Zoom Gear & Home Recording Forum

I'll start...

I don't like to praise anything in this world but I do admire...


Today I took my Boss effect pedals and plugged into the R16 and added the OD effect which is in the R16. I could not believe what I could sound like on guitar. To my ears, I loved how I sounded.

I'm really impressed with Zoom has to offer...the R16. It is the best thing for my style of music, playing and solo projects.

I can go into any room, place, or even a closet and record all the necessary tracks to mix and then master (master to my ways). I'm not the best guitarist, vocalist, or keyboardist, but I can offer alot with my ideas and creativity. My brain can orchestrate huge possiblities. And everytime I have a song I can picture colors within a song. Weird?

Anyways, The R16 is a versatile device. I can do so much that I coulden't do with the Fostex MR8. And technology has improved so much. But I have a powerful weapon... The R16!

Next person please...

I've just barely made use of my R16 and I already love it. I use it as a mixer/effects box/recorder when I do my solo slack key shows.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMZ5fU8x9RQ

It's also terrific for recording and video in the back yard. Next step will be hooking it up to the stage mixer for band gigs and recording the show on mulitple tracks.

Fran

That is awesome Fran! Keep makin music!

EMelody, I am glad to see that you are enjoying your R16 so much. It sounds like your doing great. I strongly considered the R16 when I made my purchase but ended up deciding on the HD16CD as for me, it more met my (and my rockin' daughter's) needs. Don't know if you remember me but I posted to your query about making guitars sound fatter and advice on playing power chords and alternate tunings to achieve your key of "F" efforts. I think all of us dread the F chord, but we gotta have it. I've been playing for 40 years and still work on chord changes to the F chord every time I practice, it's the only way to really get-just keep working it. It sounds to me like you are doing great. When are you gonna post some of your music-maybe to YouTube or something. I for one, and I'm sure I speak for many others here would love to hear it. Don't be shy! You Go!....and Rock On!......Jim

I'll second the many "admirings" here. Heh heh. I'll never forget when I created the "demo" project Wonderin' how I plugged in my little Jay Turser strat copy, dialed up a distortion patch (UK Blues anyone) and SOUNDED LIKE A ROCK gOD (note little "g"). I almost screamed FEEL THE POWER BABY!

Then...life set in...work, kids, work...kids....other people's kids...house...work...gigs... bleh.

I thought moving my little studio downstairs would help and I suppose it has...but the bottom line is that we're all busy and can't always get to the R16 (or HD16 or whatever).

Sooo...in a nutshell, my experience (what small amount there is) on the R16, whether it's in the studio or at a live performance is that it is truly an amazing machine. In fact, I'm in the process of giving my old Roland VS-880EX away to someone who could use it (Clarence...I'm paying it forward!!) and I fondly caressed the ole VS-880EX and then realized that while it was ALSO an amazing piece of machinery back in the day, the R16 simply rocks its socks. Everything about the newer stand-alones is so PORTABLE. Not only is the recorder (R16) itself portable, but the .wav's are completely portable...something that was very difficult to do on the older recordables.

I'm signing off Kevin "in a very happy place, but wishes he had more time...." Selby

Jim,

I do remember you. And yes, the F chord is a hard chord I finally got to master. Thanks, I tried playing a barred chord "F" but it was too much for my fingers to fret. Then I found the F chord at a higher octave which worked out. It's not as full as the Barred chord but works. And it's easier to change from a normal F to F major 7 in a snap. I know keys like F and F# are hard to play on guitar, but if one wants a different feel in tone going with those keys really help (my opinion). I'll definitly start posting some songs soon. I really want to post my work but I will let everybody know, I'm a married guy with kids who does not have time to play like a virtuoso, so there maybe tiny messups in my songs. But oh well, I'm recording demo quality songs at this moment.

Hi, Emelody, It's good to hear from you. I totlly understand the "not enough time thing" I was disabled in a construction accident a few years back-fell off a building-landed on my feet (for a moment before I went unconscious),broke my back, my pelvic bone completely in two, my arm, internal injuries etc.-even hit the ground so hard that I shattered my teeth but actually consider myself blessed. Doctors at University of Michigan Hospital said I'd never walk again, but I was determined and after 18 months of 6 hourd a day 6 days a week physical therapy I graduated from a wheelchair to a four legged walker and finally to a cane. I have five children, all of whom I struggled to put through college except for the youngest who is now 17 and will be a senior in high school this fall (2010). I bought her a junior size acoustic guitar when she was 6 years old as she had displayed amazing musical talent-at three years old she was playing "the Wedding March" complete with both hands (chords and melody) on our casio CTK-411 keyboard. She would listen to the theme songs from her favorite cartoons at the time (like Rugrats) and then go teach herself to play it on the keys. She lost interest in the guitar almost immediately, I had also bought her a Washburn X11 Electric, but at about age 14 she rekindled her interest and asked me to teach her to play and she's just excelled. She's also a wonderful singer. I also mentor, teach , manage and produce her band- the reason that I bought the Zoom HD16CD-to produce a DEMO for them. I am also currently teaching my wife to play bass guitar. You'd think, not having to go to a job, that I'd have all kinds of time, and I don't quite know where all of it goes, but like you there never seems to be enough time. It's all learning though, we learn from everything we do, especially our mistakes. It's okay to make mistakes and maybe not have that perfect recording with the perfect guitar playing it's all part of the learning process as I'm sure you already know. Don't be afraid to post your music even if you don't feel it's as good as you'd like it to be. Let people 'critique' it as often times with their critique they also offer advice and please never take anything personally. Welcome people being "critics" of your music and accept all advice then you can take all that advice and filter it down to what you can use to improve and then carry on. I've read several of your posts and you're no slouch. You seem to have a firm handle on what you're doing and what you want and especially when we recognize our weak areas (instead of puffing ourselves up) we then know what we need to work on and which direction to go. Keep it up!....Jim

Jimbo,

I'm glad you recovered from that accident. And that's good you're spending time with your daughter doing music. I'm going to post my music very soon and it does not matter what people say about my music (good or bad - I'm prepared for any feedback). Because I know that I do need to work on much stuff to acieve a professional sound. But at the moment I'm having a good time writing and producing. I'm truly aiming to use this music for a special purpose. And I know that when the time comes the dorrs will open. I'd like to hear some of your work as well!

Anyway, thanks for your words of encouragement. Hope you and your family are well and may God bless.