Back in the old days, my buddy and I made do with a cheap four track mixer and a tape recorder. Now these kids have a 16 track recorder that dumbs audio to an SD card that supports 8 simultaneous recording tracks in 44kHz WAV recording and 8 XLR/1/4-inch inputs.

There are even built-in preamps and DSP effects and has a USB interface for audio editing. It only costs $400 so get thee to the computer music store.

Samson Debuts Zoom R16 Revolutionary Portable
16-Track Recorder, Audio Interface and Controller

State-of-the-art professional USB and battery powered recording device with simultaneous 8
track recording, 16 track playback and 100+ built-in mastering effects

Hauppauge, NY – June 16, 2009 – Zoom once again revolutionizes digital recording with the
first digital recorder with 16-track playback and 8-track simultaneous recording utilizing Secure
Digital (SD) memory. The R16 is three production tools in one device: a multi-track recorder, an
audio interface and a control surface, providing all the tools necessary to create studio-quality
recordings. Additionally, the R16 runs on only 6 AA batteries for the ultimate in multi-track
portability.

With the R16, recording artists, songwriters, sound
engineers and film sound professionals alike can
record up to 32 GBs on an SD card. The SD
recording, while incredibly convenient for file
transferring, also makes the R16 significantly
lighter. SD recording also avoids the pitfalls of a
potential crashing hard drive and allows for up to
100 track hours of recording using all 16 tracks.

“We have learned a great deal from the success of
our H2 and H4n as well as HD8 and HD16, our past
multi-track recorders,” says Masa Iijima, CEO of
Zoom Corporation. “With the R16 we have brought the most important capabilities from each of
these product lines into our design to make a unique and versatile music production solution.”
Connect the R16 to your laptop or desktop computer via USB, launch your favorite DAW or use
the included Cubase LE; and, immediately start laying down your production tracks. In addition,
USB operation means you can control each function of your favorite DAW software from the
R16 for easy mixing with fine-tuned control.
“The R16 is the all-in-one solution for all kinds of challenges that musicians face,” says Mark
Wilder, Samson Director of Marketing. “Its versatility and portability along with the power to
record so many tracks simultaneously, makes the R16 another indispensible product from
Zoom,” added Wilder.
With the R16, versatility, control and portability come together in one recorder that lets you
produce professional results everywhere you go.

Complete product specifications are below:

• Digital recorder with 16-track playback and 8-track simultaneous recording utilizing
Secure Digital (SD) memory
• 16/24-bit/44.1kHz linear PCM recording in WAV format
• Built-in stereo condenser microphones
• Included 1GB SD card and with support for up to 32GB SDHC
• Allows simultaneous recording on up to 8 tracks
• Battery operation for remote recording
• USB power for audio interface and control surface operation
• 8 mic inputs / 2 outputs (8 x 2)
• 8 combination XLR-1/4-inch inputs
• High-definition 24-bit/96kHz recording capability using digital audio software
• 100+ built-in studio effects coming from advanced DSP which can additionally be used
as outboard effects
• Hi-Z input for direct connection of guitar or bass
• Included preamp with phantom power on two channels
• Mackie control emulation via USB for popular DAW software including Cubase, Logic,
Digital Performer and more
• Amazing guitar amp and effects models
• Professional quality mastering effects including multi-band compressor, normalizer and
more
• Operates as USB storage device for quick data transfer
• Connect two R16s via USB for synchronized operation and 16 tracks of simultaneous
recording
• Undo/Redo functions
• Comes with Steinberg Cubase LE 4
• Supports Windows XP/Vista, Mac operating systems