@@JJKoester I just ordered this thing. I think even in 2023 it’s a good value proposition - especially for podcasting setups. Sucks that it will cost me almost a hundred Australian to get the Bluetooth dongle but I will just eat the cost and get on with it.
@@marratj I think there are some advantages for using the native driver when it is available but I don't know off the top of my head. You'd have to download the PDF of the manual.
I think I should make a tutorial on how to use all channels on OBS without using an extra interface! This is the second vid I see about this. It works on both my iMac and MacBook
In DAW (logic pro X) : Instead of setting input source manually, you can select number of audio channels you want to record,then in the input section, click ascending... This will put all inputs form input 1 ascending. Thankyou
That's a bummer! Can you tell me where the device has fallen short? Zoom's can be particular with what cards they accept and the H4n is a piece of absolute garbage but other than that, my experience with the gear has been really positive.
nice one. thanks 🙏🏻 one advice: at 5:34 If you check "ascending" when making logic create the 20 tracks it will automatically setup channels 1-20 with the according inputs 1-20 😉
This was a great tutorial on how to connect. To the point and without too much info that gets beginners lost. And hilarious. I love that you don't hold back! Thank you!
It's been a great pleasure watching your videos on the Zoom L-20! I had just bought the L-20, wanting to record live band rehearsals as well as use a digital mixer as an interface to use Ableton Live. When I subsequently started searching for review videos online, I came across yours. Unlike most review videos, yours is extremely instructional and easy to follow. A pure delight amongst a plethora of distractions.
Thank you for the kind words! I'm glad the video was useful. I was packing up the L-20 for a concert tonight when your message landed. It's a great little device. It's really hard to go back to a non-ISO board once you've started using one. We found this true for audio and for our vision mixers.
@@JJKoester How was the L-20 for the concert? We have an L-20 in our band room for a few years already but in some weeks we will take it outside for the first time to mix a small self-organised gig in the real world. Any tips?
May I know using Logic Pro recording, gain input base on L20 gain knob or Logic Pro internal gain? Because if gain knob from L20 is zero, Logic Pro still have the signal.
We want to bring a 2nd line out from everyone's mic into the H8 then bring one line out to say channel 14 of the L20. We can then use channel 14 as a talk back mic. What would be the process to do this? How do we get sounds out of the H8 into XLR?
04:09 Disagree. The Bluetooth dongle allows you to control this gadget using apps on different devices. Think "everybody gets to adjust their own IEM monitor mix" in a live situation. Well worth it!
To send a mix to OBS, can't you just patch the master (or what ever monitor out you want) to inputes 1 and 2, and then boom, set ZOOM L20 as the input device and then it will feed off inputs 1 and 2. And DO NOT SEND INPUTS 1/2 to the master, as this will make a loop.
Thanks for the video. You do a nice job on these. It's it possible to use a phone connected? Maybe through the RCA lines. So when we go on break we can play music
We do this at almost every concert we produce. We run headphone out from an iPad, convert than into RCA and plug it into inputs 19 & 20. Works a charm! We use it for preshow music and for the interstitial screens with audio (iPad can easily handle HDMI out if you have the adapter).
@@MichaelDaniels I don't know much about Androids. If it has a headphone out, all you need is a headphone to RCA cable (5-10 bucks). If it doesn't, I imagine that there's a USB-to-headphone connector that you can buy. If there isn't, you could always get a bluetooth device with a headphone out, tether the two and then run the headphone out from the bluetooth device into the board.
Pleas HELP: Hello everyone, I have been stupid enough to buy an L20R without an iPad. Now I don't know how to make it work in any way using logic or even using it as a monitor... How do I make sound get OUT of it? I'm desperate... I connect a mic in and connect speakers to monitor outs but there is just no sound coming out of the speakers. When trying to go through Logic Pro, I manage to set the driver and get the 22 channel inputs, but still am not able to get any sound out of the speakers. What am I missing? How is it possible to use this mixer without an iPad or computer, just as a basic mixer to get monitor sound out (even without many functionalities)? Thank you!
Just got our Zoom LiveTrack L20, saw a video where someone said the main XLR outputs wouldn't work properly when using an XLR to a 1/4 cable. Our monitor speakers only have 1/4 inputs. Is this true? 2nd Question our bass player's bass when plugged into inputs one our two sounds horrible Hi On or Hi Z off. any thoughts. Thank you for your great tutorials.
Ghosshhh 😂 Love your attitude, always keep it like that 🔥💯😂 I am in the market for a Digital mixer like this but, I use OBS for live streaming So, Its so dumb either on the zoom's part or OBS that we have find such dumb workaround So please Can you suggest some other brand digital mixer which is better and works flawlessly with OBS
Thanks for this. I’m expecting my L12 in a few days and looking forward to use with Logic and to play and sing remotely at a live church service. Any additional tips would be greatly appreciated
Would you buy an L20 in 2024 ? Or is there something better. Can you record a session on the L20 and then later on put it into Logic to work on further ? Or create a drum track and then dump it into Logic. I am trying to decide between something like the L20 or an audio interface like the focusrite clarett 8 pre x. I want a system that is easy to learn and use. I want to record drums and other instruments. And i will be the musician and engineer. So the foot switch to start and stop recording seems like a good thing.
Hey! Thanks for your video. So I have a question or concern as you may call it. I have the Zoom L20. I discovered that it does not send audio input into my zoom video conferencing app. What do you think could be the reason for this. I use the windows laptop and have tried it on 2 different laptops. The input signal bar does not rise on zoom when I’m testing it. Please help.
So, I’m upgrading from the Zoom L8 to the L20 for my livestream podcast. Basically, I get a lot of guest on my show and needed more mics and headphones. Are you saying I will still need my L8 to run into OBS for this process? That would suck.
Hi Jesse! I have a zoom L12 and I cant get any sound from my computer Im hearing hissing and when I push the Slate button I can hear sound I just cant hear anything on computer
Does it matter what the mode switch is set to when using the board as a live mixer? Can you record live shows regardless of what the mode switch is set to? Doesn't say anything at all about that, and it might be a dumb question, but it is sort of a head scratcher for me.
Excellent question! If you're just using the on-board function and not connecting it to anything, the mode switch is irrelevant. You can set it to anything and it won't change the performance of the board until you're connecting it to a device. Cheers!
If Your ZOOM L-12/20 Is Updated To The Latest Firmware, You have to go into the USB Audio Output Settings in the mixer and change it so that All 20+ inputs Stream Out Of The USB-B As Master L & R and Not As A 22/22 In/Out Audio Interface. If You Don't Change It, Channels 1 & 2 Will Be 1 (Left) & 2 (Right).
In the Zoom L-20 Control Panel for the L-20 Driver you can easily push the 1/2 channel selection to Master instead, doing away with all the additional device for capturing the master mix.
I did that, trying to go back and forth between the two options and even resetting the computer several times hoping that it would affect things down the stream but it just wasn't working with OBS. I'm hoping that as Zoom, Apple and OBS continue to update their software, that option works. The thing that surprised me the most was that Logic, Zoom and OBS all read the board in very different ways, regardless of what I did wth the driver settings and that makes me think it was software compatibility, particularly between the Zoom L-20 drivers and MacOS Monterey. Thank you for the comment! I really like finding out that I'm not broadcasting to an abyss.
@@JJKoester I'm currently running win10 and a ryzen 9 chipset. Zoom have made an apple centric product here, with only IOS remote application and no android option, which i was disapointed by. but I get it, Apple is the currentl market leader for audio engineers. So on Win10, I tried the master mix on channels 1/2 on Zoom (video calling software) and OBS with the same reasults. I set the system input as l-20 and then used same as system where applicable. However I've switched back to using channl 1/2 for vidoe calls as using L-20 for audio output there isn't a simple solution for not sending the audio in back through the master out. However I plan on getting a better monitor controller with multiples sources so i can route output either to the desk via USB or direct through the monitor outputs via the audio out on the soundcard. The other option will be to route a "monitor out" from the L-20 into a multi source monitor controller, then i can use my studio monitors for monitoring both the master and a monitor output. Actually, the lack of a sub group on the zoom really hinders this sort of simple routing. I was considering the Tascam model 24 prior to the Zoom purchase, but the 2 monitor outs rather than 6 was a no brainder when wanting seperat emixes for the whoel band, especially with multiple vocals and where guitars often muddy IEM for vocal use. So I think I might just reserve 1 of the monitor outs as a "sub-group". By the way love the production quality of the channel! Keep up the good work!
@@jimdoodle Thanks for this comment. You've given me a couple of quick ideas on other things to try with routing audio through the L-20 and into OBS and Zoom. I really didn't like my dumb solution in this video because it was basically "use a completely different piece of equipment" which isn't really good advice if you just spent a grand on an L-20. Also, you're making me think that I'm woefully undereducated when it comes to Windows. I haven't used one of those machines since 2002 and I wonder if I should invest in one just so I can do sibling tutorials, one with a Mac pipeline and one with a PC. I'll keep noodling with it and will post an updated video as soon as I find better workflow.
If Your ZOOM L-12/20 Is Updated To The Latest Firmware, You have to go into the USB Audio Output Settings in the mixer and change it so that All 20+ inputs Stream Out Of The USB-B As Master L & R and Not As A 22/22 In/Out Audio Interface. If You Don't Change It, Channels 1 & 2 Will Be 1 (Left) & 2 (Right).
@@JMMinistries where is that setting exactly? I was trying to host a zoom meeting for a large thing last night and couldnt figure out why only channels 1 and 2 worked
It’s funny you made the challenge to fight with the guy from Zoom. The owner literally chewed me out telling me that if I was not an amateur artist I would not have fried the channel on the hardware. I was simply trying to get my h6 serviced for warranty but he was so tight that he argued with me and told me I could spend 185 bucks to have the Jack replaced since I voided the warranty and he then retracted his offer and denied and refused to work on my item if it ever comes into his shop being that I registered it he knows the number on it. Complete asshole but I do love my L 12
Nice tutorial !! When you record to sd card does it save all the scenes per fader and fx? And when you record to sd card does it record the channels with fx? And if I load a sd card mix , do I put the mode switch back to usb host to mix to a daw and the mix is loaded onto the mixer itself ?
Some of those, I can answer. The ones I can't, I'll look up. 1) It will record the signal unprocessed beyond the gain. If you have effects and fader during recording, this will not be reflected in the audio file. 2) It will only record engaged tracks to the SD card but it does not record any effects to the SD card. So if a track has a signal but is not engaged for record, you won't find a file for that track on the card. 3) That is one I don't know enough about to answer. I honestly don't use the host feature. That's not because I think it's lame. I use the board more as a live mixing device that also records. Thanks for the comment and the questions! I hope the answers were helpful!
Great presentation, thanks for making this! I have the L-12 and on one demo session I was struggling to get it to show up in Logic. Thanks to your video I now know, that I have to turn off the device before switching the modes from SD to Interface.
That OBS is such a PITA. Luckily I have a Zoom H6 too as was using it before I got the L-20. Do you think OBS will fix this in a future release. In the meantime I'm jus going to use one of the monitor outputs to the H6 so I can keep the Main Out for my monitors as I have a Blue Yeti and do most of my OBS work with that.
Great job! I think you had me at "wooptie-do" and "come at me, engineers", and of course your subscribe-interrupting-tangent at the end seemed to seal the deal! BTW, great video shots and editing!
@@jimdoodle That's the perfect punchline to the surprisingly poor implementation to bluetooth connectivity. For such a well thought out device, that one aspect is delightfully half-baked.
If we're going to boo them for that (and I think that's fair), then we need to cheer them for the L20R which is the rack-mount version of this board. If I may... Also: Boooo to Zoom for requiring that you use an Apple-branded tablet if you want to control the L20R with any nuance.
@@atmadsen Yeah, there will never be a day that I prefer a touch screen to a tactile interface. I still remember when Jobs unveiled the iPad and said, "and typing on this is a dream" and my heart flared with anger only afforded to liars.
Hey Jesse, I want thank you for all the knowledge on the Zoom L20...My first use I was ready to go because of your videos! My only frustration with the board was the fact the need for a audio interface to use multitrack (Only record Track 1 and 2) with OBS etc etc... Well i'm not sure you have addressed this in any of your vids yet...or anyone else for that matter...I called Zoom , their support is great...they gave me the answer....This is for Windows only, Open Control Panel, Then Zoom L-20 Control Panel, open Channel tab, Tick the master box and boom, multitrack at least for me in OBS! No audio interface needed...
I want to say yes but I don't know how many instruments you have and how you mic them. All 20 tracks on the L-20 recorded as isolated tracks (except for the 17/18 and 19/20 which record as stereo pairs which can be separated to isolated tracks later). We use this for live shows with the bands I produce and we love it. Here's a concert we produced with all audio being recorded on the L-20: ua-cam.com/video/yh8j-eFnQ9A/v-deo.html
one thing about the Zoom strategy to sell a 40 dollars proprietary bluetooth dongle. It seems a stupid idea, but from a marketing point of view it is the best idea. When my band performs live, the use of the iPad remotely is very useful, if not indispensable in moments such as soundcheck. Having an iPad to control the settings remotely, away from the stage, to check the sounds, is priceless, also because we don't have a person who can do it for us, we don't have a sound engineer. So purchasing the dongle was mandatory for us.
I agree with the utility of the dongle. The thing that bugs me is that it's an add-on. They could have included it in the board and charged 100 dollars more and I still would have been happy with the price (the cost of this board is really generous considering its functionality). It's the nickel-and-diming that really gets under my skin. Also, it's the ubiquity of the technology. Why Zoom considered that a luxury feature and not a base feature is beyond me. My stinkin' lightbulbs have bluetooth and those don't cost 40 bucks. By separating the cost, they created extra hassle and advertising the amount they're ripping you off. They could have ripped you off secretly and more efficiently. It's a confusing decision.
so you need an audio interface to get your audio interface (the Zoom L-8/12/20) to work with OBS. i've been trying to figure this out for weeks without resorting to capturing the monitor outs on the Zoom into another audio interface that plays well with OBS. this seems addressable via software. i hope Zoom does something about this because this is insanity lol. thank you for the video though, you confirmed what i was afraid of. you got a sub from me!
Thanks so much for your video. Extremely helpful. I recently got the L-20, however when using it in Zoom Meetings I can only get mic inputs 1 and 2 to work. Same as in OBS. I use a Windows PC.
Thank you for the video, as you mention I want to use this with an iPad pro m1! Is it possible to multitrack r20 into iPad and in Cubasis or GarageBand? Thank you in advance :)
I haven't gotten into the Bluetooth connectivity but as I understand, it's strictly for interface controls and there's no audio transmission to their app. Not even the stereo mix. That said, you might be able to use the Host jack to connect audio to your iPad. I haven't tried that and if you have success with it, please leave a comment.
Are we need any booster kind equipment if we want record keyboard? My zoom L-20 captured the sound quite well for some minutes then level became weak after that & doesn't go up
Great content! I’ve been using a Livetrak L-20 and two older 8-track recorders to capture a very large drum set, and then importing all the tracks into a DAW on a Windows computer-but I recently got a second L-20 and plan on getting a Mac Studio with Logic. I’d like to use both L-20s simultaneously in Interface mode directly into Logic. I’ve read that multiple interfaces can be used simultaneously by setting up a “aggregate device,” but that’s under a midi setting, so I’m unclear if that will work for audio. Have you ever tried interfacing two Zoom Livetraks into Logic simultaneously? Any thoughts or suggestions about doing this? Thanks!
@@roguesociety5803I did! I acquired a Mac Studio w/ Logic just last week, and while I’m still configuring and experimenting, I was able to easily create a 44 in, 8 out Aggregate Device using both L-20s. (I’m not routing the Outs through them, but nonetheless, that’s the default configuration of the Aggregate Device.)
Thanks for this informative video! This L-20 is a excellent mixer...Yes...buying the Bluetooth dongle separately was a pisser...but in fairness it works really great on my iPad,...🤣
Really enjoyed this. I've had my L20 for a few months and use it four my four piece band gigs and recording in my home studio. I use Logic Pro. Couple of things: - while I'm overall happy with the L20, I'm a bit disappointed that it can't work as a control surface for Logic. Or am I wrong . . . ? - I paid for the bluetooth plug in. I kinda share your thinking that it's overpriced but I love being able to mix the band from the back of the house when we gig. I really like the L20 iPad app.
Is there a tutorial for running the headphones from the USB return? I've got it working but can't figure out how to mute the main speakers and still hear thru the headphones.
Please show us how to connect to an iPad/iPhone. If it’s just through the camera usb adapter the video is unnecessary and a simple comment will do. Thanks!
Hi great information. I have question for any reason I can’t hear anything through the headphones no sound, I can see that only that I can hear is microphones but inside logic I can’t hear anything, if you know something please let me know
Agree about the dongle for blu tooth, it should be part of the board for the price it has; before I decided to get one in my quest for looking for a portable mixer that could mix my drums I also read complaints about how this mixer lacks the ability to mechanical faders, zero db indent on the sliders and a noise gate besides the compressor, also read someone complaining at the compressor as more of a gain control than anything; the thing is if Zoom will put all those features then the price would be higher; it is already high where it is considering the carrying case and adapter are separate; to me I was able to knock some bucks as discount but still close to 1K; it would be nice to have ALL those missing features for the same price but I guess they are reserving that for an L30 or L40 model? who knows!
Thanks for this video with great content. I wanted to ask you a question: is it possible to use the Zoom Livetrack L12 / 20 with a band and make a Playlist and send the click to the drummer? I thank you for the answer
Thanks for the great videos! Was planning to buy one of these in the next few days and your comment on the wireless adapter is invoking a pause on that purchase. Why are you negative on the iOS wireless interface? Been looking high/low for a digital mixer with a simple means to edit basic volumes while walking the venue (instead of mixing from stage - lots, small venues often without FOH). There's also a strong requirement for a physical Compression knob which few digital mixers have as they pushed this to the control strip. Thanks again!
Got the L-20 a few weeks back. Loving it, it is my first decent mixer as I've gone with a hybrid option with multiple synths and modules using a DAW or DAW less. Got a few scenes setup. Not bothering to use the app as I'm right next to the mixer. Template setup in Studio one with the individual channels in a folder so I can arm all the individual all at once without the stereo channel which is on its own.
Yup. The dongle sucks. But the iOS app is great - particularly the master fader EQ. Also: If you're doing vocals etc into Logic one track at a time, select the Master outs instead of the actual input. In essence, the L20 becomes more of a channel strip by doing so as you'll be able to do high and low pass, some mid adjustments etc. You'll also find greater control with gain staging.
Good lord! Thank you for this comment. Plugging this thing into a PA was a mind-blowing experience. Correction, ear-blowing experience. Short version, do not set your levels by the master headphones and then turn on the PA system as you might kill someone accidentally. Start with all your levels down and bring them in slowly and one-by-one. Personally, I'm the type to record as naked a signal as possible and make all of those decisions in post. This isn't because I'm awesome at post. It's because I'm awful at live recording. For an example, see above.
@@JJKoester I tend to do as much as possible in post as well. However, by using the master fader (21-22) instead of input one, you get a much higher level going into Logic as you've cut some frequencies that prevent you from upping that gain on the L20. You can also run the compressor a little hotter which I believe is set around 2:1 which imo is pretty gentle. Of course it also depends on the mic but using an NT 1 or 2 for example with some high pass buys you a hotter gain into your DAW and for me, gets you much better signal quality. Less to polish later. Just my take tho
Oh yeah. I have a multi speaker setup (pa and ref monitors). My refs are thru the L20's mains as they are lower wattage than my pa. My pa is thru one of the monitor outputs. I have the monitor/aux knob set pretty low then I just turn up to taste. Also: I hate to say it but the dongle/iOS app is really stellar for controlling feedback in the pa via the master EQ.
@@atmadsen Well, that actually convinces me to give it a try. Clipping is always a concern with digital and that's a really good point about being able to attenuate your signal so selectively. You just gave me a week of studio noodling homework as I experiment with that.
@@atmadsen I'm pretty sure I will have to buy one eventually, if only to review it. These L20 videos have generated a lot of discussion on the channel and I'd love to see that conversation continue.
Hi Jesse, thanks for this very useful tutorial. Q. Does the effect you apply to a channel affect all the different fader modes or just the fader mode you applied it on. Secondly, can you apply effects on the final output of any of the fader modes? Thanks again.
Thanks for this detail as there is not a lot of L20 info on the net. A 101 on recording a band or something similar would be great having you insight into the recorder. Tips and tricks type tutorial.
4:50 it's probably worth noting that you would be able to use this with Linux (without a dedicated driver) if you leave in in class compliant mode.
Thanks for mentioning that. As a non-Linux user, I wouldn't have known. Cheers!
@@JJKoester I just ordered this thing. I think even in 2023 it’s a good value proposition - especially for podcasting setups. Sucks that it will cost me almost a hundred Australian to get the Bluetooth dongle but I will just eat the cost and get on with it.
Is there even a reason why you wouldn't just keep Class Compliant mode enabled at all times?
@@marratj I think there are some advantages for using the native driver when it is available but I don't know off the top of my head. You'd have to download the PDF of the manual.
@@TerenceKearns The manual doesn't state anything useful about it, just that Class Compliant mode is required to connect to iOS devices.
I think I should make a tutorial on how to use all channels on OBS without using an extra interface! This is the second vid I see about this. It works on both my iMac and MacBook
L-12/L-20/L-20R audio driver version 2 supplementary manual (download the manual, there is the solution wit obs!!!)
In DAW (logic pro X) : Instead of setting input source manually, you can select number of audio channels you want to record,then in the input section, click ascending... This will put all inputs form input 1 ascending. Thankyou
"come at me zoom engineers". "we can scrap anytime you want". 😂🤣😂🤣😂
The Journey With this zoom has been a nightmare for me.
Nothing but regrets and frustration. I will never Zoom again.
That's a bummer! Can you tell me where the device has fallen short? Zoom's can be particular with what cards they accept and the H4n is a piece of absolute garbage but other than that, my experience with the gear has been really positive.
nice one. thanks 🙏🏻
one advice: at 5:34 If you check "ascending" when making logic create the 20 tracks it will automatically setup channels 1-20 with the according inputs 1-20 😉
Dude! Thank you for this comment! Next 1-minute tip video I make will be exactly that.
This was a great tutorial on how to connect. To the point and without too much info that gets beginners lost. And hilarious. I love that you don't hold back! Thank you!
It's been a great pleasure watching your videos on the Zoom L-20! I had just bought the L-20, wanting to record live band rehearsals as well as use a digital mixer as an interface to use Ableton Live. When I subsequently started searching for review videos online, I came across yours. Unlike most review videos, yours is extremely instructional and easy to follow. A pure delight amongst a plethora of distractions.
Thank you for the kind words! I'm glad the video was useful. I was packing up the L-20 for a concert tonight when your message landed. It's a great little device. It's really hard to go back to a non-ISO board once you've started using one. We found this true for audio and for our vision mixers.
@@JJKoester How was the L-20 for the concert? We have an L-20 in our band room for a few years already but in some weeks we will take it outside for the first time to mix a small self-organised gig in the real world. Any tips?
May I know using Logic Pro recording, gain input base on L20 gain knob or Logic Pro internal gain? Because if gain knob from L20 is zero, Logic Pro still have the signal.
We want to bring a 2nd line out from everyone's mic into the H8 then bring one line out to say channel 14 of the L20. We can then use channel 14 as a talk back mic. What would be the process to do this? How do we get sounds out of the H8 into XLR?
04:09 Disagree. The Bluetooth dongle allows you to control this gadget using apps on different devices. Think "everybody gets to adjust their own IEM monitor mix" in a live situation. Well worth it!
Also, is it possible to connect my phone to a zoom meeting through the USB cable on back then converted to USB c on my Android phone?
Do I need a SD card to use the zoom L-20. Somebody told me it's needed ans when taken out the board doesn't work.
Great video! ONE QUESTION, can the L20 be used to control the FADERS in logic (not just be used as an input device)?
Im using Windows 10 and trying to use L20 as an audio interface and for the life of me cant get it to work at all
Im using Audacity as my DAW
To send a mix to OBS, can't you just patch the master (or what ever monitor out you want) to inputes 1 and 2, and then boom, set ZOOM L20 as the input device and then it will feed off inputs 1 and 2. And DO NOT SEND INPUTS 1/2 to the master, as this will make a loop.
Thanks for the video. You do a nice job on these. It's it possible to use a phone connected? Maybe through the RCA lines. So when we go on break we can play music
We do this at almost every concert we produce. We run headphone out from an iPad, convert than into RCA and plug it into inputs 19 & 20. Works a charm! We use it for preshow music and for the interstitial screens with audio (iPad can easily handle HDMI out if you have the adapter).
@@JJKoester thank you for the quick reply. I have an Android phone that uses USB c. Do you know what type of cord I am looking for?
@@MichaelDaniels I don't know much about Androids. If it has a headphone out, all you need is a headphone to RCA cable (5-10 bucks). If it doesn't, I imagine that there's a USB-to-headphone connector that you can buy. If there isn't, you could always get a bluetooth device with a headphone out, tether the two and then run the headphone out from the bluetooth device into the board.
@@JJKoester But with that set up, can you take calls like the L8 can do, and allow all users with headphones to talk/listen to the caller?
Very nice tutorial. Thank you so much!!
Pleas HELP:
Hello everyone, I have been stupid enough to buy an L20R without an iPad. Now I don't know how to make it work in any way using logic or even using it as a monitor... How do I make sound get OUT of it? I'm desperate...
I connect a mic in and connect speakers to monitor outs but there is just no sound coming out of the speakers.
When trying to go through Logic Pro, I manage to set the driver and get the 22 channel inputs, but still am not able to get any sound out of the speakers.
What am I missing? How is it possible to use this mixer without an iPad or computer, just as a basic mixer to get monitor sound out (even without many functionalities)?
Thank you!
Just got our Zoom LiveTrack L20, saw a video where someone said the main XLR outputs wouldn't work properly when using an XLR to a 1/4 cable. Our monitor speakers only have 1/4 inputs. Is this true? 2nd Question our bass player's bass when plugged into inputs one our two sounds horrible Hi On or Hi Z off. any thoughts. Thank you for your great tutorials.
Ghosshhh 😂 Love your attitude, always keep it like that 🔥💯😂
I am in the market for a Digital mixer like this but, I use OBS for live streaming
So, Its so dumb either on the zoom's part or OBS that we have find such dumb workaround
So please Can you suggest some other brand digital mixer which is better and works flawlessly with OBS
Thanks for this. I’m expecting my L12 in a few days and looking forward to use with Logic and to play and sing remotely at a live church service. Any additional tips would be greatly appreciated
Love the content! Plz center your belt buckle on your pants. Love the videos on the products.
Would you buy an L20 in 2024 ? Or is there something better.
Can you record a session on the L20 and then later on put it into Logic to work on further ? Or create a drum track and then dump it into Logic. I am trying to decide between something like the L20 or an audio interface like the focusrite clarett 8 pre x. I want a system that is easy to learn and use. I want to record drums and other instruments. And i will be the musician and engineer. So the foot switch to start and stop recording seems like a good thing.
Hey! Thanks for your video. So I have a question or concern as you may call it. I have the Zoom L20. I discovered that it does not send audio input into my zoom video conferencing app. What do you think could be the reason for this. I use the windows laptop and have tried it on 2 different laptops. The input signal bar does not rise on zoom when I’m testing it. Please help.
So, I’m upgrading from the Zoom L8 to the L20 for my livestream podcast. Basically, I get a lot of guest on my show and needed more mics and headphones. Are you saying I will still need my L8 to run into OBS for this process? That would suck.
I am interested in recording several tracks simultaneously to iOS. You mentioned to leave a comment if I was interested in this.
Hi Jesse! I have a zoom L12 and I cant get any sound from my computer Im hearing hissing and when I push the Slate button I can hear sound I just cant hear anything on computer
Does it matter what the mode switch is set to when using the board as a live mixer? Can you record live shows regardless of what the mode switch is set to? Doesn't say anything at all about that, and it might be a dumb question, but it is sort of a head scratcher for me.
Excellent question! If you're just using the on-board function and not connecting it to anything, the mode switch is irrelevant. You can set it to anything and it won't change the performance of the board until you're connecting it to a device.
Cheers!
i have a problem with software not show on my computer (it say Adequate ) what should i do
ASIO drivers allowed me to use more than tracks 1 and 2 in OBS.
If Your ZOOM L-12/20 Is Updated To The Latest Firmware, You have to go into the USB Audio Output Settings in the mixer and change it so that All 20+ inputs Stream Out Of The USB-B As Master L & R and Not As A 22/22 In/Out Audio Interface. If You Don't Change It, Channels 1 & 2 Will Be 1 (Left) & 2 (Right).
How do you update to the latest firmware?
where do i find that menu?
Is there a logic project temple available for download?
In the Zoom L-20 Control Panel for the L-20 Driver you can easily push the 1/2 channel selection to Master instead, doing away with all the additional device for capturing the master mix.
I did that, trying to go back and forth between the two options and even resetting the computer several times hoping that it would affect things down the stream but it just wasn't working with OBS. I'm hoping that as Zoom, Apple and OBS continue to update their software, that option works.
The thing that surprised me the most was that Logic, Zoom and OBS all read the board in very different ways, regardless of what I did wth the driver settings and that makes me think it was software compatibility, particularly between the Zoom L-20 drivers and MacOS Monterey.
Thank you for the comment! I really like finding out that I'm not broadcasting to an abyss.
@@JJKoester I'm currently running win10 and a ryzen 9 chipset. Zoom have made an apple centric product here, with only IOS remote application and no android option, which i was disapointed by. but I get it, Apple is the currentl market leader for audio engineers.
So on Win10, I tried the master mix on channels 1/2 on Zoom (video calling software) and OBS with the same reasults. I set the system input as l-20 and then used same as system where applicable. However I've switched back to using channl 1/2 for vidoe calls as using L-20 for audio output there isn't a simple solution for not sending the audio in back through the master out. However I plan on getting a better monitor controller with multiples sources so i can route output either to the desk via USB or direct through the monitor outputs via the audio out on the soundcard.
The other option will be to route a "monitor out" from the L-20 into a multi source monitor controller, then i can use my studio monitors for monitoring both the master and a monitor output.
Actually, the lack of a sub group on the zoom really hinders this sort of simple routing. I was considering the Tascam model 24 prior to the Zoom purchase, but the 2 monitor outs rather than 6 was a no brainder when wanting seperat emixes for the whoel band, especially with multiple vocals and where guitars often muddy IEM for vocal use.
So I think I might just reserve 1 of the monitor outs as a "sub-group".
By the way love the production quality of the channel! Keep up the good work!
@@jimdoodle Thanks for this comment. You've given me a couple of quick ideas on other things to try with routing audio through the L-20 and into OBS and Zoom. I really didn't like my dumb solution in this video because it was basically "use a completely different piece of equipment" which isn't really good advice if you just spent a grand on an L-20.
Also, you're making me think that I'm woefully undereducated when it comes to Windows. I haven't used one of those machines since 2002 and I wonder if I should invest in one just so I can do sibling tutorials, one with a Mac pipeline and one with a PC.
I'll keep noodling with it and will post an updated video as soon as I find better workflow.
If Your ZOOM L-12/20 Is Updated To The Latest Firmware, You have to go into the USB Audio Output Settings in the mixer and change it so that All 20+ inputs Stream Out Of The USB-B As Master L & R and Not As A 22/22 In/Out Audio Interface. If You Don't Change It, Channels 1 & 2 Will Be 1 (Left) & 2 (Right).
@@JMMinistries where is that setting exactly? I was trying to host a zoom meeting for a large thing last night and couldnt figure out why only channels 1 and 2 worked
Hello, please, how are the screen settings so that the sound is output to the speakers, and why can't I hear the recording? It is necessary, please
I very much enjoyed the dad jokes sprinkled in :)
If you use ASIO plugin for OBS you can use all 20 channels in OBS
I wanna learn about recording usb audio with irig and my zoom please.
Where recording path stops? Does eq settings affects recorded tracks?
no one has made a video showing computer monitor in action while recording a band
Your complaining definitely earned a like from me!
😂😂😂😂😂😂The end was hilarious
It’s funny you made the challenge to fight with the guy from Zoom. The owner literally chewed me out telling me that if I was not an amateur artist I would not have fried the channel on the hardware. I was simply trying to get my h6 serviced for warranty but he was so tight that he argued with me and told me I could spend 185 bucks to have the Jack replaced since I voided the warranty and he then retracted his offer and denied and refused to work on my item if it ever comes into his shop being that I registered it he knows the number on it. Complete asshole but I do love my L 12
Thanks very much-nicely done and clearly explained!!! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the comment!
I'm in your corner if the Zoom engineers ever come at you over the Bluetooth dongle.
The yellow-belly cowards never would.
Yes I want to learn about how to hook it to iPad thank you you’re doing great by the way
11:21 - Whoa………………. sounds like somebody didn’t have their coffee this morning !?!?!?!?!!
Yeah! The dorks who designed this!!! Zing! Boom! ROASTED!!!!
Totally agree that the bluetooth dongle should have come with the device. What a bummer. Great tutorial Koester.
It's the biggest miss on a piece of equipment largely defined by its hits.
0:03 dudes to the duds do the dududs dus to wtf ? 😂😂😂😂
Plzz tell me the software name is for zoom L 20
Nice tutorial !! When you record to sd card does it save all the scenes per fader and fx? And when you record to sd card does it record the channels with fx? And if I load a sd card mix , do I put the mode switch back to usb host to mix to a daw and the mix is loaded onto the mixer itself ?
Some of those, I can answer. The ones I can't, I'll look up.
1) It will record the signal unprocessed beyond the gain. If you have effects and fader during recording, this will not be reflected in the audio file.
2) It will only record engaged tracks to the SD card but it does not record any effects to the SD card. So if a track has a signal but is not engaged for record, you won't find a file for that track on the card.
3) That is one I don't know enough about to answer. I honestly don't use the host feature. That's not because I think it's lame. I use the board more as a live mixing device that also records.
Thanks for the comment and the questions! I hope the answers were helpful!
@@JJKoester yes that helps but I don’t understand why they wouldn’t include those scene settings on a master file on the sd card thanks 🙏
@@akaixl83 Let me look into that. There might be a way to save your board settings to the SD card and not have to deal with the Host USB.
“We can scrap anytime you want.” SUBSCRIBED!!!
Still no reply from Zoom. Very suspicious.
@@JJKoester Zoom: “we don’t make drivers” 😂
Subscribed
Is auto mix available + noise gat ?
Great presentation, thanks for making this! I have the L-12 and on one demo session I was struggling to get it to show up in Logic. Thanks to your video I now know, that I have to turn off the device before switching the modes from SD to Interface.
That OBS is such a PITA. Luckily I have a Zoom H6 too as was using it before I got the L-20. Do you think OBS will fix this in a future release. In the meantime I'm jus going to use one of the monitor outputs to the H6 so I can keep the Main Out for my monitors as I have a Blue Yeti and do most of my OBS work with that.
Firmware update solved this
Try using OBS ASIO
Thanks for the tip! I'll give it a go!
The OBS ASIO plugin works great, it allows to choose what channels you want for left and right, including 21 & 22 (master out)
I just subscribed
Is there a more advanced tutorial on not using headphone output as the main output when recording on daw?
There could be!
Great job! I think you had me at "wooptie-do" and "come at me, engineers", and of course your subscribe-interrupting-tangent at the end seemed to seal the deal!
BTW, great video shots and editing!
Still haven't heard from any Zoom engineers. They're probably just scared...
Do you have any tips on interfacing an L20R with a computer running win 10?
Unfortunately, I don't. We are very mac focused in this office and PC is a known wall of ignorance we haven't had the time to address.
Man.... I guess zoom really hurt ur feelings with that bluetooth adapter situation 😂😂😂👍
Gotta admit, I was not impressed with that move. Thanks for watcing!
I wasn't bothered since they didn't even make the compatibile software for Android users.
@@jimdoodle That's the perfect punchline to the surprisingly poor implementation to bluetooth connectivity. For such a well thought out device, that one aspect is delightfully half-baked.
Also: Boooo to Zoom for not making this board easily rack mountable.
If we're going to boo them for that (and I think that's fair), then we need to cheer them for the L20R which is the rack-mount version of this board.
If I may...
Also: Boooo to Zoom for requiring that you use an Apple-branded tablet if you want to control the L20R with any nuance.
@@JJKoester I fully agree with this. There should be an android version.
As for the 20R yes for rackmountability but see above.
Also; I like knobs.
@@atmadsen Yeah, there will never be a day that I prefer a touch screen to a tactile interface. I still remember when Jobs unveiled the iPad and said, "and typing on this is a dream" and my heart flared with anger only afforded to liars.
Again… NAILED IT!!! Killer video!!
Thank you so much for the comment! We really appreciate it.
11:21 - Whoa………………. sounds like somebody didn’t have their coffee this morning !?!?!?!?!!
Simply a tremendous service to all of us new l-20 owners. Bravo!
So glad it's useful! Best of luck with the gear! We're loving ours.
Hey Jesse, I want thank you for all the knowledge on the Zoom L20...My first use I was ready to go because of your videos! My only frustration with the board was the fact the need for a audio interface to use multitrack (Only record Track 1 and 2) with OBS etc etc... Well i'm not sure you have addressed this in any of your vids yet...or anyone else for that matter...I called Zoom , their support is great...they gave me the answer....This is for Windows only, Open Control Panel, Then Zoom L-20 Control Panel, open Channel tab, Tick the master box and boom, multitrack at least for me in OBS! No audio interface needed...
I want to know, will I be able to record all my instruments at once on their own track?
I want to say yes but I don't know how many instruments you have and how you mic them. All 20 tracks on the L-20 recorded as isolated tracks (except for the 17/18 and 19/20 which record as stereo pairs which can be separated to isolated tracks later). We use this for live shows with the bands I produce and we love it. Here's a concert we produced with all audio being recorded on the L-20: ua-cam.com/video/yh8j-eFnQ9A/v-deo.html
"Dumb" tape on back of unit absolutely KILLED, good review -thanks :-)
one thing about the Zoom strategy to sell a 40 dollars proprietary bluetooth dongle. It seems a stupid idea, but from a marketing point of view it is the best idea. When my band performs live, the use of the iPad remotely is very useful, if not indispensable in moments such as soundcheck. Having an iPad to control the settings remotely, away from the stage, to check the sounds, is priceless, also because we don't have a person who can do it for us, we don't have a sound engineer. So purchasing the dongle was mandatory for us.
I agree with the utility of the dongle. The thing that bugs me is that it's an add-on. They could have included it in the board and charged 100 dollars more and I still would have been happy with the price (the cost of this board is really generous considering its functionality).
It's the nickel-and-diming that really gets under my skin. Also, it's the ubiquity of the technology. Why Zoom considered that a luxury feature and not a base feature is beyond me. My stinkin' lightbulbs have bluetooth and those don't cost 40 bucks. By separating the cost, they created extra hassle and advertising the amount they're ripping you off. They could have ripped you off secretly and more efficiently. It's a confusing decision.
@@JJKoester good point indeed!
so you need an audio interface to get your audio interface (the Zoom L-8/12/20) to work with OBS. i've been trying to figure this out for weeks without resorting to capturing the monitor outs on the Zoom into another audio interface that plays well with OBS. this seems addressable via software. i hope Zoom does something about this because this is insanity lol. thank you for the video though, you confirmed what i was afraid of. you got a sub from me!
the Eleven Rack does the same thing!!!! AWESOME!!! LOL
At 5:40 if you click "ascending" under input, you won't have to go assign each input individually
Thanks so much for your video. Extremely helpful.
I recently got the L-20, however when using it in Zoom Meetings I can only get mic inputs 1 and 2 to work. Same as in OBS.
I use a Windows PC.
Have you ever figured out how to do automated punch in/out? I love the way my L-20 sounds for live recording, but I hate the recording controls.
Thank you for the video, as you mention I want to use this with an iPad pro m1! Is it possible to multitrack r20 into iPad and in Cubasis or GarageBand? Thank you in advance :)
I haven't gotten into the Bluetooth connectivity but as I understand, it's strictly for interface controls and there's no audio transmission to their app. Not even the stereo mix.
That said, you might be able to use the Host jack to connect audio to your iPad. I haven't tried that and if you have success with it, please leave a comment.
@@__officialtony__ thanx :)
Having trouble streaming the usb audio. Thanks for all your help. I use the rca cords too🤷🏿♂️
Are we need any booster kind equipment if we want record keyboard? My zoom L-20 captured the sound quite well for some minutes then level became weak after that & doesn't go up
Great content! I’ve been using a Livetrak L-20 and two older 8-track recorders to capture a very large drum set, and then importing all the tracks into a DAW on a Windows computer-but I recently got a second L-20 and plan on getting a Mac Studio with Logic. I’d like to use both L-20s simultaneously in Interface mode directly into Logic. I’ve read that multiple interfaces can be used simultaneously by setting up a “aggregate device,” but that’s under a midi setting, so I’m unclear if that will work for audio. Have you ever tried interfacing two Zoom Livetraks into Logic simultaneously? Any thoughts or suggestions about doing this? Thanks!
Hey there, did you find an answer for this?
@@roguesociety5803I did! I acquired a Mac Studio w/ Logic just last week, and while I’m still configuring and experimenting, I was able to easily create a 44 in, 8 out Aggregate Device using both L-20s. (I’m not routing the Outs through them, but nonetheless, that’s the default configuration of the Aggregate Device.)
I keep getting a "version error" when i load my SD card back into my L-20? what am i doing wrong?
Thanks for this informative video! This L-20 is a excellent mixer...Yes...buying the Bluetooth dongle separately was a pisser...but in fairness it works really great on my iPad,...🤣
Really enjoyed this.
I've had my L20 for a few months and use it four my four piece band gigs and recording in my home studio. I use Logic Pro.
Couple of things:
- while I'm overall happy with the L20, I'm a bit disappointed that it can't work as a control surface for Logic. Or am I wrong . . . ?
- I paid for the bluetooth plug in. I kinda share your thinking that it's overpriced but I love being able to mix the band from the back of the house when we gig. I really like the L20 iPad app.
Is there a tutorial for running the headphones from the USB return? I've got it working but can't figure out how to mute the main speakers and still hear thru the headphones.
Please show us how to connect to an iPad/iPhone. If it’s just through the camera usb adapter the video is unnecessary and a simple comment will do. Thanks!
Hi great information. I have question for any reason I can’t hear anything through the headphones no sound, I can see that only that I can hear is microphones but inside logic I can’t hear anything, if you know something please let me know
Agree about the dongle for blu tooth, it should be part of the board for the price it has; before I decided to get one in my quest for looking for a portable mixer that could mix my drums I also read complaints about how this mixer lacks the ability to mechanical faders, zero db indent on the sliders and a noise gate besides the compressor, also read someone complaining at the compressor as more of a gain control than anything; the thing is if Zoom will put all those features then the price would be higher; it is already high where it is considering the carrying case and adapter are separate; to me I was able to knock some bucks as discount but still close to 1K; it would be nice to have ALL those missing features for the same price but I guess they are reserving that for an L30 or L40 model? who knows!
Very interested in the connectivity with iPad. Thanks for your amazing info.
Thanks for this video with great content. I wanted to ask you a question: is it possible to use the Zoom Livetrack L12 / 20 with a band and make a Playlist and send the click to the drummer? I thank you for the answer
Thanks for the great videos! Was planning to buy one of these in the next few days and your comment on the wireless adapter is invoking a pause on that purchase. Why are you negative on the iOS wireless interface? Been looking high/low for a digital mixer with a simple means to edit basic volumes while walking the venue (instead of mixing from stage - lots, small venues often without FOH). There's also a strong requirement for a physical Compression knob which few digital mixers have as they pushed this to the control strip. Thanks again!
Hello JJ, how are you. I have a very simple question. What display do you get on the L20 when you are in the interface modus and connected to the daw?
Got the L-20 a few weeks back. Loving it, it is my first decent mixer as I've gone with a hybrid option with multiple synths and modules using a DAW or DAW less. Got a few scenes setup. Not bothering to use the app as I'm right next to the mixer. Template setup in Studio one with the individual channels in a folder so I can arm all the individual all at once without the stereo channel which is on its own.
If you want to join tracks 1 and 2 as left right stereo on the H6 you, must push the button 1 and 2 at the same time.
The outro is hilarious! Thanks for mixing some humor with the hard truth. I only wish this board had motorized faders.
Yup. The dongle sucks. But the iOS app is great - particularly the master fader EQ.
Also:
If you're doing vocals etc into Logic one track at a time, select the Master outs instead of the actual input. In essence, the L20 becomes more of a channel strip by doing so as you'll be able to do high and low pass, some mid adjustments etc. You'll also find greater control with gain staging.
Good lord! Thank you for this comment. Plugging this thing into a PA was a mind-blowing experience. Correction, ear-blowing experience. Short version, do not set your levels by the master headphones and then turn on the PA system as you might kill someone accidentally. Start with all your levels down and bring them in slowly and one-by-one.
Personally, I'm the type to record as naked a signal as possible and make all of those decisions in post. This isn't because I'm awesome at post. It's because I'm awful at live recording. For an example, see above.
@@JJKoester I tend to do as much as possible in post as well. However, by using the master fader (21-22) instead of input one, you get a much higher level going into Logic as you've cut some frequencies that prevent you from upping that gain on the L20. You can also run the compressor a little hotter which I believe is set around 2:1 which imo is pretty gentle. Of course it also depends on the mic but using an NT 1 or 2 for example with some high pass buys you a hotter gain into your DAW and for me, gets you much better signal quality. Less to polish later. Just my take tho
Oh yeah. I have a multi speaker setup (pa and ref monitors). My refs are thru the L20's mains as they are lower wattage than my pa. My pa is thru one of the monitor outputs. I have the monitor/aux knob set pretty low then I just turn up to taste.
Also: I hate to say it but the dongle/iOS app is really stellar for controlling feedback in the pa via the master EQ.
@@atmadsen Well, that actually convinces me to give it a try. Clipping is always a concern with digital and that's a really good point about being able to attenuate your signal so selectively. You just gave me a week of studio noodling homework as I experiment with that.
@@atmadsen I'm pretty sure I will have to buy one eventually, if only to review it. These L20 videos have generated a lot of discussion on the channel and I'd love to see that conversation continue.
Hi Jesse, thanks for this very useful tutorial. Q. Does the effect you apply to a channel affect all the different fader modes or just the fader mode you applied it on. Secondly, can you apply effects on the final output of any of the fader modes? Thanks again.
Such a great tutorial! liked and subscribed!
Can you connect to VMix?
That question has been added to our list for the Q&A video regarding the L-20. I'll let you know as soon as it's uploaded.
Thanks for this detail as there is not a lot of L20 info on the net. A 101 on recording a band or something similar would be great having you insight into the recorder. Tips and tricks type tutorial.
loved the review ,remarks & the nun puns wha !wha! :)
Does the zoom l-20 work with presonus studio one?
Excelent presentation.
Glad you liked it! Also, thanks for commenting!