Zoom HD16CD Digital MTR

The Zoom HD16CD is a desktop digital multitrack recorder. The HD16 has eight combination XLR / 1/4" inputs, all of which have individually-switchable phantom power and two of which can be switched to a hi-Z setting suitable for connection to a guitar. Sixteen recorded tracks are organized as eight mono tracks and four stereo tracks. Each track supports up to ten virtual takes. A separate stereo master track receives a final mixdown prior to burning a CD on the build-in CD-R/RW recorder.

Audio is recorded and stored in 16-bit resolution at a 44.1 KHz sampling rate, i.e. CD-quality. Audio is stored on the internal 80 GB hard disk as WAV files; these can be interchanged with most other audio workstation products.

A built-in USB port can be used simultaneously for MIDI and to mount the HD16CD's hard disk as a volume on a host computer. I haven't tried the MIDI exchange over USB. I was able to mount the HD16CD's volumes on my Mac (running OS X 10.4.11 with all current updates), but was unsuccessful in trying to import WAV files to the HD16CD via its mounted disk volume. File copying consistently hung the HD16CD after about 110 MB was transferred. Fortunately I was able to import data from my previous DAW by writing the data a a CD then loading from the CD to the HD16CD.

The USB port does not provide an audio interface to the HD16CD's converters.

The HD16CD offers a plethora of built-in effects processed at a 24-bit resolution. There are two send/return effect blocks. One provides reverb; the other provides echo and chorus. The insert effect block may be applied to one channel or a pair of channels. The insert effect may be patched between input and the recorded track, between recorded track and the mixer, or between the stereo mix bus and the master fader.

The guitar effects provide a wide variety of surprisingly useful sounds.

Normal operation of the HD16CD is optimized for recording one or two tracks at a time; this is how most independent musicians work in their home studios. A special mode provides for recording eight tracks simultaneously, providing the ability record an ensemble in real time. In 8-track mode a special set of insert effects is available to provide EQ and compression/limiting for eight tracks.

The mixer also provides a 3-band semi-parametric EQ on each channel.

A built-in rhythm machine has a built-in pattern and song editor. Windows PC users (but not Mac users) may download unsupported software to edit patterns and songs. The drum track may use built-in or imported samples. A bass track follows chord changes programmed for the song. The rhythm machine may also be used as a sampler and looper.

The HD16CD is my third recorder, replacing a rack system built around a Fostex D-108 / VM-200 system (2000-2007) and a Tascam 2488mkII (2007-2010). I really appreciate the simplicity of the Zoom HD16CD. All of the most important state is clearly visible on the two-line LCD display and in the color-coded input and channel indicators. This streamlines my workflow and helps to reduce the amount of attention I need to invest in the recording process as opposed to the creative process.