Zoom Introduces MRS-802CD Hard Disc Recorder

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Zoom's new MRS-802CD puts a lot of features into a compact package. Eight mono tracks, plus a stereo master track and independent stereo drum track. A fully-programmable Zoom drum machine, hundreds of effects for instruments and vocals, and a CD-R/RW drive for burning a completed album, and an estimated street price of $699.

The MRS-802CD features a built-in 20GB Hard Drive that will provide roughly 60 hours of 16-Bit uncompressed recording time. Audio is recorded at 44.1 Khz sampling rate and passed through 24-bit A/D, D/A.

The MRS-802CD has 8 mono digital recording tracks, but the drum machine uses its own discrete stereo track. There is a stereo master track for mixing down, so it's almost like having a 12 track recorder.

Each of the 8 mono tracks and the stereo master track have 10 virtual takes per track. These can be used to record up to 10 different takes of a guitar solo or vocal riff, allowing the user to pick the best for mixing the final song. Virtual takes on the master track allow you save 10 different mix downs before you commit one to CD.

The MRS-802CD has 2-track simultaneous input capability. 2 mono tracks can be linked to make stereo channels. It has 1/4" and XLR inputs (balanced and unbalanced) with 48V phantom power, as well as RCA and MIDI in and out.

The MS-802CD has a full range of non-linear editing capabilities, including cut and paste, copy, move, reverse direction play and time stretch/compress--all the effects of Zoom's more expensive models.

These editing functions also help out with the sampling and looping functions the MRS-802CD offers. You can import and edit samples and loops using the CD-R/RW or the optional USB interface to import audio files.

The 802CD is loaded with hundreds of pre-recorded beats, and each one can be edited and re-saved. There are more than 400 drum and percussion sounds built-in, including 43 different drum kits, each with 24 different sounds. Use the drum machine as a rhythm tool for timing, or compose complex rhythm tracks for your songs using Zoom's FAST programming system.

The MRS-802CD has a huge palette of killer effects for guitars, instruments and vocals. 280 pre-programmed and editable effects "patches" are available at the inputs, and 40 send/return effects patches are available for mixing and mastering.

Every track has editable track parameters that include: EQ high, EQ low, pan, chorus, delay, reverb. These functions are also automated, allowing the user to make automatic changes on any given track mid-song. Parameter settings are saved as "scenes". Users can save up to 100 scenes per song/project.

Once the user has finished mixing, they can master it to the stereo master channel, use the CD-R/RW drive to burn a CD player-ready disc, and they are ready to take it out the car for an audition. If several projects are completed, a complete album can be sequenced and copied to a CD-R.

These options will be available from Zoom dealers and at samsontech.com: Footswitch for punch in/out; Expression pedal for adjusting certain effects on the fly (ie. wah effects); USB interface.

The MRS-802CD has a MAP price of $699.00.

The new recorder is also available without the CD-R/RW drive, as the MRS-802. It has a lower MAP price of $549.00. The MRS-802 can be easily upgraded with an optional Zoom CD-R Drive, sold separately.