Zoom LiveTrak L-20 20-channel Digital Mixer / Recorder

Name: Zoom LiveTrak L-20 20-channel Digital Mixer / Recorder
Brand: Zoom
Rating: 4 (46 reviews)

20-channel Digital Mixer with 24-bit/96kHz 22-track Recorder, 6 Monitor Outputs, 3-band EQ, 20 Built-in Effects, and 22-in/4-out USB Audio Interface - macOS/Windows/iOS

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Item ID: L20

Zoom LiveTrak L-20 20-channel Digital Mixer / Recorder

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Recording, Mixing, Monitoring — This Mixer Does It All

The Zoom LiveTrak L-20 makes capturing a rehearsal, producing a quick demo, or creating a great-sounding concert recording easy. Not only can you record up to 22 individual channels, but you can also create custom headphone mixes for up to six band members and craft a polished live mix complete with studio-quality effects. You can complete your entire project on the L-20 or transfer all 20 discrete tracks to your DAW for editing and mixing. The LiveTrak L-20 also functions admirably as a 22-in/4-out USB audio interface for your Mac, PC, or iOS device.

Craft professional-quality live mixes

The LiveTrak L-20 makes crafting pro-quality live mixes easy. Each of its 22 discrete channels features a 3-band mid-parametric EQ and 20 built-in effects. Sixteen combo jacks accommodate both XLR and 1/4" connectors and are loaded with great-sounding mic preamps and dedicated compressors. Channels 1 and 2 offer hi-Z inputs for your electric guitar or bass, while channels 17/18 and 19/20 have TRS and RCA connectivity for keyboards and other audio devices. You also get clear 12-segment LED metering for keeping an eye on your levels.

Produce great-sounding recordings

Recording your entire band has never been simpler, thanks to the Zoom LiveTrak L-20. Twenty-two individual tracks are conveniently captured onto an SD card at 24-bit/96kHz. You can then mix and overdub directly within the L-20 using its onboard effects or transfer the entire project to your DAW for further editing and processing. If you're performing live, you can record and mix your show simultaneously. You can even set up the L-20 to record automatically when the Master fader detects a certain decibel level — perfect for situations where the engineer and performer are the same person. At Sweetwater, we found that the L-20 makes recording incredibly fast and easy.

Create six custom headphone mixes

With the LiveTrack L-20, you don't need separate personal monitor mixers — the monitoring is built in. Each of its six discrete monitor outputs provides a custom mix, so each member of your band can create and save their own. The L-20's headphone amplifier delivers lots of volume — even drummers won't have a difficult time hearing.

More than a mere digital mixer

The Zoom LiveTrak L-20 is equipped with several operation modes. Put it in Audio Interface mode and the L-20 transforms into a 22-in/4-out USB interface for your Mac, PC, or iOS device with flexible routing options. In USB Host mode, you can transfer projects and files to a connected USB flash drive. Card Reader mode allows you to transfer files to and from your computer.

Zoom LiveTrak L-20 Features:

20-channel digital mixer (16 mono/2 stereo)
22-in/4-out USB audio interface for your Mac, PC, or iOS device (Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter is required for iOS)
22-track 24-bit/96kHz recording directly to an SD card
Record up to 48kHz to a computer and an SD card simultaneously
Create customizable, savable headphone mixes for up to 6 band members
Complete your entire project on the mixer, or transfer all 22 discrete tracks to your DAW for editing and mixing
16 combo jacks accommodate both XLR and 1/4" connectors
16 great-sounding mic preamps with phantom power and +60dB of gain
Channels 1 and 2 offer hi-Z inputs for your electric guitar or bass
Channels 17/18 and 19/20 have TRS and RCA connectivity for keyboards and other audio devices
Each channel features a 3-band mid-parametric EQ and 20 built-in effects
Channels 1–16 include a dedicated compressor for controlling dynamics
Channels 3–16 have a -26dB Pad for capturing loud sources
Clear 12-segment LED metering for keeping an eye on your levels
Save up to 9 scenes and recall your custom settings automatically
Record automatically when the Master fader detects a certain dB level
Capture data up to 2 seconds before recording starts, in case a performance begins ahead of time
Built-in slate mic for recording comments or talkback
Onboard metronome for keeping the band in sync

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Tech Specs

Type: Digital Mixer
Channels: 20
Inputs - Mic Preamps: 16 x XLR-1/4" combo (mic/line)
Phantom Power: 16 Channels (1-4, 5-8, 9-12, 13-16)
Inputs - Line: 4 x 1/4" (2 x stereo channels), 2 x Dual RCA Stereo
Inputs - Other: 2 x XLR-1/4" combo (Hi-Z)
Outputs - Main: 2 x XLR (master)
Outputs - Other: 6 x 1/4" (monitor)
Busses/Groups: 2 x FX Buses
Talkback: Built-in Slate Mic
Headphones: 1 x 1/4" TRS
USB: 1 x Type A, 1 x Type B
Computer Connectivity: USB (22 x 4)
Remote: 1 x 1/4" (footswitch control), 1 x Remote Port (BTA-1 adapter)
Faders: 18 x channel faders, 2 efx faders, 1 x master
A/D Resolution: Up to 24-bit/96kHz
EQ Bands: 3-band Mid-parametric EQ
Effects: 20 effect variations ; Reverb, Delay, Chorus
Signal Processing: Compression (16 channels)
Features: 22 recording tracks, 20 playback tracks, 9 scene recall settings
Transport Controls: Yes
Screen: LCD screen
Storage: SDHC/SDXC Card Slot
Software: Remote Mixer App (iPad, BTA-1 bluetooth adapter required)
Rackmountable: Yes (RKL-12 kit sold separately)
Power Source: 12V DC 2A power supply (included)
Height: 3.25"
Depth: 15.3"
Width: 17.5"
Weight: 8.1 lbs.
Manufacturer Part Number: ZL20

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Reviews

4.0

Customer Photos & Videos

I wanted to upgrade from my old 12 channel analog mixer to a digital mixer with more functionality. When I started filtering for digital mixers with more inputs, almost all options required an additional dedicated touchscreen laptop/pc for display and control. The Zoom L20 was a perfect solution! It provided so much control of 20 channels with digital EQ and effects for each channel. Even though it is digital, it still provides physical slide controls to set levels, using additional LEDs next to each channel's VU indicators to show saved levels for various scenes. It also provides 6 custom monitor mix outputs for musician's personal monitors.

This unit does have a few quirks to be aware of.
1) The sampling rate switch on the rear panel should normally be set to 48khz. I initially had it set to 96khz, which is not supported by consumer goods. This caused the EQ settings to lock up. After doing some research, I reset it to 48khz, and it worked perfectly!
2) The L20 does not work with my PS-4 power sequencer. The L20 needs to be turned on and off with its own power switch, in order to allow time to save configuration before it shuts off it's own power. Otherwise, some settings are not saved and could cause corruption. I reconnected the L20 to a live powerstrip, and issue was solved.

Overall, this product is high quality and is well designed. It was the perfect solution for my needs.

This mixing board is awsome. I got it for the band I am with and it works excellent. I have had no problems with it. I am still learning how to use it and it is very versatile. I would highly recomend this to anyone who needs a mixer for a band. I want to thank Chris Arnold again for all his help in directing me too the one that suites my needs at this time. He is a awsome guy and has helped me so much over the pasrt couple of years. I love this mixer, I not only use it for live performance but also for use with my DAW and use it as a interface as well. Being in a band with 5 other members than myself it is just what was needed and I have extra imputs if I need them down the road. The only thing is that it has only 4 inputs for moniters in a live setting but other than that everything else is great on it.

I am a former well know recording studio owner/engineer/producer from the 70's -90's. I left the business, but am still a very creative songwriter. My Brother wasn't using his old Zoom MX1600 and gave it to me. I never HATED anything so much , but it allowed me to write and produce in an ANALOG fashion. A Year ago I treated myself tot he L20 and am SO HAPPY I did!! It is an exceptionally capable machine as a stand alone unit with it's own onboard memory (someplace!). I have recorded 22 songs using up to 16 tracks and the unit is not complaining! I can plug in, and go. I use outboard preamps (DBX376) but find the onboard compressor to be more than just a gimmick. I can off load via USB or hook straight up to my computer with a USB cable, to use my Mastering suite from Presonus, or off load the tracks into Presonus DAW for outside tracks from foreign lands!

I have not liked the headphone amp, it lacks the bandwith to properly power what I need to hear. A simple fix for that is the Little Labs MONOTOR, which has been CRAZY GOOD! John Little does an AMAZING job with this piece, practically a straight wire.

The L20 is designed as a Live Mixer, so there are a couple of tiny points I hope will be addressed. Combining (Bouncing) tracks to make a composite is quite difficult. I use the Monitor outs to feed an input, which is fraught with big challenges, feedback and some aliasing. But it can be done. The only thing the ancient predecessor did well was Bounce Tracks!

Most importantly- so many musician friends have lost their income with Covid. With an L-20 they can do ALL THE SESSION WORK they want!! I know 4 right now that are staying current with gigs and not losing them, from their home. The live gig might be dead for now, but the working musician can continue to "Call IN" their overdub with the L20!

Need a studio that can go just about anywhere with you? Then look no further. Not a let of bells and whistles, just straight up, standard board stuff that is easy to setup, and easy to use. I could sit here and write a lengthy review about what all I love about this piece of gear. But instead I thought why not let you hear how it records and to share some useful information. Then you can decide what you think about it.

Now the L-20 will allow you to mix down all your tracks into a separate, 2 channel mix, while retaining your original tracks separately. And it's extremely easy to do so, just a touch of a few buttons to do it. But for this I used my DAW.

We had one spike in the vocals from the singer getting on top of the mic that I needed to take out. So into my DAW the tracks went. The L-20 integrates with most DAWs, I used Mixcraft ver 9 for this recording. And with Mixcraft it's just a matter of downloading your L-20 drivers from Zoom, then in your DAW's settings selecting the appropriate ASIO input/output drivers which of course would be the Zoom ASIO driver. I used my DAW for taking out the "spike" and nothing else. Other than the spike removal, there was no editing whatsoever, what you hear is as it was recorded by the L-20.

The attached media is a 3 piece, drums, guitar, bass, and vocals. We shut down our cabs and PA except for mic'ing the guitar cab and used headphones for monitoring, the L-20 has 6 outputs for that, plus a master.

The guitar cab was mic'ed using two Shure SM57s, one centered, and one offset.
The bass was ran into a Sansamp Bass Driver DI and from there into the L-20
Vocals were mic'ed using an old 70s era Univox CE-5 microphone straight to the L-20
Drums were electronic and ran straight to the L-20.

The clarity of the recording is absolutely stunning and I couldn't be happier with how easy it was to achieve it using the Zoom LiveTrak L-20

I love the Livetrak L-20. An inspiring piece of gear to tie together and record the stereo signals from a number of keyboards and effects. It's a well designed modern device that just works and has pristine sound. After years of wrestling with patch bay cables and overpriced yet underwhelming audio interfaces, I am i heaven. I can ditch the patch bay, sell my audio interface, and will never go back. As a recorder it is brilliant: it *just works*. It doesn't drain your time and inspiration: Hit record, it records, all the tracks you want, no fuss, no laptop, no software updates, no problems.

I use the sub-mix "headphone" outs to route signals to my external effects! When used like this, the Livetrak L-20 becomes a mixer/recorder with up to *6 stereo FX sends*. I realize it's not the use case that the Zoom engineers had in mind, but for me this works like a charm. The signal levels are plenty hot enough for it. Done am I with traditional mixers that have only a spartan few mono sends.

I find the Livetrak workflow and the interface pretty intuitive. Once you understand that the faders have to keep their settings for each separate submix, you realize why you have to move the fader to its previous spot before the mix will change. This isn't how analog mixers work, but this aspect of the Livetrak workflow begins to click and you realize how much more flexible it is.

Note that any 20 track digital recorder is going to slam down a serious number of bits per second so the machine needs good quality SD cards. I have had zero issues with good high capacity Sandisk SD cards and have absolutely loved being able to record all the tracks without needing to bother opening my laptop. Faders feel good, knobs feel good.

One last thing I am really happy about: far as I can tell the noise floor of the Livetrak L-20 is essentially nonexistent. I have owned several inexpensive mixers and older recorders in my day and had many sessions when I struggled with the noise floor with weaker signals. With the L-20, it is amazing to finally have a mixer where the channels are so dead quiet that I am just never going to worry about that.