Zoom Gear & Home Recording Forum

Regarding the R16, is it possible to take a mono input and record the same thing to two separate tracks at the same time, without having to go into file and copy? If not, then is it at least possible to apply a stereo affect to a mono input that outputs to 2 tracks? The reason I ask is that all my guitar tracks sound very mono with any of the effects I use, including distortion. My PS04 and MRS8 had options to apply stereo effects to mono inputs, and I am able to get much better sounding recordings of my guitar on those devices, so I must be doing something wrong.

A quick breeze through the manual suggests that there is a "STEREO" Insert effect that has 40 presets. It suggests that you should have a stereo source track that you run through this Insert. Therefore, you would need to get a "splitter" cable or converter from Radio Shack to split your guitar into two different mono signals that you record onto two different tracks (preferably odd/even I'm guessing...so...like tracks 1/2 but NOT tracks 2/3).

I have never used this particular insert effect, but I'm guessing in looking at how it's setup that it delays one side of the stereo pair ever so slightly so that the two signals are slightly offset resulting in a stereo (or "mock stereo") sound. Obviously, the more the two signals are separated by time, the "wider" the stereo spectrum. "Chorus" works like this too.

In looking at the effects setting for this particular effect (see pages 85/86 in the manual) it looks like you can do some cool doubling and/or octave effects too.

The effects patch list (the list of 40 presets) starts on page 92 and it looks like they have created quite a few cool presets to play with (including some that have "phaser" on them as well as other tasty tidbits).

With the "Insert" effect, you have to think about whether you'll record it "wet" or "dry" and you'll have to fuss with which track inputs vs. tracks themselves you'll run through it. Obviously you can record the guitar "dry" and then "bounce" the 2 tracks through the Insert effect and onto a new set of tracks. Then you'll have the dry source tracks as well as the wet destination tracks in case you want to try a different effect at a later date.

Have fun!

Page 46 of the manual shows the signal flows... If you compare that page to the equivalent diagrams in the manuals for the others (page 92 for the MRS8) you should notice the main difference...

NONE of the R16 signal flows are mono-in/stereo-out. In contrast, on the MRS-8, only the dual mic is treated as mono-in/mono-out (but with two independent channels). The R16 "stereo" algorithm is the equivalent of the MRS8 "line" -- meant for recording things like stereo keyboard outputs. And Mastering is always stereo in/out.

The discontinued HDx devices had algorithms similar to the MRS8, wherein the last stage (modulation/delay) produced a stereo output from a mono signal.

If you are recording guitar, you might be able to use an amp or an effects processor that has left and right outputs. You could use those two output lines as two track input lines for the R16. Voila, simultaneous track recording. Also, you could try using the built-in mics for recording the same two tracks at a time.

Is it possible to take a mono input and record the same thing to two separate tracks at the same time?

Not directly from an external mono input. But if you make a new stereo-linked track, set bounce to on, and record to the stereo track from a mono track, it'll be stereo. Then you can apply stereo insert effects to that stereo track.

Is it at least possible to apply a stereo affect to a mono input that outputs to 2 tracks?

Yes, using a send effect. Say you record a dry guitar signal to track 1, then add distortion using an insert effect with track 1 as the input source. It's mono sounding. You want it to sound fatter. So press, "PAN/EQ", raise the "CHORUS SEND" to 100, hit "SEND RETURN EFFECT", move right arrow to, "SEND CHORUS/DELAY", start with the "GtChorus" preset and edit it to sound better. I'd lower the rate to 1, and maybe lower the pre-delay. You should hear a much wider stereo version of your mono guitar track.

Thanks. I gave that a try, and it sounds a little better. It still seems like the distortion effects are really muffled and boggy. I still get much better sounding distortion from my mrs8, ps04 and micro br. Are there any patches that anyone is aware of for better distortion, at least something comparable to the ones Zoom's older recording units?

I think my solution for now until I find a better one is to run my guitar through my mrs8 for distortion and from that into the r16. It's kind of a bulky setup, but I guess it works for now.

Are you editing the patches?

Try starting with this, then editing to preference, maybe enabling and changing the EQ:

• DZ Drive
• Gain=100
• Tone=22
• Cabinet=2
• Level=85

Thanks! I was able to tweak that a bit and make a much better sounding distortion than the ones built in! One thing I've notice about recording the guitar is that I have to turn the monitoring fader all the way up and the master fader down a bit to avoid noise when playing loudly on any distortion, even after getting correct volume on the input knob. Even if I turn up gain on the effects and boost eq values. It works, but I don't have to do that with the volume faders on any other instrument or the mic so it's kind of a concern. Does this happen with anyone else?

I guess these forums aren't too active anymore?

It seems at least to me that activity in this forum goes in spurts--sometimes, it's rockin;' sometimes, it's chill.

To your question on noise: I record mostly guitar tracks on my R16, and you are doing better than me on getting your noise to disappear. When using a distortion effect, I have noise no matter how I tweak things. It is not a big deal to me because I just cut out the noise in a DAW, but the noise isn't that bad to begin with.

I wonder: Have you tried recording your distortion guitar dry? Recording clean and then adding the distortion later might have an effect.

Thanks for the suggestion! I haven't tried that yet, but I'll give it a shot. I also use FL Studio for my final mixdown, so I might use a amp modelling vst as a last resort.