Zoom R12 Multi-Track Portable Recorder for Musicians, with 2 XLR/TRS Combo Inputs, 8 Tracks, Touchscreen, Onboard Editing, Effects, Drum Loops, Battery Powered, USB Audio Interface

You do not need a computer that can crash when you want to record a song on this unit and you can digitally edit tracks on a screen just like a computer with music software can and you never have to worry about viruses like your computer can get when recording music on this recorder and you can bounce tracks from this unit to get more than the eight standard tracks it has it shows how on YouTube videos!!!

For a minimalist set up like I have this fits and performs well. Has a slight learning curve but once you get it, you got it. Zoom does a great job of having a machine that fits any set. Knobs and sliders feel premium.

I've been using portable recording studios for decades, beginning with a TEAC 4-track cassette studio in the 1980's, a decade or so ago I had a Zoom R16 used in conjunction with my laptop studio software. All served their purpose well at the time, technological limitations notwithstanding. Now in 2024 I'm using the latest Zoom multitrack device, the R12, and, after some initial frustrations have to admit that I'm in love with this thing. The main difference between this device & the others I've used is the R12 features a small color touchscreen to control most features. Initially the "small" aspect seemed a little doubtful; is it possible to edit, copy, paste, drag things around etc on such a tiny screen? The answer is YES, I've had no problems with this aspect, although I've made it even simpler by employing a disc-type stylus instead of my fingers, which can block out parts of the screen from view, I have slim fingers so if you have stubby or large fingers a stylus would definitely be advised. The sound quality of recorded material is more than acceptable for most uses, CD quality certainly. The portability of the unit was a big selling point for me, I'm primarily a singer with an extremely loud voice lol, which can be a blessing or a curse, in the case of having neighbors close by definitely a curse, so I needed something small that I can bring with me in the car to isolated locations to record vocals, this fits the bill perfectly. It runs on either a USB-C cable & adaptor, 4 AA batteries, or a power bank. Using the latter I have yet to have it die during use, and sometimes I've used it most of the day, so really happy with the power options. The unit itself easily gets 5 stars, but I'm giving this only 4 stars for one reason alone: the user manual is ABYSMAL. Absolutely terrible, only the most basic functionality explained, it'll show you how to set up the unit & not really much more beyond that. The official Zoom online "tutorial" videos are little more than commercials for the unit, nothing in-depth at all. I was very close to returning the unit for a refund, because it didn't seem possible to upload my original instrumental backing tracks for me to add vocals to, there are zero instructions in the manual to accomplish this, and without this capability I really don't have much use for the device. Very happily, I stumbled on the videos of a YouTuber named "Gaz Render", who has a series of tutorial videos on this and other portable studios. This guy should be paid by Zoom, as he's done what they should have done from the start: in depth explanations and demonstrations of all functions of this device and others (especially the Zoom R20, which is very similar to the R12 and many of the functions identical in execution) So if you purchase either the R12 or R20, you are going to want to bookmark/favorite this user, you will save yourself major time & headache in doing so. Now that I'm very familiar with this little Zoom R12, I find using it to be a total breeze, the results more than acceptable, and (as long as you're not expecting high-end Protools studio results) I have absolutely nothing bad to say about it. Worth every penny!

Very nice, but it doesn't come with an SD card to save recordings. It would have been nice if it was mentioned that more hardware would be required for use

This was a gift so I don't have too much time using it, but I've heard what my teenager has done with it, and I was impressed! Don't forget to get a memory card. Also, a precision touch pad pen is recommended. Don't get the standard type, you need to get the sharper type, as the screen is small and the areas you have to touch are small. This unit is powerful though and is great for taking to a friend's house to collaborate, or just to record without having to use a computer.

Having used the Zoom R12 Multi Track Portable Recorder extensively, I can confidently say it's a game-changer for my recording projects. The touchscreen interface simplifies the editing process, allowing me to fine-tune my recordings effortlessly. With 8 tracks at my disposal, I've been able to capture intricate layers of sound with ease. The 2 combo inputs have proven invaluable for accommodating various instruments and microphones, ensuring versatility without sacrificing quality. Whether in the studio or on the move, this recorder has exceeded my expectations, making it a must-have for any serious musician or podcaster.

I love this device! Once I purchased the correct stylus to navigate the touch screen, (I have fat fingers) it works beautifully with my setup! Plus I can use it with my DAW as either an audio interface or a VST instrument! Love it!

The R12 multitracker is Zoom’s spiritual successor to last generation’s R8. I say successor and not upgrade because in some ways it is indeed a clear upgrade, but in other ways it can feel like a step back. QUICK SUMMARY The R12 is an 8-track recorder that primarily features a colorful touchscreen. That touchscreen is what separates the R12 from all other multitrackers (save the larger R20). If you are going to buy this over other multitrackers out there, you have to truly believe that you are going to use that touchscreen for light audio editing. Otherwise, you might be better off going with one of Tascam or Zoom’s handy recorders instead. Also, please obviously realize that a decent laptop with a DAW and a solid USB interface will always be MUCH more powerful than any dedicated multitracker device (and much more expensive). If interested, you can find plenty of detailed content about the R12 and R20 on YT by searching my name there. HARDWARE The top side of the R12 has a single USB-C port, two combo input jacks (for XLR or ¼”), two mono ¼” Left/Right monitor outs, and a stereo 3.5 mm headphone jack. The left side also has a slot for a microSD card (supports up to 512GB). The face of the R12 has 8 faders to independently control all 8 tracks, plus a dedicated fader for effect levels, and a master fader. It also has all the required transport buttons, gain knobs for inputs 1 and 2, a physical Hi-Z switch for guitars with passive pick-ups on input 1, a volume balance knob along with a switch that gives you some control over the click/metronome. There are tiny LED lights next to the gain knobs that will indicate clipping and there are tiny LED lights next to the CLICK, PLAY, and REC buttons for instant visual feedback. Finally, there are dedicated volume knobs for the headphones out and the monitor out. The faders are plastic and they have a relatively short travel distance, but they offer enough resistance that you’ll be able to finely control your mixes. The transport buttons are hollow plastic, but they offer some tactile feedback with an audible click sound each time you hit one. The knobs are cheap plastic too, but they have ridges on the sides that allow you to fine tune your volumes well enough. The device is all plastic, but it still feels durable if you take care of it. For a budget multitracker, I think the hardware is sufficiently good. The package I bought had the R12, a USB-A to USB-C cord, and wall adapter for delivering USB power. You have to buy your own microSD card. RECORDING Recording on a stand-alone multitracker like this is a breeze, and one of the advantages you will have over a DAW. It takes just seconds to boot up, plug in a guitar, touch the mic icon on the touchscreen to choose how you want to route which input to which Track, hit record, and start playing your guitar. That whole process can take a mere 30 seconds or less. Of course, there are more options than that. You can first create a Project (a song) and set your bpm. You can drop in some pre-loaded drum loops onto an empty track and then use the touchscreen to quickly loop them over and over again. There are preloaded effects that are based off of Zoom’s extensive patches from their multi-effect pedals. You can add more effects for dynamics, guitars, bass, vocals, and drums via their free software, Guitar Lab, too. You can set a click to play along with and choose to route the click only to the headphones and not the monitor out. If you have a condenser mic you can activate phantom power for either or both inputs. Recording is either 16 bit or 24 bit. Unless you have a specific reason, I highly recommend you stick to 24 bit. And recording space really isn’t a concern as long as you use a 32GB or higher microSD card, so again, just use 24 bit. Sample recording rate is locked in at 44.1kHz, though. Sadly, no 48kHz or 96kHz options here. You can record mono tracks, or you can link two neighboring tracks to record into a stereo track. TOUCHSCREEN The touchscreen is the selling point here and it offers capabilities beyond what other multitrackers have – as long as you are patient. The touchscreen is single-touch, so no multitouch pinch and zoom on the R12 (the R20 does have a multitouch screen, by comparison). To zoom in and out, there are dedicated + and – icons on the top right of the screen. The small 4:3 ratio screen is packed with info and icons, but you can tap everything accurately as long as you are cautious. The screen isn’t nearly as good as a new iPhone or new Galaxy phone. It feels more like an touchscreen from an older, stand-alone GPS unit. I find it to be responsive enough, but I'm not going to say it's a joy to use. I often use a disc-based stylus to tap and drag things on the screen, and it improves my accuracy. The screen is colorful and you can adjust the brightness. It’s much more pleasing to look at and use than monochrome screens in most other multitrackers. But where the touchscreen works better than those older multitrackers is it’s ability to do light audio editing. You can readily split audio regions into two regions, copy a section, paste it, and drag it to a new space on a new Track. Once you get used to the simple, fairly intuitive interface, it works much better than trying to set marks on your audio timeline and trying to copy and paste "A" and "B" sections, like with old multitrackers. Still, don’t expect it to be as good as a mouse with a 4K monitor and a DAW. It’s not even close to that -- but the R12 editing features are more accessible and intuitive than multitrackers without a touchscreen. POWER VERSATILITY The other big advantage of this multitracker is that it can be powered by four AA batteries. Or you can use the wall adapter to power it through it’s USB-C port. Or you can hook up a USB battery bank and power it that way. Or you can actually connect a USB-C hub if the hub has a power delivery port and power the R12 while also plugging in a flash drive or connecting a USB MIDI controller. I personally love to connect it to my 10,000mA USB battery bank for convenient portability. When I use a USB battery bank I haven’t had any issues with line hum or noise. If I use the included wall adapter, same thing, no noise. Unsurprisingly, if I power the R12 with a USB cord that is connected to a larger, multi-port USB power supply, I sometimes get noise. MIDI For each project, you can dedicate one of the 8 tracks to be a synth track. You can only use one of 18 synth sounds pre-loaded into the R12. Honestly, the sounds are not that exciting and you can't really modulate them. There is some brass and organ and electric piano sounds, but it doesn’t have basic sounds like grand piano or violin or cello. You can control the synth sounds via a MIDI controller that connects to the USB-C port. If you use a USB-C hub with power delivery, you can power the R12 and a controller all at once. The advantage here is that you can lay down a MIDI track and not an audio track. That means you can go back and edit individual notes with the touchscreen via a MIDI grid/piano roll. It works like you’d expect with the basic abilities to add/subtract notes, alter note lengths, and adjust note velocity. But again, recognize the touchscreen is closer to an old GPS unit and not an iPhone, so it's not fun to edit dozens of notes. I use the synth track, but the sounds are not awesome, so it is there for me to test out melodies or to add some background filler sound, like simple electric piano whole notes to songs. Finally, synth sound number 19 is a drum kit, so you can create your own beats with a keyboard or pads. I use an AKAI mini play and a Donner StarryPad for that. It’s no Ableton -- it’s not even AKAI MPC Beats, but hey, it’s something… iPad APP With firmware v2.00, the R12 has the ability to connect to an iPad app. It’s only for iPad, not for iPhone and it's not for anything that runs Android. But the app allows a musician to operate everything from the Fader View screen on the much larger iPad screen. It’s not bad. You can move faders, select effects, route inputs to tracks and record. So you can have the R12 set up on a table, but you could be behind a drum set hit record and control faders from back there with the iPad's screen. You will need a longer USB cable for that, though. The only downside right now is that you cannot control Track View with the iPad. That sadly means you can’t use a wonderful iPad touchscreen to trim, split, copy, paste, or drag audio regions. Nothing is recorded to the iPad in the app, and you can’t plug headphones into the iPad to hear anything. Think of the app as just kind of...a mirrored screen. OTHER You can trim and time stretch audio recordings and clips. You can import audio clips as long as they are 24 bit/44.1kHz .WAV files. You can render MIDI/synth tracks into actual audio tracks and re-import them as audio tracks. As you record, the individual tracks are saved to the microSD card as individual .WAV files, so you could always take the card out, insert it into a computer and open up the Tracks in a DAW for further editing. The R12's built-in effects can be applied as insert effects or send effects, which means you can record your guitar with an insert effect and the effect (like distortion) will be permanently imprinted into the recording. Or you can record the guitar dry, but apply a send effect so you can hear a reverb while playing, but then instead switch the dry guitar recording to a distortion sound days later. You can Mix Down to bounce tracks or mix down whole songs into stereo .WAV files. From the home screen it’s easy to add markers so you can zip along your timeline. The R12 also features Sequence Play, which allows a user to set up a playlist of Projects and it will play them in sequence. This is useful if you are a drummer who wants to practice a set list. You can just load up a bunch of songs that have guitar and bass and vocals, and you can play along with them in the order that you choose. Same if you are a vocalist – just load up a bunch of projects that have everything except lead vocal tracks and sing away for an hour straight. LIMITATIONS Obviously, it’s only 8-tracks with just two inputs. That might not be enough for you. The device also has a limit of 50 max audio regions. So if you get to 50 regions across your 8 tracks, you’ll have to render a track that maybe has a dozen regions into one continuous track with just one region before you can proceed. You cannot just hit play and record a three hour practice session. The device maxes out at 1350 bars, which at 120bpm means a max of about 45 minutes. You can change the bpm to 40, and that will get you closer to 2 hours of continuous recording time. This thing is like an old school multitracker in that if you hit record or play, it will just keep going along the timeline – the song won’t loop back to the beginning so you can noodle around and figure out a bass part to a song that maybe already has guitar and drums down. You have to hit stop, and go back to the beginning and hit play again to workshop that bass part out. Even though you can hook up a MIDI controller, there is no true MIDI clock or sync for devices like Volcas and Pocket Operators. And even though the touchscreen offers better, more intuitive functionality than other multitrackers, you can suffer from touchscreen fatigue at times and simply wish they also included the R8's old jog dial to navigate some menus and lists. OVERALL The R12 isn’t for everyone, although I do think it is a good 4-star product for certain musicians. I believe it’s good for a guitar or bass player or vocalist who is either a solo artist or the driving creative force in a band and that person wants a truly portable multitracker to work out ideas whenever they strike without the hassle of booting up a computer and connecting a USB interface, etc, etc. For a drummer who is that solo artist or a driving force in a band, the R12 only works if you have a mixing board already or you primarily use an electronic drum set to play because the R12 only has 2 inputs. You can’t mic up a whole drum set with the R12 -- you’ll need an R20 or L-12 or Model 12 for something like that. If you are a solo musician who is mostly into hardware synths, from Pocket Operators to Fantoms, the R12 can work for you if you are only using one or two synths at a time. However, it’s limited because there is no MIDI clock or dedicated sync feature. It’s hard for the R12 to be 4-stars or better for the exclusively synth-based musician. It might only be 2-stars for them. And there is the price to consider, at $299 list price the R12 can be acceptable for some people, but probably not awesome for others. At that price, you should consider whether you want a true multitracker or maybe something like an H5 instead. However, if you see it on sale for $249 or less, and you really need a battery-powered multitracker with built-in effects and a touchscreen to lightly edit your audio recordings, the R12 becomes much more intriguing for more people. Just know that a universally perfect budget recorder doesn’t exist. The R12 is not for everyone, but for some musicians out there at the right price...it might be exactly what you need to get ideas from your head into a recorder as fast and as easy as possible.