ZOOM LiveTrak L8: the most UNDERRATED podcast mixer?

[@eduardoespinosa5299]

I bought mine a month ago and I love it! When I have more remote guests your workaround will be such a life saver

[@RogerLawrence]

Love your review. I picked up an L8 for virtual worship team recording during Covid, and was considering "upgrading" to the Rodecaster Pro II, but upon reflection, there's nothing wrong with this little desk. Love it.

[@liarspeaksthetruth]

Nice review! I've had an L8 for a couple of years. I was using a PreSonus audio interface (1810c), but I find the L8 is just easier to work with. The simultaneous multi-track on board and in DAW has been really helpful (for roundtripping audio to 3rd party editors). The big fun thing is the USB returns to take external audio and bring it in and record it on a separate track. It's just a really comprehensive little piece of gear. My only complaint is practical: the buttons are clicky when pressed. It's not a LOUD click, but loud enough to pick up in a quiet podcast studio. It's probably a design decision based on price and original use case: clicky buttons don't matter in live music settings. On the whole....awesome.

[@JimKopriva]

Nice review, and your rig is a good idea for more remote guests. The L8 has just one mix-minus interface via TRRS. Curtis Judd tests this in his review, and here's a line from the B&H product listing: "Simply connect your mobile device to the 3.5mm TRRS port using the supplied TRRS cable (some iOS devices may require a Lightning to headphone jack adapter), and the L-8 utilizes a mix-minus function to ensure that the caller won't hear their own voice echoing back to them." But your setup is necessary to have several phones to host several guests.

[@ChrisGuarraia]

Thanks for this. I’ve had mine for a couple of years and while not using it for podcasting, it’s been very enlightening what I can do with it. I plan on using it to record wind ensemble concerts as a USB interface to my DAW. Similarly, for work, we’re getting one for me to use to record audio when we have video shoots.

[@ahmadhusayn7631]

Excellent comparison! I'm deciding between the Zoom LiveTrak L8 vs Rodecaster Pro II and was hoping you could help me clarify something regarding the headphone monitor outs. I will be using either mixer as part of my band's "self monitoring" rig. Signal flow will be as follows: 3 individual 1/4" sends from 2 guitar 1 bass fx pedalboard ---> Livetrak 8/Rodecaster Pro II ---> 3 individual submix headphone outs ---> 3 individual stereo wireless IEM transmitter systems I've been reading a lot about how the Rodecaster has around 6ms of headphone monitoring latency, which I'm wary may affect the performance of my band members. Does the Livetrak L8 suffer from the same issue? Thanks!

[@soheilmasoumi3009]

hello. Thanks for the video. How do you evaluate the quality of the preamps of this mixer-recorder? In terms of noise and ambient sound In terms of record high and low frequencies as well as midranges? And is the phantom power button separate for each line? or not thank you 

[@leannetressler8599]

How would I use the L8 for multitrack recording for two cohosts on a podcast? How to I set up the inputs in GarageBand for multitrack?

[@BotraxDiaz]

Would be perfect if it had noise gates/expanders. Rodecaster has Noisegates, and now Master compressor, which can remove any need to edit.

[@Troevo]

Could you please tell me, with the setup you have in the video, will the sound from the mixer be transmitted to the iPhone in mono or stereo? I need to send a stereo signal from my mixer to an iPhone 15 Pro, but I'm having trouble figuring out the connection setup and which adapters I need.

[@EgyptLaFleur-rz4mg]

Thank you! I was trying to sort how to bounce tracks with my L-8 and you helped me figure it out. Mix minus, stereo breakout cable from one of the “headphone” outputs into 2 channel pre and output to 7/8 line ins.

[@twinkie1773]

Are you familiar with the zoom f6 (32bit) ? If so I was wondering should I get the zoom l8 or zoom f6? I record living performances and some ppl have their own band as well.

[@Bajanboyz4u]

Help!!! I have the ZOOM L-8 and was able to have a caller hear the music I was playing. Now I’m not able to do that. What am I missing?

[@AlRayVids]

First, this tutorial is nicely done. Based on one of your previous great vid on L-8 capabilities, I recently picked up the L-8 and find it quite comprehensive as a very affordable mixer/interface/recorder. I can’t find any information on this. Please tell me if one can use the L-8 as a dedicated interface for audio coming out of the PC. When connected to the PC through USB, the master headphone output only outputs the audio within the L-8, and through stereo channels 7 and 8 *only from my Adobe Audition DAW*, but not the system sounds from the PC, like KZbin audio from the PC. I’ve tried changing Playback devices in Windows Audio Devices settings and get no audio from the PC (not the DAW) to play to the L-8. Please let me know if this is possible and how I might change settings to do this. All your efforts are much appreciated.

[@PodcastMeister]

Hi, check the basics first (although I assume you did that already: - make sure you have downloaded the required drivers for the mixer - on the L-8, go to Menu “Audio I/F” and select “PC/Mac” For me it worked perfectly through USB 1-2 on channel 7, so it must be your DAW that messes things up. Try to set Adobe Audition‘s output to Zoom L8’s USB 3-4 and the PC system Sound to the standard Zoom L-8 output (which would be USB 1-2) Then set channel 7 to USB 1-2 and channel 8 to USB 3-4 with the selector button and move both faders up. I hope it fixes this. Although this behavior of the mixer is strange to me… I unfortunately don’t have the device any more so I cannot test it, but looking forward to whether or not this worked?

[@AlRayVids]

Thanks for the response @@PodcastMeister. I probably was not clear enough. All is working splendidly with the L-8 and Adobe Audition DAW. Sound comes back properly through channels 7 and 8 USB interface when set in the DAW for return to Mono Out 1/2/3/4 or Stereo Out 1/3. The signal to and from the DAW is no problem, and multitrack recording is flawless with no noticeable latency and great clarity. My question is whether there is a way to input the PC audio, like KZbin or VLC Media player, into the L-8 via the channel 7/8 USB 1-2/3-4 input. It does not seem that the USB interface works with anything else, no other PC audio programs, but a DAW. Zoom has no answer, yet. I was hoping you may know. If not, it's fine, but it would be very convenient to have this directly through USB rather than running line inputs/splitters etc., to get PC audio input to L-8. Thanks again for your terrific work. I worked in radio for many years and your explanation of signal flow for mix-minus is quick and clear!

[@therealomik]

First of all thanks for this review. I really think this is a great piece of hardware for his price. Maybe you can help with this: I was wondering if the L-8 can use both usb channels (usb 1-2, usb 3-4) at the same time from computer. Do they appear as interfaces on the OS? Example: For routing two different mixes using Voicemeeter outputs.

[@PodcastMeister]

Hi, and thank you! I haven’t tested it, but what’s very likely is that they will not appear as separate audio interfaces, but you can route sounds back from your DAW (if it is capable of routing) onto USB 3-4.

[@alexmusic2387]

Better than Behringer Flow 8?

[@andre-le-bone-aparte]

Just found your channel. Excellent Content -- Another sub for you sir!

[@fulldork]

Thanks for the great video! Is there a way to plug-in as audio interface but also plug into the wall so if the computer isn’t on it will still power up?

[@seanmbranch]

Great overview!

[@halhallaq]

Ineed PFL or solo , is there 😢

[@MusoManUK]

hi Meister, thank you for this excellent video .. I sold my Allen & Heath FX12 to get this little beauty .. set up easily with Cubase 12, all channels visible Question re: podcast .. use the phone input, caller comes into Cubase perfectly and records no problem .. mic is on Ch1 on L-8 and records fine .. problem is that the caller can't hear me when I talk via the mic into Cubase Phone channel and mic channel set to stereo out in Cubase, so should be fine .. Ch7 on L-8 is not set to USB so that sound pads can be used .. if I set it to USB there is feedback in my headphones (probably for caller as well) any advice how to get caller to hear my mic through Cubase pls? Thanks in advance

[@thomaslthomas1506]

My question is how well your L-8 is it holding up to daily use?

[@HarmonicDuoMusic]

Very informative ❤

[@gaips]

Excellent video!

[@StanleyCarlduPont]

Excellent review! Built-in USB mix-minus and the mic gain are the only real areas that should have been better, but there are work-arounds. Hope you'll get around to showcasing how to create USB mix-minus when in use as an audio interface into the popular online meeting platforms [Zoom, Teams, etc].

[@PodcastMeister]

Thank you! I don’t have the loaner device any more, but the trick to USB Mix-Minus is pretty simple: 1. Set channel 7 to “USB 1-2” using the “INPUT SEL” button 2. pull down channel 7’ fader fully 3. Set Zoom L-8 as your audio input-output in Zoom/Teams etc. 4. Plug your headphones into the “Mix A” headphone port instead of the master headphone output and switch it to “Mix A” 5. Press “Mixer” then “Mix A” 6. Push up the fader of channel 7 so that you can hear the USB channel 7. While still in “Mixer” mode, push “Master” so that you can adjust the entire mix that’s going into the call (remember, do not touch channel 7’s fader, or pull it down fully so that the USB input does not get sent back into the USB output!) Slight downsides of this workaround: - you have to keep channel 7’s fader on zero in the Master mix, so if you want to adjust how loud you are hearing the callers, you need to navigate back to “Mix A” (not a big deal, but something to remember) - While you are phisycally still able to use channel 8 for a TRRS phone input, as they are always getting the main mix, whoever comes in over the TRRS phone input will be heard in the call, but they won’t hear the USB channel. So in practice it is either USB Mix-minus or a phone mix-minus over the TRRS port. If you want both at the same time, the Podtrak P8 can do it, but then you loose one mic input (of 6) - and of course that’s a while different device for different purpose. No line inputs, no submixes, etc.

[@Calvarydima]

Why not have all the guest ( as many ) through a zoom video conference app?

[@PodcastMeister]

Because you will not be able to record them to separate audio tracks.

[@redcomn]

But can you use the main headphone out with the master out?

[@PodcastMeister]

I don’t get the question, sorry. Sure you can use the main headphone out and the master out at the same time.

[@MarcusOSullivan123]

How does this compare to the Mackie DLZ Creator?

[@PodcastMeister]

Like a 5-year-old family 6-seater to a brand new 2-seater cabrio sports car.

[@MarcusOSullivan123]

@@PodcastMeister im a videographer doing church recording here in Ireland. We have a sister chuch in New York so I send out the recording one week later. Currently we only have three mic and possibly upgrade to a 4th later as a roaming mic for Q&A. Yes everyone on my facbook church groups recommends real mixers such as A&H CQ12T or Behringer XR18 but they are too much for my small needs. My setup is not exactly live either. I was drawn to thr CQ Series which I now blows the Mackie put of the water but I still prefer to get the Mackie all the same. What are your thoughts on using the mackie as a church conference audio device? I will be connected the output to the mic 1 or mic 2 inputs of the ATEM SDI Extreme ISO. This mackie will not be used for in-house pa as we have a different amp-mixer in a room adjacent to the chapel for that job. I will be located in the church gallery with the mackie and my 2 cameras with a 3rd camera just below the gallery.

[@TY2CD]

good video. thanks a lot.

[@winvector6439]

worth it to buy on 2023?

[@PodcastMeister]

Depends on the combination of your use case and budget. If you’re not willing to spend (much) more than 400$ and do anything in the direction of music projects and/or need 5-6 mic inputs, then yes. If 500$ is OK as well, then the freshly announced Rødecaster Duo is an interesting option, but you will be rather limited with it on the number of inputs vs the Zoom L8.

[@winvector6439]

what do you think there is no compressor and limiter? is that a problem for you?

[@ivantenorio]

¡Exelente! thank you

[@ELPAYOFREE]

Hello, could someone please help me??🙏 I am using Zoom's Livetrack L8 as an interface to record with logic pro x. I tried to record my voice over an instrumental that sounds on my headphones, but I can't record just my voice. The instrumental music is also included in the recording. Do you know if this has a solution? or this type of card can't do this? Greetings!

[@Mikepo587]

When you turn it on does it say latest version why don’t say that it’s a 1.30 which you don’t have to download any firmware anything on it might work once or twice but the best thing is to take it mastered a little bit on the LA and then edit and do everything else on a computer take the card out and do it there because they all have their problems so that’s if you really want to do it that way

[@Мойканал-х5ь]

Пожалуйста подскажите а можно записать один инструмент а потом без участия компьютера записать с верху другой

[@Mikepo587]

Yes it’s a standalone you need nothing no computer