Great information Gaz - thanks. I agree that Zoom charging $0.99 cents for the iPad app is outrageous, having already unknowingly paid $40.00 for their Bluetooth connector that had absolutely no use on the R20 at that time. And Zoom gave no warning of that lack of functionality. Hey Zoom - a little lesson in Marketing and Business Ethics. You should have someone over there like Gaz Rendar making product decisions regarding functionality and fees. His demonstrated concern for enabling users to get the most benefit from your Zoom products with honest, open evaluation has done more to affect informed buying decisions than anything I have seen from Zoom. Zoom's display of disregard in the $40 I spent for a non-functional (until now) Bluetooth adaptor, and oh,... you want to be able to do something with that $40 you spent... well, that's going to cost you a dollar more... (...I've sure there's a Marketing Memo somewhere at Zoom that says... "hey we've already got 'em for the forty bucks... they don't have any choice but to pay the extra buck... they're lucky we're not charging more..."...) Well Zoom... you guys bought yourself a well deserved position on the bottom of the list on my future equipment purchases. Why don't you take all your Marketing Geniuses out to a well earned 99 cent lunch at the Dollar Store....
Agreed. Just a ridiculous business move to alienate customers. No where was it advertised you would have to buy software (the app) for the R20. The advertising disclaimers only said that *BTA-1 adapter required. That's a standard business move to have an add-on piece of hardware cost more. But then the app or software is always free. No idea what the logic was by Zoom on this one...
Haha !.... I'm just starting to look at these new devices and I'm finding how deep the rabbit hole goes. It was a mini miracle to find out about the portable tascam unit and my itch was scratched....and then I found the R20. Wow, much to learn but you actually did all the work for us. How can I not purchase this and get right into making my music ? You are a blessing, Sir. Thank you !
Thank you! And don't sleep on some of those newer hand-held Tascam recorders, they look pretty good! But if you are getting an R20, I hope the videos on this channel help. Happy recording!
A giant Thanks for the overview of the iPad app! I have an iPad but I don't have much interest in adding the Bluetooth functionality. I think the 24 bit 44.1 khz. audio sounds pretty good with the R20, the preamps are definitely better than my Zoom R24. At this resolution you're running up against all of the other devices in the signal chain, primarily microphones. My favorite mic is my Roswell Mini K-47, but 96 khz isn't going to make my audio recordings much better given consumer condenser mics and powered monitors. I'm using the R20 for audio capture and dumping the wavs to my PC to edit using my DAW and hardware. The R20 is great, but I wouldn't want to mix with it. The effects are pretty rudimentary and automation using the DAW (Reaper) is so much easier to use.
Yeah, I agree on all of that. At this stage, the bluetooth iPad app is a luxury. You don't need it. If they continue to build on it and make it more interesting, then maybe it's a better value to buy the adapter and app. I think for people who want to record, and then do some minor editing and mix down to create a song that they want to test out and see if they like it, or use it for other purposes where music is the background to a video...the R20 can do that start to finish. But if you want a more professional polish, using the R20 as a stand-alone recording device and then taking those mono .WAV files over to a computer and DAW is the best way to use it. Even cheap or free DAWs like Reaper or Cakewalk are going to be better options than staying 100% on the R20.
Thanks for the great overview of this app. I agree that Zoom is playing the "Nickle and diming you to death" game with its customers. Charging money for an app that should be free is a slap in face. One would have thought that they would have had every possible functionality of this app worked out after having this product on the market for almost a year. I think if Tascam slapped a touchscreen on its DP24 recorder that it would be the death knell for the Zoom R20.
I'm wondering if Tascam will have a response to the R20 and R12 from Zoom. I've liked Tascam recorders in the past, so it would be nice to see them respond to the competition and give consumers more viable choices.
@@GazRendar I owned a Tascam DP24 but sold it, as I found the lack of a touchscreen and wading through layers of menus very tedious and off putting. That's why the release of the Zoom R20 with its touchscreen interface had me excited but so far after having purchased one of these, I've been rather unimpressed. There are too many features Zoom left off of this unit such as minimum combo jacks, no jog dial, no punch in-out ft. switch capability and the touch screen could have been a tad bigger. But as one of your previous videos suggested, perhaps this deck is simply a prelude to a much more feature rich deck that Zoom might be planning to release in the very near future. Hopefully that will be the case!
I really hope Zoom learns from the R20 release and feedback, and from the upcoming R12 release and thinks about their next move. If they just turn the R24 into an "R30" that is an R20 plus 8 combo jacks, I think that will be boring. I'd like to see them have 8 combo jacks, sure, but it would be nice if they kept a footswitch control and added punch in/out and MIDI sync with maybe 5-pin MIDI in/out. I hope we get a truly flagship recorder and not just an R20 with 8 combo jacks.
@@GazRendar Amd hopefully they give us some real knobs. The touchscreen is nice for something, but for me it works not so well and i have to tab twice all the time. I have the DP32 and the R20 and i almost ever chose the Tascam when i record my ideas. And the lack of a real loop is a no go for me. Nice Video by the way.
Yes, I do get touchscreen fatigue on the R20. The R12 has a few more knobs, but it doesn't have a jog dial to navigate the menus. We can only hope Zoom learns and keeps on developing their products to meet the needs of their users. And thanks for watching!
So I just ordered the R20 from z sounds. I thought about getting the Bluetooth adapter, but since it doesn’t work with headphones, I’m getting a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver. This you connect to the headphone out of the R20, and then you can pair Bluetooth headphones to the transmitter/receiver. I could give a crap less about the zoom Bluetooth dongle, it’s only for this iPad app. I do have an iPad, could shell out the extra $40, to use my iPad as a control surface, but I got the R20, to track live performances, as well as basic songwriting. I plan on transferring the audio files to my iPad, for mixdown and editing anyway. So for basic tracking, you got 8 mic inputs you can track simultaneously. That’ll allow you to track most live drums, or anything. So I’m really excited to get down on the R20, as a portable tracking station. Hell with a standard Bluetooth transmitter/receiver, ($15), you can pair Bluetooth mains to the r20. That Bluetooth dongle thing sux.
This was fantastic. Great instruction. Would love to see the same thing demonstrated with using the R20 as an interface with Protools or something similar on a PC but controlling the whole thing from the iPad Zoom R20 app.
I don't think you can use the R20 as a control surface while using the iPad app. I believe the USB port doesn't work while you are actively using the iPad app because all the USB bus processing power gets routed to the BTA-1 expansion slot instead. That's something I'll have to test to find out for sure. Good idea, thanks!
If you haven't bought the BTA-1 adapter yet - you can absolutely wait. You definitely don't "need" it. But if they do add Track View to the app down the road, I could see the potential in it. Right now, it's just a luxury to work with the iPad screen.
@@GazRendar Luxury to some, perhaps. I'm worried my aging eyes need the larger platform. Is market ready for an all-in-one with clamshell, laptop-like form factor/touch screen?
Have finally spent some time with the R20 and have watched all your R20 videos. Thanks! I’m coming from a full featured Korg D32SD that finally died and am really missing normalize, quantization, dedicated mixdown global effects, bouncing, punching, only being to use either a compressor, limiter or noise gate per track, not all together. Really lousy midi patches with no way to import my own and no track naming and no channel assigning. Got a Beringer DP2800 to allow me to deal wit( the track assigns. Oh well, I still like it. The sound is great and it’s intuitive. Really hoping the iPad platform will bring in editing, and most if not all of the wants listed above.
Yeah, I had the lower end Korg D1600 years ago and I liked it. It had nice effects along with punch in/out and bouncing options that were commonplace on all the 2000-2010 multitrackers. I can't remember what I spent on the D1600, but it was a lot back in the early 2000's. Considering what you get on the R20 for (usually $349 on sale) a budget price in 2022, though, it's not bad. As you said, the R20 sounds good and the basic recording functions are intuitive to use with the touchscreen controls. It's easy for individuals or small bands to turn the thing on, record, and build songs. As long as you use it for it's strengths, the R20 can still be a good buy for a lot of musicians.
I can understand the Korg I liked the D3200 also but at this point most people are mentioning they are going to mix in a DAW why not just do the whole project on a DAW. I think GAZ does a great job with this unit and I know he said you don't need the IPAD but it really is a necessary IMO. It make things much easier.
Hey thanks for making all these videos on R 20. I am debating whether to get the Bluetooth adapter. I also I noticed they also charge you for the app too. That being said do you have to have the adapter to work the app ? or can you plug in your iPad via USB C into the unit? I am interested to know if you can pair the R 20 with your iPad via the USB-C connection on the side without the Bluetooth adapter.
You cannot hook up your iPad to the R20 via USB-C. It won't do anything. You need to buy the BTA-1 bluetooth adapter and pay the $.99 for the app in the app store. That's the only way it will work. I don't see that changing with any hypothetical future firmware updates - it'll likely always be a bluetooth connection only.
No, it doesn't work like that. For starters, it doesn't work with an iPhone, only an iPad (nothing for Android). And the bluetooth adapter only sends R20 data to the iPad, not audio. To send audio to the R20's mixer you would need a wired headphone adapter coming out of your phone, then run that as a 3.5mm stereo cable to two 1/4" mono breakout cables into inputs 1 and 2 of the R20. And then you would hear that audio through the headphone out of the R20.
Yeah, there are some funny things with any of the connections - when you can connect and when you can do things with the USB port. I'm noticing more quirks as I try to use anything with the USB, whether it's hooked up to a computer, flash drive, or MIDI controller. I'm trying to test everything and come up with a list of when USB connections work, and when they stall out. The R20's USB port is type-C, but I think the bus speed is actually only 2.0, so it sometimes causes weird things to happen when I plug it into a USB 3.0 port, whether that's a type A or a type C. I have been having more success when I plug the R20 into a USB 2.0 port...that's something you can try if your computer has it.
Hi Gaz. Thank got there is someone like you on this channel demonstrating the R20. I have upgraded to version 3 and connected the BTA-1 and connected to my i-pad. I am struggling to find how to select a drum kit from the I-pad via the R20. I click on the drum icon at the top of the screen, but dont get the option to select a kit. Probably something I am missing, didnt know if you could help with this.. Many thanks........Bernie
Without the track view on the iPad, it's better to just do it on the R20 itself. After you touch the Drum icon at the top to convert the track to a drum track you have to touch that Drawer icon to "open the drawer" of built-in drum loops. It's the same icon where you select effects while tracks are in Audio mode. But you'll need the track view to extend the short drum loop in a rapid copy-and-paste fashion across the timeline.
Been having some issues with the R20 not recognizing that the BTA-1 is inserted. Have to reinsert a few times to get it to initialize the BT stick. Other than that I am liking the ability to go over to my keyboard and initiate a recording session “remotely” since it’s set up on a different table. Really didn’t see a big advantage to the app until trying that and it works great.
I agree, a big advantage is that you can leave the R20 on your main recording desk and then walk over to a different area where maybe your have a sound isolation stand for vocals or a drum set-up and then you can use the iPad to arm tracks and record without having to stand right over the R20 itself. I did have a stretch where the BTA-1 and iPad were not communicating. Ultimately I did a factory reset and that fixed the problem. So sometimes it might just be random computer problems that require you to do a factory reset or like you said, pop the BTA-1 device in and out of the socket over and over until it finally is recognized properly. Glad you got it all working, though.
@@GazRendar Thanks Gaz! Will try the reset. Really hoping they will add the editing function to the iPad along with some other “wants.” Really missing the auto punch in and out where you can set the punch spot for both.
Punch in/out would be great. And seems like an easy thing to create under the Marker settings. Coming up, I hope to do a "1-year later" video with the R20, and discussing the lack of punch in/out would definitely be a talking point.
@@GazRendar Add to the list: Track naming. Really needed on this machine due to the flexibility of moving tracks. Normalization at mixdown Midi sync Midi patch uploading or allow for access or integration to the numerous midi apps out there. At least add a grand piano patch. More time signature options Virtual tracks, yeah I know that’s a push….. Channel assigns option Auto fade in and out
No. The R20's software does not know how to decode mp3 compression. You would have to use a computer to first convert your mp3 file to a .WAV file that is 24-bit/44.1kHz. There is software out there that can do that for you.
Im trying to use the r20 as audio interface with my iphone. To record videos live with the r20 audio. I have the apple cable with usb-c one side and the other classic iphone down center input (used mainly to charge, but now been used as audio input too). I already used with my pc and and the audio was recorded but with some problems that i though was my need to learn and ajust the audio input and configuration. the cable is a apple usb c. when i record at the iphone, there is no r20 audio, only iphone audio as always. You already tried record with iphone?
I have not tried to use an iPhone as a mic for the R20. I don't think Lightning cable from the iPhone to USB-C to the R20 is going to work. You would need to run an Apple lightning cable to 3.5mm audio out, to a cable that converts 3.5mm stereo to individual 1/4" mono jacks, and plug those jacks into Inputs 1&2 on the R20. I hope that answers your question. Not a bad idea for a quick youtube video....
No. You cannot pair anything to the R20. You can only pair it to the app with an iPad. The BTA-1 adapter doesn't transmit audio. It only transmits data to the app. It won't work with speakers or earbuds. I made a video about it months before the app finally came out, if you are interested in seeing that: ua-cam.com/video/ulFNTLKXYy0/v-deo.html
Great job with this video. However Zooms also touts this app as for the blind. Can you please do a short video with the IOS voice function so that the visually impaired can get an idea of what it would be like using the system before they have to make a choice to lay out the money to buy the R20 and the IPAD> Thanks in advance.
Sorry, I know I've been slow with posting videos lately due to being sick and having all kinds of random problems outside of UA-cam to contend with. I also haven't had a chance to really dive into the voice control yet. But it's absolutely on my to-do list. I've had several people ask me about the app for the visually impaired over the past 9 months and I want to make sure I can make a knowledgeable video about it. I'll try to do it soon!
The BTA-1 adapter does NOT work with the R12. There is no slot in the R12 for it. The R12 does have a very similar iPad app, but it only works by connecting the iPad through the USB-C port on the R12.
This is a really well done video and very helpful. I have an unusual question. Could I use this as a pseudo guitar multi-effects processor at home for jamming? For example, could I plug in my electric guitar to the R20 and turn on an effect 1 at a time or multiple effects at once? I.e - chorus, delay, OD, gate? The reason I’m asking is that I would like to play multi effects with my guitar through powered speakers connected to the R20- and of course do some recording as well. Trying to kill two birds with one stone. Any thoughts or advice?
You could do that if you wanted to. Just run your electric guitar through input 1, turn on the Hi-Z switch, and then goto the track settings and select one of the empty effect patches. Each empty effects patch has three slots where you can essentially drop in virtual stomp box effects. You can just put in one virtual stomp box (a chorus or something), and test it out and tweak the settings for it. Then if you want, you can add in a second and third virtual stomp box...maybe an overdrive and a reverb. You can tweak the settings on each of the stomp boxes. And then run that through the monitor out to some powered speakers or an amp. That would definitely work. However, I would only recommend you go that route if you absolutely ALSO plan on recording. If you mostly want to use the effects, you could just buy Zoom's G1 Four for about $80 and I bet it has almost all the same virtual stomp box effects as the R20. And it can do more because it can put 4 or 5 virtual stomp boxes into a single patch. Or if you want to use the multitrack record features, but only need 8 tracks while wanting to use the effects...but also want the unit to battery powered and cost $299 or less, you could get the R12. I just did a first impression video on that unit: ua-cam.com/video/4DlCoaATouM/v-deo.html
@@GazRendar Thank you so much. Very helpful. Would there be an easy way to switch on and off each effect or do I have to dive into the menu? I definitely will record because I play drums and guitar and will need the mic inputs of the R20. Thanks again.
Wow, I was thinking about R20, but this is so underdeveloped - no stereo track? You have to set L and R separately? (even old R8 had this) No routing, but 1/4 jacks only on track 1 and 2, the rest is for MICs? (again R8 had routing) and no slicing or editing waveforms on iPad? (maybe it could be added later...) Someone was really trying to make this for podcasts.
If you watch some of my other videos on the R20 I demonstrate how to either record stereo tracks or import stereo tracks. It's easy to do, just like on the R8. And honestly, track routing is unnecessary on the R20 because after you record something it's incredibly easy to move that freshly recorded audio region to any track, anywhere within the track, using the touchscreen. And sadly, at least on v3.00 firmware and v1.02 for the app, you cannot split, slice, or edit waves/audio regions directly on the iPad's screen. You still have to perform those operations on the R20's screen. But I'm going to remain hopeful that those editing features eventually make it to the iPad app in a future update.
To be clear...there is no way I would recommend buying an iPad just to use it with the R20. That's not even close to being worth it. Only buy an iPad if you are going to use it 95% of the time doing typical iPad things. Then if you ALSO use it with the R20 it's ok. Any new iPad for sale right now is totally fine to use with the R20. It just requires and iPad that runs iPadOS 13 or higher. So like an iPad mini 5th or 6th gen, a regular iPad 9th or 10th gen, a current iPad Air or a current iPad Pro all definitely work.
I find the sound quality to be perfectly fine for my needs. On UA-cam you can find my recent video game covers using Pocket Operators - those are recorded directly into the R20. But the Pocket Operators are relatively lo-fi. When I record guitar and bass, I think it sounds fine. But right now I'm not publishing my other (non-UA-cam) music that I've been making on the R20. If you truly want 100% professional sounding recordings you'll need a good studio, or at least a computer with a quality interface and a good DAW. The biggest limitation holding the R20 back from truly professional recordings is that you can only max out at 24-bit/44.1kHz. If the R20 could do 24-bit/96kHz, then it would match most computer with decent interfaces. But if you can get it for $299-$349 as an all-in-one recorder, that's pretty good in my opinion. So it's good if you have reasonable expectations for what you are buying.
It's Midi so nobody knows an till it's converted over to audio but in the mean time the lovely messages 1-127 you can appreciate them as spectacular spaceholder of information.
The control app is only on iOS. There is no Android version at this time, and if I had to guess, I doubt Zoom has an app in development. For Windows, the R20 can connect via USB, but only for the Guitar Lab software (to add/delete on board effects) and as an interface for DAWs. There is no Windows or Mac control app for the R20.
I think it's very good quality and you have 16-tracks to layer synths, guitars, and vocals. You can make complete songs that still sound very good. But the R20 has been about $350. I think that's a good value. But no doubt, you can get better quality with a $1,000 laptop, a good DAW, and a $300 interface that has decent preamps and 96kHz recording capabilities.
@@GazRendar layers at same time was what I was getting at all I want to be Abe to plug everything in all at once and record and have video also connected to that studio quality
No minimum requirement was given for the iPad in terms of model. The model requirement is dictated by the iOS version, and right now for v1.0 of the app it requires an iPad with at least iOS 13.6. That covers a lot of iPads. Only the really old models can't support that iOS operating system.
It's in the app store. But it's only for iPads running iOS 13 or higher. You won't see the app listed in the app store if you search with an iPhone or an older iPad.
I don't think so. There is no expansion port for the BTA-1 Bluetooth adapter in the R12. It's possible ZOOM built a bluetooth radio into the R12, but at it's lower price point, I doubt it.
Oh, I still use my R8 and love it...the built-in mics and sequencer are handy features, for sure. But the R8 can't compete with the basic editing features available on the R20. I greatly prefer splitting and trimming my audio tracks on the R20.
Not a dumb question! Just think of the iPad as a control screen and nothing else. You're are not recording anything into or through the iPad. Likewise, you can't hear anything through the iPad. All the sound is going through the actual R20 device. So in order to hear anything you need to have headphones plugged into the R20, or monitors plugged into the R20's monitor-out.
@@GazRendar Thank you so much Gaz, I really appreciate the answered question of a simple non tech kinda-guy lol. God Bless you and your family for 2023. Love from Ireland 🤙🏻
![[Eng Sub] ZOOM R12 multi-track recording](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5sN4RpsQYx0/mqdefault.jpg)
This is an amazing app for blind people to use with voice over. So few companies make the effort to help with visually impaired. Thank You Zoom!!!
Thanks dude. I’ve learned so much from you. I’m getting better and better at my r20 evert time you post.
Thanks for the kind words. I really appreciate it and happy I can help fellow multitrack users out there.
Great information Gaz - thanks. I agree that Zoom charging $0.99 cents for the iPad app is outrageous, having already unknowingly paid $40.00 for their Bluetooth connector that had absolutely no use on the R20 at that time. And Zoom gave no warning of that lack of functionality.
Hey Zoom - a little lesson in Marketing and Business Ethics. You should have someone over there like Gaz Rendar making product decisions regarding functionality and fees. His demonstrated concern for enabling users to get the most benefit from your Zoom products with honest, open evaluation has done more to affect informed buying decisions than anything I have seen from Zoom.
Zoom's display of disregard in the $40 I spent for a non-functional (until now) Bluetooth adaptor, and oh,... you want to be able to do something with that $40 you spent... well, that's going to cost you a dollar more... (...I've sure there's a Marketing Memo somewhere at Zoom that says... "hey we've already got 'em for the forty bucks... they don't have any choice but to pay the extra buck... they're lucky we're not charging more..."...)
Well Zoom... you guys bought yourself a well deserved position on the bottom of the list on my future equipment purchases. Why don't you take all your Marketing Geniuses out to a well earned 99 cent lunch at the Dollar Store....
Agreed. Just a ridiculous business move to alienate customers. No where was it advertised you would have to buy software (the app) for the R20. The advertising disclaimers only said that *BTA-1 adapter required. That's a standard business move to have an add-on piece of hardware cost more. But then the app or software is always free. No idea what the logic was by Zoom on this one...
Haha !.... I'm just starting to look at these new devices and I'm finding how deep the rabbit hole goes.
It was a mini miracle to find out about the portable tascam unit and my itch was scratched....and then I found the R20. Wow, much to learn but you actually did all the work for us. How can I not purchase this and get right into making my music ?
You are a blessing, Sir. Thank you !
Thank you!
And don't sleep on some of those newer hand-held Tascam recorders, they look pretty good! But if you are getting an R20, I hope the videos on this channel help. Happy recording!
A giant Thanks for the overview of the iPad app!
I have an iPad but I don't have much interest in adding the Bluetooth functionality. I think the 24 bit 44.1 khz. audio sounds pretty good with the R20, the preamps are definitely better than my Zoom R24. At this resolution you're running up against all of the other devices in the signal chain, primarily microphones. My favorite mic is my Roswell Mini K-47, but 96 khz isn't going to make my audio recordings much better given consumer condenser mics and powered monitors.
I'm using the R20 for audio capture and dumping the wavs to my PC to edit using my DAW and hardware. The R20 is great, but I wouldn't want to mix with it. The effects are pretty rudimentary and automation using the DAW (Reaper) is so much easier to use.
Yeah, I agree on all of that. At this stage, the bluetooth iPad app is a luxury. You don't need it. If they continue to build on it and make it more interesting, then maybe it's a better value to buy the adapter and app.
I think for people who want to record, and then do some minor editing and mix down to create a song that they want to test out and see if they like it, or use it for other purposes where music is the background to a video...the R20 can do that start to finish. But if you want a more professional polish, using the R20 as a stand-alone recording device and then taking those mono .WAV files over to a computer and DAW is the best way to use it. Even cheap or free DAWs like Reaper or Cakewalk are going to be better options than staying 100% on the R20.
Thanks Gaz. I've been messing around with mine, and so far I like it. Will take time.
You're welcome. Thanks for watching!
Great video! Thanks for posting.
And thank you for watching!
Thanks for the great overview of this app. I agree that Zoom is playing the "Nickle and diming you to death" game with its customers. Charging money for an app that should be free is a slap in face. One would have thought that they would have had every possible functionality of this app worked out after having this product on the market for almost a year.
I think if Tascam slapped a touchscreen on its DP24 recorder that it would be the death knell for the Zoom R20.
I'm wondering if Tascam will have a response to the R20 and R12 from Zoom. I've liked Tascam recorders in the past, so it would be nice to see them respond to the competition and give consumers more viable choices.
@@GazRendar I owned a Tascam DP24 but sold it, as I found the lack of a touchscreen and wading through layers of menus very tedious and off putting. That's why the release of the Zoom R20 with its touchscreen interface had me excited but so far after having purchased one of these, I've been rather unimpressed. There are too many features Zoom left off of this unit such as minimum combo jacks, no jog dial, no punch in-out ft. switch capability and the touch screen could have been a tad bigger. But as one of your previous videos suggested, perhaps this deck is simply a prelude to a much more feature rich deck that Zoom might be planning to release in the very near future. Hopefully that will be the case!
I really hope Zoom learns from the R20 release and feedback, and from the upcoming R12 release and thinks about their next move. If they just turn the R24 into an "R30" that is an R20 plus 8 combo jacks, I think that will be boring. I'd like to see them have 8 combo jacks, sure, but it would be nice if they kept a footswitch control and added punch in/out and MIDI sync with maybe 5-pin MIDI in/out. I hope we get a truly flagship recorder and not just an R20 with 8 combo jacks.
@@GazRendar Amd hopefully they give us some real knobs. The touchscreen is nice for something, but for me it works not so well and i have to tab twice all the time. I have the DP32 and the R20 and i almost ever chose the Tascam when i record my ideas. And the lack of a real loop is a no go for me. Nice Video by the way.
Yes, I do get touchscreen fatigue on the R20. The R12 has a few more knobs, but it doesn't have a jog dial to navigate the menus. We can only hope Zoom learns and keeps on developing their products to meet the needs of their users. And thanks for watching!
So I just ordered the R20 from z sounds. I thought about getting the Bluetooth adapter, but since it doesn’t work with headphones, I’m getting a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver. This you connect to the headphone out of the R20, and then you can pair Bluetooth headphones to the transmitter/receiver. I could give a crap less about the zoom Bluetooth dongle, it’s only for this iPad app. I do have an iPad, could shell out the extra $40, to use my iPad as a control surface, but I got the R20, to track live performances, as well as basic songwriting. I plan on transferring the audio files to my iPad, for mixdown and editing anyway. So for basic tracking, you got 8 mic inputs you can track simultaneously. That’ll allow you to track most live drums, or anything. So I’m really excited to get down on the R20, as a portable tracking station. Hell with a standard Bluetooth transmitter/receiver, ($15), you can pair Bluetooth mains to the r20. That Bluetooth dongle thing sux.
This was fantastic. Great instruction. Would love to see the same thing demonstrated with using the R20 as an interface with Protools or something similar on a PC but controlling the whole thing from the iPad Zoom R20 app.
I don't think you can use the R20 as a control surface while using the iPad app. I believe the USB port doesn't work while you are actively using the iPad app because all the USB bus processing power gets routed to the BTA-1 expansion slot instead.
That's something I'll have to test to find out for sure. Good idea, thanks!
100% agree. I am waiting until track view is available on the app.
If you haven't bought the BTA-1 adapter yet - you can absolutely wait. You definitely don't "need" it. But if they do add Track View to the app down the road, I could see the potential in it. Right now, it's just a luxury to work with the iPad screen.
@@GazRendar Luxury to some, perhaps. I'm worried my aging eyes need the larger platform. Is market ready for an all-in-one with clamshell, laptop-like form factor/touch screen?
I hope in future updates we can edit the records in the timeline! If this is a future fact I will very happy with this capability!
I'm going to be optimistic and believe it will happen. It just might take awhile.
Have finally spent some time with the R20 and have watched all your R20 videos. Thanks!
I’m coming from a full featured Korg D32SD that finally died and am really missing normalize, quantization, dedicated mixdown global effects, bouncing, punching, only being to use either a compressor, limiter or noise gate per track, not all together. Really lousy midi patches with no way to import my own and no track naming and no channel assigning. Got a Beringer DP2800 to allow me to deal wit( the track assigns.
Oh well, I still like it. The sound is great and it’s intuitive. Really hoping the iPad platform will bring in editing, and most if not all of the wants listed above.
Yeah, I had the lower end Korg D1600 years ago and I liked it. It had nice effects along with punch in/out and bouncing options that were commonplace on all the 2000-2010 multitrackers. I can't remember what I spent on the D1600, but it was a lot back in the early 2000's.
Considering what you get on the R20 for (usually $349 on sale) a budget price in 2022, though, it's not bad. As you said, the R20 sounds good and the basic recording functions are intuitive to use with the touchscreen controls. It's easy for individuals or small bands to turn the thing on, record, and build songs. As long as you use it for it's strengths, the R20 can still be a good buy for a lot of musicians.
I can understand the Korg I liked the D3200 also but at this point most people are mentioning they are going to mix in a DAW why not just do the whole project on a DAW. I think GAZ does a great job with this unit and I know he said you don't need the IPAD but it really is a necessary IMO. It make things much easier.
Hey thanks for making all these videos on R 20.
I am debating whether to get the Bluetooth adapter. I also I noticed they also charge you for the app too.
That being said do you have to have the adapter to work the app ? or can you plug in your iPad via USB C into the unit?
I am interested to know if you can pair the R 20 with your iPad via the USB-C connection on the side without the Bluetooth adapter.
You cannot hook up your iPad to the R20 via USB-C. It won't do anything. You need to buy the BTA-1 bluetooth adapter and pay the $.99 for the app in the app store. That's the only way it will work. I don't see that changing with any hypothetical future firmware updates - it'll likely always be a bluetooth connection only.
I love to stream music from my phone to the mixer, is this supported by the interface? Can I use this device as a Bluetooth bridge for audio?
No, it doesn't work like that. For starters, it doesn't work with an iPhone, only an iPad (nothing for Android). And the bluetooth adapter only sends R20 data to the iPad, not audio. To send audio to the R20's mixer you would need a wired headphone adapter coming out of your phone, then run that as a 3.5mm stereo cable to two 1/4" mono breakout cables into inputs 1 and 2 of the R20. And then you would hear that audio through the headphone out of the R20.
Any chance you can do a video on Guitar Lab? I am struggling with getting them to talk to each other thanks
Yep. Working on it! Hopefully in the next week or two I'll be able to get something posted.
Thank you. Guitar Lab recognizes the R20 when I am in properties of Projects but when I go to the project it does not
Yeah, there are some funny things with any of the connections - when you can connect and when you can do things with the USB port. I'm noticing more quirks as I try to use anything with the USB, whether it's hooked up to a computer, flash drive, or MIDI controller. I'm trying to test everything and come up with a list of when USB connections work, and when they stall out. The R20's USB port is type-C, but I think the bus speed is actually only 2.0, so it sometimes causes weird things to happen when I plug it into a USB 3.0 port, whether that's a type A or a type C. I have been having more success when I plug the R20 into a USB 2.0 port...that's something you can try if your computer has it.
Hi Gaz. Thank got there is someone like you on this channel demonstrating the R20. I have upgraded to version 3 and connected the BTA-1 and connected to my i-pad. I am struggling to find how to select a drum kit from the I-pad via the R20. I click on the drum icon at the top of the screen, but dont get the option to select a kit. Probably something I am missing, didnt know if you could help with this.. Many thanks........Bernie
Without the track view on the iPad, it's better to just do it on the R20 itself. After you touch the Drum icon at the top to convert the track to a drum track you have to touch that Drawer icon to "open the drawer" of built-in drum loops. It's the same icon where you select effects while tracks are in Audio mode. But you'll need the track view to extend the short drum loop in a rapid copy-and-paste fashion across the timeline.
@@GazRendar Thanks for the swift response, I will give it a go. Hopefully, they may include the drums in a later version. Many thanks once again
Been having some issues with the R20 not recognizing that the BTA-1 is inserted. Have to reinsert a few times to get it to initialize the BT stick.
Other than that I am liking the ability to go over to my keyboard and initiate a recording session “remotely” since it’s set up on a different table. Really didn’t see a big advantage to the app until trying that and it works great.
I agree, a big advantage is that you can leave the R20 on your main recording desk and then walk over to a different area where maybe your have a sound isolation stand for vocals or a drum set-up and then you can use the iPad to arm tracks and record without having to stand right over the R20 itself.
I did have a stretch where the BTA-1 and iPad were not communicating. Ultimately I did a factory reset and that fixed the problem. So sometimes it might just be random computer problems that require you to do a factory reset or like you said, pop the BTA-1 device in and out of the socket over and over until it finally is recognized properly. Glad you got it all working, though.
@@GazRendar Thanks Gaz! Will try the reset. Really hoping they will add the editing function to the iPad along with some other “wants.” Really missing the auto punch in and out where you can set the punch spot for both.
Punch in/out would be great. And seems like an easy thing to create under the Marker settings. Coming up, I hope to do a "1-year later" video with the R20, and discussing the lack of punch in/out would definitely be a talking point.
@@GazRendar Add to the list:
Track naming. Really needed on this machine due to the flexibility of moving tracks.
Normalization at mixdown
Midi sync
Midi patch uploading or allow for access or integration to the numerous midi apps out there. At least add a grand piano patch.
More time signature options
Virtual tracks, yeah I know that’s a push…..
Channel assigns option
Auto fade in and out
Good morning... is it possible to upload the backing track as an mp3 file?
No. The R20's software does not know how to decode mp3 compression. You would have to use a computer to first convert your mp3 file to a .WAV file that is 24-bit/44.1kHz. There is software out there that can do that for you.
Im trying to use the r20 as audio interface with my iphone. To record videos live with the r20 audio. I have the apple cable with usb-c one side and the other classic iphone down center input (used mainly to charge, but now been used as audio input too). I already used with my pc and and the audio was recorded but with some problems that i though was my need to learn and ajust the audio input and configuration. the cable is a apple usb c. when i record at the iphone, there is no r20 audio, only iphone audio as always. You already tried record with iphone?
I have not tried to use an iPhone as a mic for the R20. I don't think Lightning cable from the iPhone to USB-C to the R20 is going to work. You would need to run an Apple lightning cable to 3.5mm audio out, to a cable that converts 3.5mm stereo to individual 1/4" mono jacks, and plug those jacks into Inputs 1&2 on the R20. I hope that answers your question. Not a bad idea for a quick youtube video....
So pairing a bluetooth speaker is just as easy as the tablet? All I need is the adapter?
No. You cannot pair anything to the R20. You can only pair it to the app with an iPad.
The BTA-1 adapter doesn't transmit audio. It only transmits data to the app. It won't work with speakers or earbuds. I made a video about it months before the app finally came out, if you are interested in seeing that:
ua-cam.com/video/ulFNTLKXYy0/v-deo.html
Great job with this video. However Zooms also touts this app as for the blind. Can you please do a short video with the IOS voice function so that the visually impaired can get an idea of what it would be like using the system before they have to make a choice to lay out the money to buy the R20 and the IPAD> Thanks in advance.
Sorry, I know I've been slow with posting videos lately due to being sick and having all kinds of random problems outside of UA-cam to contend with. I also haven't had a chance to really dive into the voice control yet. But it's absolutely on my to-do list. I've had several people ask me about the app for the visually impaired over the past 9 months and I want to make sure I can make a knowledgeable video about it. I'll try to do it soon!
I would like to know if the Bta 1 adapter works with the R12 zoom? thanks
The BTA-1 adapter does NOT work with the R12. There is no slot in the R12 for it. The R12 does have a very similar iPad app, but it only works by connecting the iPad through the USB-C port on the R12.
This is a really well done video and very helpful. I have an unusual question. Could I use this as a pseudo guitar multi-effects processor at home for jamming? For example, could I plug in my electric guitar to the R20 and turn on an effect 1 at a time or multiple effects at once? I.e - chorus, delay, OD, gate? The reason I’m asking is that I would like to play multi effects with my guitar through powered speakers connected to the R20- and of course do some recording as well. Trying to kill two birds with one stone. Any thoughts or advice?
You could do that if you wanted to. Just run your electric guitar through input 1, turn on the Hi-Z switch, and then goto the track settings and select one of the empty effect patches. Each empty effects patch has three slots where you can essentially drop in virtual stomp box effects. You can just put in one virtual stomp box (a chorus or something), and test it out and tweak the settings for it. Then if you want, you can add in a second and third virtual stomp box...maybe an overdrive and a reverb. You can tweak the settings on each of the stomp boxes. And then run that through the monitor out to some powered speakers or an amp. That would definitely work.
However, I would only recommend you go that route if you absolutely ALSO plan on recording. If you mostly want to use the effects, you could just buy Zoom's G1 Four for about $80 and I bet it has almost all the same virtual stomp box effects as the R20. And it can do more because it can put 4 or 5 virtual stomp boxes into a single patch.
Or if you want to use the multitrack record features, but only need 8 tracks while wanting to use the effects...but also want the unit to battery powered and cost $299 or less, you could get the R12. I just did a first impression video on that unit:
ua-cam.com/video/4DlCoaATouM/v-deo.html
@@GazRendar Thank you so much. Very helpful. Would there be an easy way to switch on and off each effect or do I have to dive into the menu? I definitely will record because I play drums and guitar and will need the mic inputs of the R20. Thanks again.
you are so right 👍
Wow, I was thinking about R20, but this is so underdeveloped - no stereo track? You have to set L and R separately? (even old R8 had this) No routing, but 1/4 jacks only on track 1 and 2, the rest is for MICs? (again R8 had routing) and no slicing or editing waveforms on iPad? (maybe it could be added later...) Someone was really trying to make this for podcasts.
If you watch some of my other videos on the R20 I demonstrate how to either record stereo tracks or import stereo tracks. It's easy to do, just like on the R8. And honestly, track routing is unnecessary on the R20 because after you record something it's incredibly easy to move that freshly recorded audio region to any track, anywhere within the track, using the touchscreen.
And sadly, at least on v3.00 firmware and v1.02 for the app, you cannot split, slice, or edit waves/audio regions directly on the iPad's screen. You still have to perform those operations on the R20's screen. But I'm going to remain hopeful that those editing features eventually make it to the iPad app in a future update.
Buying a iPad which one too buy?
To be clear...there is no way I would recommend buying an iPad just to use it with the R20. That's not even close to being worth it. Only buy an iPad if you are going to use it 95% of the time doing typical iPad things. Then if you ALSO use it with the R20 it's ok.
Any new iPad for sale right now is totally fine to use with the R20. It just requires and iPad that runs iPadOS 13 or higher. So like an iPad mini 5th or 6th gen, a regular iPad 9th or 10th gen, a current iPad Air or a current iPad Pro all definitely work.
How is the sound quality? Ive yet to find a standalone recorder that sounds anywhere near the quality of my computer.
I find the sound quality to be perfectly fine for my needs. On UA-cam you can find my recent video game covers using Pocket Operators - those are recorded directly into the R20. But the Pocket Operators are relatively lo-fi. When I record guitar and bass, I think it sounds fine. But right now I'm not publishing my other (non-UA-cam) music that I've been making on the R20. If you truly want 100% professional sounding recordings you'll need a good studio, or at least a computer with a quality interface and a good DAW. The biggest limitation holding the R20 back from truly professional recordings is that you can only max out at 24-bit/44.1kHz. If the R20 could do 24-bit/96kHz, then it would match most computer with decent interfaces. But if you can get it for $299-$349 as an all-in-one recorder, that's pretty good in my opinion. So it's good if you have reasonable expectations for what you are buying.
It's Midi so nobody knows an till it's converted over to audio but in the mean time the lovely messages 1-127 you can appreciate them as spectacular spaceholder of information.
Will this work with a fire tablet ?
No. It's iPad only. No Android, no Fire tablets. Won't even work on an iPhone. Just iPad.
@@GazRendar ok thanks
Is there android or windows compatible software for the R20?
The control app is only on iOS. There is no Android version at this time, and if I had to guess, I doubt Zoom has an app in development. For Windows, the R20 can connect via USB, but only for the Guitar Lab software (to add/delete on board effects) and as an interface for DAWs. There is no Windows or Mac control app for the R20.
I want to put multiple synths and guitar and vocals but I need to record into phone videos I need studio quality
I think it's very good quality and you have 16-tracks to layer synths, guitars, and vocals. You can make complete songs that still sound very good. But the R20 has been about $350. I think that's a good value. But no doubt, you can get better quality with a $1,000 laptop, a good DAW, and a $300 interface that has decent preamps and 96kHz recording capabilities.
@@GazRendar layers at same time was what I was getting at all I want to be Abe to plug everything in all at once and record and have video also connected to that studio quality
Is there Android version? Thank you
Nope, no Android version. Not sure if an Android version is in the works or not, but it seems like Zoom mostly sticks to iOS for their products.
Whats the minimum requirement model of ipad? Thx!
No minimum requirement was given for the iPad in terms of model. The model requirement is dictated by the iOS version, and right now for v1.0 of the app it requires an iPad with at least iOS 13.6. That covers a lot of iPads. Only the really old models can't support that iOS operating system.
@@GazRendar 6th Generation onwards will do it....
Surely this app works via usb c
No, you need the bluetooth adapter to have the iPad app work with the R20. However, if you have the smaller R12, that only works via USB-C.
Thanks!
Thank you so much!! I'll work on making some content about voice commands with the app soon!
Can't find the app
It's in the app store. But it's only for iPads running iOS 13 or higher. You won't see the app listed in the app store if you search with an iPhone or an older iPad.
Hi Gaz,do you think there will be also a App for the R 12 ? Thanks and greetings from Switzerland 🇨🇭 you make a 👏 Job 👍
I don't think so. There is no expansion port for the BTA-1 Bluetooth adapter in the R12. It's possible ZOOM built a bluetooth radio into the R12, but at it's lower price point, I doubt it.
R8 for the win folks. Think about it……
Oh, I still use my R8 and love it...the built-in mics and sequencer are handy features, for sure. But the R8 can't compete with the basic editing features available on the R20. I greatly prefer splitting and trimming my audio tracks on the R20.
Probably the dumber question.. can I listen to what I just recorded on the app without having my ears on? Sorry, I’m a newby 👊🏻
Not a dumb question! Just think of the iPad as a control screen and nothing else. You're are not recording anything into or through the iPad. Likewise, you can't hear anything through the iPad. All the sound is going through the actual R20 device. So in order to hear anything you need to have headphones plugged into the R20, or monitors plugged into the R20's monitor-out.
@@GazRendar Thank you so much Gaz, I really appreciate the answered question of a simple non tech kinda-guy lol. God Bless you and your family for 2023. Love from Ireland 🤙🏻
Shame np Android
Yeah, I know. If they develop anything for Android - my guess is that it would take a long time. Like a year or two.
FALA MUITO.
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