@@curtisjudd I agree, Zoom probably has some first-mover advantage in the prosumer space, but they'll be taken out quickly in this age of rapid prototyping.
That's a cool unit, man I cant believe how far some of these units have come. What I think is really special is the summary that you provided at the very beginning, viewers can quickly get a glance at the pros and cons of the unit. Seems like a really slick device for producing a podcasting show.
A few other things: 1) Mix minus is automatically applied to connected phones (via cable or bluetooth) and 2) the On-air feature also makes it so that when a channel is off air, that person can be heard by the other headphone outputs, but is not recorded. That's pretty cool.
@@curtisjudd Actually meant that as a question - asking if there was anything like the on air feature on the Rodecaster that allows you to talk back and forth without it going to the recording?
@@onocoffee Sorry, I misunderstood. Not that I can see on the RODECaster. It seems like a bit of a corner case from my perspective, but some people seem to want that feature.
Since you really seem to key on the "auto mix / noise reduction" feature, would have been good to show an A / B head to head with the Rode Caster, noise gate is essentially the same thing so would be great to hear the difference which seems to be the decision maker here. Good vid in general.
I bought the L8 on the strength of your reviews 2 years back and use is for my daily podcast and UA-cam channel. Ive now bought the P8 for my camper van so I can head out for days at a time and still record shows. Thanks for another great video (even if It is 2 years ago :) )
FYI - The PodTrak P8 also allows you to export each individual channel, along with the full mix. They are located separate from the main mix in a subfolder called "P8_Multitrack". Took me a few minutes to find this, but it's there.
So helpful. Thanks for the straightforward review. Definitely helped make a good selection between the Rodecaster and the P8. Probably going towards the P8. 😃
Recently discovered you channel while shopping for audio gear to *try* and improve my own channel. :) Very good reviews - excellent delivery of information. Not afraid to have an opinion, but very balanced approach. Thanks for helping me on my quest - I have ordered the P8, even though I work alone - I think its features will be valuable.
@@curtisjudd not really, noise floor is -124 dBu at full gain, so with cloud lifter or similar inline preamp you can lower noise by 5-6 dB, and that is a lot.
@@curtisjudd Yes, but if you need to buy six of them, then it becomes very expensive. Zoom is known to cheat with the preamps, they claim huge gain, but in reality the preamps is low gain and ater some point they boost gain digitally. I personally measured zoom h1, zoom h6 and zoom uac2 - all of them does same thing.
@@Mr_G Ok. If you have more stringent requirements, that's perfectly legitimate. It is no surprise that ZOOM cuts corners to hit a price point. Their main market strategy is to provide lots of features at lower prices than their competitors. If I had to choose, I would not hesitate to buy a Sound Devices MixPre with MixAssist and a USB control surface for my podcast production work. But I'm old enough I can afford to do that. Not everyone can. And in that case, if this sounds good enough for them, then it isn't a horrible choice, in my estimation. Though I'd probably opt for a RODECaster Pro in that case.
You gotta know, this is amazing content. I just got thrown into a project and have to work on one of these, I come up with a new question every day and just come to this video. So damn good man
Great tutorial sir, but to be honest I had no plans on watching the entire video, but the professional clear voice hypnotized me, and I couldn't stop watching lol!🙏🏾✊🏾
the most important thing i want to buy this for is noise reduction, and I didn't see a sample of how it works, you just pointed out the low cut function without testing. and your video has a lot of background noise throughout the whole thing, i was wondering why is that?
If noise reduction is your main goal, this is not the device you’re looking for. High pass filters help a tiny bit but are not noise reduction filters.
19:40 - Thanks for including that part.. I was wondering here what whould be better for podcasting, voice recording, voiceover works and was thinking lot of LiveTrack instead.. You have helped me to make the final decision easy :) Many thanks for that and of course - for the whole video content about P8 :) Excelent work! 👏👏👏
As always.. Great review! I always make my purchase decisions based on your reviews and it never fails me and saves me days of research. Thank you for being the go to channel
Great and informative review. You speak so clearly listening to you is a pleasure. I have the P8 and just bought the Atem mini pro video controller which I'm enjoying using. Well done !!!
As soon as you stated it only records at 44.1 Khz sample rate, it made it a deal killer... I share the same frustrations that you voiced. This could have been an awesome product otherwise.
I looked at both of these and in the end went for the L-8 with the TRRS in/out to Streamyard, tactile EQ, line input for an iPad mini for hits and show running using the GoButton app, effects for voice “pigs in space” :) USB to REAPER all tracks plus mix I found it a lot more versatile... BUT as a dedicated plug and play Podcast setup the P8 did tempt me. Great review as always. Tim.
i needed this i just found the P8 and was going to use it for live streaming so ineeded something that could give me a lot of audio control and quality, thank you :)
Great review! I just bought a PodTrak P8 and am really happy with it. It actually does capture all individual mic tracks - as well as a stereo mix - although I have to transfer the file to my laptop to access them (guess this could be due to an update).
Thanks Danny, sorry I missed that. I borrowed it for the review so I don't have it on hand, but ZOOM support should be able to clarify how to change the pad colors, if it is possible.
When you had first mentioned "Tone", I got really excited because I thought that it would be similar to the "Sound Mark" feature on the H1n. I really wish there were more portable audio recorders that allow you to easily sync audio recordings to the line out sent to your cameras, it's a true lifesaver! Oh well, one can dream... Thank you so much for this very thorough review, Curtis! Best of luck in 2021!!
Excellent information! I am a truck driver, and I do a ton of recording in my truck. I have the P4, and I love it. I really hope Zoom does a firmware upgrade to make 48K an option, along with multitrack recording to a PC/Laptop via USB.
Last year in February I convinced my friend to sell his Zoom R24 on ebay and get a Livetrack L8. He would typically produce podcasts with 5 to 6 participants, but he hasn't made anything all year because of social distancing, and now the Podtrack looks like a much better option. But, Curtis, I won't tell him if you don't. 😉 I still LOVE my Sound Devices MixPre-10II with the MixAssist plugin, but it's too complicated for most average users to pick up. The Zoom is probably better for someone who wants to get setup and podcasting without fussing around with too many menu options. I'm not an audio professional, but ever since I enrolled in the courses at LearnLightAndSound people are always coming to me with questions and asking for advice when it comes to their audio. I always recommend they sign up for the courses themselves.
Got quite excited when I saw the advertisement. Then I read the pros and cons... thank you for putting this at the start so I didnt have to watch a video on an item I know I dont want. I know it doesn't help your watch hours. But you earnt yourself a like and a sub from me just for that. Give the info straight. Thank you. Ps. My issues are. Mainly 16 bit is completely unusable as a musician. And secondly and much less important. No reverb.
Curtis Judd dang... I hope they come up with something soon that does a lot of those features for live music... there are some things I would really want on it... but... 16bit eeeew lol thanks for the response!
Excellent review. The main differences between P8 and Rodecaster Pro is price point and build quality. Whichever product you buy will be a win based on individual needs and cost/benefits. I have a Rodecaster Pro and love it. The extra cost is justify as I love the premium feel and ease of use. A simple feature that is taking for granted is the screw in power cord. It guarantees you don't lose power if you are clumsy, like me!
I saw that the Zoom P8 Noise Reduction feature only affects the mixed stero track of all the inputs and has no effect on the multitrack individual tracks recorded. Can you confirm if this is the case? If so it really negates the strongest selling point of this device for podcasters that need to edit and trim their episodes.
I don't know that I'd recommend it unless it is really necessary. But if it works for you, then that's good to know! Wireless adds a fair bit of risk for critical work, especially with consumer wireless systems like the Wireless GO. If the transmitter and receiver are not within line-of-sight, the risk of signal dropout is pretty high.
@@curtisjudd I get you. I suppose on a show like Impractical Jokers it could possibly work but I haven't been in a scenario where I thought I needed to use the technique. Thanks! Your videos are really helping a lot.
Thanks for the review. I really like the smaller formfactor of the P8 vs the Rodecaster but the 44,1 Khz restriction is just crippling in some regards. A lot of podcasters in Germany swear by Studiolink which provides a high quality peer2peer remote connection between podcasters. It relies on the Opus codec though and thus on 48 Khz as well. I therefore wouldn't be able to use the podtraks as USB interfaces. It's such an annoyance as I would otherwise really prefer it over the Rodecaster.
I have the Zoom Podtrak P4 and the Rodecaster Pro. I also have a Zoom H6 recorder. I think what Zoom and Rode was thinking is that these units were designed for AUDIO not video and that's why Zoom went with the 44.1 rather than 48. I know that when the Rodecaster Pro came out, the users complained about missing features. What Rode has done is that they built their unit so it could be updated and that's what they did. They added features missing with updates. As a radio show host on an FM station as well as I host an internet radio show, I have never had more than three guests in the studio and generally one. So four mics is overkill in most cases and six same overkill. I love both my products, I have the ZOOM P4 for a portable use going remote for interviews, but I also use it at one studio workstation where I can do a podcast or the internet show if need be. Everybody has their priorities and I agree with your cheap plastic comment as far at the P4, my H6 is bullet proof, very sturdy construction. The Rode is hands down higher quality all the way around. You did I nice review.
On the main menu seen at 17:00, I would have loved to see an "EQ" square leading to a sub-menu with separate "sub-squares" for each channel. When hitting one of those "channel squares", then getting a 5-band equalizer for the selected channel. I really - as in really, really, really - would like to have at least a 5-band EQ for each channel on a mixer, just like a regular, serious audio mixer has. Lack of proper EQ options on podcast mixers is why I'm personally using the Behringer XENYX 1002B.
Great question! I didn't test that before I had to send it back - I'm so sorry! Maybe you could contact ZOOM support to confirm whether that would work. Happy recording!
It doesn't look like they've issued a firmware update yet, no. I'm not 100% sure it will be possible to do that in a firmware update, but I hope it is and that they do it.
Thanks again for a great review. So now my question is; which one is the best for mostly live streaming with the ATEM mini and once in a while recording podcasts?
If you want to record mainly music and podcasts also, would you still choose the Podtrak P8 over the Livetrak L8...? Semi related: There are hundreds of videos comparing the Zoom P8 or L8 against the Rode Podcaster. But I could not find a single direct comparison between the Zoom L8 vs Zoom P8...
Thanks for the great content as usual. I have a question about the noise reduction... is there a way to get a similar benefit with the Rødecaster using multitrack out to usb and some software that does the noise reduction?
You could try Auphonic which is an online mastering service if you will (there are also desktop apps). They have a crossgate feature that’s very similar to what the P8 does and which I’ve been using for a couple of years now
I have read the manual for the P4 version and unless I read something wrong you can transfer each individual input that you've recorded into your computer or you can just move the stereo mix over so for example if you had two mics and you use the pad for intros or outros that's a total of three tracks. according to the manual I have the option to move those three tracks over into my computer to do post-production or if I like the stereo mix I can just drag that one over. Let me know if I didn't read the manual correctly but I actually downloaded it
You can record a mix and isolated channels on both of them and then transfer those files to your computer. What you cannot yet do on the P8 is stream isolated channels in real-time over USB to a computer. Only a mix.
good point but you have to understand both long and short have their advantage, I prefer the short fader because you don't have to travel far, and the zoom fader feel premium, it slide smoother than the rode, the rode fader is not just that smooth and feel loose when sliding up or down. but it is a personal preferences .
Curtis, your reviews are in a class of its own as always. On a more speculative note, how far away are we from a hardware revision on the Rodecaster Pro in your opinion? Is it still worth buying it or is the Rodecaster Pro mark II just around the corner? I noticed Rode's product cycles are comfortingly long which does give me some confidence that it is not too late buying a Rodecaster right now, but what do you think? Potentially 32 bit recording or the ability to have more customizable buttons to turn off / on certain menu functions quicker vs. going through the touch screen, much like on a modern mirrorless camera, would be 2 features they could add in a new revision. They could allow users to repurpose some of the sound pads for that, of course. One last note on comparing it to the P8, from how they sounded to me, the aural exciter but especially the big bottom seem to be more useful sound effects vs. what is currently available on the P8. Thanks a lot for your thoughts!
Hi Konrad, thanks. I suspect you're right - RODE does not generally rev hardware quickly so I think the RODECaster is not likely to get a mark II release any time soon. But that's entirely a guess. They have been good about releasing new firmware which is great. I'd like to also see an auto mix feature to replace or compliment the noise gate.
I am thinking about getting one, which one would you get if you had to choose again? Both have some awesome options. I was going to go with the Zoom, but thinking twice about the Rode.. hum..
@@curtisjudd thank you, Curtis. Your reviews are so detailed, I can see the hard work that went into making each of your videos. People don't realize when they hit the thumbs down what they are really saying. It takes hours to make videos and even days or weeks of research to make one. It has to be just so nasty for me to give a thumbs down. You deserve two thumbs up for your hard work. I am going to go with your suggestion. It is hard to make that choice, but I will go with what you recommend.
Excellent friend, I think that if the functions of the live L8 were placed in that mixer it would be perfect. I want to make potcat and if my guests are musicians and want to connect their instruments
Thank you for the great review. I'm trying to understand the difference between the noise-reduction feature of the P8 and my old Olympus hand-held recorder which has/d a feature that could set the mic to record only when a sound is heard, and lower the recording volume/gain to zero when no sound presents. When you raved about it, I checked the date of your video again, just to make sure it is not one from 10 years ago, when this feature was built into the voice recorder. Thanks again. I purchased a few devices based on your recommendations in the past.
The noise reduction feature on the P8 doesn't stop the recording, it just reduces the input level of the channel where sound is not currently present. I think the way the auto record feature often works on voice recorders is that the recording stops when there's no sound? Also, the P8 doesn't reduce the input level entirely, just enough to make a cleaner recording. Probably 6 to 9 dB from what I can tell.
@@curtisjudd Thank you. Yes, you are correct. The hand-held recorder stops recording, while the P8 continues the recording. Thanks for the clarification.
I have to agree with you, Curtis, that the lack of 48 kHz is a real issue and one that would likely cause me to resist buying it if I was in the market for one.
@@curtisjudd Thanks for your reply, Curtis. It's a new device. I haven't picked one up yet, but I like the potential flexibility of it for podcasting and video and audio production for only around £220. If it can do those jobs well, It could offer a big return for a small investment. I have noticed from UA-cam reviews that is has really taken off in developing countries where the cost of the Rodecaster would be prohibitive. Love your channel. I always check your videos out before I invest in any new audio equipment. Thanks again.
Hi Curtis, fantastic review, as always. Both PodTrak P8 and Rodecaster have pros and cons, I get that, but which one would you choose between PodTrak P4 or PodTrak P8? Is there any significant difference besides more XLR inputs on P8's side? Keep up the great work and greetings from Serbia!
Hi Ivan, If you need something more portable and 4 inputs is enough, I'd go for the P4. If it will mostly be at your home or studio, I'd consider the P8.
Thanks for the info. Just curious because an esteemed YT colleague of yours Tom Buck says the Zoom headphone preamps were quieter than the Rodecaster. Just a thought! I’ll have to test them both, I’m quite picky about headphone preamp quality!
5:39 Hi Curtis! Thanks for the video. I’ve been looking for the perfect podcast audio interface that I can plug into my Atem mini pro. These audio outputs on the P8. Is this something that can work with the Atem? If so, would it need to go into something like the art clean box pro first? I know the Atem is unbalanced in. Not sure if these P8 outputs are balanced or not. Open to any other suggestions you have. I like the idea of some mixers having a true audio output versus outputs like this that are technically for monitors/speakers.
Sort of - the P8 outputs balanced audio and the ATEM inputs are unbalanced. So you'll need adapter cables AND you'll need to split the inputs and mute the second input in the ATEM software control app for each of the ATEM inputs.
Thank you for that review! I have a question regarding the "noise reduction" feature: is that feature comparable to Sound Devices NoiseAssist or just like MixAssist/Dugan (or both)? Thanks for the clarification. Ronald
Just to clarify! I just purchased the SM7B and I have the P8. You didn’t need a cloud lifted or fethead for the mic? I was under the impression it was needed but your audio sounds great. Just wondering if that’s because post processing or if that’s straight out the P8
I find this very helpful in making my decision about which device to get. Are you planning to do a review of the new Tascam Mixcast 4? It has an auto-mix ('noise reduction') feature which I believe is what you most liked about the P8.
Very good review Curtis, just on time. I am deciding between the P8 and the L-8. By the way, does the headphone outputs of this P8 produces the hiss like P4?
Some. ZOOM headphone amps are usually not the cleanest. The P8 is no different. I didn't find it to be a serious problem, but don't plan on using headphones with more than about an 80 ohm rating.
Great video thanks! Does the podtrak have any built in reverb at all? I currently use the livetrak l8 as I’m a singer/musician and love the fact that it’s built in. Thanks
Hi Al, no reverb here. Looks like they were assuming this would just be for spoken word recordings where you generally don't need reverb. The LiveTrak series is probably the better option for music.
Another great clip Curtis, thanks. A question on the P8 vs the L8 which you touch on at the end (and firmly recommend the P8). Although both units are ready made to easily bring in one remote guest via that dedicated TRRS input from a phone, as I understand it, the L8, with its 3 x Monitor Outputs, can be set up to bring in a further three remote guests (from three other phones, for example) using something like the iRig 2 interface and setting up custom monitor mixes to provide mix minus back to the remote callers. So you could have up to 4 remote guests in total with the L8. That's not possible with the P8 is it?
Thanks Feelgood Footage. In theory, yes, that should work. I don't have the L-8 or P8 on hand to test and confirm, but it should work, yes. You may need some custom cables to route the headphone outs to the callers.
I actually noticed yesterday that the P8 also has the option to simultaneously bring in a second remote guest via USB, with mix minus also automatically applied, on channel 8 by selecting the USB on the little switch. Don't think that was mentioned in your clip. So that is another powerful 'Pro' for the P8. It's just such a shame about the crippled sample rate! I'm very much coming from a video (and before that TV) background and really want the hardware I invest in primarily for podcasting to also work with professional video projects/workflow. Thanks again for the information and insight.
I would be surprised if you are not very happy with the Rodecaster Pro. I think I select that unit over this one, features and benefits aside. The Rode seems more fun to use.
@@RobertLinthicum Yes, on reflection I would still choose the R0decaster for my Livestreaming desk. The noise reduction feature is one I already have on the F8n (called 'automix'), which I plan to keep using for recording.
@@RobertLinthicum You will enjoy the RCP. It's a workhorse. I've had no problems with mines for livestreams, podcast, VO work or whatever. It just gets the job done.
Yes and some of them are the 6" thick panels - don't know what "model name/number" they use today, but the back wall panels - to the left behind me - are the thicker panels.
Thanks for your thorough review. I appreciate how you structure the whole video. At the end it I found it helpful to compare the P8 vs Rodecaster and even the L8. You mentioned the P4 earlier in the review, would the P4 be in a similar tier with the L8?
Great video. Maybe a stupid question: Will the sounds coming from the pads be recorded on a separate track? Also, how would the setup look like if I were to do a Skype interview? Will the interviewee be able to hear the sounds and jingles?
Hi Stefan, good question. Yes, my recollection is that in the PodTrak recording, the pads are recorded to their own channel and the remote caller can hear them. But the USB stream to the computer only sends a stereo mix of all channels so if you plan to record on your computer, there would not be a separate track for the pads. This is all from memory - I only borrowed this for a couple of months for the review.
@@curtisjudd Thanks! I'm doing some post processing in Ableton and need separate tracks anyway, which is why I would be recording to SD card first. Thanks again!
Been waiting for this review for the longest. I really want to make a decision between the P8 and Rodecaster. I already have the H8 so I’m not sure 48khz is a big deal for me. I’m far away in Nigeria, where this is definitely unavailable for testing but, thanks Curtis
Thanks Burt. The preamps on the P8 supply a fair bit more gain - good for dynamic microphones. And the P8 has the noise reduction feature which is helpful.
@@curtisjudd thank you Curtis. I appreciate your years of work. Just getting back into this and came to your channel to try and learn a bit as always. Hoping the L8 serves well but I can the enticement of the RCP and lovely P8.
Do you have any experience working with Dolby Atmos? If you have are there any resources you would recommend I should look at to help me learn more about how to mix in atmos. Thank you for your amazing videos. : )
Hi Robbie, I don't have any first-hand experience with Dolby Atmos mixing and to be honest, I haven't found any specific resources. But I'd start at the Dolby site.
Great video. I asked this on the P4 review as well, but do you have thoughts on the p4 vs p8, particularly on whether the upgrade to the p8 is worth the cost differential?
My thought is that the "Noise Reduction" feature on the P8 is really a time saver. But there are a lot of other considerations. If portability is super high on your list, the P4 might be a better choice.
Check with ZOOM to confirm but usually audio devices like this have a rechargeable clock battery in them. So if you power the P8 on for 4 hours, it should charge up that battery. Then If you turn it on every couple of days, it should keep the battery charged up. 👍
I loved how firm yet calm you were in telling Zoom to add 48! LOL. Great review Curtis!
Thanks Dave! I want them to succeed. They just needed a touch of tough love from one of their fans. 😀
@@curtisjudd I agree, Zoom probably has some first-mover advantage in the prosumer space, but they'll be taken out quickly in this age of rapid prototyping.
That's a cool unit, man I cant believe how far some of these units have come. What I think is really special is the summary that you provided at the very beginning, viewers can quickly get a glance at the pros and cons of the unit. Seems like a really slick device for producing a podcasting show.
They have come a long way for sure! I like to put the summary there to save viewers time.
Terrific video, Curtis! Very thorough and helpful. 👍🤓
Thanks Gerald! I hope you're doing well!
its Gerald undone..........*HE"S CRRRRAAZZY*
A few other things: 1) Mix minus is automatically applied to connected phones (via cable or bluetooth) and 2) the On-air feature also makes it so that when a channel is off air, that person can be heard by the other headphone outputs, but is not recorded. That's pretty cool.
And there's nothing like the On-Air feature with the Rodecaster, correct?
@@onocoffee Oh, is there an on-air feature in the RODECaster?
@@curtisjudd Actually meant that as a question - asking if there was anything like the on air feature on the Rodecaster that allows you to talk back and forth without it going to the recording?
@@onocoffee Sorry, I misunderstood. Not that I can see on the RODECaster. It seems like a bit of a corner case from my perspective, but some people seem to want that feature.
Since you really seem to key on the "auto mix / noise reduction" feature, would have been good to show an A / B head to head with the Rode Caster, noise gate is essentially the same thing so would be great to hear the difference which seems to be the decision maker here. Good vid in general.
I bought the L8 on the strength of your reviews 2 years back and use is for my daily podcast and UA-cam channel. Ive now bought the P8 for my camper van so I can head out for days at a time and still record shows. Thanks for another great video (even if It is 2 years ago :) )
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FYI - The PodTrak P8 also allows you to export each individual channel, along with the full mix. They are located separate from the main mix in a subfolder called "P8_Multitrack". Took me a few minutes to find this, but it's there.
Yes, indeed, it does record the iso tracks on its own SD card.
Curtis is a true OG in this space! I remember watching his lav mic reviews 10+ years ago. Another great review!
🙏
That’s so dope that your family helps you with your content so much. Love it.
Thanks Byron!
So helpful. Thanks for the straightforward review. Definitely helped make a good selection between the Rodecaster and the P8. Probably going towards the P8. 😃
👍 Happy recording!
Which one did you get?
Recently discovered you channel while shopping for audio gear to *try* and improve my own channel. :) Very good reviews - excellent delivery of information. Not afraid to have an opinion, but very balanced approach. Thanks for helping me on my quest - I have ordered the P8, even though I work alone - I think its features will be valuable.
Congrats, Justin. I hope it serves you well!
I knew this wasn't for me within 14s! Thank you for putting the summary at the top!
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I’ve got to say, the amount of gain available is outstanding. Being able to use gain-hungry mics without a Cloudlifter is pretty nifty. 👍
👍 they got that very right.
@@curtisjudd not really, noise floor is -124 dBu at full gain, so with cloud lifter or similar inline preamp you can lower noise by 5-6 dB, and that is a lot.
@@Mr_G Good enough for me. But if you prefer to add a cloud lifter, that is certainly an option.
@@curtisjudd Yes, but if you need to buy six of them, then it becomes very expensive. Zoom is known to cheat with the preamps, they claim huge gain, but in reality the preamps is low gain and ater some point they boost gain digitally. I personally measured zoom h1, zoom h6 and zoom uac2 - all of them does same thing.
@@Mr_G Ok. If you have more stringent requirements, that's perfectly legitimate. It is no surprise that ZOOM cuts corners to hit a price point. Their main market strategy is to provide lots of features at lower prices than their competitors. If I had to choose, I would not hesitate to buy a Sound Devices MixPre with MixAssist and a USB control surface for my podcast production work. But I'm old enough I can afford to do that. Not everyone can. And in that case, if this sounds good enough for them, then it isn't a horrible choice, in my estimation. Though I'd probably opt for a RODECaster Pro in that case.
"...a company crippling a product, that didn't need to cripple." Yessss...
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Wait, was Zoom purchased by canon?
@@tombuck Oh Ouch.
I really appreciate this information on the Podtrak P8. You are a true professional. Thanks, Tony Indy
Thanks Tony.
This is hands down the most helpful tutorial on this device.
Thanks.
I love all the color coding on the hardware, and the matching in the UI.
That's thoughtful and very user centric.
Agreed - on both the P8 and RODECaster.
You gotta know, this is amazing content. I just got thrown into a project and have to work on one of these, I come up with a new question every day and just come to this video. So damn good man
Thanks Trevyn!
Fantastic depth in the review, definitelly the Roadcaster Pro... the ease of adjusting each individual channel is the dealbreaker here.
Thanks Homesick Mac.
Thanks you for great review. I adore your modest, neutral and unbiased approach.
Thanks so much!
Great tutorial sir, but to be honest I had no plans on watching the entire video, but the professional clear voice hypnotized me, and I couldn't stop watching lol!🙏🏾✊🏾
Well thanks for sticking around!
@@curtisjudd no problem, great presentation!
the most important thing i want to buy this for is noise reduction, and I didn't see a sample of how it works, you just pointed out the low cut function without testing. and your video has a lot of background noise throughout the whole thing, i was wondering why is that?
If noise reduction is your main goal, this is not the device you’re looking for. High pass filters help a tiny bit but are not noise reduction filters.
19:40 - Thanks for including that part.. I was wondering here what whould be better for podcasting, voice recording, voiceover works and was thinking lot of LiveTrack instead.. You have helped me to make the final decision easy :) Many thanks for that and of course - for the whole video content about P8 :) Excelent work! 👏👏👏
Thanks and happy recording!
As always.. Great review! I always make my purchase decisions based on your reviews and it never fails me and saves me days of research. Thank you for being the go to channel
Thanks Moe!
Great and informative review. You speak so clearly listening to you is a pleasure. I have the P8 and just bought the Atem mini pro video controller which I'm enjoying using. Well done !!!
Thanks Stewart. I hope the P8 works well for you!
As soon as you stated it only records at 44.1 Khz sample rate, it made it a deal killer... I share the same frustrations that you voiced. This could have been an awesome product otherwise.
And that's coming from a music expert! Thanks Chuck!
I looked at both of these and in the end went for the L-8 with the TRRS in/out to Streamyard, tactile EQ, line input for an iPad mini for hits and show running using the GoButton app, effects for voice “pigs in space” :) USB to REAPER all tracks plus mix I found it a lot more versatile... BUT as a dedicated plug and play Podcast setup the P8 did tempt me. Great review as always. Tim.
Thanks Tim, for sharing the details of your setup.
Curtis, you are absolutely the best!!!
Thanks Juansher!
i needed this i just found the P8 and was going to use it for live streaming so ineeded something that could give me a lot of audio control and quality, thank you :)
You're welcome and happy streaming!
Great review! I just bought a PodTrak P8 and am really happy with it. It actually does capture all individual mic tracks - as well as a stereo mix - although I have to transfer the file to my laptop to access them (guess this could be due to an update).
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I love the look of this interface. I want to have it for my podcast. First time coming to your channel.
It is pretty cool. Thanks for coming by, Nikki!
Thanks so much for the useful video it's absolutely awesome I was hoping that you would show me how to change the colours of the pads?
Thanks Danny, sorry I missed that. I borrowed it for the review so I don't have it on hand, but ZOOM support should be able to clarify how to change the pad colors, if it is possible.
@@curtisjudd thank you for that I worked it out doing just that.
When you had first mentioned "Tone", I got really excited because I thought that it would be similar to the "Sound Mark" feature on the H1n. I really wish there were more portable audio recorders that allow you to easily sync audio recordings to the line out sent to your cameras, it's a true lifesaver! Oh well, one can dream...
Thank you so much for this very thorough review, Curtis! Best of luck in 2021!!
Thanks Michael!
All the cables coming out of the top would look really untidy and send me insane!!
Best you stay away from this one.
Excellent information! I am a truck driver, and I do a ton of recording in my truck. I have the P4, and I love it. I really hope Zoom does a firmware upgrade to make 48K an option, along with multitrack recording to a PC/Laptop via USB.
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Great review LOVE IT
Any recomendation i want to start a podcast how to start , how and where to market it
thanks
I just want to get L8 and now see this
Ok, so still the L8 for the price and my need
I’d go for the L-8.
Last year in February I convinced my friend to sell his Zoom R24 on ebay and get a Livetrack L8. He would typically produce podcasts with 5 to 6 participants, but he hasn't made anything all year because of social distancing, and now the Podtrack looks like a much better option. But, Curtis, I won't tell him if you don't. 😉 I still LOVE my Sound Devices MixPre-10II with the MixAssist plugin, but it's too complicated for most average users to pick up. The Zoom is probably better for someone who wants to get setup and podcasting without fussing around with too many menu options. I'm not an audio professional, but ever since I enrolled in the courses at LearnLightAndSound people are always coming to me with questions and asking for advice when it comes to their audio. I always recommend they sign up for the courses themselves.
Thanks Living Spiritism. I promise not to tell your friend! 😀 I agree - that MixPre with MixAssist is fantastic!
This was super helpful. Especially the Rodecaster comparison!
Thanks Paul.
Got quite excited when I saw the advertisement. Then I read the pros and cons... thank you for putting this at the start so I didnt have to watch a video on an item I know I dont want. I know it doesn't help your watch hours. But you earnt yourself a like and a sub from me just for that. Give the info straight. Thank you. Ps. My issues are. Mainly 16 bit is completely unusable as a musician. And secondly and much less important. No reverb.
Yes, not really for music, just spoken word.
Curtis Judd dang... I hope they come up with something soon that does a lot of those features for live music... there are some things I would really want on it... but... 16bit eeeew lol thanks for the response!
Hi, thanks for this informative video. I would like to know if you are using a cloud lifter while you're using sm7b with this zoom interface? thanks
No, I just plugged the microphone directly into the P8.
Very good review, and I loved that intro and outro music! 👍🏾
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Thank you for this review. You provided the information I needed to make my decision.
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Excellent review. The main differences between P8 and Rodecaster Pro is price point and build quality. Whichever product you buy will be a win based on individual needs and cost/benefits. I have a Rodecaster Pro and love it. The extra cost is justify as I love the premium feel and ease of use. A simple feature that is taking for granted is the screw in power cord. It guarantees you don't lose power if you are clumsy, like me!
Good point on the locking power connector.
This a great video definitely got my mind up the price point and the quality is where I need it to be, thank you
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Thanks for all the great work you do. Love your reviews.
Thanks Paul.
I saw that the Zoom P8 Noise Reduction feature only affects the mixed stero track of all the inputs and has no effect on the multitrack individual tracks recorded. Can you confirm if this is the case? If so it really negates the strongest selling point of this device for podcasters that need to edit and trim their episodes.
I don’t believe it had a noise reduction feature when I reviewed it. Maybe they added it in a later firmware?
Would you advise using a shotgun mic wirelessly? I connected a Sennheiser MKE 600 via RodeLink. Is this a thing people do?
I don't know that I'd recommend it unless it is really necessary. But if it works for you, then that's good to know! Wireless adds a fair bit of risk for critical work, especially with consumer wireless systems like the Wireless GO. If the transmitter and receiver are not within line-of-sight, the risk of signal dropout is pretty high.
@@curtisjudd I get you. I suppose on a show like Impractical Jokers it could possibly work but I haven't been in a scenario where I thought I needed to use the technique.
Thanks! Your videos are really helping a lot.
Thanks for the review. I really like the smaller formfactor of the P8 vs the Rodecaster but the 44,1 Khz restriction is just crippling in some regards. A lot of podcasters in Germany swear by Studiolink which provides a high quality peer2peer remote connection between podcasters. It relies on the Opus codec though and thus on 48 Khz as well. I therefore wouldn't be able to use the podtraks as USB interfaces. It's such an annoyance as I would otherwise really prefer it over the Rodecaster.
Great example of where that 44.1kHz sample rate is a problem. Thanks Alexander!
Do you think Rode can add that “automix” type feature via firmware update?
I think they could, yes.
@@curtisjudd how about Noise Reduction via firmware update for the F Series.... that would be killer.
I have the Zoom Podtrak P4 and the Rodecaster Pro. I also have a Zoom H6 recorder. I think what Zoom and Rode was thinking is that these units were designed for AUDIO not video and that's why Zoom went with the 44.1 rather than 48. I know that when the Rodecaster Pro came out, the users complained about missing features. What Rode has done is that they built their unit so it could be updated and that's what they did. They added features missing with updates. As a radio show host on an FM station as well as I host an internet radio show, I have never had more than three guests in the studio and generally one. So four mics is overkill in most cases and six same overkill. I love both my products, I have the ZOOM P4 for a portable use going remote for interviews, but I also use it at one studio workstation where I can do a podcast or the internet show if need be. Everybody has their priorities and I agree with your cheap plastic comment as far at the P4, my H6 is bullet proof, very sturdy construction. The Rode is hands down higher quality all the way around. You did I nice review.
Thanks for the insights Dwight.
I've been waiting for this. Great as always!
Thanks Jaime.
On the main menu seen at 17:00, I would have loved to see an "EQ" square leading to a sub-menu with separate "sub-squares" for each channel. When hitting one of those "channel squares", then getting a 5-band equalizer for the selected channel. I really - as in really, really, really - would like to have at least a 5-band EQ for each channel on a mixer, just like a regular, serious audio mixer has. Lack of proper EQ options on podcast mixers is why I'm personally using the Behringer XENYX 1002B.
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I love your reviews. One thing I can't ignore: A lot a lot of hiss noise on the P8! Not good at all. Thanks for such a great content Curtis!
Thanks Antonio.
love your video's
so clear and precise
Question
could i load say a 2hr show to one soundpad or are they limited to only short jingles
Great question! I didn't test that before I had to send it back - I'm so sorry! Maybe you could contact ZOOM support to confirm whether that would work. Happy recording!
Thankyou for your quick reply
Cheers
This was an excellent review! Did Zoom update the firmware since your review to provide a 24 bit/48kHz on the P8?
It doesn't look like they've issued a firmware update yet, no. I'm not 100% sure it will be possible to do that in a firmware update, but I hope it is and that they do it.
Thanks again for a great review. So now my question is; which one is the best for mostly live streaming with the ATEM mini and once in a while recording podcasts?
I'd opt for the RODECaster, personally, but again, they each have their strengths and weaknesses.
Thanks Curtis !
you made me decide to buy it !
Happy recording!
@@curtisjudd thaaaanks....
I bought it and its really what i need. One problem solved. Now how to good lighting my film set with right lights...
If you want to record mainly music and podcasts also, would you still choose the Podtrak P8 over the Livetrak L8...?
Semi related: There are hundreds of videos comparing the Zoom P8 or L8 against the Rode Podcaster.
But I could not find a single direct comparison between the Zoom L8 vs Zoom P8...
No, if music is part of the plan, I'd definitely go with the L-8.
Thanks for the great content as usual. I have a question about the noise reduction... is there a way to get a similar benefit with the Rødecaster using multitrack out to usb and some software that does the noise reduction?
Certainly - you could use noise reduction in post. Or you could use the noise gates to help as well.
You could try Auphonic which is an online mastering service if you will (there are also desktop apps). They have a crossgate feature that’s very similar to what the P8 does and which I’ve been using for a couple of years now
Very good video with lots of good information, thank you.
Thank you.
I have read the manual for the P4 version and unless I read something wrong you can transfer each individual input that you've recorded into your computer or you can just move the stereo mix over so for example if you had two mics and you use the pad for intros or outros that's a total of three tracks. according to the manual I have the option to move those three tracks over into my computer to do post-production or if I like the stereo mix I can just drag that one over. Let me know if I didn't read the manual correctly but I actually downloaded it
You can record a mix and isolated channels on both of them and then transfer those files to your computer. What you cannot yet do on the P8 is stream isolated channels in real-time over USB to a computer. Only a mix.
@@curtisjudd okay well thank you for the clarification sir I really appreciate it have a wonderful
You can record and have it as USB stereo mix at the same time, though.
@@EditioCastigata Good point.
I like the long throw fader of the Rode compared to the small muppets faders from zoom.
Another good point!
good point but you have to understand both long and short have their advantage, I prefer the short fader because you don't have to travel far, and the zoom fader feel premium, it slide smoother than the rode, the rode fader is not just that smooth and feel loose when sliding up or down. but it is a personal preferences .
Curtis, your reviews are in a class of its own as always. On a more speculative note, how far away are we from a hardware revision on the Rodecaster Pro in your opinion? Is it still worth buying it or is the Rodecaster Pro mark II just around the corner? I noticed Rode's product cycles are comfortingly long which does give me some confidence that it is not too late buying a Rodecaster right now, but what do you think? Potentially 32 bit recording or the ability to have more customizable buttons to turn off / on certain menu functions quicker vs. going through the touch screen, much like on a modern mirrorless camera, would be 2 features they could add in a new revision. They could allow users to repurpose some of the sound pads for that, of course. One last note on comparing it to the P8, from how they sounded to me, the aural exciter but especially the big bottom seem to be more useful sound effects vs. what is currently available on the P8. Thanks a lot for your thoughts!
Hi Konrad, thanks. I suspect you're right - RODE does not generally rev hardware quickly so I think the RODECaster is not likely to get a mark II release any time soon. But that's entirely a guess. They have been good about releasing new firmware which is great. I'd like to also see an auto mix feature to replace or compliment the noise gate.
nice review, does the p8 have reverb for vocals?
I don’t remember, to be honest. I borrowed this for a few weeks several years ago.
I am thinking about getting one, which one would you get if you had to choose again? Both have some awesome options. I was going to go with the Zoom, but thinking twice about the Rode.. hum..
I bought the RODECaster.
@@curtisjudd thank you, Curtis. Your reviews are so detailed, I can see the hard work that went into making each of your videos. People don't realize when they hit the thumbs down what they are really saying. It takes hours to make videos and even days or weeks of research to make one. It has to be just so nasty for me to give a thumbs down. You deserve two thumbs up for your hard work. I am going to go with your suggestion. It is hard to make that choice, but I will go with what you recommend.
@@GrillWarrior Thanks so much, Grill Warrior!
Excellent friend, I think that if the functions of the live L8 were placed in that mixer it would be perfect. I want to make potcat and if my guests are musicians and want to connect their instruments
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Thank you for the great review. I'm trying to understand the difference between the noise-reduction feature of the P8 and my old Olympus hand-held recorder which has/d a feature that could set the mic to record only when a sound is heard, and lower the recording volume/gain to zero when no sound presents. When you raved about it, I checked the date of your video again, just to make sure it is not one from 10 years ago, when this feature was built into the voice recorder. Thanks again. I purchased a few devices based on your recommendations in the past.
The noise reduction feature on the P8 doesn't stop the recording, it just reduces the input level of the channel where sound is not currently present. I think the way the auto record feature often works on voice recorders is that the recording stops when there's no sound? Also, the P8 doesn't reduce the input level entirely, just enough to make a cleaner recording. Probably 6 to 9 dB from what I can tell.
@@curtisjudd Thank you. Yes, you are correct. The hand-held recorder stops recording, while the P8 continues the recording. Thanks for the clarification.
I have to agree with you, Curtis, that the lack of 48 kHz is a real issue and one that would likely cause me to resist buying it if I was in the market for one.
Hi Daniel, yes, weird product feature choice.
Hi Curtis, great video. Are you planning to take a look at the Behringer Flow 8? Thanks.
Thanks Mark. No plans at the moment, but thanks for alerting me to it - hadn't heard of the Flow 8 until now.
@@curtisjudd Thanks for your reply, Curtis. It's a new device. I haven't picked one up yet, but I like the potential flexibility of it for podcasting and video and audio production for only around £220. If it can do those jobs well, It could offer a big return for a small investment. I have noticed from UA-cam reviews that is has really taken off in developing countries where the cost of the Rodecaster would be prohibitive. Love your channel. I always check your videos out before I invest in any new audio equipment. Thanks again.
@@markgbyrne Thanks Mark. It does look neat, especially for the price.
Hi Curtis, fantastic review, as always. Both PodTrak P8 and Rodecaster have pros and cons, I get that, but which one would you choose between PodTrak P4 or PodTrak P8? Is there any significant difference besides more XLR inputs on P8's side? Keep up the great work and greetings from Serbia!
Hi Ivan, If you need something more portable and 4 inputs is enough, I'd go for the P4. If it will mostly be at your home or studio, I'd consider the P8.
Koji si kupio Ivane?
Excellent review, one question , does the p8 suffer from the same hiss on the heaphone output as the p4? Thank you and take care!
Yes, it does. Maybe a tiny bit less, but definitely still there.
Thanks for the info. Just curious because an esteemed YT colleague of yours Tom Buck says the Zoom headphone preamps were quieter than the Rodecaster. Just a thought! I’ll have to test them both, I’m quite picky about headphone preamp quality!
@@timetotalkwatches7185 Yes, most of the consumer level devices have rather noisy headphone amps. The RODECaster Pro included.
Hey Curtis! Great video.
Which equipment (tripod, etc) do you use to record a top-down shot?
A c-stand and Matthew’s baby pin to 1/4” threaded adapter.
5:39 Hi Curtis! Thanks for the video. I’ve been looking for the perfect podcast audio interface that I can plug into my Atem mini pro. These audio outputs on the P8. Is this something that can work with the Atem? If so, would it need to go into something like the art clean box pro first? I know the Atem is unbalanced in. Not sure if these P8 outputs are balanced or not. Open to any other suggestions you have. I like the idea of some mixers having a true audio output versus outputs like this that are technically for monitors/speakers.
Sort of - the P8 outputs balanced audio and the ATEM inputs are unbalanced. So you'll need adapter cables AND you'll need to split the inputs and mute the second input in the ATEM software control app for each of the ATEM inputs.
Thank you for that review! I have a question regarding the "noise reduction" feature: is that feature comparable to Sound Devices NoiseAssist or just like MixAssist/Dugan (or both)? Thanks for the clarification. Ronald
It aims to do the same thing, but it does it in a different way.
Just to clarify! I just purchased the SM7B and I have the P8. You didn’t need a cloud lifted or fethead for the mic? I was under the impression it was needed but your audio sounds great. Just wondering if that’s because post processing or if that’s straight out the P8
I boosted the levels in post.
This is such a helpful video. For teaching live piano classes on zoom meetings, would this be a good choice?
Thanks. It could work nicely for that, yes.
I find this very helpful in making my decision about which device to get. Are you planning to do a review of the new Tascam Mixcast 4? It has an auto-mix ('noise reduction') feature which I believe is what you most liked about the P8.
Would sure like to get my hands on one but I'm still waiting for the Tascam x8 to ship.
Sweet rev! Are those sample pads clicky?
No, not problematically so.
Very good review Curtis, just on time. I am deciding between the P8 and the L-8. By the way, does the headphone outputs of this P8 produces the hiss like P4?
Some. ZOOM headphone amps are usually not the cleanest. The P8 is no different. I didn't find it to be a serious problem, but don't plan on using headphones with more than about an 80 ohm rating.
Great video thanks! Does the podtrak have any built in reverb at all? I currently use the livetrak l8 as I’m a singer/musician and love the fact that it’s built in. Thanks
Hi Al, no reverb here. Looks like they were assuming this would just be for spoken word recordings where you generally don't need reverb. The LiveTrak series is probably the better option for music.
A really nice review, does the P4 have De-esser feature?
Not that I recall, no.
Curtis, we're waiting on your Tascam Mixcast 4 review!
Oh! I need to get my hands on one!
@@curtisjudd Just subscribed! I'll be waiting on your notification for when you get one!
Another great clip Curtis, thanks. A question on the P8 vs the L8 which you touch on at the end (and firmly recommend the P8). Although both units are ready made to easily bring in one remote guest via that dedicated TRRS input from a phone, as I understand it, the L8, with its 3 x Monitor Outputs, can be set up to bring in a further three remote guests (from three other phones, for example) using something like the iRig 2 interface and setting up custom monitor mixes to provide mix minus back to the remote callers. So you could have up to 4 remote guests in total with the L8. That's not possible with the P8 is it?
Thanks Feelgood Footage. In theory, yes, that should work. I don't have the L-8 or P8 on hand to test and confirm, but it should work, yes. You may need some custom cables to route the headphone outs to the callers.
I actually noticed yesterday that the P8 also has the option to simultaneously bring in a second remote guest via USB, with mix minus also automatically applied, on channel 8 by selecting the USB on the little switch. Don't think that was mentioned in your clip. So that is another powerful 'Pro' for the P8. It's just such a shame about the crippled sample rate! I'm very much coming from a video (and before that TV) background and really want the hardware I invest in primarily for podcasting to also work with professional video projects/workflow. Thanks again for the information and insight.
@@FeelgoodFootage Thanks for sharing your discovery!
Gah! Just bought a R0decaster Pro, but feel I should have waited for this.
Thanks for the great review though :)
I would be surprised if you are not very happy with the Rodecaster Pro. I think I select that unit over this one, features and benefits aside. The Rode seems more fun to use.
@@RobertLinthicum Yes, on reflection I would still choose the R0decaster for my Livestreaming desk. The noise reduction feature is one I already have on the F8n (called 'automix'), which I plan to keep using for recording.
Hopefully the RODECaster serves you well. I bought the RODECaster and have no regrets.
@@RobertLinthicum You will enjoy the RCP. It's a workhorse. I've had no problems with mines for livestreams, podcast, VO work or whatever. It just gets the job done.
I just got me one, had the L8... I personally didn't go rode because I need to be mobile and the battery power part sold me on zoom.
I hope it works well for you!
Thanks, me too. The thing I don't quite understand is the part about the kilohertz.
are those sound panels the gik 242 panels?
Yes and some of them are the 6" thick panels - don't know what "model name/number" they use today, but the back wall panels - to the left behind me - are the thicker panels.
@@curtisjudd just ordered 9 1200mm x 600mm 242 panels hopefully that will dampen my space a bit . I think i may have to get more to fully treat though
I hope they work well for you - happy recording and mixing!
Thanks for your thorough review. I appreciate how you structure the whole video.
At the end it I found it helpful to compare the P8 vs Rodecaster and even the L8.
You mentioned the P4 earlier in the review, would the P4 be in a similar tier with the L8?
P4 has no automix (noise reduction) feature.
Similar though it does not have the noise reduction feature.
Very useful information, thank you.
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Great review. I may have missed it in the video, but does the P8 do mix minus with the phone or usb input?
Yes for both. 👍
Great video. Maybe a stupid question: Will the sounds coming from the pads be recorded on a separate track? Also, how would the setup look like if I were to do a Skype interview? Will the interviewee be able to hear the sounds and jingles?
Hi Stefan, good question. Yes, my recollection is that in the PodTrak recording, the pads are recorded to their own channel and the remote caller can hear them. But the USB stream to the computer only sends a stereo mix of all channels so if you plan to record on your computer, there would not be a separate track for the pads. This is all from memory - I only borrowed this for a couple of months for the review.
@@curtisjudd Thanks! I'm doing some post processing in Ableton and need separate tracks anyway, which is why I would be recording to SD card first. Thanks again!
Been waiting for this review for the longest. I really want to make a decision between the P8 and Rodecaster. I already have the H8 so I’m not sure 48khz is a big deal for me. I’m far away in Nigeria, where this is definitely unavailable for testing but, thanks Curtis
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Yes, thanks again Chris, a great review. I wonder how it stands against the Zoom h8.
Thanks Burt. The preamps on the P8 supply a fair bit more gain - good for dynamic microphones. And the P8 has the noise reduction feature which is helpful.
For commentating, podcasting, Zooming, Google meet (is that livestream?) and maybe recording instruments. Buy the L8, P8 or Roadcaster and why?
I would opt for the L8 if you're doing all that. We reviewed it here: ua-cam.com/video/HYIJsOg9TPw/v-deo.html
@@curtisjudd thank you Curtis. I appreciate your years of work. Just getting back into this and came to your channel to try and learn a bit as always. Hoping the L8 serves well but I can the enticement of the RCP and lovely P8.
Do you have any experience working with Dolby Atmos? If you have are there any resources you would recommend I should look at to help me learn more about how to mix in atmos. Thank you for your amazing videos. : )
Hi Robbie, I don't have any first-hand experience with Dolby Atmos mixing and to be honest, I haven't found any specific resources. But I'd start at the Dolby site.
Nice review Mr Curtis
Thanks.
Great video. A comp with the L-8 would be awesome.
Wait.. spoke too soon 🤣
I have L8 and I hate preamps in it... it is horribly noisy
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Excellent review!
Thanks!
So no mic reverb or echo toggle buttons?
Great video. I asked this on the P4 review as well, but do you have thoughts on the p4 vs p8, particularly on whether the upgrade to the p8 is worth the cost differential?
My thought is that the "Noise Reduction" feature on the P8 is really a time saver. But there are a lot of other considerations. If portability is super high on your list, the P4 might be a better choice.
when I restart the P8 the Date and Time are not saved - is there a way to save it?
Check with ZOOM to confirm but usually audio devices like this have a rechargeable clock battery in them. So if you power the P8 on for 4 hours, it should charge up that battery. Then If you turn it on every couple of days, it should keep the battery charged up. 👍