Can Zoom R8 work with EZdrummer2?

[Elizabeth McGrath]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks in advance for any answers you can offer to my question.

Can Zoom R8 work with EZdrummer2?

I am wanting to Record EZdrummer straight to the Zoom R8 Recorder, by passing using a DAW.

Is this possible?

Thanks,

Bobbi McGrath

 

EZdrummer version: 2.1.8
Operating system: Windows 10

Topic

[John]

Hi,

if it can be used as an audio interface (which it should be by looking at the product page), you should be able to use it with EZdrummer 2 standalone.

Whether you can record directly from the EZdrummer 2 Standalone outputs while using it as an audio interface or not, I cannot answer.

I think that is more a question for someone who knows that particular hardware.

 

BR,

John

John Rammelt - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

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Thanked by: Elizabeth McGrath

[tbeny]

Toontrack, I’m Not subscribed to any Forums yet I’ve been getting emails EVERY DAY MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY, please fix or help asap! I didnt see where else to contact support, looks like its all FAQ stuff. Anyway, PLEASE HELP ASAP, thanks!

[Neb]

> Whether you can record directly from the EZdrummer 2 Standalone outputs while using it as an audio interface or not, I cannot answer.

Your intuition is correct, John – it’s very unlikely that you can use the usb connection to record from the computer direct to the R8.

You do have options though, Bobbi…

The worst case scenario is that you have to route the audio signal though your normal windows audio driver, out through your computer/laptop headphone output, and into an audio input of the R8 (ie. physically with a jack-to-jack cable). This would probably be acceptable for a lot of amateur applications.

Slightly better would be routing the audio digitally to a USB interface like a Dragonfly or Focusrite, and then from the audio out of the interface into the R8 audio input (again, via a jack-to-jack cable). This is nicer because the interface will have superior digital-audio converters than your computer motherboard.

Best scenario would come from being able to plug the R8 into your computer via USB, and being able to route the Windows audio straight to the recording R8 via USB. However, as I said before, I’m quite sure you cannot use the R8 USB connection in that manner – it will simply not take the usb connection as recording input.

The workaround for this limitation of the R8, would be to finish your song completely in EZD2, and render/export the whole drum part as a WAV file. Then you can send that file to the R8 over the USB connection (or physically on an SDCard), and place it on one of the R8’s tracks. This method also has the benefit that you don’t have to record your song onto the R8 in real time while it’s playing on your computer.
The disadvantage of not inserting your drum part as midi patterns in a DAW piano-roll first, is that you lose the opportunity to easily edit your patterns, since all your pattern editing will have to be done in EZD2. Whilst EZD2 is OK for building out the structure of a song, you will have an easier time doing small finishing touches in a piano-roll.

EZdrummer version: 2.1.8
Operating system: Windows 10

Beginner-level Guitarist/Drummer/Mixer. EZD2|3 / EZKeys1|2 / EZMix3.
Desktop - Ryzen 5 4650G @ 3.7GHz | 16Gb DDR4 | 1TB SSD | Win10 Pro.
Reaper | Roland Rubix 4x4 interface | Arturia Minilab II controller.

1

Thanked by: Elizabeth McGrath

[Elizabeth McGrath]

Thank you Neb Web, and thank you John.

Neb Web, this is really helpful and answers all my questions, I really appreciate the info and your time.

Thank you gents.

Bobbi

EZdrummer version: 2.0.2
Operating system: Windows 10

[Author]

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