Need to replace my mixer, maybe ZoomR8 -any thoughts please?

[WestLondoner]

Being oldskool (none of this ableton stuff for me, I'm afraid) I've been relying on my Boss BR600 to record from my Electribes using leads into its 1/4 inch stereo mic ports. However, recently it's developed some kind of uneven stereo field problem - which means that I've had to wriggle with the wires just to get an even stereo sound-stage. Otherwise it'll record a stronger sound from the right channel, and little (if any) sound from the left channel. But as that got more and more tricky to achieve, over time, I finally sent it in to repair just a week ago.

Today, I've just collected it from my repairer who says, after examining it, and trying several options to repair it, that it's most surely a "mainboard problem", and frankly would cost more to repair than to simply source a replacement.

So... whether he's right or not, I'm now looking at a new Zoom R8 as a replacement recorder/mixer to use with my Electribes, and am just wondering, firstly if others are using the R8 with their electribes, in a similar way? And would you recommend a Zoom R8 as a worthwhile replacement for a Boss BR600, to record tracks outputted from my Electribes?

Thank you.

[Sulfur]

So... whether he's right or not, I'm now looking at a new Zoom R8 as a replacement recorder/mixer to use with my Electribes, and am just wondering, firstly if others are using the R8 with their electribes, in a similar way? And would you recommend a Zoom R8 as a worthwhile replacement for a Boss BR600, to record tracks outputted from my Electribes?

I've got a Zoom R8 and I've used it to record my Electribe2 tracks.
I have to say that it's my first and only digital portable recorder, so I can't compare it with other models and I must admit that I still need some practice on it, but I could say that I'm happy with it. It can be used as a drum machine and a (very limited) sampler too. So you could also think to record some sounds and use them through its internal sequencer, which is not limited in notes and bars lenght as the electribes.

[WestLondoner]

Thank you Sulfur, much appreciated.

[WestLondoner]

Update for anyone who is interested or perhaps comes across this thread later.

Maybe I'm missing something, but on trying the Zoom R8 this evening with my E2, after buying it today, and with absolutely no offence at all the other poster above, I'm actually stunned that most people are liking its sound quality, in comparison with the Boss that I'm having to replace. Wire up the electribe to the Boss and it makes no difference whether I put my headphones into the Boss or the E2, it's exactly the same beautiful sound quality. In contast, putting the same phones into the Zoom and it's exactly like I've pulled a very thick jumper over my ears: turn up the dullness.

Each to their own I suppose, but I'm now really appreciating just how brilliant is the SQ - and in particular the incredible clarity, & beautifully lively transparency - of the Boss BR600 when I used it to capture recordings from my Electribes, before it became too faulty to use any further.

But alas, the BR600 can only be bought second hand now, so I honestly thought I could buy a zoom R8 and save myself a hundred notes, over Boss's current Br800. Nice try... nice try indeed, because on buying the Zoom and testing it, I've realised that that's a completely false economy. I'm now going to stump up the extra hundred notes, and replace the zoom ASAP with a BR800, because I am not going to risk trying the other mixer I was interested in, the Tascam DP03SD.

Lastly, FWIW the cans I use are Audio Technica "Art Monitor" ATH AD900X cans.

[sohatyi]

I use a Zoom R24 for my recording and it's crystal clear. You can set it to 24bit/96khz as well. The extra inputs are great and you can have 16 other tracks playing as you record.

That or the Tascam 32 track recorder, which looks AMAZING.

The Tascam has an effects send return loop whereas the zoom does not.

[WestLondoner]

@sohatyi : fair enough and I do respect that the r24 may sound even better still, but ATEOTD i've stumped up for the BR800, trusting that it'll sound every bit as good as the BR600.