A responsive tool for professional multi-track recording

With a large, 80GB hard disk, both the HD8 and HD16 provide about 240 hours of recording time using 16-bit/44.1 kHz sampling in WAV format. Each track has ten virtual tracks, so you can record multiple takes to get each track right. The HD16 allows recording on up to 8 tracks simultaneously to capture a live performance of your band, or even a complete drum kit - all on separate tracks! With the HD16 you can record live or in your home studio with confidence... you have all the tools you need.

Bounce to a dedicated mastering track

Once you have captured individual tracks, push the mixdown key to bounce your tracks to a stereo track. In addition to your audio track contents, you can include the rhythm track and effects return signal. This frees up tracks so you can record additional instrumental or vocal parts. Even large ensembles that exceed the default number of tracks can be managed this way. And you don't need an external master recorder for the final mix.

Get creative with versatile editing functions

Both the HD8 and HD16 offer powerful editing capabilities. In addition to standard copy, move, and erase functions, you can trim the overall length of recorded data, adjust the tempo with time stretch, create precision fade-ins and fade-outs and even reverse the contents of a track. With tools such as pitch correction and a harmonized pitch shifter, your vocal tracks will sound like you recorded them in a full production studio.

Locate function supports pin-point editing

Directly access any point on any track using up to 100 freely specified marks. A-B repeat makes repeated playback or recording of a specific sequence quick and easy. Auto punch-in/out ensures that you get the exact result you want.

Build tracks from looped material

The phrase loop function lets you put build a full-fledged loop track simply by lining up audio phrases. Create the backing for an entire song with just a few keystrokes, by specifying the playing sequence and repetition count. Use parts of recorded data or WAV/AIFF files as loop material, or get sources from a computer via USB or from the CD-R/RW drive. The HD8 and HD16 both come with 96 ready-to-use preset loops containing drum, bass, and guitar phrases to build your project from the ground up.

Professional control layout and panel design

The HD8 and HD16's faders, control knobs, and level meters are arranged in a clean, professional layout modeled after expensive mixing consoles found in the best studios. Each track has a rotary encoder that quickly adjusts parameters such as 3-band LOW / MID / HIGH EQ, two effect send actions, panning and more. A solo function lets you specify each track for individual monitoring. Its controls, with a unique, studio console design make recording your project immediate and intuitive. We include scene memory to store up to 100 settings for quick recall.

Combination XLR-1/4" line inputs

Onboard combination XLR-1/4" line inputs connect to an internal preamp with phantom power to provide unsurpassed flexibility for your recording set-up. The HD8 has two and the HD16 eight of these connectors. Because the HD16 features individual phantom power on/off switches, you can configure a multi-mic environment with a combination of up to eight dynamic and condenser mics. A high-impedance switch allows direct connection of sources such as guitar, bass and keyboards. Master outputs are also available as analog RCA jacks or an S/PDIF optical output. Two headphones jacks are also provided, so a performer and an engineer can separately monitor the recording and playback. Like professional consoles, the HD16 even lets you create a monitor mix that is separate from the master output.

Real drum & bass machine with sampler function

With 529 drum sound sources, the HD8 and HD16 offer versatile percussion choices from rock drums, funk drums, jazz drums to every kind of acoustic and electronic drum sound you can imagine. But that's not all. 21 preassembled drum kits with 27 sounds each (3 banks × 9 pads) are onboard. Both the HD8 and HD16 include vintage drum machine sounds with numerous auxiliary percussion and special effects sounds.
A sampler with 66 seconds of sampling capacity lets you assign any part of an audio track or an imported WAV/AIFF file to the onboard pads allowing you to build as many as 1,000 distinct drum kits. Eleven bass sound sources including electric bass, acoustic bass, and synthesizer bass are also built in.

475 preset rhythm patterns

The selection of preset rhythm patterns covers a wide range of styles from rock and pop to jazz, funk, club and more. Choose from a wide variety of intros, fills, and ending patterns to quickly create a rhythm track for your project. Set your groove with the nine touch-sensitive pads for real-time rhythm programming. Up to 511 original patterns can be created and stored. Standard MIDI Files (SMF) can be imported and used to play internal rhythm sounds as well as external MIDI sources. A software plug-in for programming and editing patterns is also included.

Utilize studio-quality effects

At every step of your project, you have access to 130 types and 370 patches of DSP effects. Effects are configured with seven modules featuring various settings for guitar, bass, and vocals. Two types of send/return effects are ideal for fine-tuning the overall ambience of a song. And all three effect types can be used simultaneously. Optimize the dynamic range with a compressor / limiter and minimize noise with Zoom Noise Reduction (ZNR). Choose from a wide variety of studio-quality effects including chorus, flanger, phaser, delay, and reverb. Or you can synchronize delays or modulation to the song tempo with BPM effects. The HD16 also offers the "8×COMP EQ" effect for use on up to eight inputs simultaneously to individually optimize dynamics and frequency response when recording multiple tracks at once.

Achieve professional-level results with mastering effects

Multi-band compressor, normalizer and other mastering effects assist you in the control of dynamics and listening level of your final mix. With 21 mastering presets onboard, we put the experience of seasoned recording engineers at your fingertips. Create a final mix and master that rivals the major labels. These tools are also very useful when importing audio from analog sources such as LPs or cassettes.

Advanced amp modeling with Zoom G Series onboard

With 18 different guitar amp models such as Fender, Marshall, Vox and Mesa Boogie, and 6 bass amp models such as Ampeg, Bassman and Hartke you can connect your guitar or bass to get a distinct power amp and speaker cabinet character. And a built-in tuner keeps your instrument ready for your recording session.

Quick connection to a computer ( WIN & MAC ) via USB cable

A 2.0 USB port supports high-speed data transfer at rates of up to 480 Mbps. Simply drag and drop audio files in WAV format recorded on the HD8/HD16 to the computer. Fine-tune song arrangements with DAW software, or convert files to MP3 for uploading to your web site or sending by email. The possibilities for personal recording projects are endless. Data backup, restore and importing of WAV files are also quick and easy.

DAW software control surface capability

You'll find the studio recording console features so convenient and intuitive, that you'll want to keep using them when the HD8/HD16 is connected to a computer. Using either USB or MIDI, the HD8/HD16 can act as control surface for a DAW application. The faders, keys, and rotary encoders can be assigned to control the mixing functions of the software, which makes transport control and mixing operations like fade, pan, and EQ adjustments much more "physical". Adjustments that are difficult with a computer mouse, such as using multiple faders simultaneously are a breeze with its control surface. The HD8 and HD16 also come with Steinberg's Cubase LE, so you can use your computer for sophisticated graphics-based mixing and arranging right away.

Support for synchronized playback using MIDI time code or MIDI clock

MIDI time code and MIDI clock output capability lets you synchronize playback operation with an external sequencer or recorder. Or set up a larger system to coordinate the HD8 and HD16 with other computer DAW software or additional multi-track recorders.

Write an audio CD right away

The HD8CD and HD16CD come with an onboard CD-R/RW drive to let you burn audio CDs or backup data CDs quickly. Disc-at-once writing is supported, which is great for producing live albums or mixes without gaps between tracks. Capturing the audio data of a CD for use as V-takes is also possible.