I was about to buy one of these to use with two bands I'm in but the need for a DI, panning and monitor out issues stopped me. Thanks for all your hard work and everyones contribution. You saved me $800

Zoom should be paying for these great explanations. Far better than reading the manual!

Finally my question for effects answer and it was disappointing to know you can't use multiple effects. Hopefully there will be a update

Thanks for this video, I been trying to figure out the fx issue for 2 days!!

Thank You very much for those explanations. I'm new to digital boards and find it difficult to work sometimes. I still have no idea how to record main mix on Windows PC, I only have a 1st and 2nd channels. I have 2 possibilities: use external usb interface, or patch master mix to channels 1-2.

The firmware 2.0 update does a great job putting the effects to the monitor. Most singers would want to hear some form of reverb and this was a big limitation. I'm glad Zoom did this update! Also good that the effect is not recorded on the the tracks to the SD card as this is better done in the DAW. Just wish they did a SOLO button next to the MUTE but it's not a deal breaker. Good vid, thanks

Thank you for the video because I was going crazy setting up OBS with the L12 audio outputs. When I seen your video explaining the channels 1and 2 for "dumb audio software" it explained the issue of why I wasn't getting out audio from my other channals. Thank you for clarifying that issue in the video!!!!

For the bleeding and maybe the "click"problem... This is what I found in a amazon review where someone had this problem (the bleeding)as well. Quote: Original review: To start with I want to say I have been a Zoom fan for many years. I own an H2n, H4N, G3x and have given gifts of the H2n and recommended them for school programs. I have been recording music for many years now and have tried many different interfaces. I have now been through 3 of these units. All of them have had significant bleed of input between channels 5/6 and 7/8. This means that line level signal input to channels 5 or 6 will bleed through and register on 7 *and* 8. This happens from 7/8 to 5/6 as well. I have called Zoom 4 times and not once has my call been returned. They keep saying they are waiting on more information from their engineers in Japan to confirm the issue. Multiple times I offered to send my unit to them for testing and that was refused. Today I called back and they said they had just gotten information today from their engineers that they had a unit where they could reproduce the problem. This process has been going on over a month. I am now out of my return window and sitting waiting for a call back when they get any new information. They didn't come right out and say it in the phone call today but I expect that this is a manufacturing defect and will be present in all units. I strongly recommend staying away from this and looking elsewhere. Perhaps the R24 or PreSonus StudioLive* (I have changed this due to some new information that has come to light, man) UPDATE: Someone at Zoom got wind of the troubles I am having. Since then they have been extraordinarily helpful and responsive. The issue appears to be something related to using unbalanced inputs. The bleed problem only occurs on channels 5-8 if you use unbalanced 1/4" TS cables for inputs. If you use either 3 pin or 1/4" TRS inputs there will be no bleed. The recordings are clean and clear. The unit is extremely easy to use, and has well thought out in layout. At this stage I am willing to say that if you are OK with only using balanced ins on channels 5-8, this is worth the money any day. If you feel squeamish, the R24 is your next best bet.

also you mentioned that you use this with podcasting. maybe explaining how you takes callers or use some tracks for sound bytes or pre recorded audio from an I pad or other device that you can mix on the board to mix later. also using L-12 with OBS or newer third party software that can compensate for the lack of driver support or software updates Zoom doesn't care about. You do a great job with your videos. A 5 years later followup video would be so great.

If I want to use it as a live mixer and a recorder at the same time, I hope that the FX and EQ does not effect the recorded signals!

The DI (if it's a passive type) probably isolated the signals using the internal transformer. There might have been a ground or other signal issue, maybe a static build up, and the DI box just isolated the incoming and outgoing signals.

So you can use the slate function to talk back to different mixers with the fader mode.. But can you also talk back without recording?

Great guy and great video. Thanks for leading me to this device. Good learning experience.

Would love to know more about your podcasting setup with this mixer. Am also looking forward to your review of the L20 and how it compares to the L12.

About your click when you say hack... You said you solved it by integrating a DI box between your dbx channel strip out and going into the mic pre on the L12. I had a few of thoughts.. 1) Although not likely, could there have been an impedance mismatch corrected by the DI? Matching Impedance is the primary job description for a DI, as I’m sure you’re well aware of. I’ve experienced some odd artifacts like pops, click and scratches in the audio due to my active preamp equipped, hi-z source bass guitar being jacked directly into a line level, lo-z input channel on the FOH mixing board. If I tried to adjust the Eq, blend or volume controls on my bass, the rather annoying artifacts I mentioned occurred. 2) The DI accomplishes what it does with a transformer (again I reckon you know this) and one of the results is that the input and output circuit are physically isolated from each other, only being coupled inductively. I wonder if you were experiencing some sort of intermittent ground loop issue in your system. In my experience running FOH in a venue this ground loop issue manifests as a hum or once in a while as a hiss. The problem might have some dependency on whether you’re using a dynamic mic vs. a phantom powered condenser mic. As explained to me, either type can illicit the problem, but it’s dependent on the other equipment that is involved in either passing (dynamic) the signal or creating (condenser) it in the first place. On the one. hand the dynamic mic’s lower peak to peak output voltage requires more heavy lifting from the dbx. The condenser on the other hand, integrates an additional, active circuit, namely the phantom power needed to create a charge on the plates inside the mic. The word “hack” creates a larger impulse than many other words when striking the diaphragm of either mic type, and I wonder if enough potential is created to exploit an intermittent ground loop issue, sort of like a given minimum activation energy in a biologic system. There are a few odd ground loop issues that can exist in the presence of multiple low potential components passing a signal, or so I’ve been told. I don’t fully understand the mechanism very well, but I’ve experienced this enough to know it’s real. Perhaps a real, credentialed engineer can chime in and better explain intermittent ground loop issues. A third thought occurred to me. Your dbx and the input path of the L12s channel strips both have compression circuitry. It seems to me, intuitively anyway, that you might want to see how the compressors ultimately affect your gain staging. You’re a professional and I reckon you’ve already considered this, but on the slight chance you haven’t, it bears looking at. I’m not convinced the L12 is the sole actor in this. The first cause may very well lie in your upstream gear. Last thought... Did the click artifact go away with your present L12’s firmware upgrade?

I use the L 20, and your chat was useful to me,. On mine there are 2 ways you can set the metering and I was hoping you might cover that and the scene modes, it's a shame there is no sub mix, so I mix and export to sd card and then import to the stereo channel, aux would be nice as well. The most annoying thing on the L 20 is where they situated the recording functions, halfway up the board where it is really difficult to use, not at the bottom like your machine .

Thanks for that wonderful walkthrough. The biggest question for me is: Does this device provide any (internal) uverdubbing funktions? For instance, sending a mix from the card to two channels and use the remaining 6 (or 8 or 10) as inputs for the next round? And as iceing: switch channels between source and "tape"? Create locators and cycle between them? (I know, I request a lot...)

Thank you for this! The L-12 is probably my next. The big question is what mics to pair it with for podcast recording in the field and studio. Your dynamic and broadcast mic shootouts have been very helpful. Any chance you've gotten your hands on the MXL BCD-1? It seems like it's about 90% of an RE-320 for 50% of the price. I'd love to listen to them head-to-head through the Livetrak.

I did some experimenting with the FX bus, after studying the block diagram. Prior to enabling the FX on the monitors, the FX Send was taken from the Master L/R, Post-Fader Mode block. As of April 2024, it appears they now take the FX Send Pre-Fader Mode block, which applies the effect to the Master and Monitor Sends A-E, globally (ie. same level to each Master/Monitor channel). With that, monitor sends A-E can vary the amount of FX return, but everyone gets the same FX Send ratios. This means, for example, that one monitor cannot have effects removed from any individual channel, without affecting that channel on all Master and Monitor feeds. In short, you can now mix the amount of effects on each channel's FX Send (mixed by FX Send dials), and each monitor can control how much of the effects the monitor gets from the overall mix (the FX Return fader), but monitor mixes cannot individually vary the amount of effect from any individual channel. That is predetermined at the FX Send.

Thanks for the deep dive, much appreciated!

Great video. Can you speak about how to connect it to a PC and connecting it to a DAW like studio one

Hi thanx for this fantastic video!! I have a question about metronome Tempo. Can it be set also through the menu or only clicking on Tempo button?

Zoom did an upgrade to the audio interface driver and now you have the option to switch the master mix out to channels 1 and 2.

Awesome tutorial. Thank you

Nice vid, i do wish it was a little more from a musician perspective but you explained things very well. Just want to ask for clarification. The L12 you can adjust the eq per each channl or is it global? Also the eq never goes to print or master just play back? And in usb i can export all 8 tracks into my DAW system? Thx for the video, good job

Fantastic explanation, thanks. Do you know if it’s possible to multitrack record from the same inputs channels to different tracks? eg synth in 9/10 to tracks 1-2, then to tracks 3-4, then to tracks 5-6. thanks

So as I understand, the individual tracks are not affected by effects, level settings or muting. Only by compressor settings. Kinda makes sense if the compressor is applied on incoming signal. Anyway, is there a way to export the settings like some kind of automation data to be imported in a DAW, or perhaps for instance aa full Ableton Live project file?

Great video for sharing experience of 12 LiveTrack brother I just bought that yesterday

Good video thanks for posting... I have been considering purchasing L-12 to do multitrack recording into Cubase Elements DAW but have read about incompatibility issues with the zoom driver. Any knowledge on this I want the DAW to read the 8 separate tracks simultaneously for live recording captures. Thanks

You mentioned in the video of multi tracking through audacity, but can the machine Multi track record through any other DAW and not necessarily through the SD card only. I use Studio One 4. So it be nice to record and edit simultaneously whilst a band/etc is playing.

On the Record using the Play button, I believe it's actually using the Pause, not really the Play. This was common in the days of recording with tape. You set Record while pressing Pause to "arm" the recording and then use the Pause button to start and stop the recording as needed.

that's a great product breakdown: I love when a video answers all my questions. Too bad FX and EQ is not recording onto individual tracks; that's should be an option in settings.

I have a Zoom L-12 digital mixer, and I'm a little bit confused about how to set the mid EQs on it. It has a channel strip and you can adjust the EQ for each channel for High, Mid and Low. However, for the mids it also has a 'Mid Frequency Knob' (which is the one above the Mid knob in the pic below). In the manual it says that the Mid Frequency Knob 'adjusts the central frequency of the mid frequency equalisation'. So presumably you turn that dial to choose which frequency you want, and then you use the 'Mid' knob below it to boost or cut that frequency. However, what I'm confused about is this - let's say I choose the 1k frequency, then I boost it up a notch. Then I choose the 2k frequency, then boost or cut that. Now what happens to the 1k frequency I previously adjusted? Does that stay boosted or does it then reset when I select another frequency? The manual isn't very clear on this. Is it possible to boost/cut multiple EQ frequencies on the mids on the Zoom L-12, or just one at a time/one only? Thanks.

So with effects, can one livestream to Facebook Live with a mix setting and effects applied so that an iPhone can get the audio through say the monitor out channel B while the room is hearing different effects?

¡Muchas gracias por tu claridad de explicación, me ayudaste bastante!

It's impossible to record multiple tracks via usb with the effect? Or is just via SD card?

Great video.

I just bought this for song writing and I can not get the overdub button to work. Is there some kind of setting or something else you need to do to activate it?

@GonnaGeek Gear is it possible to adjust volume per channel and mix it, and send that towards pro tools, so I can skip the adjustmen work in DAW? I used it as interface but my drum audio came in way too loud and the faders didnt seem to work?

Did I understand you correctly when you said that USB out is only a single stereo channel? So to Windows, it's going to look like a single input mic? I'm thinking of a live stream situation where I may have multiple inputs from mic, phone, other digital inputs like Skype. Is there no way to send one output to Skype and the master output to the streaming software?

Nice explanation. I just got mine and still trying to set up but having some issues. I connected it to my PC but can’t seem to listen just through my headphones and not the speakers.

I see this was two years ago but is it still possible to plug in a floor monitor through the monitor section ??? Like plug a floor monitor in E and have its seperate mixer through the floor monitor ???? Thats whats stopping me from buying it. Thanks !

You can choose to have compression baked in or applied like an effect not baked in.

Nice tutorial !! When you record to sd card does it save all the scenes per fader ? And when you record to sd card does it record the channels with fx? And if I load a sd card mix , do I put the mode switch back

i actually like how whatever is recorded is sent dry with no effects or eq. As an amateur producer, thats exactly how I want it. I can always go back and alter the dry sound however I please.

23:00 the driver software now lets you change the order of the inputs, to make the stereo mix inputs 1/2 on USB. Mic 1 then becomes input 3, and so on. I don't know if this was a change to the firmware, since I've only had my unit for a couple of weeks, but that's definitely how it works on Windows systems now.

Great explanation. Thank you. I have a question. If I use this for live event, can I use the headphone output A-E to powered stage monitor speaker?

Hey- great video! Sorry if i missed this, but when i bring my master fader down it brings all monitor mixes down too. Is it possible to have the monitor mix outputs separate from the master outputs?? Thanks!

Are the A, B, C, D, E monitor mixes over in stereo? I know the master output mix is.

Thanks for your assistance you just gave me a bunch of super info....

Ok...so my question will then be...if you record...voice, guitar, keyboard....and then you mix it down? Or is there no way the effect is getting on the sd? Seems allso wierd that you cant record like guitar with reverb, change it to hall and then record voice....

Does EQ on every single track is applied to recorded wave or does it work only for master/monitors?

Is it possible to capture effects and faders via USB on your PC? Because on Windows, I only have a flat microphone sound.

Is it possible to place bass, treble, channel-separated media? Or just the master and that will reach all channels?

Hi great vid btw. This connection from the headphone outs. I saw on a different live track 8 walkthrough that the connections would not work if the jack from the live trak has to go to a monitor that has XLR inputs. Is this the case for the LT12? I have stage monitors that have XLR inputs. Have zoom rectified this on the LT12 ? can I go from these monitor outs with a jack and go striaght to an XLR in on my stage monitors? If anyone else on here has a LT12 and knows the answer could you say please as zoom do not seem to have any support that will answer this ? Many thanks for a great vid. Any help appreciated ...

I just want to know before buying a L20 because there is no store at my city have it available - Do the output section from A to E have integrated headphones amp with them? Do they have balanced outputs? Thanks so much for replying.

Hi, Can you do a five years later video of this product. I got the Zoom L-12 a couple of months before I switched to apple m1 silicone chip using an upgraded Studio One v5 and I have been banging my head against the wall ever since. wanting everything to recognize each other . Does anyone have any knoladge of how I can make it all work. straight forward or back doors.

I know while recording Live you can have Verb and FX but the RAW SD card files will dry..But! can you send one of the headphone mixes (with the new software fx are in mixes) to another channel and record that so FX show up in Master mix?

hi triple G, what is threshold / trigger recording and how does it work? thanks, we want to record instruments per track and just want to have it record automatically in sync .. thanks

Do you have a post fader listening function or cue headphone function,if you are using-it in a daw ?

Hey thanks for this video. I remember you saying something about the mute switch on the first video. Something like it didn't work if your streaming? Not sure what it was but it I remember it being very concerning to me. Does it mute on a recording? if your streaming and you mute a mic does it work? any help and thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks much

Is it not possible to run external effects? Specifically I'd be interested in putting a looper in a loop assignable to any channel.

What is the Ohm allowance for headphones in the 5 monitoring jacks? Meaning are 80ohm headphones safe to buy? 250ohms? And I can't seem to get FX in Facebook live streams thru OBS

curious if this can allow only one vocal channel to interface and the rest all be post processing and or bypass processing? I only want my iOS device to process my 1 vocal channel only. Is this virtual send-return effects possible? great video

Hi, good video. Can mics be plugged in to record on Ch 9-10/11-12 as separate tracks? Or is the DBX286 what's needed to push the signal into those channels. Or is 8 microphones all there is, no matter what? I'm doing a 10 person round-table podcast and would like each to have their own mic, but I think two pairs are going to need to share...correct? To record all 8 of the XLR mic inputs, must all the REC/PLAY be lit AND the REC/PLAY for the master? Or does the Master REC/PLAY record all when it is lit? Thanks!

are the monitor jacks are dedicated for headphones only (left/right TRS) or they can also be used for monitor speakers too (balanced TRS) ?

At 25:00 referring to USB return from the PC back into the board. Could I route the main computer audio into 9/10, and say discord output volume into channel 11/12?

What about bleeding did that become a issue?? I heard alot of negitive reviews on this

Is there only reverb effect and compressor on the channels themselves. no delay etc to create a decent vocal chain?

Excellent information, I have a question, does the Livetrack L12 have PFL function?

Also how do you export tracks to great wave file for processing out of the unit

Can we mute the slate so it dosnt send volume back and loop around into the master and feedback through the speakers. Everytime I click the slate it simply feedbacks intensely and I’m wondering if there is anything I can do :)

Is there a way to save and recall each monitor mix? So that way they don't have to be reset wach time you power it on?

Can you fly a hook in the box ? Copy and paste multiple recorded tracks accurately without a DAW ??

Help please, this is driving me crazy; I want to send the main mix out through the L&R XLR outputs to the main amp but have three different mixes going out to the monitors we use for the players in the band. How the heck do I do that?

Hello! Is the eq really parametric? I was seeing the interesting L20R, and what does not convince me of it is the lack of a powerful eq. It only presents shelvings and a mid sweep, quite wide (good to alter tone of audio, but not enought so to adress problems that usually happen in live sound)

Awesome, thank you

Hi there, did you experience some of those noise issues? I got problems as soon as I plug in some USB connected synths. I then get ground noise via the L12. When I do not use the L12 as audio interface and just use its audio outs into another USB audio interface, there is no noise. So somehow the noise comes from the L12…

Hi , is L-12 could do podcast with telephone interview & live-streaming ?

Regarding effects and EQ does it record with those or is the recording always 'flat'? Oh so 1-8 no effects apply to recording? I wanted something that would RECORD the effects?!?

Hey_are monitor levels controlled by the master output faders? Is that controlled by that push button toggle?

I have the L-12 but cannot figure out how to bounce tracks. Is this possible? If so, how?

Can zoom L12 low cut can cut the positive feedback?

Musician here 🙂 The things you complained about (or suggested to zoom to "change" are set up that way FOR recording via usb TO 3rd party software such as pro tools, Reaper or some sort of DAW software...where you CAN have pan, effects, and whatever on individual tracks. The zoom will hold (by default) a "dry" recording which again is geared towards music production. js If zoom changed that it would probably be global which would render all third party software moot. Just guessing at that one. Great video btw 🙏

how to create master file on record. I've tried but only the tracks stored on the flash master file are missing ? thanks

Is there any way to do external sends? Could you use the headphone out to send signal to out B, then put a chain of pedals there, and come back into another track? But I guess the problem with this is no wet / dry control... That would need to be done by whatever you're sending to. Would that work? My concern is the sends only go to the built in effects...

Can the monitors be use as a aux out for stage monitors?

New at this can somebody answer if I could use the zoom L 12 with my Dj controller for the club Or should I just by a Mackie or Yamaha mixer for my Dj controller but I hear good things about the zoom L 12

So, if the headphone outputs are TRS, they can be stereo, right? So what's the point of having L and R separated on the A channel?

Please I need detailed operation instructions for zoom L 20.

Thanks for the video, Good info. Can you tell about SD card slot, I would like to know, what is the largest SD card that can be used with this mixer? So I do see there is a USB port on the mixer. if I wanted to can I used a 1TB external hard drive to record on this mixer?

Thank you for this.. Would you happened to know are the headphones monitors can be plug directly to a speaker? For Live Band Performances, that needs monitor speakers on stage. Thanks

Amazing video. If you were a tv director trying to communicate with commentators via the earphone outputs on the Zoom L12, how would you go about doing that without having your voice in the master output? Is that possible?

Is it possible to bounce tracks with this baby ? Last time I checked it wasn’t but juste in case/…

Are effects still global across the board ? Or one effect per channel ?

Have you tried the Zoom L8 for Podcasting? I was curious as to which software is useful for it? I can't seem to do Multi track through Cubase with it and Support from Zoom is not helpful.

Thanks. Is the sound (without applying effects) better than H5 or H6 because of the better pre amps?

a problen with installation in device manager says digital signature

does this panel come with preamps on every channel?

I wish in software you could make a stereo pair of mono inputs to control with one fader/channel. (Example: Inputs 1 and 2 are paired and can be controlled from faded #1). This is available on Zoom f4 and f8. Anyone else who would use this? I want to recommend to Zoom but find if I’m the only one it’s unlikely to happen.