With the LiveTrakL-8, Zoom specifically addresses the needs of podcasters and delivers, as usual, a combination product of mixing console, audio interface and now also audio file player.
You get an 8-channel mixer with low-cut filter, EQ, built-in audio interface, and SD card slot that lets you recordlive to your DAW of choice as well as to SD card or both.
As a special feature, the L-8 has 4 headphone outputs with up to 3 separate mixes and 7 scene slots for saving settings. The 6 assignable pads let you fire off your jingles and one-timers at the touch of a button and connect to your smartphone via the included TRRS cable, so eg. Interviews can be embedded directly into your live podcast. Bi-directional feedback, which tends to occur over the phone line, is automatically suppressed using the Mix-Minus function. Alternatively, you can also directly transfer conversations and interviews to Skype or FaceTime via USB. And if you are often on the road, the L-8 is always at your side thanks to battery operation.
Zoom LiveTrak L-8 Overview:
8 channels: 6x XLR/jack, 2x jack unsym.
records up to 10 separate tracks + 1 stereo track directly to SD card (up to 24bit / 96kHz) or in a DAW (up to 24bit / 48kHz)
4 headphone outputs with up to 3 individual mixes
7 scene slots for saving mixes
integrated USB audio interface with 12 inputs and 4 outputs
6 assignable pads
includes TRRS cable for connecting a phone and Mix-Minus function for feedback suppression on external calls
battery operation possible with 4 AA batteries (optionally available)
I use this to record several synths and a master, mixed down track. It works absolutely perfectly for my purpose. It can also do so much more- being a USB interface it can record soft synths directly from my laptop. The multiple mix outputs allow me to do interesting and unique routings with insert effects and aux in’s on synths. It’s truly remarkable how many options it has. As if that wasn’t enough, the effects are seriously very good! I didn’t expect the onboard reverbs to be any good, they rarely ever are… but nope, Zoom really nailed it. Not only that but if I ever got brave enough to live stream a synth set- this would be the perfect mixer to broad cast with. It has so many great uses beyond just being a podcasting mixer, which I’m convinced it would also excel at. Forget the Behringer analogue stuff and step into the future- record 8 separate mono tracks AND get a mixed down stereo with EQ and effects applied ready to go. The only extra thing I would have loved is some compressors on some of the tracks, but really I can live without considering how much this mixer gives.
This product was great , covered live streaming & solo live configs. I also was able to record my gigs via a SD card and mix each track individually through Logic.
Only used a few of the great features as yet but the versatility & sound quality so far has been excellent... Being old enough to remember the old cassette based porta-studios of the past and the obvious limitations for these for anything other than an audio notebook for demos. THIS great multi faceted tool basically gives you porta-studio portability but has the ability to produce STUDIO quality multi tracked mixdowns that are ready for release. Just mind blowing!!