Zoom MRS-4 Reviews3 Found On 2003-01-07, Hobz Thompson gave this Zoom Recording a 4...(3834)
Purchase: I ordred it from my music teacher, in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada, to record my songs that I write. I paid $518.85, Canadian.
Pros: I really like the ease of use. It's quick, fun, and laid out logically. The quality is fine for the most part. The two inputs are great. I just recently figured out the routing (for signal splitting and stereo sound). The effects seem fine to me. It has a nice chorus and cad simulation. the level display is great. Very easy to read and accurate. The faders are quiet, the bounce function is super quick and easy, and it retains the origional sound quite well.
Cons: The worst thing, would have to be that darn RECFULL sign! Not enough space! I record almost primarily on low quality, wich sounds fine (and for some styles, sounds even better than high quality), but I still run out on a regular basis. The good news, though, is that you can always invest in a bigger smartmedia card($120 canadian will get you 120 megs, the supplied card has 34, and does 17 min hi-fi, and I think 33 min long). I guess you need a good CD burner, or cassette recorder. I think an MD would work best. There were a couple little glitches in some parts, excess noise and what have you, but it's usually only on one track.
Quality: As with most zoom units, the construction was a bit brittle. I made a case to carry the thing in. The input level pots were noisy after a while, but the faders were fine. Just have to be a bit careful, that's all. Summary: Overall, it is a very good machine. A great replacement for the traditional 4-track, and it's expandable. It would be good for the dudes who sit in there rooms rocking out wiht thier own tunes, looking to make a demo or somehting, just like me!
-Hobz
Search for more Zoom Recording reviews and comparisons On 2003-01-07, Ricky(Rick Dawg) gave this Zoom Recording a 5...(3839)
Purchase: I got for a X-mas present from my parents. They bought it from Fox Music around 400-600 dollars.
Pros: It has a clean sound when recording. You can dubb solos and stuff over a track you have already recorded. It has two inputs. A good amout of effects on it. Comes with a 15 song holder memory called. Can hook it up to basically anything: stereo, cd burner, midi, headphones. It can run off of 4 batteries.
Cons: Hard to use and understand at first. Only has four tracks(of course you could pay more for a 12 track one).
Quality: Has very good quality. Constructed out of strong plastic, which acts like metal. Doesn't have a cd burner built in it. Summary: Good tool to have if you are just starting to record or aren't too serious about it yet.
Search for more Zoom Recording reviews and comparisons On 2002-05-27, Bretzy gave this Zoom Recording a 4...(2192)
Purchase: I was looking for some way to note down the mass of ideas that I constantly seem to come up with and then instantly forget.
This search lead me to the range of digital mini-studios currently available.
Not being the most wealthy musician around, I opted for the cheapest digital 4 track around - the Zoom MRS-4. I paid £220 and bought it in London.
Pros: This unit is so simple to operate, my Grandad could do it. Switch it on and within minutes you can be making decent recordings.
It's small (but not so small that you need tweezers to operate the thing!) and uncluttered.
It links via midi to my drum machine, so I don't need to use up a track recording drums (and you can re-work the drums after you have recorded the other parts).
Sound quality is excellent for the price.
Cons: 32MB smartmedia card supplied is not big enough to do much at all.
Display is a little limiting - they could have made this an LCD and easier to read.
The in-built effects are ok, but not great. they are enough for noting ideas though - which is what I bought the unit for. You really need a seperate guitar FX.
One small point too - Although my drum machine is a Zoom unit too (123), it doesn't sync perfectly, if you stop the track half way through and then re-start it, the drum machine starts from the beginning of the drum song. You are better off recording using the in-built metronome and then adding the drums after.
Quality: Plastic but fairly solid. Zoom units always feel a little flimsy. Don't stand on it and you'll be ok. Summary: Excellent value for money and if you already own Guitar FX and a drum machine, there is no point buying the Boss BR-532 as the inclusion of these is the only thing the Boss unit has over the Zoom MRS-4. Save yourself the money.
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© Chris Bereznay - Gear Review Network / MusicGearReview.com - 2000
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