mentions about this quite new version.

Again, i just need to record some sketches at home, direct from the back panels of my amps (or more rarely with mics on front of them), maybe doing a bit of field recordings, encode those recordings in mp3/wav formats and that's it. I don't really need effects, or maybe an occasional limiter/reverb/eq but nothing else. I won't use more than 4 tracks at the same time (recording and reading), but I would like the quality to be the best possible on a very small device.

Who use this kind of devices? Any advice?
Thanks!

My ZOOMH2 is an original 1st issue and I still use it every day. Even the stereo built-in mics record some eerily spatial field samples. So any of their units that fit your requirements I would recommend.

I use this one for "catching ideas" on my mac:
https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/irigproduo/

It works fine with the Stick (or every other stereo signal), but it has not all the possibilities the Zoom H8 has.

What's the idea of the H8 having so many XLR in-but only 2 PL in ?!

As it's a portable device, it makes sense if you want to record some singers and drummers with mics I guess. I would have prefered to have a couple of combo jacks more instead of 4 XLR though.

I've had a Tascam DR-40 for a number of years. Works really well, will take line level input also if desired. "Only" two combo jacks, though, which sounds like it might not be enough for your needs, but it serves well to record a Stick, getting both direct signals and the room with the built-in mics. The built-in mics are pretty good, and the combo jacks have phantom power. The current version (DR-40X) costs more- the major difference I see is that it now provides USB audio interface capability.

It's been reliable. The only time I had trouble is when I unknowingly flipped the "hold" switch when putting it in my pocket, and all of the buttons stopped working. Took me a few minutes to figure out that it wasn't broken, it was actually doing exactly what it was supposed to.

As I mentioned, this might not have enough inputs to meet your needs, especially if the H8 is on your radar, but if 2 mics and 2 inputs will meet your needs, the Tascam is worth a look.

I use a Zoom H4n for many years and it's just great. Different modes to record, many effects (if you want to use it, of course), a choice between mp3 and wav, etc...

Coincidentally, I just went through this same search for the same kind of device. My solution was the Zoom H4n Pro, from Sweetwater. $229.



Two inputs, one for each Stick channel. Good stuff. Just exactly what I needed.

The Zoom F6 is what I'd get next, and what I kind of wish I had gotten in the first place.




You literally don't even have to set the gain on it. You can't crush the levels or have them too low with that 32-bit and 2 amps technology.

But it's $650. So I went with the H4n Pro.

I have several Zoom products H1, H4N, R8. Today, I ordered the F6.
I've read the reviews and it's time to move up to 32 bit float recording.
My biggest concern was compatibility with my Reaper DAW and Melodyne.

https://www.zoom.co.jp/products/handy-r ... y-recorder
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/zoom-h4n
https://zoomcorp.com/en/ca/digital-mixe ... orders/r8/
https://zoomcorp.com/en/ca/handheld-vid ... orders/f6/

https://www.reaper.fm/
https://www.celemony.com/en/melodyne/what-is-melodyne
https://www.youtube.com/c/celemony/videos