ZOOM LiveTrak L-8 For Podcasting
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- Опубліковано 18 жов 2024
- In today’s episode, we have an overview of the ZOOM LiveTrak L-8 audio recorder/mixer. This little thing can work nicely for podcasting or musicians but we’ll focus on the features relevant to podcasting. This competitor to the RODECaster Pro prompted me to have a closer look and talk about the differences and which may be a better fit for you.
#Podcast #LiveTrakL8 #ZOOM
If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses at school.learnli... including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.
Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
Zoom LiveTrak L-8 Recorder/Mixing Board - B&H bhpho.to/2twi3q9 Amazon geni.us/81Wt0VO
RODECaster Pro Podcasting Recorder/Mixer - B&H bhpho.to/2MI0qZS
Shure SM7B Dynamic Broadcast Microphone - B&H bhpho.to/2NTUZHi
Electro-Voice RE20 Broadcast Microphone - B&H bhpho.to/2z4hAc2
Cloudlifter Microphone Activator - B&H bhpho.to/31jni9y
FETHead Microphone Activator - B&H bhpho.to/2m1H0mg
Anker USB Battery Bank - B&H bhpho.to/31grpDb
SD Card I used for the LiveTrak L-8 - B&H bhpho.to/2osc9AD
Panasonic GH5 Camera used for most B-Roll shots - B&H bhpho.to/2UNeAA0 Amazon geni.us/POEv7
Panasonic GH5S Camera use for talking head shots - B&H bhpho.to/2Cbt6mY Amazon geni.us/hnP75j
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 Micro 4/3 Lens - B&H bhpho.to/2wMxVDs Amazon geni.us/6cvOQ
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - B&H bhpho.to/2i6s2gv Amazon geni.us/QXvPz8b
Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself: geni.us/G7by
Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd
Love how Curtis summarizes his video in the beginning but I still watch the whole thing because of how good his review is!
Thanks Erwick!
No, thank you Curtis! I've learnt a lot from you.
Can it supports lavalier microphone directly?
No kidding....that's a very smart feature of his vids
Exactly!
My appreciation for people doing podcasts and especially live video casts grows and grows. Buttons, buttons, buttons, audio mixers, video stream mixers, multiple cameras, multiple guests, incoming calls, and on and on. 👍
Livestreams can be tricky and risky. 😀
Your tutorials should be required viewing for every UA-camr who wants to post a how-to or product review. You get to the point without all the histrionic "comedic" and editing hijinx, you cover all the bases, give some technical analysis and present use cases. Your videos are well lit and well recorded. And you go beyond the basics to some of the non-obvious considerations. Love your stuff, man! Have to sift through so much crap to get a decent product review nowadays.
Thanks Akamatsu!
Long time without seeing a video from you Curtis, I really love how professional you are reviewing and teaching about sound.... indeed, you are a reference for learning good audio techniques.
Gracias Spanish Voice Over!
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for reviewing L-8, Curtis!
I’ve been deliberating on this purchase for almost a month by now, but there was next to no hands-on info about it. Your review is something I really needed all along.
Thanks!
I’ve had my Zoom LiveTrack L-8 for a couple of weeks and have done a couple of podcasts with it. I’m very happy with this unit for the
Price and the battery backup. I understand Rode has an add on for battery backup but you have to buy it. I have a hard case that everything
Sits in. I just open the case, plug everything in and I’m ready to go.
👍 Glad to hear its working well!
I was doing a search for a battery add on but cant find any mention.
Someone who was testing one on UA-cam made mention of it.
@@innercynic2784 Yes, several have mentioned in the comments here that RODE now has an accessory pack which includes a USB power adapter which you can buy here: rode.com/rodecaster/promo
It appears as though that's a kit being offered to buyers of the rodecaster at the present. Not something you can buy separately. The USB to DC powering cable is really what gets my attention. I do hope they sell that separately
Great review as ever Curtiss. I use a LiveTrak L-8 for live streaming and love it. There are a few other things your viewers might like to know based on my experience:
- If you use it as a USB interface it draws power from your laptop. We found this out the hard way while live streaming a funeral from the cemetery. We nearly drained the laptop battery before I figured out what was happening and switched to an analog feed from the XLR outputs.
- You can configure the effects and EQ on each input separately. The interface is a little clunky since you have to select each input individually and then set the levels and effects choices - but it works well enough. Note that channels 7, 8 and 9,10 are handled as stereo pairs so the effects apply to both channels.
- When you use it as a USB interface to your Mac (I can't speak to what happens on a PC) you get all the inputs and the master mix. They appear as separate channels in the audio interface but unless you have a DAW or other audio routing software (e.g. loopback from RogueAmoeba) they can all end up in a single stereo signal. Where this is an issue is that the mute button only mutes the signal in the master mixed output. So you still hear the raw input in your output mix, albeit at a lower level. This can be an issue on Zoom calls etc. I use loopback to route the master mix only to my output and all works like a champ.
- The first 2 XLR inputs can be switched between Mic level and High Z - so can be used for a guitar pickup. The other 4 XLR inputs switch between mic level and line level input. Inputs 7, 8 and 9.10 can also be line-level analog inputs using a 1/4" TRS cable.
- The mic inputs take either XLR or 1/4" TRS jack. In both cases they accept a balanced input. This is great right up to the point that you use a wireless mic (e.g. Sennheiser G3/G4, XS-WD, etc.) with an 1/8" TRS dual mono output and an 1/8" to 1/4" TRS adaptor. In this case you have to use a TS 1/4" adaptor (i.e. mono or unbalanced) or you will hear glorious silence. (Ask me how I know this 😛)
- Channels 7, 8 and channels 9, 10 can be switched to be outputs from the computer. These can be added into the mix and fed to house audio during a live stream for example. You can also record these if you are using the LiveTrak as your primary recorder.
- The soundpads can be programmed with custom sounds. These are stored on the internal SD card and get lost when you reformat that card - so be sure to back them up before formatting!! (Again ask me how I know 😛)
- You can set up custom mixes for 3 of the 4 headphone outputs or switch to the master mix. To Curtis' point if you have 6 mic inputs you will need a separate headphone amplifier or splitter for the last 2 people. In this case 3 of the 6 will have to have the master mix but 3 could have a custom mix.
- Finally if you do record on the LiveTrak you can switch the device into card reader mode to transfer the files to the computer (i.e. you don't have to fish out the card and plug it into the computer). Just be aware that when you do this you completely shut down the LiveTrak as an audio device until you are finished transferring files. It transfers files pretty quickly.
Having lived with the device for a little over a year now I still really like it . Despite the plastic construction it seems pretty robust and has stood up to being thrown in the back of the car without a case on too many occasions. One of these days I will get or make a case for it - honest!
Brief update. I just noticed that the physical unit labels the two stereo inputs as 7 and 8 whereas they appear, internally when recording on on the USB interface, as 7,8 and 9,10
Brief update. I just noticed that the physical unit labels the two stereo inputs as 7 and 8 whereas they appear, internally when recording on on the USB interface, as 7,8 and 9,10
Thanks for sharing your experience, Nick.
I’ve used the L8 for live outdoor gigs where battery power is more convenient. Also using it for recording into Ableton with headphone outs for multiple players. 4 outs are enough for two musos and a tech to monitor the session. Great value and very usable. Thanks for the review.
Nice use case, thanks for sharing.
Holy cow. Why can't everybody get to the point like this review. Refreshing...oh and this made my decision to buy one of these ;) Thank you!
Thanks and I hope the L-8 works well for you!
I produce podcasts. We have a nice studio, but decided to put something in the office that was a little more 'desktop.' We go a Rodecaster Pro. Six months with that was motivation enough to buy the Zoom L-8 for my home studio. Which device people prefer is about priorities...what problems does this device solve? For me, L-8 answers the questions of EQ, individual channel recording, post mix recording, punch in/out, and AA batteries power are in use every-day for me. Micro-USB isn't ideal, but for market penetration, it's a sure thing. The video is a very good representation of my experience(s). Thanks Curits!
Thanks for sharing your experience, Andreas!
Curtis, most excellent video. The best part for me is the summary up front. thank you so much for saving me precious minutes in my day.
Thanks Vic.
*Correction - The L-8 records 16 or 24-bit wav, not 32-bit. RODE now offers an accessory for the RODECaster to power via battery: www.rode.com/rodecasterpro/promo
Thanks for your review, Curtis. Minor detail: I was taught it's better to put the FetHead right after the mic (closest to the source), so increase levels before going into the cable.
Thanks Hans, makes sense.
@@curtisjudd Yes, by doing this also reduces the risk to increase any potential noise gathered across the mic cable! FetHead directly in the mic, FTW!
Thanks for the comprehensive review. For me, I like the L-8 for its Mix. I do a lot of live stream and sometimes i have guests coming in from Zoom on separate sessions, i use the mix_A, B, C to send audio without having the loop back echo.
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Hey Curtis, thanks for taking the time to make this video, super useful as always 👍🏽
Thanks Sat!
I LOVE my Livetrack L-8. It's really versatile!!!
👍
Thank you so much. I could not figure out how to record a stereo mix (though I knew it must be straightforward) and all the other videos were for musicians. You answered my #1 question in the first 3 mins. Bless.
Thanks Ebony. Happy recording!
Of course your review is the best one ever. I've had the L-8 about as long as this video has been out. I do church AV, and this little wonder got me through small parking lot church services during the pandemic -- little things where I had an instrument or two and 2-3 vocalist/speakers. I fed a portable PA with it for live mix and occasionally recorded. I've done standalone recording sessions to prep prepared content for inclusion in livestreams. The gain for dynamic sources is so-so, but throw a few FETheads at it and life is good. Once or twice, I rough sub-mixed using Zoom U44 interfaces and fed a single L-8 input each to get a couple more inputs squeezed in (not recommended, but necessity and mothering invention and all). So much flexibility and portability, and all able to be power bank powered. I still use this device 3 years later in 2023 and can't recommend it enough ... unless people need more inputs and the L-12 or L-20 are better tools.
Thanks for sharing your experience, David 👍
Thanks for this video. I'm a ghostwriter and as such, I interview people, and record those interviews, via various means... whether live, in person, or skype. This would solve some real problems for me as it takes the TRRS input from a phone, as well as a mic input. Great price point too. I've been doing all my recording so far with an old Tascam DR-07 being fed from a Behringer mixer using a lav mic. This would pull one element out of the situation and make things a lot better. Thanks again. I truly enjoy your videos, Curtis!
Thanks Jim!
You are absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for making such an honest and detailed video!!
Thanks!
Brilliant, nicely presented Curtis, I sort of knew most of what was in that initial introduction of the Zoom L8, so I am going to have to find more videos to get into its operation more thoroughly, but thank you for that instruction, very good.
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Thanks for this review, it was very, very interesting. Up to now I had been thinking of getting the Rode but this has changed my mind. The Zoom appears to have more options for less price.
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Curtis, I know this is super late, but when you recorded Dani, was she in studio with you or recorded remotely? I've wanted to add remote users to the podcast but don't like the sound quality of using the phone in. Is there a way to bring someone remotely in recording on an actual mic through software?
Emma was recorded via phone - when she talks about which classes she's taking. Yes, you could use an online service like Cleanfeed.
The pros and cons upfront are a great to have, quickly qualify. Thumbs up.
Thanks!
Still trying to decide whether to return the Rodecaster and get this instead. I just love the portability. I'm starting to think it may be worth to stretch to both. The Zoom can record a small live band or be used to multitrack at home to a high quality level. Decisions!
RODE developed an adapter to power the RODECaster via USB and gave it to recent purchasers but hopefully they’ll make it available generally. That would solve some of the portability. Build wise, the RODECaster is superior.
I like the ZOOM L-8 but when i compare it to the Rodecaster Pro then it's a difficult decision. I purchased both!! One for my studio and one for on the move recording!
Best of both. 😀
which one if for on the move?
Excellent review. I just picked this up for streaming and hoping to get it going shortly
Happy streaming!
Did you manage to livestream with it. I am wondering between the Go-XLR and this mixer for livestreaming and recording acoustic song writer music?
I found this video to be very helpful! Thanks for your time.
Thanks FLAME!
Curtis, very nice review. For a guy like me that has absolutely no audio background or formal training, I have a much better understanding of the L-8 now after looking at it from a Podcast perspective. I'm not much into the Podcast scene either...I picked up the L-8 at Guitar Center for songwriting, live practice and recording vocals and instruments. My only other audio interface exposure is with a Focusrite 2i4 which I still have. The L-8 is a quite an upgrade and game changer for me with the mixing and on board recording capabilities. With the SD card or laptop I can still use my Ableton Live 10 SW which I haven't done yet. Lastly, I bought this just because I wanted an upgrade from the Focusrite unit and wanted a new toy !!! I've only had the L-8 a few days but I'm really having fun learning how to properly use it. Thx again.
Thanks and happy recording!
I like the RODECaster Pro, but think I'm going to buy the L-8. I know my way around a sound mixer so that's not a problem. Also, as I use Ableton Live as my DAW, I can use all 8 inputs as a source in Ableton, which is a huge plus.
Makes sense. Happy recording!
Great video. I have the Livetrack L-20 and I love it. I shoot live bands, so with the L-20 I can mix the live show and record it at the same time. It looks like the L-8 is missing some of the L-20's features (like compressors), but then adds back some podcast specific features like the TRRS-in w/ mix-minus. Thanks for the overview.
Thanks BloodShot Movies. Yes, seems like they have a model for a lot of different situations. 👍
Hi, I have been watching your review and this video made me purchase the L-8. Thank you so much, sir. I was wondering if it's possible to connect the mixer to my DSLR
Hi Cesar, I hope it works well for you. You could use an adapter cable and line attenuator to record the output of the L-8 to a DSLR. Not ideal, but it could work.
Fantastic breakdown! This was super helpful. Thankyou.
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Thanks for the review. The Zoom LiveTrak 12 is not much more expensive than the LiveTrak 8 (and it's cheaper than the Rodecaster Pro), and it has compressors, it has “five powerful headphone outputs” rather than just “4 headphone outputs”. It's bigger and weighs 1 kg more, but I think it's a lot more interesting.
Thanks Lau, useful context info. I guess you'd lose the pads for playing back pre-recorded music and possibly the auto mix-minus but pick up compressors and headphone amps.
@@curtisjudd plus L8 is USB powered - fits my (mobility) needs perfectly!
Very good review, Curtis. I bought a L-8 a few days ago after doing much research, but I didn't see your review until now. Anyway, I'm pretty satisfied with it, especially considering the price. I do mostly video work and I wanted to upgrade my H4n with something like an F-6 because I often need more than 2 phantom powered mic inputs, and I wanted something that has cleaner preamps than the H4n. What attracted me to the L-8 was it's mixing capability and multiple headphone outputs since I am also a musician and occasionally record small musical and theatrical performances. I realize that the L-8 is not in the same league as the F-6 and they are really in different product categories, but it has so many more feature that I would use and is $250 less than the F-6. You may want to mention that recording at 96kHz disables the effects, sound pads, overdubbing and computer interface functions.
Thanks for the details, especially regarding the cost of recording 96kHz on the L-8.
Hi First off thanks you for all of your work ! Its always great stuff delivered with care and attention !
Second of all I was wondering if you knew of any quick fix for the lack of compression on the L-8 ? It's the only detail that is stopping me from buying it! I'm looking to do live streams and I also want to reduce my need for post- compression to the bare minimal! I looked at the Rodecaster but it can't really do music and the Zoom L-12 is not portable enough haha
Is there a possible fix (by adding a secondary device perhaps ) or am I simply dreaming ? Or maybe there's another device entirely that you would recommend ?
Anyways thanks again !!!
Hi Peter, I don't know of a simple, affordable, mobile solution that works really well to add to the L-8 to add compression, unfortunately. The RODECaster with its new firmware which allows adjustment of the individual parameters and settings is the best option of which I'm aware in the sub $1000 range. Possibly others which focus a bit more on podcasting would have other ideas. I'd check in with Ray Ortega.
@@curtisjudd Wow such a quick answer ! Thanks a lot ! much appreciated !!!!
I have been looking at other options in the same price range but the more I understand compression the more I'm wondering if a 1 knob compression is even worth it ? Since you can't control all 4 parts of a compressor...
If not I'm now thinking of using the compression through OBS for live stream ! I was going to do it through voicemeeter potato but it's seems to be the only feature on whose control is so limited that is renders it useless and basically just a booster (this is what tipped me off to the one knob thing ! )
Sorry I'm rambling haha Anyways thanks again !
Another great review and how-to, Curtis. Love these videos. I do have a few questions. Hope I’m not stupid for asking. Is the board bus-powered when connected to a computer? I hate extra plugs and bricks. Also, I’m thinking of starting a karaoke business and using this for mics. The would be dynamic mics. Would this be good for controlling the reverb effects and also are the pre-amps strong enough to give enough strength so the gain isn’t way up? Thank you!
Hi EPHS, not stupid questions at all. Yes, if the computer supplies power via that particular USB port, it will power the L8. Note that on laptops, some USB ports do not supply the full power prescribed by the USB specification. But it works in most cases. Dynamic microphones will need to be set near the top of the range but it is still clean at the top. Best wishes!
@@curtisjudd Thanks so much. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions and many others. I learn so much just reading the comments after watching your videos. Great engagement!
Great review...Im starting a podcast for the 1st time and wanted the Rodecaster but it's become widely unavailable during the pandemic and price gouged on Ebay like most things..Lucky for me the Zoom L-8 was available on Amazon and I ordered one thinking I was settling but this review gives me the peace of mind on the purchase and I may have even saved $200
👍 Happy podcasting!
Best review on this device. Thank you!!!! 🙌🏽
Thanks! 👍
Great and precise review! Love it, Curtis. One question, do I need to put batteries on to power the Zoom L-8 when it connect with my computer as audio interface?
Thanks George. No, it can be powered via USB alone.
We’ve been happily using the L-20 for a couple of weeks now and it is the most versatile mixer we’ve had so far. The only downside for us is that 96kHz setting does not allow audio interface/recording. A fantastic mixer
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Curtis, you do wonderful work, many thanks! 👍
Thanks for the feedback!
Those mic inputs are really underpowered!
Sadly, yes. I'd like to see a bit more clean gain.
Great review Curtis.. Your video help me a lot in buying my new L8. Anyways, the phantom power works only in XLR not in 1/4 inch. Just tried mine. But pls confirm if it is or maybe i made a mistake?! Thanks again.
Yes, I believe the 1/4” is for line level instruments which do not need phantom power.
Excellent Video! Thank you for this review. So, I am assuming that I can use this as a stand alone recorder and record straight to the SD card and mix in post, correct?
Correct!
What a great overview.👍👍very very helpful. Made me subscribe to your channel. Thanks
Thanks Trevor.
You're welcome. Thanks for replying and keep these really great vids coming. Stay safe too!!👍
Hello!
thank you so much for this video. Have a question: How preamps of L8 compared with preamps of Zoom f4 of F8n or even F6?
In my tests here, they seemed to do as well as the F series preamps in terms of self-noise but don't supply nearly as much gain. The F series preamps can supply +75dB while the L-8 tops out at +54dB of gain.
Super helpful Curtis... I have a Blue Yeti Mic that has a usb end, can I convert it to a different jack? I assumed I would be able to use this microphone and will be bummed if I cannot .
If you don’t have the pro model, then no, it is made to connect directly to computer.
Which one would you choose? L8 or rodecaster pro
RODECaster Pro for me.
@@curtisjudd ah OK, I've bought rodecaster pro. Why do u think its better then zoom?
@@NicoOmera Better build quality, better screen, and I prefer the processing in the RODECaster.
@@curtisjudd okay... Thx for the reply...
Awesome review! I'm considering this and Presonus StudioLive AR8 for instrumental music recording and live streaming on social media directly on the phone (I have iRig Stream for that). Which one do you think is better for the job? They both at similar pricing so it's hard to choose. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!
Thanks yoyoyohk, Unfortunately, I haven't used the Presonus - or even heard of it to be 100% honest - so I'm not sure how that compares. But looking at the features right now, and the main thing I see is that the Presonus is made specifically for musicians while the Zoom is for both musicians and podcasters. Best wishes!
hello curtis I really like your videos very well explained thanks for making them simple to understand. I have a question regarding the ZOOM PODTRAK P8 because it doesn't come with an effects bank like the Zoom LiveTrak L-8 thanks for your help.
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Another great and informative vid as usual Curtis. Thank you. If you had to pick either the Zoom or the Rodecaster which one would you choose and why?
I'd pick the RODECaster Pro (in fact, I did - I purchased it). for podcasting I preferred its more robust build and simplicity.
@@curtisjudd Thanks Curtis Me too, just wondering if it was a downgrade.
Alan Eddy it depends on what you’re doing with it. For podcast recordings with spoken work content, I do not see the RCP as a step down at all. What do you find to be lacking?
@@curtisjudd Well said. I think the choice comes down to your background and experience. The LiveTrak feels and behaves much more like a traditional mixing desk whereas the Rode is more like a computer. It would be nice if the Zoom offered a compressor but only if you could control it (the Rode's "trust me I'm a doctor" approach doesn't cut it for me). I've taken to taking an analog feed from the Zoom into 1 of the audio inputs on our Black Magic ATEM Mini and then using the built-in Fairlight mixer in that to manage the dynamics. The Zoom's input stage is quiet enough that I can give myself a good amount of headroom and then normalize in the Fairlight.
Excellent! Purchased Zoom L-8 largely based on this review.
Q: Cloudlifter or fethead for podcasting (sometimes live)?
I have fathead and no complaints about it.
It looks like a really versatile unit. It seems an odd choice to me that the phantom power is all or nothing though. I suppose in a podcast situation you'd most often use dynamic mics to avoid bleed between them though, wouldn't you?
Yes, in most podcasts, people are using dynamic mics and even if you used a mix of condenser and dynamics, the power wouldn't damage the dynamic mics. It would just be wasted power.
I'm buying this. I'm using your link, I hope this helps your channel. Wonderful explanation by the way.
Thanks Jorge and happy recording!
@@curtisjudd Thanks to you. You put a lot of effort on making your videos. I just a watched a video of all you bought and use for live streaming and I pale in comparison. Great work man.
Hi Curtis,...I really enjoy your videos. I am new to podcasting. Can you please help me understand the difference or purposes od the Zoom F8 and this Zoom Live Trak L8? Thank you.
Hi Dave, the L8 is made mainly for podcasting and recording small music groups. The Zoom F8 is made mainly for field recording for film and video. You can use the F8 also for podcasting though it is a little more cramped in terms of its controls for when you're working at a table like most podcasts. There is an add-on control surface for the F8 which gives you the linear faders and such like on the L8, but then you've spent a whole lot more money. Hopefully that makes sense?
Thank you Curtis for responding to my question. Keep the videos coming and we will be watching and hitting the like button.
Have the Rode but I wish I waited for the Zoom. Anyway, amazing review as always. Obrigado.
Thanks João.
I have this one and sometimes wish I had the rode
Hai, so the audio level recorded on multitrack is from gain level only?
Right.
Great review! It helped me make the decision to purchase it. Do you mind explaining how to use a time code sync on one of the channels without hearing it in the mix? Thanks
Hi Ryan, I didn't specifically try to use timecode with this when I had it on loan, but I believe you'd want to just pull the fader down to the bottom to keep the timecode signal from going to the mix. That way, the timecode will be recorded to an isolated channel, but not the mix.
Curtis Judd Thanks for responding. I was thinking with the slider all the way down, that separate track wouldn’t have any audio either. I’ll give that a shot, thanks. I recently started a podcast and have 3 cameras recording so I was looking for a way to make life easier to sync it all together. Premiere Multicam has been a dream so far with getting that done. Thanks again.
Thanks for the detailed review; this is a very interesting product. In fact it led me to discover the L-12 and L-20 big brothers and I'm curious if maybe you could comment in your next livestream on the L-12 and L-20? My take is that for addl. $200 the L-12 gives better pre-amps, better USB hookup, larger faders, sweepable mid-eq, and monitor line-outs shared with headphone A. On the downside, the mini-TRRS connection with auto mix minus is lost, however with a little adapter-jiggery, the same thing can be rigged using a headphone mix and dedicated input. L-20 runn a grand, but would be a pretty good deal for a full band setup and adds dual effects an 6x headphone monitors. Thoughts?
Hi Jason, I think you just summed up what I know about the 12 and 20 - haven't used them personally, but in terms of features, sounds like you nailed it!
Hello! I shot this video ua-cam.com/video/dr7UM0FWFC8/v-deo.html and used the L-20 for the live sound and the audio recording. I'm super happy with the L-20, but it is geared specifically for live sound / recording and not podcasting like the L-8 is.
@@BloodShotMovies because of lost the TRRS ?
so can't record the signal from cell phone?
@@Slingshot4FunTW Probably never going to need 16 XLR inputs for a podcast. :)
Hello, very good your video. A question from Brazil. Does the Zoom L-8 48v function not work well for bm-800 microphones? Because you have to use an activating mic if the desk has phantom power. I bought a table like this and I'm having trouble getting microphones to work. Lavalier microphones not working?
I didn't try it with a BM-800 so I don't know if that microphone has special requirements, but the phantom power (+48V) worked fine with a variety of condenser microphones I tried. Lavalier microphones often do NOT work with +48V power and in fact it can damage them. You might want to contact ZOOM support for details.
@@curtisjudd Thank you very much for the video and for the reply! We tested it with an XLR connection to the table's phanton power and it worked really well.
Thanks for the review. I definitely like the multiple mixes feature on this over the rode one.
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You are the best .
Thanx for additional tips 😜
Thanks CalvaryDA 👍
VERY good review! Super helpful.
Thanks Dirk.
Hi, I really appreciate your info here, thank you! I am interested in the capability of recording audio directly from the device as a mixer at a live music performance. Any insights as to the signal level that gets to individual tracks onto the SD disk in regards to the levels of the “mixer” during the performance?
Much appreciated! CD
The meters on the L-8 are all dB FS meters so that's the level that is recorded to SD card.
Fifths video I watch on the L-8 and I think this one cements it. The other guys brought some good points, but I can always trust the production quality from Curtis Judd. :D
I don't do a lot of podcasts, I am more looking for a mobile multi-track recorder-mixer and I've been hovering over the purchase button for the Rodecaster a couple of times but never hit it. It's always faltered on the power options available for it. In a small jamming session, eight line inputs is awesome.
Thanks for the review!
Thanks Samuel. On update, RODE now has an accessory pack for the RODECaster which enables powering via USB power source, just in case that was the deciding factor for you. But it sounds like line inputs are probably more important for your situation. Best wishes!
Hi Mr Judd, I was wondering, could this device be used on set to record and mix dialogue, given its portability? I'am talking about very,very independent projects here. So say a boom mic , or lavs etc. Then interact with the field recorder as well? Just thinking out loud here, because as well as podcasting, I'am filmaker/videographer. Thank you once again for the concise and honest review.
Hi Poalo, yes, if you can set it up on a table or a cart. I'd be a little concerned about how well shielded it is against RF energy - using several wireless receivers nearby could potentially be problematic. But otherwise, should get the job done nicely. Best wishes!
I'm looking at this Zoom LiveTrak L-8 to use as a one man band set-up. Will it store my prerecorded songs sound levels on and so on and send them out through the Master outputs while I play live to them?
I'm not sure, we didn't test that scenario before having to send it back. Sorry about that.
Curtis, which one is better at changing the tone of your voice in live streaming. ie make your voice sounds more depth?
I prefer the RODECaster Pro’s audio processing.
Man this was super helpful thank you so much!!!
Thanks Lisa!
Bear with me as I’m quite the noob. My question is: with the phone conversation you had plugged in you mentioned that that first individual was mic’ed? She was mic’ed on her end? So she was talking on the phone via a mic she had plugged in? The second young lady, it was clear she was on via FaceTime. I could hear clear differences between their audio I’m just a tad confused regarding the first person you had on.
First person on was in the same room as me on a microphone plugged directly into the L-8. The second was on a phone without any sort of external microphone, just the phone's built-in microphone.
@@curtisjudd Thank you for clarifying 😊
Can you do a video on the Zoom L-8 hooking it up to your computer to do a zoom call? So you could have one guest in person, one on the phone and another on the computer on a Zoom call. This would be so helpful for a newbie to podcasting and the Zoom L-8. Thanks!
Hi Red Tesla, would love to do that, but I had to send the L-8 back to B&H from whom I borrowed it for this review. But I think you'll find it is pretty straightforward. Just refer to the manual if you get stuck at any point. Best wishes and happy recording!
Hi, I also wondered if you can do that. The manual says that if you are using the TRRS phone input (channel 8) than the LINE input on channel 7 is not available - however it does not say that the USB input is not available. You certainly can use the sound pads under channel 7 while the phone‘s plugged in as we have seen in this video (thank you for it btw, it was great!), but is then the USB input on channel 7 available? Thanks
@@balazsmihaly77 As noted, I no longer have the L-8 available to test that. I'm sorry.
@@curtisjudd thanks for the quick reply. No worries, I found it out: it does work. :) It’s just the line input that’s disabled, the USB and the soundpads both work fine while a phone is plugged into ch8. However, it is very tricky to set up a mix-minus: using the USB, you can turn down the ch7 fader, so that the audio that’s going back through USB (the Master track) will not contain the audio coming from the computer through USB (the Zoom-guest’s voice). You could still hear and monitor what the USB/Zoom-guest says as you can set up a custom mix ie on Mix A to include the USB audio from ch7 and it’ll work, but there’s a big drawback: if you would also be calling someone using the trrs-input and the the auto mix-minus, the audio which is going back to the guest through the trrs will also not include the USB- audio (as the trrs channel also routes back the master track to the phone, just without the phone audio itself). So, it is, as far as I can tell, not possible to have a caller on trrs and on USB at the same time. (Although, you can use the traditional mix-minus method using an iRig2 and another phone and with that you can actually achieve this, thanks to the custom monitor mix capability)
@@balazsmihaly77 Thanks for sharing!
Great review and comparison. You didn’t mention that you need phantom power for a mic activator like the fethead, which I use with my focusrite Scarlette 2i2. Anyway, I like the Zoom better, especially if you’re familiar with mixing boards. The Rodecaster Pro looks really cheap and like something you would see from a toy store despite being extremely Versatile for the average podcaster, and it probably outsells the zoom do to the ease of use. I imagine the price reflects the R & D more than the actual cost to produce on the Rode.
Thanks Lj LaValle. The RODECaster is actually built of more durable plastic and with the newer firmware, gives users more control over the processing effects.
Curtis, first of all thank you !
I’ve got Zoom L8 and Sonny 6400 camera 📸 to live stream the recording but haven’t been able to get good audio directly to my camera. I can’t figure out what to use to connect the zoom L8 to the camera…
I did, however connect it to the zoom h6 but my voice is too low and a hiss to high ☹️
Thanks in advanced.
I think you’ll need a dual 1/4” TRS to stereo 3.5mm adapter cable.
@@curtisjudd I've used a dual XLR to TRS cable and it works. You have to keep the output levels on the Zoom low in order not to overdrive the camera's input. Better would be to follow Curtis' earlier recommendation and use an in-line attenuator to bring the signal back down to mic-levels. Since we use a Black Magic ATEM Mini for all our live streams I use one of the audio inputs on that. These can be switched between mic level and line level signals.
Hi Curtis...how would you go about feeding the master mix from this (or even the RODECaster Pro) into Blackmagic Design's ATEM mini? Thank you in adavance.
Hi Spiro, there are a few options. Ideally, I'd feed the audio to camera to ensure it stays in sync with the video. But if you wanted to go into the ATEM, you'd need an XLR to 3.5mm adapter cable.
@@curtisjudd The ATEM Mini allows you to adjust the audio sync on the 2 audio inputs so you don't have to feed the camera. The adjustment is measured in frames so it's not super-granular. To really nail the sync I make a final adjustment in OBS. The big benefit to the dedicated audio inputs is that they can accept a line-level input.
have you done a comparison between the FEThead and Cloudlifter? I own a Cloudlifter and finds it improves the sound and response of every dynamic mic I've put through it...
I haven't but I've heard others say that they prefer the Cloud Lifter. I think that was the conclusion Booth Junkie came to....
Fantastic review Curtis, thanks. I am looking across all reviews and updates of the L-8 to see if anyone has solved the random drop-outs of the device. Every 15-60min, my L-8 simply stops audio output from the mixer (and thus the recorder) which means the product is not reliable as a podcasting or video blogging tool. Which is terrible, because on paper and for short stints, the L-8 is a fantastic little device. Zoom has confirmed this is an ongoing problem but as yet has not been able to provide a fix. Uninstalling Chrome, Drive, video casting software, and deactivating power management, etc has been recommended, but has not great improved the situation. Have you heard of any workarounds that could improve the L-8 reliability?
Hi Joe, thanks for sharing. I was not aware of this issue (I borrowed the L-8 for several weeks to make this review and did not experience the issue during that time.) I have not heard of any solutions, unfortunately.
@@curtisjudd Thanks mate. I will report back if I find a solution. Zoom did send over a sheet of Windows options to configure that seem to reduce the issue, but it's not consistent and I also hear it is happening on Macs as well. My gut feel is it is something to do with USB power management... but who knows. Zoom tends to make fantastic kit (I've a few other bits of kit from them for video work) and this is the first time I've had a problem. Let's hope it gets fixed soon. :-)
All the best and keep making terrific videos!
If you do want a compressor / de-esser / etc for your podcast recordings, I think the R8 / R24 portastudios do have these in their Inline effects (Mic Preamp)? It still requires a lot more fiddling compared to using Rodecaster, but it’s an alternative if you need this feature and don’t need to process live calls. Not sure how they’re going to handle livestreaming however.
Thanks for that MyO.
So I am very curious about what are some recommended settings or recommendations for setting up a scene for podcasting. I've tried one with overdub on and one with overdub off. But the overdub off seemed to delete my previous audio recorded in the project and only kept the recording after hitting pause. Any recommendations?
I don’t think I’d use overdub for recording a podcast.
Nice video, do you have latency measurements for the headphone outputs?
I’m sorry, I don’t.
@@curtisjudd No problem, thanks anyways
Hi, you have also a video using the zoom livetrak with an webconfernce tool? like Zoom or Discord? I use Atem mini pro and I have my problems dealing with the sound
I have a course on how to do sound with the ATEM mini over at school.learnlightandsound.com
Will the L8 allow DSLR cams or webcams into it? or would I still use something like a Blackmagic switch board? I don't want to overbuy, so just curious. Thanks
No, for livestreams, you'll still need a capture device like the Blackmagic ATEM switcher or recorder box.
Hello Sir. I want to connect my Sony a6400 or canon m50 into my zoom livetrak L8 for video podcast and recording to camera sd card? Also was wondering should I record straight into Lumafusion or GarageBand or Ferrite? Can I use my iPad or should I use MacBook Pro? If so, how. Also, If I wanted to hear the playback through my monitors, how do I connect them? Please Help! Thank You!
Hi Carol, Here's a general video showing how to sync audio and video which were shot separately. It should work in a similar fashion in any video editing app: ua-cam.com/video/dkTYpP6eec0/v-deo.html
was looking forward to see Your Opinion on this one - though i'll use it for music purposes primerily... don't feel dismissed at all! thanks a lot. also for the additional (subjective, as you said in your lifestream) opinion on how the preamps do in comparison to the H-Series!
👍 Thanks for watching!
I'm a bit confused by the mix minus port...it looks like it's saying it will occupy both channels 7 and 8 if u have a phone plugged in. Is that correct? If yes, why does it take up 2 at once? And, if yes, does that mean I can't also get audio "from" my computer if using the mix minus port? Or can I get audio "from" computer using one of the other line ports (channels 1-6)? I wasn't sure if you can ONLY get computer audio from one of the the USB channels (7 and 8). thanx.
Hi David, the phone port is a stereo input so that you can play back stereo material from your phone. Of course calls will be mono, but music is almost always stereo. You can also get audio from your computer as I recall.
Sure, the L-8 i's not better at podcasting than the RODEcaster but it can certainly hold its own at that task while also being suitable for small live sound/multi-track recording mixer for music production duties. 4 independent headphone mixes is great for the MORE ME people. The L-8 is such a neat flexible unit.
👍
My solution to the headphone limitation was to pick up a small headphone amplifier it's puts out to 4 with individual volume controls. Since were primarily going to have four mics on a table I can drop it on the table next to Mics and plug all the headphones in and run one cord back to the board and use an output from there. This will then give me two dedicated separate outputs if I want to do mix minus, and one output for the operator.
👍 Good call
I use the L8 and sm7b for podcasting, where should the fader and gain levels be at? I’m not using any preamps . Thank you
I'd start with the fader at 0 and adjust the gain up until your voice is topping out at around -12dB.
Can a Dual CD Player like the Numark CDMix be hooked-up to two individual inputs on the Zoom Live Trak L-8 so I can record music from the CD Player through the L-8 onto my recording software on my PC? And would you know if that capability can be done also on the RODECaster Pro?
I would think so - haven't specifically tried that, but should be able to make that work.
We love you Curtis Judd!
❤️
That was a great tutorial, thank you! I have purchased a Zoom L8. I am very confused as to how to configure the separate headphone mixes. Can someone take me through that please? It seems too simple to be true, which makes me think I haven't got it right! I really want to use the A,B & C outputs as AUX sends (in the traditional mixing sense, I'm not making podcasts at the moment), and it would be a disaster if I send a mic feed to a loudspeaker positioned right next to that mic, or the wrong thing to the wrong guest, so I want to ensure I get the AUX feeds correct. The online manual is very brief on this subject. Thank you.
Sorry I cannot help Jonathan, I borrowed the L-8 to do this review, but had to get it back to B&H. Do you already have the L-8 on hand? Some testing should give you some clarity on how it works.
@@curtisjudd Okay, thanks. I guess I'll have to play (and hope!)
JK
I am very new to this. Are you using DaVinci Resolve Studio for the video side, like the animations?
Hi Paul, I used Final Cut Pro X for this, but you could do the same with Davinci Resolve.
What a great Video... thank you... I want one!!!! lol
👍
Curtis are you using a cloudlifter with your SMB7 mic. Im using one and experiencing white noise when gain is just at 12 oclock
We demoed a Fethead a little later in the video. I did NOT use it for most of the recording, but did for a short sample. Haven't used the Cloudlifter, unfortunately.
So when you have a smartphone plugged in, are you using the microphone of the smartphone for the caller to hear you, or do they hear you via your microphone on a different track?
They hear back via my microphone which is attached to the L8
Thanks for the video Curtis. I know it's been a while, but I must confess that even after owning the L8 for some time now, I still don't really "get" the value (or the application of) the gain knobs in addition to the faders. It MAY be true that the faders affect ONLY the master (stereo) mix recording, but I'm not entirely sure that's true. And I think it may also be true that even if the faders do control the levels of the individual channel recordings, that a knob setting is still required as well. Maybe you can explain the philosophy and/or best application to me...(?) For years, I have searched for a simple walk-though, showing how someone might use the L8 in a some typical applications. I am a would-be musician, and perhaps it is as you say that the L8 makes more sense for a pod caster. But I would think that even a pod caster might have some use for the individual channel recordings. And it seems too that everyone needs to understand those gain knobs. For example, it seems that "scenes" recall fader settings, but not gain knob settings, and yet (I think) it can't work without gain knob settings. And if someone came up with a plan for those knobs, then how would it apply to the channels that have no gain knobs? Why have knobs on some channels but not on others. Does it sound like I don't get it? (I don't!)
The reason for separate gain and faders is that they each serve different purposes. Gain amplifies the weak microphone signals up to line level. You should generally have this dialed in pretty well before you start the show/recording. You can adjust during the recording if you really missed, but generally shouldn’t need to. When you set gain, the fader for that channel should be at 0dB when setting gain.
Faders are for mixing several mics/instruments and getting them sounding right together for your stereo output, called your mix. During the show, you use faders to adjust levels so everything sits right together. Or if a guest is making noise or not talking during parts of the show you pull their fader down so they’re not adding noise or another open mic to the mix.
Another big thing is to make a cleaner mix. When a mic’s fader is up, that mic is capturing sound whether the person is currently talking into it or not. Room noise, the voice of other participants, etc. it all gets picked up and makes for a noisier mix. So you use faders during the show to manage that.
Hopefully that makes sense.
@@curtisjudd Thanks for the reply Curtis. What you say makes perfect sense to me except that the faders seem to have no effect on the individual channel recordings. And I suppose that one could make the case that those individual recording levels might better be adjusted in post, but the level meters next to the faders could be much more useful than those puny "peak" indicators next to the gain knobs, if only the fader settings that are reflected by those level meters had any effect on the individual recording(s) for their corresponding channel(s).
But if it's true that the faders have no effect on the individual channel recordings, then what happens on channels 7 and 8, which have no gain knobs? My lack of understanding of this has caused me to avoid using those channels altogether. Fortunately, 6 channels has always been enough for what I was trying to do, but it still seems like a waste.
IDK...I've been using the thing for years without really understanding the design philosophy or the intended workflow, and the reality is that even with my lack of understanding of the L-8, it still manages to capture recordings that are good enough to showcase the limitations of my own musicianship (let's call it). In other words I myself am the limiting factor, not the L-8. And maybe that should give me a clue as the the best way to use it for individual channel recordings - just set the gain knobs so low that there is no chance that they will ever peak out, hoping that the resulting recordings will have a good enough signal/noise ratio that it won't matter that the levels were set too low...(?)
Even so, I don't see how it could hurt for Zoom to share their thought process and some "best practice" walkthroughs for various use cases.
this is a ubiquitous, long-standing pattern in mixers, not something unique to ZOOM. The faders intentionally do not affect the isolated channel levels, just the mix so that you can have unaffected iso channels for post production if you mess up the live mix. Everything is working exactly like it should based on the experience of many thousands of production and front-of-house engineers.
Also, the channels with no gain knob are for line level sources - something that is already amplified like a feed from another mixer or some keyboards.
@@EtherHabitant I don't think it has to do with cleverness. You'd given me some good feedback I can use - there's clearly a need for basic tutorials on how to use and why mixers are set up the way they are.
this was informative. with the mobile phone option, my caller cant hear me through the desk mic, only the phone mic. How do i correct this, as i assume your caller heard you through the shure mic.
There is a button just below and to the right of the 3.5mm input which needs to be set for phone input.
What firmware are you using on the Rodecaster Pro? Your display for Channel 1 at 15:50 looks way different than mine on ver. 2.0.4
That was from the original review almost a year ago. I am now on 2.0.4.
also the 5th lines (from top) on my Rode’s fader are thicker, but Chris’ are all thin . Another thing what I don’t understand about Rode why is not working from USB-C as a power source as well? Would be too easy to connect with 1 cable to a Macbook... :D
@@MeetupvideoUK Not sure.
Hi Curtis... hope you have been doing well. Just wanted to find the differences between the LiveTrak L8 and the PodTrak P8... but no one has seemed to have made comparison video. Any insight you might have?
Hi Dice Gamble, the biggest difference is that the P8 only records 44.1kHz sample rates but is laid out more specifically for podcasts. The L-8 can double as a more general recorder, e.g., for music recording - and records 48kHz sample rates and is a tiny bit smaller, if I remember correctly. If you're doing strictly audio podcasts, I'd probably go with the P8. If you need a more general purpose device, L-8. Happy recording!
@@curtisjudd Thank you for this Curtis... truly appreciate it
Hi Curtis! Great video!
I'm having a problem with my livetrak 8 (or maybe my phone - a Samsung J6)
I connect my cellphone into the livetrak using the TRRS cable that comes with the L-8, i can hear everything coming from the phone into the console but the phone still uses the mic from the phone instead of reproducing the sound from the console. (I hope i have explained myself, please excuse me for my broken english)
Hi Oscar, this sounds like it might an issue with the phone or the cable. I'd try a different cable or contact ZOOM and Samsung support.
@@curtisjudd thank you very much.