Ah, you have a good memory, Hornet. Actually, I've been using the aw16g since it hit the market in 2002. I find it absolutely clear, logical in its layout, and after the first few months, my fingers could move instinctively across it, almost without thought. That says a lot since I'm a musician first and only a reluctant engineer--the technical moves have always challenged me, and I've worked hard to keep my little home studio simple yet effective.
To be fair, though, it was my first step into the digital realm, moving from a Tascam Porta rig, so I have little else to compare it to. Also, as you know, although the 16g forum is a virtual lovefest for the Yam machines, it seems that newbies there often struggle a bit at first with the 16g/1600. I do know that the newer 1600 has a nearly identical layout as the 16g, with a few added features--usb port, pitch correction, 24-bit capability, and so forth. You might want to head over there and post some questions under the dedicated 1600 section. I suspect that you'll hear from someone there, like "mrskygod", who's also used (and may still use) the 2816 and 4600. That may help.
And in case you missed it over at SOS...
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct05/articles/yamahaaw1600.htm
Good luck to you, pal.
J.
I've been using the Yam 2816 for some time now; however, I thought about getting a BOSS BR1600 W/CD.
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