Thanks to Priscilla & Luis Bueno and Juan Carrillo, I now know there is a utility that Zoom released as part of their Firmware 2.0 that allows you to map the master channels to USB 1-2 which removes one of my biggest complaints in this video. It's not full cutomizable routing, but it does the main thing I would need. Check out the details here: zoomcorp.com/media/documents/L-12_L-20_L-20R_Driver_V2manual_en.pdf
Tales form the Towers - that's very unfortunate to hear. I haven't actually tried it myself, but was hopeful from the PDF. If I get it working, I'll post a video.
@@cli23 Hi, so, you mention that you take your Main outs to a different unit and then route via USB to your computer. Maybe it would work to route the L20 mains back to channels 1 and 2? This would avoid needing a different unit, and , while maybe not "elegant" would seem to work just fine. (This is in case the aforementioned update which now does allow Main to USB doesn't work).
Thanks so much Casey, you covered everything I needed to know. I'm looking for a recorder we can capture band practices with, feed mixes to the room and monitor speakers, and have the option to do some overdubs. You had me at the headphone/speaker switch on the auxes :) and the size comparison to a MacBook 13". Stellar stuff!
Came here because the band I mix decided to buy one, after I remarked on seeing how effective other sound-managers were with ipad controllers. Monitoring anywhere in the room + no snake to run = win. So I guess I got my wish. The selling point of the Zoom for them was its ability to record to multitrack and mix later. This really is the Zoom's strong point; even my Tascam wouldn't handle that many simultaneous tracks. I'll have to see how useful that one-knob compressor really is ... but to be fair: that's what the hardwired mixer has (and I agree: it seems only marginally useful compared to the 4-band compressor I've use on my home recordings). Nice of you to post this for the rest of us. One note: while no doubt easier for you to present casually and unscripted, the natural result is a substantial amount of discursiveness. While this does contribute a congenial informality (you bring a wonderfully warm personality) it also takes twice as much space/time to get the info across. I guess I'd compare it to making up a song as you go along (after deciding what the elements would be) and crafting a finished composition; both get the intent and ideas across. The latter just has the extraneous elements pruned away :)
I don’t remember the last time I watched a so long review, but you keep me here all the way until the end. Thanks for your amazing thoughts on this. I’m planning to buy this to integrate it into my Atem switcher. Some times I can get audio from the venue’s mixers but sometimes I need to bring mics for my livestream or live recording and I have few clients that asked me to bring mics plus speakers (low end events). So since this is rack mount and also a recorder, (many times I would like to just have a recorded audio that I can replace in post and most of the mixers out there don’t record audio). I think this is the right one for me. I’ve been seen many video switcher cases with those Rolls mixers but they are so simple that is really hard to trust them. Another one because of the price, is the Alesis Multimix 10. But haven’t search it yet. Thanks again!
I think the decision to put the gain control on the unit is a big positive. To use a digitally controlled gain/attenuating circuit will definitely compromise the signal in comparison. Having used other iPad controlled stage mixers I think this is a big plus. As to the compressor it’s, again, probably the best way to maintain signal integrity. In any case I can’t see how it would affect me as I don’t think I’ve ever adjusted compression during performance. What I do like is the form factor. I might also add, as I’m also in the film / video production business, I own quite a bit of Zoom gear, use it daily, and it’s all (1) very cleverly designed, (2) very reliable and (3) has very good pre-amps. It’s only when you’ve used a piece of their gear for a while that you realise just what they’ve made the wise design decisions they have.
I bought the regular mixer version and dont have any issue. As the keyboard player it sits behind be and allows me to control everything and mix on my kitchen table the next day. And teh record feature is a must....I have captured crisp mixes of moments that I blew me away the next day. I just didnt want to be tied down to an Ipad..even though I still have that capability. Great video BTW
I have both zoom that you reviewed and the behringer xr12 and the zoom is a lot more user friendly to use especially when it comes to effects but thanks for your great review
Good to hear. I’m always interested to hear from people who have tried both because my theory about Behringer is really just a theory as I haven’t owned an XR. Thanks for watching and for commenting!
I've worked an x32, m32 and an xr18 for many years now and the xr18 has one additional thing not mentioned.... EQ and compression on the monitor outs. It's compressor also has a frequency selection which is the best thing since sliced bread. 👍
When you’re connected to the device, can you save each independent mix so you don’t have to change it every time? Or do you need to set each mix every time?
Thanks for your excellent analysis! it's an insurmountable shame that this doesn't even have ONE parametric equalization band on the channels, nor inserts to add in case of need (quite frequent), so for live mixer its usefulness is very relativized. I like the physical gains and the SD recording, each one should evaluate their needs and convenience.Beautiful device for the rest, "but" (as you say)... Saludos
Yeah. You do actually get mid-parametric control, but nothing other than frequency. Not Q value for example. Anyway, thanks for watching and for commenting!
For recording into OBS, did you try to use loopback and create a virtual audio device? I do that with Ableton and my Focusrite Interface and route everything into OBS. Thanks for you honest review
Thanks for the review. Looking jnto buying one of these. Just one question: can you connect wireless headphones for in ear monitors directly or does it need a separate connection. If thats the case can I use 8 monitor outs? And does it have individual instrument + the band volume controls? Thanks
Owned a few digital mixers. Started with the Presonus 16.4.2 (haven't used in 3+ years), moved on to XR18 and X32 compact (and also the Flow 8 just use for home PC). Out of the bunch, the XR18 90%+ sees the MOST use for the reasons you mention PLUS it being very portable/lug-able. The XR18 + X-Touch is a nice combination but not required. Made heavy use of the automixer, downward expander (gate), compressors and EQs just recently (few weeks ago) for a twitch live stream of the NWPAS 2022 Pinball Tournaments (very VERY noisy room, like a loud waterfall). All critical to get as much headroom in a super noisy room into the stream. The X32 was also used for the main stage discussions/interviews/talks for live streams out to RUclips. The nice thing is I was able to tweak the XR18 dynamics remotely from the other room without disturbing the tournament. I actually have considered getting a 2nd XR18.
just bought one of these for 899 canadian. everything else is super overpriced at the moment and this will fit the bill for band rehearsal PA/idea capture/eventual live mixing duties. i don't like the lack of gates and limited EQ controls, but it will still do a nice job for me. i think i'll REALLY like multitracking straight to SD card great video! thanks for taking the time to do it
thanks for taking the time to review this! I own one as well and youre confirming all my worst concerns about this unit. The Midas 18 (big brother to the beringer) mixer is the same price and has 10x the capability. The X18 and M18 can record multitrack in real time just as easy with a third party app and a usb connection to an ipad. even using this live, the equalizer isnt even intuitive enough to notch out a single feedback frequency since the sweepable midrange band's Q is so wide its basically just cutting the entire mid frequency spectrum.. The X and MD18 has multiple bands with adjustable Q. The compression knob is a joke not giving you the details of its settings. I bought this unit to have 16 channels of IO which it does deliver but was really scammed out of two other really great options for the same price and even less.
I feel the pain :) and good point on the wide Q on the mid. It’s just such a shame after playing with the XR18 app on the iPad. You’re like - what!? It can do all that! Anyway, hopefully this’ll help peeps. Thanks for commenting and thanks for watching.
Hello, I have the full size L20, and one thing I hate about it is that, I don't think it can do automated punch-in/out. Which is crazy considering that the zoom R24 can do this. Which is why I only use the L20 for recording live performances. As a footnote, I also own the XR18, which is great for the reasons you stated, but sometimes I need the recording function. Anyway, please let me know if I am wrong about the automated punching in/out.
Good review!!! Thank you. I ran into that problem with OBS on other interfaces. I'm pretty sure that is a general ASIO driver standard design constraint common to all ASIO interfaces. To get around that I remember using something free called patch cable, or something like that which works pretty good. It's a bit of setting up, but it does work without the need for a 2nd interface wired up.
Great in depth review with useful thoughts explored! I'm looking to get this as the mixer for my band's "self monitoring" rig as it seems to have 6 stereo auxes? Signal flow would be: - 3 1/4" leads out from aux send of the guitarists' pedalboards - 1 xlr mono send from FOH mixer (vocal mic) - 2 xlr lead aux send from FOH mixer (mixed down drum bus in stereo) - All into the l20r - 5 separate aux mixes made within the mixer's app - Out into 5 individual stereo wireless transmitter iem systems (phenyx pro ptm 10) using TRS to dual mono TS splitter cables Does this make sense? Would love your input on it. We're looking to only use this for live self monitoring with our IEMs, so we don't have to rely on the FOH engineer for monitors or lack of wedges etc.
Generally sounds doable. I warn you, I’m not a mixing expert, but it seems like your setup would work. Only thing I’d say is you might not need the splitter for the monitor outs. There’s a switch that allows you to switch between wedge/headphone output and as far as I can tell, the main difference is sending a mono or stereo mix out. I usually have stereo TRS for my headphone monitor out. Hope that helps.
@@cli23 appreciate the reply! If I could trouble you with just one more question. Thoughts on this vs Behringer XR18? Only difference would be I have to use the main outs of the Behringer as one of my submixes
@ahmadhusayn7631 I have never used the behringer xr18, but on paper the audio processing seems way better (eq, compressor etc.). But if you’re just feeding signals through without processing them, might not be much difference. XR18 also lacks recording. As a mixer, I always thought the XR18 was a way better buy - but again - that’s on paper since I’ve never tried it. You might also want to check out the Allen and Heath CQ series.
Thanks for your excellent end-user report Casey! We are looking for a handy mixer for our band with capability of making personal monitor mixes for five players. Please, would you confirm if every TRS output can be turned to stereo output meaning that we then could end-up with max. 6 stereo mixes to headphones?
I solved the streaming problem with a single jack lead - just use monitor busses and connect them to input 1+2 or just go mono - in most cases mono is sufficient - I can stream and record post compression/post EQ/post FX in OBS
I know some might say there are workarounds, but for those who are looking for this product as an audio interface, be aware THIS PRODUCT BASICALLY IS NOT FOR AN AUDIO INTERFACE AND IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL ITS FEATURES incl. basica functions such as gain control and etc., on a computer, whether mac or windows system. AND IPAD IS A MUST FOR THIS PRODUCT TO WORK.
I've watched your review 3 times. Fantastic review. I've purchased a used L-20R and so far love it. Any suggestions on how a subwoofer can be added for extra low for our bass player? TIA!
The Soundcraft UI24r has built in recording and nuanced controls and fx. It is a bit more expensive, but you can find open box deals on it for about the same price as the Zoom L20r.
On power-up, assuming levels are set and signals are live, will it start recording all channels when you hit the record button, or does it require iPad connection?
Thanks. I had an X32 rack before but sold it at the start of covid as it was for (impossible) gaming events. Wish i hadn't as the price has gone up from £640 to £900 and sold it for £550 :( Was looking at this L20R but had assumed compressors and EQ would be similar to other models. Saved me from a wrong purchase. Compression is really important to me as there's radio mikes being used for interviews with varying volumes, plus game sound output from PCs where you want to squash down explosions but keep quieter nuances.
Excellent video. Almost had an XR sale. Now the prices are reversed and I want the recorder. Ive never gotten anything from a compressor. Im illiterate about most cimputer stuff. I was looking for a demonstration of this device with the remote. Im sold with a couple questions. Can it be controlled with a MacBook instead of an ipad. Can it be controlled with an iPhone? An android kindle or PC?
Very comprehensive review, thanks Casey. Leaving aside your quite valid concern about routing (I don't livestream), it sounds like the biggest issue is the compressor. The Behringer's signal routing and processing sound perfect... if only it had onboard recording! The virtual soundcheck capability is sweet. I don't like the thought of bringing my laptop/DAW to a gig. It could be argued the onboard recorder is worth the $100. Still, in all my years of buying gear it has often been the case that no one product has every desirable feature and it is frustrating.
Thanks for the comment John! Yeah always tough to find that perfect product. Lots of people have been recommending the SoundCraft UI24r, but it’s like $1000 more expensive. Always tough - that being said - good to be in a position to play with this gear at all :) thanks for watching and for your thoughts!
Will this unit record to SD card while playing the master mix over a USB device? I want to use this for live streaming and recording simultaneously without adding another DA/AD conversion.
Hi Casey, I've just bought the L20r and had a question about recording (first time). After inserting a SD card and creating a new project, I tried to arm tracks for recording but all tracks were greyed out and unable to be armed. Any thoughts why? Kind of at a loss to know why? Thanks heaps.
Hey 148 Fit. Unfortunately my Zoom is packed away right now - but going off of memory - you might need to arm the recording itself first before arming the tracks. (Ie. press the record button so it’s flashing and ready to record - then arm the tracks - and then you’d press play to start the recording.) if that’s not it - are the rest of the controls working? I know sometimes the Bluetooth disconnects and everything doesn’t work. Let me know if that helps at all.
We have the Presonus 32R at church and we had the same problem with OBS. The workaround we do is that in the mixer settings we digitally send the LR to channels 1 and 2.
Thanks for watching and commenting. Nice to know the Presonus 32R solution! That’s the problem with the Zoom, you don’t have that flexibility on the mixer directly. That being said, I’ve since been informed that Zoom released a driver that allows you to send L/R to channels 1&2. I tried it out and it works! Anyway, thanks again!
On Sweetwater, XR18 is almost as much as the L20R now ($739 vs $799). But even at $699 -- yes, it's the recorder. Which makes sense, since that's what Zoom is primarily known for.
Hi, please can you tell me if this unit works in Wifi too, like Behringer or Soundcraft? I'm unhappy with my Ui16 soundcraft so i can't record multitrack, but it works with my old Ipad 2 ! Thanks
@@cli23 thank you, i've finally bought it, despite it can't work with my old ipad 2. I use it with an ipad mini and i'm very happy, very good mixer, and multitrack recorder ! Shame on you Behringer / Soundcraft ...
Hello, if I had seen your video before, I would not have bought this device. I was especially disappointed that Zoom does not offer any support on the time length. The defects of the application are present 3 years later! I have a question: can you do a Reset of a scene with the iPad app. I have never been able to do anything with the scene reset button which remains grey and my scenes busy ? Thanks in advance for the answer.
Hey JC, thanks for watching and for your comment. Unfortunately my mixer is packed away right now so I can’t test what you’re taking about. I think maybe in the past I used the reset button and it seemed to work - but can’t say 100% sure. I’ll try to remember to test this next time I bust it out.
Very useful review. Almost bought this, but gain control in the app is the most imp aspect for me. Thanks for the save. Recording is also important, guess Bh xr18 is also out.
Good to hear. Thanks for watching and commenting. Seems most peeps are recommending Soundcraft ui24r for similar portability and recording capability. Unfortunately about $1000 more.
Actually that is true. If you just want to use the inputs, you can use this without an iPad. I’m not 100% sure if there’s any setup that you need to do with the iPad up front, but day to day usage as an interface technically doesn’t require an iPad. You do lose out on things like controlling headphone mixes for monitoring, but yeah - you can use the inputs. Thanks for the comment!
Is the Behringer XR 18 Bluetooth like the Zoom L20R? I had the Soundcraft UI 24R and had problems with drop outs during the show and being able to reset.
Thanks for the detailed review. I guess you have specific use case issues which validly are not supported, but on the whole it looks like it's still good for straight forward use. (Maybe your video could act as good feedback to the company. Zoom should be bright enough to figure that one out.) Cool! Well done.
Yeah that’s exactly it. For certain uses, it’s great, but for other uses it’s leaves some things to be desired. Hopefully the video, the comments, and views do act as feedback to Zoom. Thanks for watching and for commenting!
Hi thanks for this amazing review, is possible assign channels with usb? I mean in the case I want use backing tracks with the band in separate channel for example channel 5 bass channel 6 click ecc… thanks man
Definitely. What you do is arm a track in “RECORD” mode to record your first track. Then after you’ve recorded it, you set that track to “PLAY” so that it plays back and you set another track to “RECORD” to record your second track.
Hey Deep Set Beats - sorry. I don’t have that info either and you’re right - doesn’t seem to be anywhere online. I will say the rack mounts are about the height of the front face of the unit - so you can maybe take the measurements of the front face of the unit to get an idea.
Wireless mixing is really nice - it's freaking awesome - trust me, I know. I've mixed a lot on a wireless mixer - it's awesome to move around the room with an iPad and mix from the audience's vantage point. But, and this was our deal-breaker, you become dependent on software and connectivity. One night our band couldn't start because the software updated and wouldn't work on any device (iPad, laptop, iPhone, Android) we threw at it. We brought in a mixer with physical controls and saved the show. Yeah, wireless mixers are small and convenient and can do so much more than a similarly sized wired mixer. But. If you're in a working band, you need consistency - you need to be able to deliver on your word. You can't afford to hope that software developers (I am one) will fix the app before your next, much less current, show. If it's just you on the line - go for it. If you are trying to deliver a live paid product - don't go for it. You want physical control. You need a backup way to perform - you need physical gain controls and faders, minimum. If it's just for you, though, why do you need 20 channels of input? Why do you need 6 AUXs? That's IO that a live band needs, not a recording artist. Wireless mixing does offer a ton of potential that no hardware can offer but it's lack of reliability for live use and its overkill of benefit for personal use leaves it in no-man's land. Wireless mixing has use but for very few people. And, BTW, it was a Behringer XR16 that failed us. It's now a paperweight. Keep up the good content - I enjoyed it.
Thanks for sharing. Definitely super good insight - and you’re totally right. Reliability is definitely more important than wireless convenience or software dependence when it comes to high stakes gigs. Thanks for sharing again!
@@cli23 Yeah, no worries - I just want people to understand the allure of wireless vs the reality. I don’t think my band has “high-stakes” gigs and we used a wireless mixer for several years without a problem - just, the night it failed, we understood you have to have a backup - and thus, if you are considering cost, you have to add the cost of the backup. It’s not either or - it’s either you go with a hands-on mixer or you go with a wireless mixer AND a hands-on backup. Regarding gigs, you can’t get to high stake ones if you don’t deliver on the low stake ones.
The Wifi and the missing recording feature on the Beringer are what's stopping me from buying one. For me it's a very big inconvenience to always have to transport my Laptop to record stuff properly
@@cli23 Funny that you mention it and thanks. Shortly before you answered me I found the Allen & Heath CQ20B and think it might just be the thing for me. It's the same price as the L-20, more pricy than the Beringer and the L-20r but has the option of Multitrack Recording onto an SD-Card and a dual band Wifi-Router. It also get's a plus point from me because the software is not only for iOS but for android and Windows as well!
The XR18 may be cheaper but you will need that money to buy a router and a laptop and Ethernet cables so you can talk to it since its access point and wireless control is not reliable. Spent 4 hours yesterday trying to get a new tablet to talk to XR18. Found out due to "updates" the Xair app would no longer work with the Xair. Downloaded Mix Station and finally got it working. Even then, no recorder like the Zoom. After spending a day with the XR18 I love my L20 even more. (not L20R).
One thing you may or may not know is that chipsets for Behringer are in very short supply... At the time of this writing 6/22, release for Behringer X series boards are scheduled for Feb or March of '23!
This mixer have same price range as XR18 in my place. But the hybrid problem, unbalanced mix/aux out, and just Stereo out USB are biggest disadvantage for me, compared to XR18 (I'm using this mixer this time). The USB feature here same as XR12 or XR16. I hope zoom can come with another rack like their L12 or L8 and got more cheap price range and have full digitally controlled by phone/tablet or PC. *** The only advantages on L20R is SD Card recording, sometimes I didn't take my laptop with me and some people want to record their performances by multitrack.
Very good review although quite long. 👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Now for me it would be important that you could choose many different effects on different channels/tracks or if that’s not possible (in a digital mixer) that it should have been provided with the possibility to insert external effects. I’m also a little disappointed about the one-knob compressor which can’t be adjusted to the personal needs when compressing. And I have also got the question (I bought the mixer in August 2019) if there meanwhile is a firmware update (I didn‘t use the mixer at all so far as needs have completely changed after purchasing and today is the first day where I think of selling it. That‘s why I ‚ve been looking for reviews/comments etc.
Thanks for watching and commenting! Yeah the limited effects and single knob compression are a shame. As for your question - there has been a firmware update since August 2019. They released one in February 2020 (v1.13) - I can’t remember the exact details, but I think the latest firmware allowed some flexibility around recording dry tracks and playing them back with effects. The Zoom support page is pretty good if you look up the L-20R and you’ll see the firmware updates there and their release date. Thanks again!
I've been looking at this but unless I'm mistaken there's no android app for control? I don't see myself buying an iPad just to use this when I already have a Galaxy tablet. Also I'm wondering if like their other recorders this Zoom doesn't have a timebase that's locked very well. I have the R24 and H6 and when I use them in conjunction with video cameras I find there's a LOT of drift, even between the H6 and R24, but especially with video. I expect SOEM drift, but the Zoom products drift in a way that seems to vary making it harder to sync them with other tracks.
Yeah - unfortunately this is iPad only. As for the drift - can’t say I’ve used it enough in situations where that would occur - so I can’t confirm/deny. Thanks for watching and for commenting!
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
Hey Mady. Thanks for the comment and for watching. Can you elaborate a bit on your question? When you say make a playlist and send the click to the drummer. Do you mean a playlist of click tracks that you’d play from a computer or other music device?
Hey Mady. I’m not sure if I understand your question, but you can feed music and click tracks to the mixer using one of the inputs. Then you can send the click track to the drummer monitor mix only. Basically each monitor mix is completely independent. Not sure if that’s what your asking but maybe that helps.
Hey Casey! It’s been almost a month since my band and I bought a zoom livetrak L-20R and we like it pretty much from now! The only problem is that we can’t program individual mixes. The « select » knob on the physical machine only let us select « master » or « solo » and on the iPad it’s stuck on « Master ». Any answer would help us a lot! Thanks
Hey Simon, I can’t say I have your answer, but I’ll say a couple of things. First, the select Knob on the physical machine only controls what comes out of the headphone Jack on the front. So if you want to listen to the master mix in the headphones that are plugged into the front, or one of the monitor mixes - that’s what that knob controls. If does not control the ability to dial in the mixes. The other thing you need to check is on the physical machine - on the front on the bottom row, ensure that each Master/(Letter) button is pressed in. If it’s pressed in, it sends the individual mix on that monitor output. If it’s pressed out, it will only send the master mix out on that monitor output (the monitor outputs being what’s on the back). Lastly for the iPad - that one I’m not sure about. You should be able to tap the “letter” button (like A, B, C, etc) that’s under the red master button. That should light it up. If it doesn’t light up, best thing I could suggest is making sure your firmware and iPad app are up to date. Hope that helps. If you want though - I can make a short video showing you. I’m sure it would benefit others. Let me know. Otherwise, I hope that helps. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Thank you very much for your help! The problem was that the sample rate needed to bet set at 48khz and ours was at 96khz! And we must close the machine so it can reset. Hope it’ll help!
What’s up man, I’m not sure if I understood right about you Only getting channel 1 and 2 on OBS but I use the exact same l20r + OBS and I can plug in my whole band with no extra interface. Also for a little auto tune or affects I’ll run it through logic but still I can use all the channels I want or need.
Interesting! Would love to hear how you do that. Are you on a Mac? If I directly run the L20R into OBS on my Mac, can’t seem to get anything but channel 1 as L and channel 2 as R. Thanks for sharing though and for watching!
I have the L-12 and use it with OBS too. I recall Zoom releasing a Mac Utility Diver in 2020 to allow remapping 1+2 to Master L+R. I’m not sure if it also applied to the L-20R but it did apply to a couple of the other L units.
Thanks! In short yes - you would need amplification for your speakers - either a separate amplifier or if you have powered active speakers - that would work as well. In terms of recommendations - I’m really not an expert in this as I don’t do a lot of stage work. I would search “best powered speakers” or “best powered PA” and you’ll find lots of great stuff. Thanks again!
Thanks for this very thorough and thoughtful review. Subbed and liked. I have a quick question that I can't find the answer to anywhere. Is the compressor flexible enough to create a harsh noise gate? I'm particularly interested in using this to mic a government board room with 16 tabletop mics and I want it to have a very aggressive noise gate to deal with mic bleed and general room noise. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Hey How-to-Quickly, I've never used a compressor as a noise gate before so I don't have a good answer to your question - except I'll say this - most likely the answer is "no" to your question. The compressor is basically not flexible at all. It's a single-knob compressor so you have no control over things like threshold, ratio, make-up gain, etc. You have a single knob that adjusts these settings in ways that you can't control (nor predict). So while I don't really know the answer to your question, my suspicion is that "no", the compressor won't suit your needs. Thanks for watching and for your question!
Great vid. I’m am considering a zoom product either the l20 or the l20r. I think the l20r is less money with all the same features with the controls through the iPad. Your review was extremely honest and informative. Thank you and I will look at the beheringer prod as well😊
Casey. Does the l20r have Bluetooth in the unit or are you required to purchase a separate piece that is required for the l20? Have u had any problems with ios16. Both the 20 and 20r are several years old have you heard of any new models being released shortly. Hate to spend the money and have something new released
So the L20R does use a separate Bluetooth dongle but it comes packaged with it for free. I think it’s the same dongle that you can optionally purchase for the L20. As for iOS 16 - unfortunately I haven’t used it recently enough to report on that.
Mostly i am impressed Zoom responded at all, i have been mailing them about a specific firmware version for the H2 handy recorder i need, never received an answer.. (you can only find the latest version on the support site i need a specific revision file idk i just googled stuff).
I think one downside could be that it uses the Bluetooth protocol for the iPad controlling app instead of WiFi. Seems to be only brand who does it this way. So it would be interesting how stable it works from when controlling from far away places in a crowded hall.
Hi! Thank you for your video, it is very useful. I have one question for you. If I connect my iPad to my L20R via bluetooth (without password), in live is it possible to connect to it with an other ipad? Is it not a security issue, more exactly is it possible for someone in the audience to connect with their own ipad and set it?
lol its a mixer. I thought this was a 20 channel recorder. glad I saw your review. really want to find a digital audio capture device. I don't care so much about mixing just need to capture alot of live mics so I can mix them later, elsewhere on another collection of hardware.
That you can do actually. When you record on the L20R, it’ll record up to 22 tracks onto the SD card that you can bring into another piece of software to edit.
Hey mate, awesome video! Very insightful. Regards Behringer, the usual trope is a grizzle about component quality.. Anyways, whats the process for recording via class compliant mode? Do all the tracks go via bluetooth into the iPad? Or is there a cable connection? Seems crazy to send it through thin air but thats music for ya. I am temped by this for studio work but having some gear dependent on others.. I already brought a synthstation 25 and now those ios devices are redundant and I still have the keyboard.. My own iPad died and replacement took like 2 months... So in a case like that, can you still actually record at all on this, just using what is on the hardware? Or could you use it as a computer interface, without the iPad? I own an L12 presently and I know all the faders and stuff on that are only really usable on the monitoring side of things, and when using a DAW all the levels are in there. Interested to hear your feedback and thanks again, very helpful!
Hey Aaron, thanks for watching and for commenting. I unfortunately don’t have answers to all your questions, but I’ll try my best. I’ve never actually used class-compliant mode with an iPad, but I think the way it works is with the USB Camera connector, it uses a wired connection to send the tracks - not via bluetooth. As for using this thing without an iPad - you cannot record directly on the device without an iPad because you need the iPad to arm the tracks. That being said, in interface mode, you shouldn’t need the iPad to record since you control that through your DAW. All this being said - class compliant and interface mode - unfortunately I haven’t actually used it in those modes. If it’s gonna affect your buying decision, let me know and I can test some and let you know. Thanks again!
Yeah OBS only reads channel 1 & 2, but luckily Zoom did release an updated driver that allows you to send the master L and R on channels 1 & 2 over USB. So that problem is now solved. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Hey David. Thanks for watching and for your question. While I haven’t ever used it, as far as I can tell from the manual, you can overdub including punching in and punching out. You might want to double check the manual online to see, but as far as I can tell basic overdubbing is supported. Thanks!
You can only control it with an iPad. There is no PC or Android app. As for the monitor out - if you set it to Wedge/floor monitor mode - it’s mono. If you set it to headphone mode - it’s stereo.
18:00 I guess one reason to get the L20 over the L20R is that in some live situations, there is interference in wifi signal. I have had this happen to me with an X32 but I had the option of connecting via ethernet to my laptop. Doesn't look like the L20R has an ethernet option. Also, I guess the full mixing board could look a little more professional if you were doing small live gigs and you show up with something that looks a bit more substantial to the client.
When I'd use it as an Interface with cubase pro 12, do I still need the app?? I'm actually just interested in the 20 inputs, to use it with my DAW. ??? ANY GOOD ADVICES FOR ME?
Hi Captain Kurk Nitram - I actually just tried this out with Adobe Audition and the answer is you do NOT need the app. If you're just using the 20 inputs with Gain/Compressor control, you can do that without the app. As an interface you get access to 22 channels (20 inputs + Master L+R). Hope that helps!
For live recordings, I think it sounds pretty good. Check out any of my live streams to get a sample. That being said, I haven’t done extensive tests nor am I a pro audio expert.
Very useful tips I own a 18 Behringer and a L20 that I use at church. Was looking to get the L20r because of the cost and yes the only reason I would ever take the L20r over the Behringer is the recording that helps a lot when you are mixing on stage also the part that you can listen to all the monitor channels that your sending to all the musicians is so easy. Compared to what I’m used to. I would have to tell everyone to check their mic signals gains and so on. It would take hours before I get it right. The Recorder is the game changer.
Thanks for sharing! Actually really good to hear from someone who also owns a Behringer considering how much more sound processing you can do on it. Great to hear your thoughts. Thanks for commenting and for watching.
The Behringer is far more playful because you kind of have everything in your hand. Take note you need a Wi-Fi router too because the Wi-Fi that the Behringer has onboard doesn’t even work when you are right beside it. Also one benefit of 18air is you can actually hardwire to a pc or laptop to use as the mixer interface. But lIke I said The part I really can’t part from is the recording system from the zoom.
@@mickeydoemusic9698 funny, I’m here because I’m not loving the XR18. The only way to control it is via wifi, so even if you hardwire it you can’t simply use it as an interface because of all the routing necessary to use it in DAW (mainly setting your outputs etc). I like how the Zoom has some buttons to work with, and yes the multitrack recorder is attractive.
Every hardware-software combo product I've bought has had a severe lack of, or discontinued, support for applications. Rendering them essentially useless. I can't trust that a product like this will be both supported and further developed long term. Would have been nice if they offered a physical slider/knob controller, assignable parameters, linked directly with USB on the back. Mixer goes in the rack, controls on the desk. Easy.
As a stand-alone device, unfortunately no you can’t record without an app. The reason is you need the app to arm the track that you want to record. If you use it as a USB interface to your computer though - I believe you can record without the app. Thanks for watching!
None ASIO programs on Mac and PC need additional programs to reroute the inputs from ASIO to other format. It’s a limitation of OS and other audio stacks, so not Zoom’s fault. Some programs for webcams are as lame as that they won’t even get any audio without an additional program for rerouting it, I use Voicemeeter on PC for that. Ideal would be if software developers would unlame and add ASIO support, at least those that code programs that come with cameras for PC and Mac.
Thanks to Priscilla & Luis Bueno and Juan Carrillo, I now know there is a utility that Zoom released as part of their Firmware 2.0 that allows you to map the master channels to USB 1-2 which removes one of my biggest complaints in this video. It's not full cutomizable routing, but it does the main thing I would need. Check out the details here: zoomcorp.com/media/documents/L-12_L-20_L-20R_Driver_V2manual_en.pdf
I must say that unfortunately I cannot get this to work. I have version 2.0 but OBS is still only showing channels 1&2. not the master mix.
@@talesfromthetowers5739 me neither...
Tales form the Towers - that's very unfortunate to hear. I haven't actually tried it myself, but was hopeful from the PDF. If I get it working, I'll post a video.
Good evening I have zoom live track L-20 It's having problem when I turn it on it says Goodbye see you please tell anyone solving problem
@@cli23 Hi, so, you mention that you take your Main outs to a different unit and then route via USB to your computer. Maybe it would work to route the L20 mains back to channels 1 and 2? This would avoid needing a different unit, and , while maybe not "elegant" would seem to work just fine. (This is in case the aforementioned update which now does allow Main to USB doesn't work).
This is probably the most useful review on the product I've seen so far. Thanks.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
this is probably one of the best down to earth, comprehensive audio equipment reviews i've ever seen.
Thanks for watching and for the nice comment!
Good evening I have zoom live track L-20 It's having problem when I turn it on it says Goodbye see you please tell anyone solving problem
Thanks so much Casey, you covered everything I needed to know. I'm looking for a recorder we can capture band practices with, feed mixes to the room and monitor speakers, and have the option to do some overdubs. You had me at the headphone/speaker switch on the auxes :) and the size comparison to a MacBook 13". Stellar stuff!
Your review makes sense. Thanks for taking the time. It's very understanding and gives me a clear picture on this product.
Came here because the band I mix decided to buy one, after I remarked on seeing how effective other sound-managers were with ipad controllers. Monitoring anywhere in the room + no snake to run = win. So I guess I got my wish.
The selling point of the Zoom for them was its ability to record to multitrack and mix later. This really is the Zoom's strong point; even my Tascam wouldn't handle that many simultaneous tracks.
I'll have to see how useful that one-knob compressor really is ... but to be fair: that's what the hardwired mixer has (and I agree: it seems only marginally useful compared to the 4-band compressor I've use on my home recordings).
Nice of you to post this for the rest of us. One note: while no doubt easier for you to present casually and unscripted, the natural result is a substantial amount of discursiveness. While this does contribute a congenial informality (you bring a wonderfully warm personality) it also takes twice as much space/time to get the info across. I guess I'd compare it to making up a song as you go along (after deciding what the elements would be) and crafting a finished composition; both get the intent and ideas across. The latter just has the extraneous elements pruned away :)
Thanks for the feedback and for your thoughts!
Good evening I have zoom live track L-20 It's having problem when I turn it on it says Goodbye see you please tell anyone solving problem
I don’t remember the last time I watched a so long review, but you keep me here all the way until the end. Thanks for your amazing thoughts on this.
I’m planning to buy this to integrate it into my Atem switcher. Some times I can get audio from the venue’s mixers but sometimes I need to bring mics for my livestream or live recording and I have few clients that asked me to bring mics plus speakers (low end events). So since this is rack mount and also a recorder, (many times I would like to just have a recorded audio that I can replace in post and most of the mixers out there don’t record audio). I think this is the right one for me. I’ve been seen many video switcher cases with those Rolls mixers but they are so simple that is really hard to trust them. Another one because of the price, is the Alesis Multimix 10. But haven’t search it yet. Thanks again!
Thanks for your thoughts!
I think the decision to put the gain control on the unit is a big positive. To use a digitally controlled gain/attenuating circuit will definitely compromise the signal in comparison. Having used other iPad controlled stage mixers I think this is a big plus. As to the compressor it’s, again, probably the best way to maintain signal integrity. In any case I can’t see how it would affect me as I don’t think I’ve ever adjusted compression during performance. What I do like is the form factor. I might also add, as I’m also in the film / video production business, I own quite a bit of Zoom gear, use it daily, and it’s all (1) very cleverly designed, (2) very reliable and (3) has very good pre-amps. It’s only when you’ve used a piece of their gear for a while that you realise just what they’ve made the wise design decisions they have.
Great thoughts. Thanks for sharing!
I bought the regular mixer version and dont have any issue. As the keyboard player it sits behind be and allows me to control everything and mix on my kitchen table the next day. And teh record feature is a must....I have captured crisp mixes of moments that I blew me away the next day. I just didnt want to be tied down to an Ipad..even though I still have that capability. Great video BTW
I have both zoom that you reviewed and the behringer xr12 and the zoom is a lot more user friendly to use especially when it comes to effects but thanks for your great review
Good to hear. I’m always interested to hear from people who have tried both because my theory about Behringer is really just a theory as I haven’t owned an XR. Thanks for watching and for commenting!
Good evening I have zoom live track L-20 It's having problem when I turn it on it says Goodbye see you please tell anyone solving problem
Best Zoom review I have seen, helped me make my decision to buy. I will most likely get the L20 vs the L20R, your vid really helped.
Great to hear! Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for watching and for commenting!
I've worked an x32, m32 and an xr18 for many years now and the xr18 has one additional thing not mentioned.... EQ and compression on the monitor outs. It's compressor also has a frequency selection which is the best thing since sliced bread. 👍
When you’re connected to the device, can you save each independent mix so you don’t have to change it every time? Or do you need to set each mix every time?
You can save your mixes to one of the memory slots and there are 9 memory slots. So you can save up to 9 mixes.
Thanks for your excellent analysis! it's an insurmountable shame that this doesn't even have ONE parametric equalization band on the channels, nor inserts to add in case of need (quite frequent), so for live mixer its usefulness is very relativized. I like the physical gains and the SD recording, each one should evaluate their needs and convenience.Beautiful device for the rest, "but" (as you say)... Saludos
Yeah. You do actually get mid-parametric control, but nothing other than frequency. Not Q value for example. Anyway, thanks for watching and for commenting!
@@cli23 parametric eq has to have q control for it to be a parametric. That is called a sweepable eq.
For recording into OBS, did you try to use loopback and create a virtual audio device? I do that with Ableton and my Focusrite Interface and route everything into OBS. Thanks for you honest review
Thanks for the review. Looking jnto buying one of these. Just one question: can you connect wireless headphones for in ear monitors directly or does it need a separate connection. If thats the case can I use 8 monitor outs? And does it have individual instrument + the band volume controls? Thanks
Owned a few digital mixers. Started with the Presonus 16.4.2 (haven't used in 3+ years), moved on to XR18 and X32 compact (and also the Flow 8 just use for home PC). Out of the bunch, the XR18 90%+ sees the MOST use for the reasons you mention PLUS it being very portable/lug-able. The XR18 + X-Touch is a nice combination but not required. Made heavy use of the automixer, downward expander (gate), compressors and EQs just recently (few weeks ago) for a twitch live stream of the NWPAS 2022 Pinball Tournaments (very VERY noisy room, like a loud waterfall). All critical to get as much headroom in a super noisy room into the stream. The X32 was also used for the main stage discussions/interviews/talks for live streams out to RUclips. The nice thing is I was able to tweak the XR18 dynamics remotely from the other room without disturbing the tournament. I actually have considered getting a 2nd XR18.
Thanks for sharing and for watching!
I own zoom l20 and I can say this is the best zoom livetrack review so far.
Good to hear! Thanks for watching and for commenting!
just bought one of these for 899 canadian. everything else is super overpriced at the moment and this will fit the bill for band rehearsal PA/idea capture/eventual live mixing duties.
i don't like the lack of gates and limited EQ controls, but it will still do a nice job for me. i think i'll REALLY like multitracking straight to SD card
great video! thanks for taking the time to do it
Thanks for watching and for sharing. That’s the thing - if you know what you’re getting - you’ll be happy with it. Enjoy!
thanks for taking the time to review this! I own one as well and youre confirming all my worst concerns about this unit. The Midas 18 (big brother to the beringer) mixer is the same price and has 10x the capability. The X18 and M18 can record multitrack in real time just as easy with a third party app and a usb connection to an ipad. even using this live, the equalizer isnt even intuitive enough to notch out a single feedback frequency since the sweepable midrange band's Q is so wide its basically just cutting the entire mid frequency spectrum.. The X and MD18 has multiple bands with adjustable Q. The compression knob is a joke not giving you the details of its settings. I bought this unit to have 16 channels of IO which it does deliver but was really scammed out of two other really great options for the same price and even less.
I feel the pain :) and good point on the wide Q on the mid. It’s just such a shame after playing with the XR18 app on the iPad. You’re like - what!? It can do all that! Anyway, hopefully this’ll help peeps. Thanks for commenting and thanks for watching.
Hello, I have the full size L20, and one thing I hate about it is that, I don't think it can do automated punch-in/out. Which is crazy considering that the zoom R24 can do this. Which is why I only use the L20 for recording live performances. As a footnote, I also own the XR18, which is great for the reasons you stated, but sometimes I need the recording function. Anyway, please let me know if I am wrong about the automated punching in/out.
I’m not 100% sure, but I think you’re right. There is no auto punch in/out.
Good review!!! Thank you. I ran into that problem with OBS on other interfaces. I'm pretty sure that is a general ASIO driver standard design constraint common to all ASIO interfaces. To get around that I remember using something free called patch cable, or something like that which works pretty good. It's a bit of setting up, but it does work without the need for a 2nd interface wired up.
Great in depth review with useful thoughts explored!
I'm looking to get this as the mixer for my band's "self monitoring" rig as it seems to have 6 stereo auxes?
Signal flow would be:
- 3 1/4" leads out from aux send of the guitarists' pedalboards
- 1 xlr mono send from FOH mixer (vocal mic)
- 2 xlr lead aux send from FOH mixer (mixed down drum bus in stereo)
- All into the l20r
- 5 separate aux mixes made within the mixer's app
- Out into 5 individual stereo wireless transmitter iem systems (phenyx pro ptm 10) using TRS to dual mono TS splitter cables
Does this make sense? Would love your input on it. We're looking to only use this for live self monitoring with our IEMs, so we don't have to rely on the FOH engineer for monitors or lack of wedges etc.
Generally sounds doable. I warn you, I’m not a mixing expert, but it seems like your setup would work. Only thing I’d say is you might not need the splitter for the monitor outs. There’s a switch that allows you to switch between wedge/headphone output and as far as I can tell, the main difference is sending a mono or stereo mix out. I usually have stereo TRS for my headphone monitor out. Hope that helps.
@@cli23 appreciate the reply! If I could trouble you with just one more question. Thoughts on this vs Behringer XR18? Only difference would be I have to use the main outs of the Behringer as one of my submixes
@ahmadhusayn7631 I have never used the behringer xr18, but on paper the audio processing seems way better (eq, compressor etc.). But if you’re just feeding signals through without processing them, might not be much difference. XR18 also lacks recording. As a mixer, I always thought the XR18 was a way better buy - but again - that’s on paper since I’ve never tried it. You might also want to check out the Allen and Heath CQ series.
Thanks for your excellent end-user report Casey! We are looking for a handy mixer for our band with capability of making personal monitor mixes for five players. Please, would you confirm if every TRS output can be turned to stereo output meaning that we then could end-up with max. 6 stereo mixes to headphones?
Nice video.my question,is the effects working on live streaming,facebook libe and recording also?
I solved the streaming problem with a single jack lead - just use monitor busses and connect them to input 1+2 or just go mono - in most cases mono is sufficient - I can stream and record post compression/post EQ/post FX in OBS
I know some might say there are workarounds, but for those who are looking for this product as an audio interface, be aware THIS PRODUCT BASICALLY IS NOT FOR AN AUDIO INTERFACE AND IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL ITS FEATURES incl. basica functions such as gain control and etc., on a computer, whether mac or windows system. AND IPAD IS A MUST FOR THIS PRODUCT TO WORK.
Thanks for sharing! Good warning to all.
I've watched your review 3 times. Fantastic review. I've purchased a used L-20R and so far love it. Any suggestions on how a subwoofer can be added for extra low for our bass player?
TIA!
The Soundcraft UI24r has built in recording and nuanced controls and fx. It is a bit more expensive, but you can find open box deals on it for about the same price as the Zoom L20r.
On power-up, assuming levels are set and signals are live, will it start recording all channels when you hit the record button, or does it require iPad connection?
Informative review, love it. Thanks . does it has feedback eliminator? And is it usable on windows pc?
Unfortunately no feedback eliminator and no - it does NOT work on a windows PC. iPad app is the only thing you can use.
Great review! Have you tried a software like "Loopback" to route the audio in your macbook? Maybe it solves the issue using it with OBS.
Yeah. Definitely an option. Thanks for suggesting!
I’m a live concert videographer wanting to upgrade the audio of my concerts, this seems to be my best bet.
Thanks. I had an X32 rack before but sold it at the start of covid as it was for (impossible) gaming events. Wish i hadn't as the price has gone up from £640 to £900 and sold it for £550 :(
Was looking at this L20R but had assumed compressors and EQ would be similar to other models. Saved me from a wrong purchase. Compression is really important to me as there's radio mikes being used for interviews with varying volumes, plus game sound output from PCs where you want to squash down explosions but keep quieter nuances.
Thanks for commenting and for watching. Yeah - lack of ability to fine tune the compression should definitely have you looking at other products.
Now this is what a review is all about : a knowledgeable point of view. Exceptional and valuable work. Thanks.
Thanks for watching and for your comments!
Excellent video. Almost had an XR sale. Now the prices are reversed and I want the recorder. Ive never gotten anything from a compressor. Im illiterate about most cimputer stuff. I was looking for a demonstration of this device with the remote. Im sold with a couple questions. Can it be controlled with a MacBook instead of an ipad. Can it be controlled with an iPhone? An android kindle or PC?
Unfortunately no - it can only be controlled with an iPad. Not Mac app, no Android app, not web browser app.
Very comprehensive review, thanks Casey. Leaving aside your quite valid concern about routing (I don't livestream), it sounds like the biggest issue is the compressor. The Behringer's signal routing and processing sound perfect... if only it had onboard recording! The virtual soundcheck capability is sweet. I don't like the thought of bringing my laptop/DAW to a gig. It could be argued the onboard recorder is worth the $100. Still, in all my years of buying gear it has often been the case that no one product has every desirable feature and it is frustrating.
Thanks for the comment John! Yeah always tough to find that perfect product. Lots of people have been recommending the SoundCraft UI24r, but it’s like $1000 more expensive. Always tough - that being said - good to be in a position to play with this gear at all :) thanks for watching and for your thoughts!
Good evening I have zoom live track L-20 It's having problem when I turn it on it says Goodbye see you please tell anyone solving problem
Will this unit record to SD card while playing the master mix over a USB device? I want to use this for live streaming and recording simultaneously without adding another DA/AD conversion.
hello. thanks for the review, by wifi what distance does it work for control on a tablet?
It doesn’t actually use WIFI. It uses Bluetooth. The Bluetooth range though I’m not 100% sure about. I’ve only used it within about 10-15 feet.
Hi Casey, I've just bought the L20r and had a question about recording (first time). After inserting a SD card and creating a new project, I tried to arm tracks for recording but all tracks were greyed out and unable to be armed. Any thoughts why? Kind of at a loss to know why? Thanks heaps.
Hey 148 Fit. Unfortunately my Zoom is packed away right now - but going off of memory - you might need to arm the recording itself first before arming the tracks. (Ie. press the record button so it’s flashing and ready to record - then arm the tracks - and then you’d press play to start the recording.) if that’s not it - are the rest of the controls working? I know sometimes the Bluetooth disconnects and everything doesn’t work. Let me know if that helps at all.
We have the Presonus 32R at church and we had the same problem with OBS. The workaround we do is that in the mixer settings we digitally send the LR to channels 1 and 2.
Thanks for watching and commenting. Nice to know the Presonus 32R solution! That’s the problem with the Zoom, you don’t have that flexibility on the mixer directly. That being said, I’ve since been informed that Zoom released a driver that allows you to send L/R to channels 1&2. I tried it out and it works! Anyway, thanks again!
On Sweetwater, XR18 is almost as much as the L20R now ($739 vs $799). But even at $699 -- yes, it's the recorder. Which makes sense, since that's what Zoom is primarily known for.
Great video. I reallønn like reviews like this one without funny voices or faces. Great format !
Thanks ZenArcade!
I’m purchasing one of these specifically for the internal recording
Hi, please can you tell me if this unit works in Wifi too, like Behringer or Soundcraft? I'm unhappy with my Ui16 soundcraft so i can't record multitrack, but it works with my old Ipad 2 ! Thanks
Unfortunately it’s Bluetooth only. No wifi.
@@cli23 thank you, i've finally bought it, despite it can't work with my old ipad 2. I use it with an ipad mini and i'm very happy, very good mixer, and multitrack recorder ! Shame on you Behringer / Soundcraft ...
Hello, if I had seen your video before, I would not have bought this device. I was especially disappointed that Zoom does not offer any support on the time length. The defects of the application are present 3 years later! I have a question: can you do a Reset of a scene with the iPad app. I have never been able to do anything with the scene reset button which remains grey and my scenes busy ? Thanks in advance for the answer.
Hey JC, thanks for watching and for your comment. Unfortunately my mixer is packed away right now so I can’t test what you’re taking about. I think maybe in the past I used the reset button and it seemed to work - but can’t say 100% sure. I’ll try to remember to test this next time I bust it out.
Very useful review. Almost bought this, but gain control in the app is the most imp aspect for me. Thanks for the save. Recording is also important, guess Bh xr18 is also out.
Good to hear. Thanks for watching and commenting. Seems most peeps are recommending Soundcraft ui24r for similar portability and recording capability. Unfortunately about $1000 more.
Pretty cool mixer! thanks for sharing, does it have an automixer?
It does not have an auto mixer.
Hey is the BTA-1 adapter included in the purchase?
It is.
Excellent review ! And Tovar was without showing the interface and listening to it etc. very talented !
Thanks for watching and commenting!
I’m very confused people say you can’t use it without an iPad. Can it not be simply an interface for Logic Pro? Thanks!
Actually that is true. If you just want to use the inputs, you can use this without an iPad. I’m not 100% sure if there’s any setup that you need to do with the iPad up front, but day to day usage as an interface technically doesn’t require an iPad. You do lose out on things like controlling headphone mixes for monitoring, but yeah - you can use the inputs. Thanks for the comment!
Is the Behringer XR 18 Bluetooth like the Zoom L20R? I had the Soundcraft UI 24R and had problems with drop outs during the show and being able to reset.
So far I’ve had it drop out a couple of times in which case I just close the app and re-open and all seems good.
Thanks for the detailed review. I guess you have specific use case issues which validly are not supported, but on the whole it looks like it's still good for straight forward use. (Maybe your video could act as good feedback to the company. Zoom should be bright enough to figure that one out.) Cool! Well done.
Yeah that’s exactly it. For certain uses, it’s great, but for other uses it’s leaves some things to be desired. Hopefully the video, the comments, and views do act as feedback to Zoom. Thanks for watching and for commenting!
Hi thanks for this amazing review, is possible assign channels with usb? I mean in the case I want use backing tracks with the band in separate channel for example channel 5 bass channel 6 click ecc… thanks man
I’m not 100% sure but I don’t think so. USB return from the computer is set to only 2 channels I believe.
@@cli23 thanks man! Continue to make video please 💪🏼
Thanks!
Am i able to record myslef on guitar and listen back to it while i record another layer over that track?
Definitely. What you do is arm a track in “RECORD” mode to record your first track. Then after you’ve recorded it, you set that track to “PLAY” so that it plays back and you set another track to “RECORD” to record your second track.
Sweeeeet.
UI24R was my choice. It s pretty good. This seems interesting ;)
Yeah. UI24R seems really good! Thanks for sharing!
@@cli23 It s ok, it get s the job done. It sounds good actually. Thanks ;)💛
how many units does it take up on a rack?! I can't find this information anywhere
Hey Deep Set Beats - sorry. I don’t have that info either and you’re right - doesn’t seem to be anywhere online. I will say the rack mounts are about the height of the front face of the unit - so you can maybe take the measurements of the front face of the unit to get an idea.
Wireless mixing is really nice - it's freaking awesome - trust me, I know. I've mixed a lot on a wireless mixer - it's awesome to move around the room with an iPad and mix from the audience's vantage point.
But, and this was our deal-breaker, you become dependent on software and connectivity. One night our band couldn't start because the software updated and wouldn't work on any device (iPad, laptop, iPhone, Android) we threw at it. We brought in a mixer with physical controls and saved the show.
Yeah, wireless mixers are small and convenient and can do so much more than a similarly sized wired mixer. But. If you're in a working band, you need consistency - you need to be able to deliver on your word. You can't afford to hope that software developers (I am one) will fix the app before your next, much less current, show.
If it's just you on the line - go for it.
If you are trying to deliver a live paid product - don't go for it. You want physical control. You need a backup way to perform - you need physical gain controls and faders, minimum.
If it's just for you, though, why do you need 20 channels of input? Why do you need 6 AUXs? That's IO that a live band needs, not a recording artist. Wireless mixing does offer a ton of potential that no hardware can offer but it's lack of reliability for live use and its overkill of benefit for personal use leaves it in no-man's land.
Wireless mixing has use but for very few people.
And, BTW, it was a Behringer XR16 that failed us. It's now a paperweight.
Keep up the good content - I enjoyed it.
Thanks for sharing. Definitely super good insight - and you’re totally right. Reliability is definitely more important than wireless convenience or software dependence when it comes to high stakes gigs. Thanks for sharing again!
@@cli23 Yeah, no worries - I just want people to understand the allure of wireless vs the reality. I don’t think my band has “high-stakes” gigs and we used a wireless mixer for several years without a problem - just, the night it failed, we understood you have to have a backup - and thus, if you are considering cost, you have to add the cost of the backup. It’s not either or - it’s either you go with a hands-on mixer or you go with a wireless mixer AND a hands-on backup.
Regarding gigs, you can’t get to high stake ones if you don’t deliver on the low stake ones.
The Wifi and the missing recording feature on the Beringer are what's stopping me from buying one.
For me it's a very big inconvenience to always have to transport my Laptop to record stuff properly
Since I posted this video, Allen & Heath came out with their CQ series which are pretty intriguing.
@@cli23 Funny that you mention it and thanks. Shortly before you answered me I found the Allen & Heath CQ20B and think it might just be the thing for me. It's the same price as the L-20, more pricy than the Beringer and the L-20r but has the option of Multitrack Recording onto an SD-Card and a dual band Wifi-Router. It also get's a plus point from me because the software is not only for iOS but for android and Windows as well!
The XR18 may be cheaper but you will need that money to buy a router and a laptop and Ethernet cables so you can talk to it since its access point and wireless control is not reliable. Spent 4 hours yesterday trying to get a new tablet to talk to XR18. Found out due to "updates" the Xair app would no longer work with the Xair. Downloaded Mix Station and finally got it working. Even then, no recorder like the Zoom. After spending a day with the XR18 I love my L20 even more. (not L20R).
Thanks for sharing! Great to hear from people who own both.
One thing you may or may not know is that chipsets for Behringer are in very short supply... At the time of this writing 6/22, release for Behringer X series boards are scheduled for Feb or March of '23!
Oh wow. Good information to have for sure. Thanks for sharing and for watching.
This mixer have same price range as XR18 in my place.
But the hybrid problem, unbalanced mix/aux out, and just Stereo out USB are biggest disadvantage for me, compared to XR18 (I'm using this mixer this time).
The USB feature here same as XR12 or XR16.
I hope zoom can come with another rack like their L12 or L8 and got more cheap price range and have full digitally controlled by phone/tablet or PC.
***
The only advantages on L20R is SD Card recording, sometimes I didn't take my laptop with me and some people want to record their performances by multitrack.
Thanks sharing and for watching!
@@cli23 Thanks for the video...
+1 Sub from Computer Science student... 🤘🏻🔥🔥🔥🔥
Good evening I have zoom live track L-20 It's having problem when I turn it on it says Goodbye see you please tell anyone solving problem
Very good review although quite long. 👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Now for me it would be important that you could choose many different effects on different channels/tracks or if that’s not possible (in a digital mixer) that it should have been provided with the possibility to insert external effects. I’m also a little disappointed about the one-knob compressor which can’t be adjusted to the personal needs when compressing. And I have also got the question (I bought the mixer in August 2019) if there meanwhile is a firmware update (I didn‘t use the mixer at all so far as needs have completely changed after purchasing and today is the first day where I think of selling it. That‘s why I ‚ve been looking for reviews/comments etc.
Thanks for watching and commenting! Yeah the limited effects and single knob compression are a shame. As for your question - there has been a firmware update since August 2019. They released one in February 2020 (v1.13) - I can’t remember the exact details, but I think the latest firmware allowed some flexibility around recording dry tracks and playing them back with effects. The Zoom support page is pretty good if you look up the L-20R and you’ll see the firmware updates there and their release date. Thanks again!
I've been looking at this but unless I'm mistaken there's no android app for control? I don't see myself buying an iPad just to use this when I already have a Galaxy tablet.
Also I'm wondering if like their other recorders this Zoom doesn't have a timebase that's locked very well. I have the R24 and H6 and when I use them in conjunction with video cameras I find there's a LOT of drift, even between the H6 and R24, but especially with video. I expect SOEM drift, but the Zoom products drift in a way that seems to vary making it harder to sync them with other tracks.
Yeah - unfortunately this is iPad only. As for the drift - can’t say I’ve used it enough in situations where that would occur - so I can’t confirm/deny. Thanks for watching and for commenting!
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
Hey Mady. Thanks for the comment and for watching. Can you elaborate a bit on your question? When you say make a playlist and send the click to the drummer. Do you mean a playlist of click tracks that you’d play from a computer or other music device?
@@cli23 HI, PLAYLIST I MEAN DIFFERENT SONGS, THEN ALL IN MULTITRACK AND CLICK THE DRUMMER
Hey Mady. I’m not sure if I understand your question, but you can feed music and click tracks to the mixer using one of the inputs. Then you can send the click track to the drummer monitor mix only. Basically each monitor mix is completely independent. Not sure if that’s what your asking but maybe that helps.
And if we bypass the iOS app and just use Logic Pro X… do we get the ability to keep those distinct monitor mixes??
Any chance they’ve updated the app for the L20R in the last year to include compression controls?
Unfortunately no. The app and firmware haven’t been updated in years.
Hey Casey!
It’s been almost a month since my band and I bought a zoom livetrak L-20R and we like it pretty much from now! The only problem is that we can’t program individual mixes. The « select » knob on the physical machine only let us select « master » or « solo » and on the iPad it’s stuck on « Master ».
Any answer would help us a lot!
Thanks
Hey Simon, I can’t say I have your answer, but I’ll say a couple of things. First, the select Knob on the physical machine only controls what comes out of the headphone Jack on the front. So if you want to listen to the master mix in the headphones that are plugged into the front, or one of the monitor mixes - that’s what that knob controls. If does not control the ability to dial in the mixes. The other thing you need to check is on the physical machine - on the front on the bottom row, ensure that each Master/(Letter) button is pressed in. If it’s pressed in, it sends the individual mix on that monitor output. If it’s pressed out, it will only send the master mix out on that monitor output (the monitor outputs being what’s on the back). Lastly for the iPad - that one I’m not sure about. You should be able to tap the “letter” button (like A, B, C, etc) that’s under the red master button. That should light it up. If it doesn’t light up, best thing I could suggest is making sure your firmware and iPad app are up to date. Hope that helps. If you want though - I can make a short video showing you. I’m sure it would benefit others. Let me know. Otherwise, I hope that helps. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Thank you very much for your help! The problem was that the sample rate needed to bet set at 48khz and ours was at 96khz! And we must close the machine so it can reset.
Hope it’ll help!
Thanks for sharing and glad you were able to figure it out!
What’s up man, I’m not sure if I understood right about you Only getting channel 1 and 2 on OBS but I use the exact same l20r + OBS and I can plug in my whole band with no extra interface. Also for a little auto tune or affects I’ll run it through logic but still I can use all the channels I want or need.
Interesting! Would love to hear how you do that. Are you on a Mac? If I directly run the L20R into OBS on my Mac, can’t seem to get anything but channel 1 as L and channel 2 as R. Thanks for sharing though and for watching!
Oh wait - you said you’re using Logic - so must be a Mac. Are you able to get Main L and Main R into OBS without running through any other software?
I have the L-12 and use it with OBS too. I recall Zoom releasing a Mac Utility Diver in 2020 to allow remapping 1+2 to Master L+R. I’m not sure if it also applied to the L-20R but it did apply to a couple of the other L units.
Interesting. I’ll have to look that up. Is that what you’re using? Thanks for sharing btw.
Juan, you’re totally right! I’ll have to try it out! zoomcorp.com/media/documents/L-12_L-20_L-20R_Driver_V2manual_en.pdf
Very nice review but do i need to still buy an amplifier to power a PA system on stage, and if so, what would be good?
Thanks! In short yes - you would need amplification for your speakers - either a separate amplifier or if you have powered active speakers - that would work as well. In terms of recommendations - I’m really not an expert in this as I don’t do a lot of stage work. I would search “best powered speakers” or “best powered PA” and you’ll find lots of great stuff. Thanks again!
Wow man, thank you, fantastic video and very informative
Thanks!
Thanks for this very thorough and thoughtful review. Subbed and liked.
I have a quick question that I can't find the answer to anywhere. Is the compressor flexible enough to create a harsh noise gate? I'm particularly interested in using this to mic a government board room with 16 tabletop mics and I want it to have a very aggressive noise gate to deal with mic bleed and general room noise.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Hey How-to-Quickly, I've never used a compressor as a noise gate before so I don't have a good answer to your question - except I'll say this - most likely the answer is "no" to your question. The compressor is basically not flexible at all. It's a single-knob compressor so you have no control over things like threshold, ratio, make-up gain, etc. You have a single knob that adjusts these settings in ways that you can't control (nor predict). So while I don't really know the answer to your question, my suspicion is that "no", the compressor won't suit your needs. Thanks for watching and for your question!
@@cli23 Thank you Casey I really appreciate it!
My buddy has a zoom r16 that i use regular. We're looking at a mixer that can record. Im sold ten minutes in. Im waiting for the problems
A recent new entry is the Allen and Heath CQ series. Should also check those out.
Looking for automatic (Dugan style) microphone mixing, but I don't see it.
Nope. No auto-mixing.
Great vid. I’m am considering a zoom product either the l20 or the l20r. I think the l20r is less money with all the same features with the controls through the iPad. Your review was extremely honest and informative. Thank you and I will look at the beheringer prod as well😊
Thanks for watching and for commenting!
Casey. Does the l20r have Bluetooth in the unit or are you required to purchase a separate piece that is required for the l20? Have u had any problems with ios16. Both the 20 and 20r are several years old have you heard of any new models being released shortly. Hate to spend the money and have something new released
So the L20R does use a separate Bluetooth dongle but it comes packaged with it for free. I think it’s the same dongle that you can optionally purchase for the L20. As for iOS 16 - unfortunately I haven’t used it recently enough to report on that.
Mostly i am impressed Zoom responded at all, i have been mailing them about a specific firmware version for the H2 handy recorder i need, never received an answer.. (you can only find the latest version on the support site i need a specific revision file idk i just googled stuff).
I think one downside could be that it uses the Bluetooth protocol for the iPad controlling app instead of WiFi. Seems to be only brand who does it this way. So it would be interesting how stable it works from when controlling from far away places in a crowded hall.
Yeah. Probably wouldn’t be super stable if you got far from it. Thanks for watching.
Hi! Thank you for your video, it is very useful. I have one question for you. If I connect my iPad to my L20R via bluetooth (without password), in live is it possible to connect to it with an other ipad? Is it not a security issue, more exactly is it possible for someone in the audience to connect with their own ipad and set it?
lol its a mixer. I thought this was a 20 channel recorder. glad I saw your review. really want to find a digital audio capture device. I don't care so much about mixing just need to capture alot of live mics so I can mix them later, elsewhere on another collection of hardware.
That you can do actually. When you record on the L20R, it’ll record up to 22 tracks onto the SD card that you can bring into another piece of software to edit.
Hey mate, awesome video! Very insightful. Regards Behringer, the usual trope is a grizzle about component quality.. Anyways, whats the process for recording via class compliant mode? Do all the tracks go via bluetooth into the iPad? Or is there a cable connection? Seems crazy to send it through thin air but thats music for ya. I am temped by this for studio work but having some gear dependent on others.. I already brought a synthstation 25 and now those ios devices are redundant and I still have the keyboard.. My own iPad died and replacement took like 2 months... So in a case like that, can you still actually record at all on this, just using what is on the hardware? Or could you use it as a computer interface, without the iPad? I own an L12 presently and I know all the faders and stuff on that are only really usable on the monitoring side of things, and when using a DAW all the levels are in there. Interested to hear your feedback and thanks again, very helpful!
Hey Aaron, thanks for watching and for commenting. I unfortunately don’t have answers to all your questions, but I’ll try my best. I’ve never actually used class-compliant mode with an iPad, but I think the way it works is with the USB Camera connector, it uses a wired connection to send the tracks - not via bluetooth. As for using this thing without an iPad - you cannot record directly on the device without an iPad because you need the iPad to arm the tracks. That being said, in interface mode, you shouldn’t need the iPad to record since you control that through your DAW. All this being said - class compliant and interface mode - unfortunately I haven’t actually used it in those modes. If it’s gonna affect your buying decision, let me know and I can test some and let you know. Thanks again!
Sounds like the OBS only reading channels 1 & 2 is probably an OBS issue to not see the device properly?
Yeah OBS only reads channel 1 & 2, but luckily Zoom did release an updated driver that allows you to send the master L and R on channels 1 & 2 over USB. So that problem is now solved. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks a lot for this amazing review.
Thanks for watching!
Does anyone know if the EQ & compression are captured/printed to the track recordings when using the mixer as an audio interface?
Does the L20 R have overdubbing capability? I have an H6 that does but I haven’t seen anyone talk about overdubs on this unit. Thanks
Hey David. Thanks for watching and for your question. While I haven’t ever used it, as far as I can tell from the manual, you can overdub including punching in and punching out. You might want to double check the manual online to see, but as far as I can tell basic overdubbing is supported. Thanks!
Why don’t you patch your main left and right into channel 1 and 2 3 to 16 for the Mics
Yeah. Thought about doing that and wondered if there’d be any issues. Thanks for suggesting.
Como conectar o fone na mesa para ouvir o retorno?
I’ve got to imagine that OBS has a plugin that enables a “multitrack” feature.
They do actually but not for Mac - or at least when I recorded this video.
@@cli23 thanks!
iPhone may be used instead of iPad? MacBook pro instead of iPad? Pc?
Nope. iPad only.
I can only control it through and ipad? Doesn't it work with PC or Android? And the monitor out, is it stereo? Thanks
You can only control it with an iPad. There is no PC or Android app. As for the monitor out - if you set it to Wedge/floor monitor mode - it’s mono. If you set it to headphone mode - it’s stereo.
18:00 I guess one reason to get the L20 over the L20R is that in some live situations, there is interference in wifi signal. I have had this happen to me with an X32 but I had the option of connecting via ethernet to my laptop. Doesn't look like the L20R has an ethernet option. Also, I guess the full mixing board could look a little more professional if you were doing small live gigs and you show up with something that looks a bit more substantial to the client.
All good points. Thanks for sharing.
@@cli23 Excellent real-life review/discussion.
Great explanation, thanks so much
Thanks and thanks for watching!
When I'd use it as an Interface with cubase pro 12, do I still need the app??
I'm actually just interested in the 20 inputs, to use it with my DAW. ??? ANY GOOD ADVICES FOR ME?
Hi Captain Kurk Nitram - I actually just tried this out with Adobe Audition and the answer is you do NOT need the app. If you're just using the 20 inputs with Gain/Compressor control, you can do that without the app. As an interface you get access to 22 channels (20 inputs + Master L+R). Hope that helps!
@@cli23 This answer helped a lot, thank you very much!
How is the sound quality?
For live recordings, I think it sounds pretty good. Check out any of my live streams to get a sample. That being said, I haven’t done extensive tests nor am I a pro audio expert.
Thanks for the detailed review!
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Very useful tips
I own a 18 Behringer and a L20 that I use at church. Was looking to get the L20r because of the cost and yes the only reason I would ever take the L20r over the Behringer is the recording that helps a lot when you are mixing on stage also the part that you can listen to all the monitor channels that your sending to all the musicians is so easy. Compared to what I’m used to. I would have to tell everyone to check their mic signals gains and so on. It would take hours before I get it right. The Recorder is the game changer.
Thanks for sharing! Actually really good to hear from someone who also owns a Behringer considering how much more sound processing you can do on it. Great to hear your thoughts. Thanks for commenting and for watching.
The Behringer is far more playful because you kind of have everything in your hand. Take note you need a Wi-Fi router too because the Wi-Fi that the Behringer has onboard doesn’t even work when you are right beside it. Also one benefit of 18air is you can actually hardwire to a pc or laptop to use as the mixer interface. But lIke I said The part I really can’t part from is the recording system from the zoom.
@@mickeydoemusic9698 funny, I’m here because I’m not loving the XR18. The only way to control it is via wifi, so even if you hardwire it you can’t simply use it as an interface because of all the routing necessary to use it in DAW (mainly setting your outputs etc).
I like how the Zoom has some buttons to work with, and yes the multitrack recorder is attractive.
Good to hear your experience with the XR18.
Every hardware-software combo product I've bought has had a severe lack of, or discontinued, support for applications. Rendering them essentially useless. I can't trust that a product like this will be both supported and further developed long term. Would have been nice if they offered a physical slider/knob controller, assignable parameters, linked directly with USB on the back. Mixer goes in the rack, controls on the desk. Easy.
How about someone do a COMPLETE walkthru of a recording, with a full band and a few overdubs
Great review. Cheers from Oz.
Thanks for watching and for commenting!
Good evening I have zoom live track L-20 It's having problem when I turn it on it says Goodbye see you please tell anyone solving problem
Hello. Does the device work without an app? even just record sound from microphones.
As a stand-alone device, unfortunately no you can’t record without an app. The reason is you need the app to arm the track that you want to record. If you use it as a USB interface to your computer though - I believe you can record without the app. Thanks for watching!
None ASIO programs on Mac and PC need additional programs to reroute the inputs from ASIO to other format.
It’s a limitation of OS and other audio stacks, so not Zoom’s fault.
Some programs for webcams are as lame as that they won’t even get any audio without an additional program for rerouting it, I use Voicemeeter on PC for that.
Ideal would be if software developers would unlame and add ASIO support, at least those that code programs that come with cameras for PC and Mac.