zoom mrs 1266 CD

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zoom mrs 1266 CD advice please

I was wondering if anybody out there could give me any of your opinions on this digital recording multitracker? I studied all I could on several various machines for a month and finally decided on this zoom, which is being shipped. I felt I just had to jump to digital over my Tascam cassette recorders. My biggest fear is that although I have basic CPU skills, it looks a lot more complicated-heck, the manual is about 179 pages! It sure appears to have a lot of possibilities though. Anyway, I will appreciate all opinions and any tips too.

Thanks, mike.
 
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Mike

Like you, I'm new to the 1266 but, unlike you, I'm new to recording my own music at all. I'm a guitar player who has always wanted to record my own music and arrangements of other people's stuff.

I've had the 1266 for about 1 month and I'm very impressed with its capabilities. As you say, the manual is pretty bulky and I'm still just trying to work my way through some of the basics. I've come across one particular problem concerning the operation of the Insert Effect and have had no luck in trying to sort it out by e-mailing Zoom. Their reply was almost unintelligible.

Maybe we could exchange views again when you've had a chance to try it out yourself?

Regards, lobos
 
Gee Lobo, I wonder if we are the only two guys around with a zoom 1266CD? Anybody else out their who has any experience with this model?

Lobo, received mine and plugged her in last night, spent about 12 minutes reading the instructions, and then listend to the "demo" song that comes on the hard drive. Thats all I had time for, but if that quality can be matched with my instruments I will be a happy camper. On the other hand, I wonder how long it will take me to really figure all the bell and whistles out-got a feelin if im having some brewskys it will be back to Tascam tape time for ease of use!

what kind of a problem exactly are you experiencing, is it in the effects?

mike
PS-I stopped at a music store for some wires today and examined a boss 1180-I felt it was not the machine that the zoom 1266 is, but I guess experience will tell.
 
mrs-1266 cd

Hello Mike, Lobos, and any other new or experienced Zoom MRS-1266 CD owners.

I bought mine just before Christmas, but with various problems going on all around me, I haven't really got to grips with it yet.

I would appreciate some help. Perhaps we could get our heads together?

Regards

John
 
John-I purchased mine just after xmas and have been so busy with some other things I have not even made my first attempt on it yet-I have read the manual about three times, each time it seems a little less confusing-I am hoping that today (if I get my taxes done) I will attempt some tracks-it sure is a lot more complicated than my tascam 246 and 488, but it sure appears to have a lot of capability. What kind of problems are you having? I believe Lobos found the answer to his problem, but im not sure. Tell me about your experience so far eh? Too bad I cant find a "forum" dedicated to the zoom multitrackers like the tascam 788 has!

Regards, mike
 
zoom mrs-1266 cd

Nice to hear from you Mike.

Same problem with me really so far - lack of time. I have used Sound on Sound Akai reel to reel until 1992, then Tascam Portastudio - bouncing down tracks for years. The Zoom looks and sounds like a great advance in quality and versatility. The digital format will be as clear and as instinctive in time, I'm sure. However, a thought occurs to me, we have both started with this machine at the same time. Perhaps we could buddy up and swap ideas and experiences over the next few months? Hopefully other MRS owners may join the discussion with their ideas too.

John
 
Johnny-thats a great idea-I believe it will really help us to learn how to operate these little buggers! You wouldnt believe this, but I have a good friend from England (Braime I believe) who now resides in Peoria, IL-he's a great guy (works for a england based company and their business in Peoria is called "4B elevator componants"-they sell sophisticated sensor equipment for the grain elevator industry. Amasingly enough his name is "Johnny Wheat"!

I started out with a Roberts reel to reel arounf 1973, then had a Dokorder 1140 reel to reel 4 channel(was a great machine), then into the tascam 246 and 488-this is terrible but I purchased the 488MK2 new (3-6 yrs ago, I cant remember at the moment) and this is no **** but I only have about "3" hours on it-I am so used to the 246 I could do it in my sleep, and for some reason have left it covered. I purchased a mint condition teac 3440 recently to transfer my reel to reel stuff to the Zoom.

Was going to give the zoom some exploration today, but I have spent the afternoon putting some of my other used gear in photos to sell on E-Bay-might as well help pay some bills instead of letting this stuff go unused. Of course, there is my tax program to finish yet. Yes, we will stay in touch, hopefully we will get some others with the same equipment to join up-let me know when you have attempted anything and how it goes!

Mike
 
MRS 1266

Pleased to find this little forum - I have had the 1266 for a few weeks - paid £499 for the one without CD burner - until I saw the Zoom I had my heart set on the BOSS 1180 - but Zoom was cheaper, and more features I think.

I have previously used a tascam 424 for a few years - it has given great service but now looks very retro compared to the digital marvel !!

I found the transition relatively straight forward - and was recording, bouncing - adding effects and so on within a few minutes - so it must be intuitive. I am not a great fan of reading manuals - so will have to make my self look up some of the more tricky stuff (for me) like cut and pasting etc.

Of course I also at some stage want to have the facility to use the CD - but before I shell out on the ZOOM burner - which costs about £200 here in England - I thought that I might try an ordinary PC CDR machine - is there anyone out there that has tried this ?

I've been playing guitar for about 30 years - but only got into home recording a few years ago. It really amazes me what is now possible to achieve for such a modest outlay of cash. :)
 
:(
Well, I tried installing a big standard cd burner (actually I tried a couple of SONY cd writers) and guess what it didn't work . I guess ZOOM saw this one coming and made sure that the OS only recognises their own model. So nothig for it other than to go for the optional ZOON burner! No harm done though - the 1266 is still in great working order
 
do yall think a mpc would go along with the zoom 1266 im just startin just lookin at alot of stuff i like how zoom is design
 
just got a 1266

Hello I've had my 1266 just a wek now ,but I've spent a lot of hours this week recording, mixing and burning. If anyone one has a peticular question shout it out. What kind of mic's is any one using?
Cheers,
Kyle
 
zoom mrs 1266

To all Mrs 1266 devotees

I got my 1266 just after xmas having graduated from the mrs 1044. I have already recorded one song on it using the drum machine for the drum track. What I like about the 1266 is the fact that you can create your own drum kit on bank 1, then go to bank 2 and assign the many cymbal sounds (after adjusting pan, pitch & loudness etc) to the different squidgy pads thus giving the kit a more realistic feel when playing back the rhythum song i.e. cymbal crashes from the whole stereo spectrum rather than from just the right hans side as with the 1044.

Now that the nights are getting lighter (I cant seem to be very creative in the winter months) I intend to start looking into the sampling part of the hard drive and invent some drum loops because I thing they sound more human that a drum machine.

Have any of you other users got statred with this way of doing the drum track yet, and if so I would like any pointers on getting started.

Drew
 
help with the EQ on the mrs1266

I understand the high and low EQ part but when I go the frequency section, I'm a little lost. Is there some way to adjust each frequency band, The direction book is kind of vague.
Can any body help explain?
Cheers,
Kyle P.
 
Zoom 1266 CD or Boss 1180 CD ?

I'm in kind of a strange situation myself.
I've used the MRS 1044 for about a year in a no. of different situations, including live recording and decided to trade up for the 1266 CD because of the 1044's inability to program drum tracks as well as I'd like.
A friend talked me into using and buying the Boss 1180 CD. I went for it because of the Boss's ability to program your own drum patterns, and I'm using a demo model until my new unit arrives from Roland, but now that I've used the 1180 for a week or so I'm beginning to regret the fact that I didn't go with the 1266 CD.
I still have time to change my mind and am seriously cosidering doing so because I'm already familiar and comfortable with the basic setup of the zoom and the fact that the Boss unit requires a lot of scrolling while the zoom has buttons that make things quicker and probably easier. I was just wondering if any of you guys that use the 1266 could tell me if it's difficult to program your own drum patterns using the pads, or is it even possible to do so. Is it also possible to add cymbals or other drums to a pattern that's already pre programed.
I'd appreciate any help or advice since I haven't picked up the new recorder and still have a bit of time to change my mind.
Thanks
 
hi guys,
this is my first forray into forums! Just wondering if anyones done some live drum stuff( the6track special feature looks handy! Any one used it like the old fashion studio method or
Has any one
laid down a track then got real drums laid over?
all the best fritz
 
I have owned the MRS1266cd for 1 month and although at first I was puzzled by the book and by the not so straight forwardness of the mapping of the buttons, I found the the manual was written to take you through from begining to end without jumping ahead. There are necessary sequences to follow for every function and it is monotonous to read the manual. If anyone knows where a instruction video can be purchased Please tell me because I want to be using this machine at it's full potential before the year is over. I was rewarded when following step by step and I recorded and burned my first CD
in 2-3 hours once I followed the manual. I spent about 3 weeks having a blast just playing live through my home theater before I had the discipline to sit and follow the book. I haven't found a way to play guitar through the guitar effects at the same time as useing the mic through the mic effects. It seems you can only do one effect at a time. You can play live guitar and vocals simultaneously but sharing the same effect is are all I can do. Does anyone know how to defeat this?:cheers:
 
hi Guy,
done your first cd well done!
WHAT DID YOU USE FOR A VOCAL MIC?

Have you tried the 6 track rec function for simultaneous vcls and guit?

regards
 
I am not a singer but I did test the mic. I bought an inexpensive
Audio-Technica on sale at Guitar Center that works fine. I have not tried the live recording function. That is a good Idea. I didn't try it since I wasn't recording at the time, just jamming.
 
Mic's

I bought a Studio Projects B1, It works really well for the 100$ that it cost. I've done a bunch of 6 mic live recording, If you do Try it, do different takes with the mics in different places, it takes a while to find the right spots.
Cheers,
Kyle
 
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