Not CD quality, but it's digital and that alone is a huge improvement over some of the analog recordings I made on tape years ago. CD quality requires a sample rate of 44100Hz, and the best this unit does is 32000Hz. Up-sampling is possible (I use the open-source Audacity software for that, and for most of my mixing, on a desktop PC), but the results of resampling are a little flaky sometimes. Quality is quite good overall, but more like MP3 quality than CD. If right now you simply want to put your stuff out on the web, you and your guitar with an overdubbed lead track and maybe a second vocal harmony, this may be the perfect tool for you.

Shipped with a 32MB SmartMedia card. The 128MB card is a must for me, and cost me an additional $70. This is probably my biggest complaint. SmartMedia cards are expensive and seem very flimsy, and the manual for this unit says 128 MB is the limit (in fact, that may be a SmartMedia limitation). I would feel much better about using the cheapier and sturdier CompactFlash cards, especially if ZOOM could reconfigure this to accept up to a 1GB card. I sprang for another $20-25 for the AC adapter, but I've heard that this unit is not too hard on batteries and I hope to put that to the test soon.

To me the interface is a little clunky but it all works reasonably well, and you just have to commit a little time to figuring it all out (STUDY THE MANUAL). I've also used a much higher-end workstation, the Boss-Roland 1180CD, and found it much easier to master ... but at over $1,000, it should be! On the MRS-4, I use an adapter cable to take the left and right RCA outputs into a 1/4-inch mini plug to my soundcard. Software downloaded from ZOOM's website lets you convert your tracks to WAV or AIF format, whether you've already mixed them down or want to do so on the computer. This downloadable software is one of the funkiest-looking things I've ever seen (the manual, in HTML format, is even funkier), but it works quite well for me in Windows 2000. I think the controls make sense and work well, but the LCD readout is incredibly cryptic until you drill into your head the translations from the manual. Sometimes it's like translating Greek into English. Usability and learning are much affected by this limitation.

Well put-together. I've seen reviews that mention the plastic construction, but honestly I think this is made very well. It will not take a lot of abuse, but I think of it as a delicate electronic instrument rather than something you throw in the back of the truck on the way to a gig. Take care of it, and it will serve you well. Mine is surrounded by styrofoam in a fiberglass case when I travel with it.

The price can't be beat, when you compare the quality and features with anything else on the market. Not fair to compare it with units twice as expensive, but if I had it to do all over again, I think FOR ME it might be better to save up a little longer and buy something that delivers 44100Hz.

I had a ZOOM 505 effects pedal for guitar that turned out to be defective. ZOOM replaced it, and they were very cool about it. The replacement has delivered excellent results for about 4 years.

It looks like what it is. I like that.

singer-songwriter for 30+ years

folk, old-time

The 32 kHz sampling rate sounds to my ear just like 44.1 kHz. I have used a KORG microKorg and the MRS4B's companion, the MRT3B Micro Rhythm Trak drum machine, with this recorder and both sound "just like the record" . . .

There are 2 simultaneous recording tracks, 4 total audio tracks, and 32 virtual tracks to choose from. An added plus is a variety of guitar and mic effects (compression, etc.) which can be plugged in during mix down and bounce. The main display window is lit a bright yellow, which makes it easy to know what's up.

This is a fun box to work with if you are the kind of musician who, like me, likes to tweak hardware. The MRS4B sports plenty of buttons and well-lit led's to help guide you with relative ease through the various function and program layers.

Sounds quite good through both mono amp and stereo monitors. The build is solid -- feels like a composite material -- and is much sturdier than I expected it to be. Looks cool when its lights are flashing.

A stereo recording studio for the price of two Monster cables! Do the math!

ZOOM, true to the company's name, got right back to me with support literature after I registered the product. The ZOOM website is full of info, too, and includes a downloadable "card manager" software that allows you to offload data from the MRS4B onto a home computer (MAC or PC), and the turn these sound files into WAV or AIFF format for archiving, emailing, so forth -- totally contemporary and pro song management!

The MRS4B fits well within my home studio rig alongside synths and drum machine. This is one sleek black cat!

Active Musician

prog pop; electro-lounge

The recording has a (very)slight buzz, but when you get into the in-built compressors and stack emulators you can bring out some warmth in the recording and lessen the buzz. Sample rate is lower than CD, true, but for demo recording this will get the idea across. Two inputs, two aux inputs and buzz-less master-outputs make this overall good quality for sound.

As is the domain of zoom, digital signal processing is good. Insert effects work on the sound as it is recorded, allowing for a good range of compression and vocal enhancement algorithms. There is also send-return effects you can apply and alter during playback, and finally mixdown effects to add the final touches if you feel inclined.

Not easy, but it's a lot of functionality for a small console and small amount of buttons, just read the manual and you should do fine once you get the gist.

Faders are good quality, as are the microphone knobs, slow and sturdy. I personally had the stop button be unresponsive and the plastic holding it to the palette of other buttons broke, but I have got it doing what I want now. The contruction is rugged, I have no worries carrying this to record on location of podcasts and the like (as an pre amp and effects processor to record on external media).

For 150 euro you get a lot, if you are willing to use it. It's for home use so professional studio quality (44khz+ at 16bits+) is a little way away. But with computer trickery, the right quality leads and input devices this might never need be a problem. Also I'd like a power supply to come WITH the purchase, and a larger capacity card.

I've not really looked for support from Zoom, but they do have some (hard to figure out) software that allows you to export direct to wave file on computer. Make sure you keep your sample rates and volumes in check and you don't have to worry about recording FROM the studio to another device.

Small, light, rugged, sleek and it looks the part. Is it 'sexy'?, well I wanted it more than other four-tracks I saw.

Active musician,

Electronica

It can do a lot, but not evrything that I wanted it to

It takes a while to figure it out, I'm still learning. You need to rely on the instruction manual if you want any hope.

Pretty good I suppose

It's worth what you pay for it more or less.

It's just an okay 4 track recorder

Producer, recording engineer, and musician

R&B, Jazz, Hip-hop, and funk

I do alot of on the fly interviews and the quality is excellent for my needs,very good for later editing.

All of the features,needed for fast dubs

After the initial, very flexible,very good to flex the sound, with ex features.

Solid unit,well made,faders feel good,I keep plenty of cards handy so I can catalouge sessions.Easy road set up.

Features make the unit way ahead of it's value,good bang for the buck.

Not needed yet.

Solid looking unit,controls have nice feel.nice addition to my on the fly music pad. Just enough and solid.

Sound is great although it has a slight buzz.

INterface was easy enough, but there isn't enough memory, no usb port, and the smart media is already oblolete. I felt like the music store pushed it on me ust to get it out of inventory.

It could have been a decent low price product.

Becaue of it's outdated components and media

The sound quality is good. However it records at 32 htz maximum, which needs to be converted before it can be put on CD.

also, the cards they use only go up to 128 (as far as i can tell) but arent too expensive. you'll also need a card reader and the free zoom software to get the files from the custom version to wav. too bad it cant use usb or something else. it has a midiport but only for rythem. the interface is hard to understand at first. make sure you check out the manuel carefully. overall, this thing does just what it says for the money, and the mutitracking puts it way ahead of comprably priced recorders. it also avoids the track issues of cassette recorders that always play back at slightly different rates. the auto punch in is a must. you really need to learn to use the tiny screen and screwed up calculator fonts, but everything is there and so far it has been rock solid. i give it a 7, but it was absolutely the most power i could find for the cheapest price. if it was a little easier to use and had a usb out id give it a ten.

only 32 htz, which is the wrong format for cds. also, on a 128 card you only have about an hour of multitrack time. it comes with a 32 card, which is even worse. 32 is 17 minutes, so think of that as 4.25 minutes for each track, less if you want multiple takes. thats basically one song at a time.

this is by far the cheapest object in the world that can digitally record and mix down 4 tracks, AND do multiple takes and effects. its a great deal if you can understand the interface, and especially if you have some smartmedia cards lying around. i had to buy mine.

never dealt with support.

its a cool device with lots of leds and stuff. also, its portable on 4 AAs, which is sort of cool. you can get the ac adaptor too if you want, but its not usually included.

This zoom thingie is not pro, as you can GUESS< right ? however, it is quite nice. i use it constantly with various gear, including Korg mini synthesizer ( stereo mode ) and later on, simply edit things ( adding more synth, bass, drums,etc.. ) and finaly just plug the zoom with normal RCA audio cable to my computer, and output as audio CD ! once you get used to it,after the first hour or two, you will really love this machine. CONTROL yourself.. do not press functions, buttons too fast. this is not a pro machine. nothing is on the fly. takes a second or two for machine to catch up. DO NOT WORRY about the 16kHz hi end .. for most people, this is Great anyway. if you use computer to finalize into HDD or create CDs, you will need to play with some software out there... some shareware also work nicely. i use the simplest version of NERO to output to CD, and sometimes use TOTAL RECORDER, to edit, resample, mp3 it, etc etc. etc. ITS GOOD.. man

read above dudes