Making Music

I'm loving my new Zoom R16 digital multitrack recorder! Given that my last multitrack was a second-hand Tascam cassette 4-track I bought back in 1995 (and loved dearly), this new digital wonder is a real treat. 16 tracks, loads of on-board effects and tools, easy hook-up to the PC, and it can also serve as an 8 channel in / 2 channel out external audio interface. It even has a pair of built-in mics, so you really can just sit down and start recording with nothing more than an acoustic guitar and a brief flip through the manual.

I've put a couple of my first attempts on http://www.myspace.com/jimthebassistmusic. "Windy Afternoon" was recorded with the on-board mics (apart from the bass, which I plugged in). The background noise in that track is actually the wind in the trees outside my open window.

For me, the best part about the R16 is it's simplicity and the fact that it's so easy to use, but not at the expense of features or sound quality. It's a piece of technology that enables the creative process, rather than being a challenge. I think I'm going to get a lot out of it!