zoom hd8 (cd, effects, rapper, magazine, reviews)

Martin Robert · 07-10-2008, 09:17 AM

I purchased a zoom hd8 and reviewing the manual-I'm lost. I want to lay down some simple mult-track takes. Not tech savvy. Can anyone give a very simple step-by-step list of how it's done? Appreciate any help. Marti

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Monger · 09-28-2008, 12:48 AM

I am in much the same boat.Even basic steps like changing the appalling default drumsound (i had a casio in 1983 that sounded better) do not do as the phonebook sized booklet instructs.Basic tracks can be weeks or months away with this...and the guy at the shop said it was simple to use.It couldnt be anything further.Fortunatly,i kept may analog stuff,so as soon as i can find someone to take this headache for 400 bucks...nothing recorded on it...its gone..i'll take the 200 dollar loss!

Chopin385 · 12-08-2008, 09:53 PM

I've had the same experience. Its so hard to use. I got a MacBook, which I'm typing from right now, and it has GarageBand. Much much easier to use. I feel like you have to have a degree in audio engineering to use the HD8. Even when you know how to work the thing, how the heck am I supposed to know to put the fader at 0 or -60? Which is correct. The manual doesn't say that. GarageBand may be a little scratchy, but its much more intuitive to use.

Monger · 12-08-2008, 10:37 PM

I wound up taking it back.Was of no use whatsoever.I got a Tascam DP-02 which is head and shoulders better...actual knobs for instant gratification,instead of menus and paramiters.Able to record with it at once,set up like a old tape machine.This is the way to go,if your actually interested in producing music instead of headaches and confusion.

Chopin385 · 12-08-2008, 10:54 PM

Yes, I would like to just hit the record button and go. And then do multiple takes and choose which one I like the best. And then maybe put two different takes together, like when they used to cut and tape the old tapes. It was so simple with the tape machines, and they made beautiful recordings. I bet my mac sounds better than anything they had back in the 50s. I'll take my HD8 back to trade it in, and maybe get Logic for my mac or check out that DP-02.

Monger · 12-08-2008, 11:05 PM

Yeah,the Tascam has onboard CD burner,all the outputs you could need,and the manual actually is useful.You can be up and tracking literally in minutes.
easy to use,so far as to what ive been doing and it has a massive memory,altho you can always backup your stuff on a CD...that Zoom thing,id still be reading the magazine size manual and getting nowhere.With the economy in the crapper and the holiday music sales going on,you should check it out! Take the Zoom back if you still can,i was lucky i was able to.Thing was as useful as a empty beer can at a summer BBQ!

ginselwood · 12-31-2008, 04:46 PM

I am so hoping that someone can help me. I just purchased an hd8cd machine and am willing to follow the steps even though it is amazingly hard.

My problem is that installation on my computer stops dead with Cubase 4 LE when it gets to licensing. There is no information on this in the data I received. All I get is an error about licensing. I have Windows vista as the operating system.

Has anyone had any success loading this Cubas 4LE that comes with the hd8cd? I really want to use this with my computer. Also, the manual has no person to contact and no number to call. Amazing.

Sincerely,

Ginselwood

Monger · 12-31-2008, 06:08 PM

You have a lemon.Hopefully its not too late to take it back,its far too over convuluted,and now you have dead softwear in the deal as well? No user support? i think you can see where this is headed.........

Monger · 12-31-2008, 06:12 PM

You have a lemon.Hopefully its not too late to take it back,its far too over convuluted,and now you have dead softwear in the deal as well? No user support? i think you can see where this is headed.........

lemonstar · 01-08-2009, 02:24 PM

Thank God I found this thread - I was seriously considering this recorder - isn't there anyone with anything good to say about it? Maybe it's not that compicated if you persevere with it and get to understand the way it was designed to be used?

It has a very good spec on paper - lots of effects, drums, bass, mic/amp simulations, etc. but I know that, although I'm tempted by the feature set, if it's not going to be natural or (relatively) easy to use, then I won't end up using it. Does anyone here know of any other devices between these two in cost, say £200 - £450, that I might also want to try and look at?

I'm going to look for some down to earth, hands on reviews of the Tascam DP-02 (the YouTube vids I looked at weren't that much use). The DP-02 is about £325 (with 40G HD/CD burner) and DP-02CF (Compact Flash Version) is around £200. I don't know how the DP-02CF compares with the BR-600 in terms of the fine detail - I think the Boss has the advantage of having a pair of internal mics but it's a USB 1 transfer compared with USB 2 for the Tascam (not a deal breaker).

The NAMM show is on in the next 2 weeks and I guess some new kit (that's all ready to ship) will be announced at the same time as the show so it can benefit from the publicity the show generates (I don't know if there's any news floating around about what might get announced for compact recorders - anyone seen anything?)

Fostex MR-8 perhaps?
Neil

07-10-2008, 09:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
Martin Robert Groupie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1	zoom hd8 I purchased a zoom hd8 and reviewing the manual-I'm lost. I want to lay down some simple mult-track takes. Not tech savvy. Can anyone give a very simple step-by-step list of how it's done? Appreciate any help. Martin

09-28-2008, 12:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
Monger Groupie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5	Zoom HD8 I am in much the same boat.Even basic steps like changing the appalling default drumsound (i had a casio in 1983 that sounded better) do not do as the phonebook sized booklet instructs.Basic tracks can be weeks or months away with this...and the guy at the shop said it was simple to use.It couldnt be anything further.Fortunatly,i kept may analog stuff,so as soon as i can find someone to take this headache for 400 bucks...nothing recorded on it...its gone..i'll take the 200 dollar loss!

12-08-2008, 10:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
Monger Groupie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5	Zoom HD 8 I wound up taking it back.Was of no use whatsoever.I got a Tascam DP-02 which is head and shoulders better...actual knobs for instant gratification,instead of menus and paramiters.Able to record with it at once,set up like a old tape machine.This is the way to go,if your actually interested in producing music instead of headaches and confusion.

12-08-2008, 11:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
Monger Groupie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5	Zoom HD 8 Yeah,the Tascam has onboard CD burner,all the outputs you could need,and the manual actually is useful.You can be up and tracking literally in minutes. easy to use,so far as to what ive been doing and it has a massive memory,altho you can always backup your stuff on a CD...that Zoom thing,id still be reading the magazine size manual and getting nowhere.With the economy in the crapper and the holiday music sales going on,you should check it out! Take the Zoom back if you still can,i was lucky i was able to.Thing was as useful as a empty beer can at a summer BBQ!

12-31-2008, 04:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
ginselwood Groupie Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1	Zoom hd8 installation problems I am so hoping that someone can help me. I just purchased an hd8cd machine and am willing to follow the steps even though it is amazingly hard. My problem is that installation on my computer stops dead with Cubase 4 LE when it gets to licensing. There is no information on this in the data I received. All I get is an error about licensing. I have Windows vista as the operating system. Has anyone had any success loading this Cubas 4LE that comes with the hd8cd? I really want to use this with my computer. Also, the manual has no person to contact and no number to call. Amazing. Sincerely, Ginselwood

12-08-2008, 09:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
Chopin385 Groupie Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2	I've had the same experience. Its so hard to use. I got a MacBook, which I'm typing from right now, and it has GarageBand. Much much easier to use. I feel like you have to have a degree in audio engineering to use the HD8. Even when you know how to work the thing, how the heck am I supposed to know to put the fader at 0 or -60? Which is correct. The manual doesn't say that. GarageBand may be a little scratchy, but its much more intuitive to use.

12-08-2008, 10:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
Chopin385 Groupie Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2	Yes, I would like to just hit the record button and go. And then do multiple takes and choose which one I like the best. And then maybe put two different takes together, like when they used to cut and tape the old tapes. It was so simple with the tape machines, and they made beautiful recordings. I bet my mac sounds better than anything they had back in the 50s. I'll take my HD8 back to trade it in, and maybe get Logic for my mac or check out that DP-02.

12-31-2008, 06:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
Monger Groupie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5	Hd8 You have a lemon.Hopefully its not too late to take it back,its far too over convuluted,and now you have dead softwear in the deal as well? No user support? i think you can see where this is headed.........

12-31-2008, 06:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
Monger Groupie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5	You have a lemon.Hopefully its not too late to take it back,its far too over convuluted,and now you have dead softwear in the deal as well? No user support? i think you can see where this is headed.........

01-08-2009, 02:24 PM	#10 (permalink)
lemonstar Groupie Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1	Thank God I found this thread - I was seriously considering this recorder - isn't there anyone with anything good to say about it? Maybe it's not that compicated if you persevere with it and get to understand the way it was designed to be used? It has a very good spec on paper - lots of effects, drums, bass, mic/amp simulations, etc. but I know that, although I'm tempted by the feature set, if it's not going to be natural or (relatively) easy to use, then I won't end up using it. Does anyone here know of any other devices between these two in cost, say £200 - £450, that I might also want to try and look at? I'm going to look for some down to earth, hands on reviews of the Tascam DP-02 (the YouTube vids I looked at weren't that much use). The DP-02 is about £325 (with 40G HD/CD burner) and DP-02CF (Compact Flash Version) is around £200. I don't know how the DP-02CF compares with the BR-600 in terms of the fine detail - I think the Boss has the advantage of having a pair of internal mics but it's a USB 1 transfer compared with USB 2 for the Tascam (not a deal breaker). The NAMM show is on in the next 2 weeks and I guess some new kit (that's all ready to ship) will be announced at the same time as the show so it can benefit from the publicity the show generates (I don't know if there's any news floating around about what might get announced for compact recorders - anyone seen anything?) Fostex MR-8 perhaps? Neil Last edited by lemonstar; 01-08-2009 at 03:35 PM.