Zoom Livetrak L-8 has an auto punch feature but it can only be manually operated. In other words, it is not possible to set a punch-in and a punch-out marker and then let the L-8 to automatically switch from Play to Rec and then back to Play. As a consequence, the feature is only useful to singers, as they do not need the hands to perform. Other musicians must rely upon somebody else who operates the recorder, as the L-8 has not even a footswitch like, for instance, the Tascam Model 12 (that, BTW; does auto punch too.)
To put is short: this mixer/recorder is only useful for live performance, where mistakes can’t be fixed in post. A firmware update might fix this (serious) usability problem. We have asked Zoom but got no answers so far.
This product would be extremely interesting if it were not affected by these other quirks:
- There is no remote control input (present in H4n and H6),
- There is no input for the footswitch (which would solve the punch problem),
- At 24bit/96Khz practically all functions (including overdub) are disabled, so you can only record live. Other editing has to be done on the computer, or you have to go down to 24/48,
- The 48V power supply on the MIC inputs cannot be activated selectively,
We should have RTFM before purchasing the gear, but we did not. So… caveat emptor!