Zoom RT223 Rhythm Trak Drum Machine Review

very nice drum machine, for me out of the box, there is to much bass(guitar)on the different pre loaded songs, mainly cause i play bass. that will not matter to sum, seeing that many view it as a sin to use anything preprogramed, but not me, i enjoy tweaking factory settings(rip wesley willis) this is the same machine as the beat kangz street boxx, but for the average player this is one is more versatile, sum really good videos on youtube of people explaining the ins and outs of the rt223, which was a buying point for me, cause me and manuals just do not get along, the groove function is very cool, lets you add to or chang the beat in mid song, and its always on time. i havent bought a drum machine in over ten years, nice to see the prices have gone down and the sounds improved. all in all A++++

Zoom RT223 Rhythm Trak Drum Machine Feature

• 511 Rhythm Patterns
• 127 Drum Kits (User Programable)
• 12 Bass Programs
• Comp EQ / Reverb Effects At Once

Zoom RT223 Rhythm Trak Drum Machine Overview

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Zoom RT223 Rhythm Trak Drum Machine Specifications

The RT-223 is a drum & bass machine for any kind of rhythm play. Small in size and light in weight, this low-profile unit will go with you anywhere. You can get a session going with your very own rhythm section in a flash, anywhere, anytime.

A low-profile, full-featured drum machine you can take anywhere. Click to enlarge.

Seventy different kits from Rock Drum to Voice Percussion
The range of drum kits built into the RT-223 is simply amazing. A total of 70 drum kits are built-in, with acoustic drum sounds for rock, R&B, funk, and jazz. Add an analog rhythm machine great for Techno and Hip Hop. Ethnic percussion sounds are also available. There are also five Human Voice “Beat Box” Percussion kits that are currently all the rage in Hip Hop. Create advanced rhythm tracks where kick, snare, scratch and other instrument sounds are expressed as human voices.

Create your own drum kits
A drum kit consists of 13 pads x 3 banks = 39 sounds. Sound sources can be freely selected and assigned to the pads. Fine-tune parameters such as pitch, level, and panning to create your own original drum kits. The RT-223 lets you store up to 127 user-programmed kits.

Twelve built-in bass sound sources
Choose from electric bass styles such as Pick, Finger, and Slap. Or select Acoustic Bass, Synthesizer Bass, or one of the other bass sources, 12 in total. To create a bass line, you can play the pads with assigned chromatic pitches just like a keyboard. A dedicated switch quickly lets you mute the bass sound at any time.

Two types of effects to control EQ and Ambience
The overall EQ and tonal quality of a drum kit can be adjusted with the COMP EQ effect. The REVERB effects can be used simultaneously. These effects can also be applied to bass sounds. Up to 40 settings for each effect can be stored as patches.

440 preset patterns cover all musical styles
From Rock, Jazz, and Funk to Club and House, the RT-223 comes with 440 playing patterns that can be used straight away. A large number of phrase variations including intro, fill-in, and ending patterns are also provided. By simply combining these, you can whip up a backing rhythm that delivers the goods.

Touch-sensitive pads to capture dynamics and nuance.

127 user-programmable drum kits.

Touch-sensitive pads let you build original patterns
Programming your own patterns is a snap, thanks to the touch-sensitive drum pads. The RT-223 records not only your timing, but also the dynamics of your finger work. You can create and store up to 511 patterns. The process is made even easier through visual cues provided by the self-lit pads.

Quickly create original songs with FAST method
You can combine any number of drum patterns in any order to create a song. In addition to step input where you select patterns one by one, the RT-223 also offers the innovative FAST (Formula Assisted Song Translator) method. With FAST, you use simple mathematical symbols such as +, -, (, and ) to specify the pattern lineup. This is especially useful for songs with repeated patterns. To play pattern number 12 eight times and then pattern 25 sixteen times, you simply enter “12 x 8 + 25 x 16″. By enclosing this in brackets and adding a multiplication factor such as “( ) x 4″, the entire sequence can be repeated. The RT-223 lets you store as many as 100 songs for automated backing.

Groove play mode lets you play patterns like a DJ
Assigning patterns to pads allows you to trigger patterns simply by tapping the pads. This is great for live performances and for DJ use.

User-friendly design for simple operation
The RT-223 is a dedicated rhythm machine designed to make rhythm programming truly easy. You can take the shortest possible route from idea to finished song. No need to boot up a PC and start DAW software, or laboriously read sound source data into a sampler. Most controls on the top panel of the RT-223 have only a single function, and there are no complicated multi-level menus. The backlit LCD shows all important information at a glance.

Total control with a foot switch
Intro, pattern 1, fill-in, pattern 2, … ending. Imagine controlling such a sequence just with a foot switch. With a Zoom FS01 Foot Switch (sold separately) you can rock out live, triggering patterns with your foot. You can also use the switch to start or stop a pattern, perform tap input to specify the tempo, trigger the bass drum sounds, switch between hi-hat open/close, and much more.

Metronome function for simple repeat practice
The built-in metronome with its dedicated key is handy for simple repeat practice. In addition to the standard 2 - 8 beat, you can also use 6/8 beat, 7/8 beat, 2+3 beat, 3+4 beat and other mixed beat settings.

MIDI IN connector and external line input
The MIDI IN connector allows synchronized play with an external device. By receiving note messages, the RT-223 can serve as drum sound source module in a MIDI-based system. The line input accepts the signal from a CD player or other line-level source, or from a guitar or bass via an effect. Seamlessly integrate the RT-223 into any session.

2-way power from size AA batteries or AC adaptor
The unit will operate continuously for eight hours on a set of four IEC R6 (size AA) batteries. Whether on stage or during rehearsals in the studio, the RT-223 is always ready. For extended studio work, an AC adaptor can also be used.

What’s in the Box
Zoom RT223 Rhythm Trak Drum Machine, AC Adapter, User’s Manual

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

Related Products

• Zoom AD0006D AC Adapter
• Zoom FS01 Footswitch
• Dunlop Tortex Picks, 88mm (pack of 12)
• Rolls PS91ZM AC Adaptor for Zoom and Rolls Products
• Bass Grooves: Develop Your Groove and Play Like the Pros in Any Style Book/CD (Softcover)

Customer Reviews

Not what I had hoped - Steven Cassinger - Charleston, SC
I want to be fair, overall I think the sounds on this unit are very good. But I wanted a drum machine that was not confusing to program songs on for someone that liked playing and not programming things all day. I play guitar, drums, bass and I sing and do them all proficiently. But I felt that I would rather program a drum machine instead of ordering a whole drumset to play on my recordings. I did online searches of reviews to seek out a simple drum machine that had the ability to program songs. The Zoom was the one most people touted as easier to understand. Maybe so, maybe more than the Roland or Alesis…but it still it too time consuming for anyone who wants to just play and get to recording. I don’t want to sit in menus all day, it kills the creatiuve juices immediately. So I sent it back and ordered a Yamaha electronic drumset which suits me much better. Thois unti will be great for someone who wants to sit and learn a whole other piece of equipment…but if you want to get to playing and not programming, this is not it.

Nice options and Things to keep you busy, BUT - James E. Sink - Newport News, Virginia 23602
The Zoom has so many options and patterns for drums, has many bass sounds to die for, but the drums to me are a bit weak souning, but after all is said and done, this zoom is a great little unit lacking big drum sound…The SR-18 /SR18 Alesis blows the Zoom drums into hiding with it’s big rock drum sounds, but the Zoom has soooo many more other options to keep you bust and having fun plus its easier to work with over the Alesis sr18/sr-18….why can’t one company put it all together?….I like them both…I do think the Zoom is headed in the right direction…Side note, the Alesis has a weak bass sound…..

No AC adapter, though it says there is. - Dennis - Seattle, WA USA
If you read “What’s in the box?” on the Amazon web page it says that an AC adapter is included. When it arrived there was no AC adapter and it is clear the box is so small that there is no way it could have been included. The AC adapter is for sale separately for , which is a lot for an AC adapter and raises the actual price of the thing considerably, if you don’t want to keep buying AA batteries all the time. If you sit around your music room playing along, you probably want an AC adapter. This is a Zoom strategy, but Amazon is enabling this by indicating that the AC adapter is included. Only option is to pay for an adapter or send the thing back. So figure that into the price when you buy.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Feb 17, 2010 10:27:05

Zoom RT223 Rhythm Trak Drum Machine Review

very nice drum machine, for me out of the box, there is to much bass(guitar)on the different pre loaded songs, mainly cause i play bass. that will not matter to sum, seeing that many view it as a sin to use anything preprogramed, but not me, i enjoy tweaking factory settings(rip wesley willis) this is the same machine as the beat kangz street boxx, but for the average player this is one is more versatile, sum really good videos on youtube of people explaining the ins and outs of the rt223, which was a buying point for me, cause me and manuals just do not get along, the groove function is very cool, lets you add to or chang the beat in mid song, and its always on time. i havent bought a drum machine in over ten years, nice to see the prices have gone down and the sounds improved. all in all A++++

Zoom RT223 Rhythm Trak Drum Machine Feature

• 511 Rhythm Patterns
• 127 Drum Kits (User Programable)
• 12 Bass Programs
• Comp EQ / Reverb Effects At Once

Zoom RT223 Rhythm Trak Drum Machine Overview

The Zoom RT223 is the new king in the land of drum/bass machines.Loaded with an awesome array of 225 of the most natural and dynamic drum and bass sounds ever recorded, the RT223 puts this entire sound arsenal literally at your fingertips with 13 large, lighted, touch sensitive trigger pads.Also on-board are 70 drum kits each with 39 different drum sounds and 440 preset patterns covering just about every musical style there is. You can store up to 127 of your own kits, 511 user patterns, and up to 100 songs that you can create easily with Zooms exclusive FAST song programming.DJs and songwriters alike will love the Groove Play feature that lets you assign any pattern to a pad and perform songs and loops in real time. Spectacular and unique drum kits can be designed using the Muli-Band Compressor EQ and Effects Module with reverb, chorus, flanger, and delay. Effects are assignable to individual sounds so you can tighten up the bass drum with the compressor, enhance the snare drum with a gated reverb, and add a tempo synched flanger or delay to the high hat. Now thats a drum set!And now for the technical stuff: D/A conversion 24-bit/8x oversampling - 44.1k sampling frequency, 213 drum sounds/12 bass, 32,000 notes maximum storage, 128 segment backlit LCD display, MIDI IN, 1/4′ stereo/mono outputs, 1/4′ line input, 1/8′ headphone jack, assignable footswitch jack (optional FS01 footswitch), operates approx. 8 hours on 4xAA alkaline batteries and endlessly on the optional PS91ZM AC adapter.Zoom RT223 Features511 Rhythm Patterns127 Drum Kits (User Programable)12 Bass ProgramsComp EQ / Reverb Effects At Once13 x 3 (Banks) Velocity-Sensitive PadsQuickly Create Orignal Songs With Fast MethodBattery OperationSeventy different kits from Rock Drum to Voice PercussionThe range of drum kits built into the RT-223 is simply amazing. A total of 70 drum kits

Zoom RT223 Rhythm Trak Drum Machine Specifications

The RT-223 is a drum & bass machine for any kind of rhythm play. Small in size and light in weight, this low-profile unit will go with you anywhere. You can get a session going with your very own rhythm section in a flash, anywhere, anytime.

A low-profile, full-featured drum machine you can take anywhere. Click to enlarge.

Seventy different kits from Rock Drum to Voice Percussion
The range of drum kits built into the RT-223 is simply amazing. A total of 70 drum kits are built-in, with acoustic drum sounds for rock, R&B, funk, and jazz. Add an analog rhythm machine great for Techno and Hip Hop. Ethnic percussion sounds are also available. There are also five Human Voice “Beat Box” Percussion kits that are currently all the rage in Hip Hop. Create advanced rhythm tracks where kick, snare, scratch and other instrument sounds are expressed as human voices.

Create your own drum kits
A drum kit consists of 13 pads x 3 banks = 39 sounds. Sound sources can be freely selected and assigned to the pads. Fine-tune parameters such as pitch, level, and panning to create your own original drum kits. The RT-223 lets you store up to 127 user-programmed kits.

Twelve built-in bass sound sources
Choose from electric bass styles such as Pick, Finger, and Slap. Or select Acoustic Bass, Synthesizer Bass, or one of the other bass sources, 12 in total. To create a bass line, you can play the pads with assigned chromatic pitches just like a keyboard. A dedicated switch quickly lets you mute the bass sound at any time.

Two types of effects to control EQ and Ambience
The overall EQ and tonal quality of a drum kit can be adjusted with the COMP EQ effect. The REVERB effects can be used simultaneously. These effects can also be applied to bass sounds. Up to 40 settings for each effect can be stored as patches.

440 preset patterns cover all musical styles
From Rock, Jazz, and Funk to Club and House, the RT-223 comes with 440 playing patterns that can be used straight away. A large number of phrase variations including intro, fill-in, and ending patterns are also provided. By simply combining these, you can whip up a backing rhythm that delivers the goods.

Touch-sensitive pads to capture dynamics and nuance.

127 user-programmable drum kits.

Touch-sensitive pads let you build original patterns
Programming your own patterns is a snap, thanks to the touch-sensitive drum pads. The RT-223 records not only your timing, but also the dynamics of your finger work. You can create and store up to 511 patterns. The process is made even easier through visual cues provided by the self-lit pads.

Quickly create original songs with FAST method
You can combine any number of drum patterns in any order to create a song. In addition to step input where you select patterns one by one, the RT-223 also offers the innovative FAST (Formula Assisted Song Translator) method. With FAST, you use simple mathematical symbols such as +, -, (, and ) to specify the pattern lineup. This is especially useful for songs with repeated patterns. To play pattern number 12 eight times and then pattern 25 sixteen times, you simply enter “12 x 8 + 25 x 16″. By enclosing this in brackets and adding a multiplication factor such as “( ) x 4″, the entire sequence can be repeated. The RT-223 lets you store as many as 100 songs for automated backing.

Groove play mode lets you play patterns like a DJ
Assigning patterns to pads allows you to trigger patterns simply by tapping the pads. This is great for live performances and for DJ use.

User-friendly design for simple operation
The RT-223 is a dedicated rhythm machine designed to make rhythm programming truly easy. You can take the shortest possible route from idea to finished song. No need to boot up a PC and start DAW software, or laboriously read sound source data into a sampler. Most controls on the top panel of the RT-223 have only a single function, and there are no complicated multi-level menus. The backlit LCD shows all important information at a glance.

Total control with a foot switch
Intro, pattern 1, fill-in, pattern 2, … ending. Imagine controlling such a sequence just with a foot switch. With a Zoom FS01 Foot Switch (sold separately) you can rock out live, triggering patterns with your foot. You can also use the switch to start or stop a pattern, perform tap input to specify the tempo, trigger the bass drum sounds, switch between hi-hat open/close, and much more.

Metronome function for simple repeat practice
The built-in metronome with its dedicated key is handy for simple repeat practice. In addition to the standard 2 - 8 beat, you can also use 6/8 beat, 7/8 beat, 2+3 beat, 3+4 beat and other mixed beat settings.

MIDI IN connector and external line input
The MIDI IN connector allows synchronized play with an external device. By receiving note messages, the RT-223 can serve as drum sound source module in a MIDI-based system. The line input accepts the signal from a CD player or other line-level source, or from a guitar or bass via an effect. Seamlessly integrate the RT-223 into any session.

2-way power from size AA batteries or AC adaptor
The unit will operate continuously for eight hours on a set of four IEC R6 (size AA) batteries. Whether on stage or during rehearsals in the studio, the RT-223 is always ready. For extended studio work, an AC adaptor can also be used.

What’s in the Box
Zoom RT223 Rhythm Trak Drum Machine, AC Adapter, User’s Manual

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

Related Products

• AD0006D AC Adapter
• Zoom FS01 Footswitch
• Dunlop Tortex Picks, 88mm (pack of 12)
• Bass Grooves: Develop Your Groove and Play Like the Pros in Any Style Book/CD (Softcover)
• The Chord Wheel: The Ultimate Tool for All Musicians (Instructional)

Customer Reviews

Nice guitar backup rhythm - E. Lavoie - Ellsworth, Maine
Looking for a dual drum and bass machine to keep my chops on beat, the zoom machine was perfect for practice sessions. It sounds excellent pluged into my home surround sound and really gets my creative improvisational juices flowing. I play fusion, rock, blues and jazz in the style of EVH to VAI. This machine gives me a nice work out and jams in many styles. Excellent practice tool to keep you fresh and really allows you to work on your creativity.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jan 29, 2010 11:06:50