Anyone have thoughts on the Yamaha AW4416?

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Gregwor

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I've read about them and they sound crazy good. Can anyone give me a Canadian price? I would want the plugin for 16 track sim. recording and probably a CD writer. I hate PC recording for the hassle of compatiblity and common PC problems...but I want built in, good, effects and 16 track sim. recording. Is this my best bet or what? Thanks.
 
Yo Greg of Wor:

I have the 2816. First thing, the recorded sounds are GREAT.

You said you wanted CD -- the 4416 and 2816 come with the built in CD burner.

But, here is a plus: I run recorded stuff out the back of my 2816 via the analog outs right into cassette tape and the results are very good -- just as good as DAT and pretty darn close to CD.

The 2816 only has 8 faders; the 4416 has 16 faders.

The learning curve is a bit tough due to a very bad manual, as usual from Yamaha. [I hope someone from Yamaha reads this.]
But, from the sounds of your post, you are savvy to recording via a DAW so it won't take you long to get around the box.

The effects on the 2816 are very good. They kind of put my great effects' boxes out of service. The pre amps are also very good as are the A/D and D/A converters.

For a while there were some great prices on the 4416; when I got my 2816 I could have gotten the 4416 for about 400 pezzutos more; today, with the updates hooked into the 4416 it costs a bit more than the 2816.

You will dig the SOUND; it does it in 16 and 24 bit and I'm sure the results you get will make you happy.

Good luck, research some more. Best price I found for the 2816 was from Full Compass in case you're interested. But, call all of the 800 numbers. Or, visit the vendors.

Green Hornet

:D :D :p :p :cool:
 
Probably the best DAW out there as far as uncompressed, 24/96 recording. It doesn't drop the track count with higher resolution recording. If I had the money...Id get it myself. IM still trying to get the Green Hornet to trade my Md8 for his 2816..so he can have more tracks..Heh heh...

Peace,
Dennis
 
Yo Radioactive One:

Heh, heh,...

I also have this pristine MD8 sitting in my studio but not doing much. Who knows when I might want to do something with it?

Although I really enjoyed Seattle when stationed there in the Navy, I like my 2816 even better. No swap is possible.

However, always glad to trade tips. The regular cassettes that I do with the analog outs on the 2816 are fabulous -- great headroom and it sounds good, very good. I haven't gotten to a CD yet but I'm getting enough stuff on the HD to do a CD pretty soon.

As I read the terrible manual over and over, I know that a song must be put into the stereo track before going to CD. But, can you put each single song on the HD into a stereo track? Or, only one at a time? I think it's one stereo track for each song on the HD but I'm not sure. What's your take?

Don't forget to put your emergency brake on when you park on Queen Ann Hillside pointing DOWN.

Green Hornet:D :p :cool: :p
 
Yup, one stereo track per song...its like an internal 2 track master deck for pre-mastering to CD. Remember only 16 bit 44.1 gets onto CD. When your in the CD Write part, you select what songs you want to Disc at once, thats assuming you have mixed each song onto its stereo track. Im not sure where the down conversion options take place for dithering the 24 to 16 bit, it should be in one of the appendices. Make sure to Protect your songs after you have generated the stereo track for each song.


Peace,
Dennis
 
Yo Nuclear Fission Man:

Thanks Dennis. I was fairly sure that "each song" could have one stereo track; but, man, the manual is MANUAL LABOR to understand. They keep interrupting the flow of information with "Tips" and the tips are not relevant all of the time.

Appreciate the help.

Green Hornet:D :cool: :p :cool: :cool:
 
Green Hornet,

When you create the stereo track, make sure you save the song after or it wont show on your song list when you 'master' to cd.

I've found the unit fairly easy to use and haven't had the need or 'pleasure' of reading the manual. I just used it as a reference and it seems ok. I know the 2816 comes with one big manual, but the 4416 is split in 2. (4 if you include the French ones...)

I'm finishing up my CD and hope to have MP3s up on my site by the first week in April!

Happy tracking!

Steve

www.burgundyband.com
 
Yo Pinot Noir of the Best Burgandyband:

My favorite red dry vino.

Thanks for the information. I'm getting around the unit fairly well but I still have to get to the manual when I want to "suddenly" add effects or EQ. The Yamaha folks could have made this unit easy to use if they let a College Freshman English teacher, like me, write the manual. Alas, I'm still learning my DX-7 but after much printed material and voice cassettes.

So, what you are saying is to make sure to "SAVE" the song after I do the stereo track? I think I've got it.

Thanks man, and feel free to clue me in to anything about the 2816.

I envy the fact that you DON'T NEED THE MANUAL.


Green Hornet
 
I own a 4416 and it is a great machine, and now with the new Waves Y56 card option out you can truly begin to master on it as well. Though I do agree that the manual could be written better or clearer, and there is a learning curve, but I am very happy with my investment and will adding the Y56 card soon. I would highly recommend the machine.
 
I beg to differ here I have an Akai dps 16 that has automation built in effects board and computer control and editing and nicer sounding pres. It was on clearence at Mars for $900.00 now is the 4416 2000.00 bucks more just for the automated faders lack of pan pots you can touch or automate with those buttons.

With the 2000.00 Im saving Im building a room. Frankly Im not impressed.
 
Yo Darrin:

If you're happy with the Akai that's all that matters. I don't own the 4416. I have the 2816, the "little" brother of the 4416.

I believe the money you mentioned is covered in the A/D and D/A converters in the Yamaha units. I've done some reading on converters and there are many grades and levels. Also, I don't think your preamps are better than those on the Yamaha but I've never heard the Akai so I can't really judge.

My unit also has effects and eq and dynamics which are very good.

As for automated faders, they came with the box but they really don't come into play when I'm working. I like the use my hands and my ears for levels.

Have you heard the 4416 or the 2816? The early 4416's were not as good as the recent 2816 but Yamaha is sending out updates.

16 bit and 24 bit are available on the Yam units and I have the CD burner built in too. But, I'll tell you, I run recorded stuff out the analog outs into tape and I get DAT or CD quality sound. I also have a digital out but haven't used that yet as I have no DAT.

But, happiness is the first thing. You have it with Akai, I have it with Yamaha. Some have it with a 4 tracker.

Happy Easter,
Green Hornet




:D :cool: :p :p
 
Be Happy if you must but you could have had pans you can touch. Automation without so much latency and a les paul or something.:D
 
darrin_h2000 said:
Be Happy if you must but you could have had pans you can touch. Automation without so much latency and a les paul or something.:D
Click to expand...

On the 4416, you have pans you can touch. There are 4 dials to the rightof the LCD screen: 3 are for EQ and 1 is for pan.

To adjust pan on track 3, for instance, you hit the track 3 button and then adjust the pan. Same with the EQ. That's it!!

Motorized faders are great, especially when recalling scenes. The faders move to the exact location. If you want a little more volume, you just move the fader up. With the other units, the faders aren't in the 'proper' position.

I guess it's just a matter of taste...

But... $900 is a STEAL for the AKAI.

Steve

www.burgundyband.com
 
Yes It was, I do have some yamaha stuff (DGstomp, 2 midi modules and a pair of NS10s) so Im no yamaha hater by any means. I just figure that the Motorized faders are only worth so much. I do have to be curious about how the a/d, d/a conveters only being 20 bit are better than 24 bit ones.

Or am I wrong, I was told that the 4416 was like an 02r with a hard disc and an O2r has 20 bit converters.
 
Yo Darrin of 2k:

I am not positive about the 4416; however, the 2816 I bought has 24 bit converters and, I THINK, 32 bit DSP. I have "dials" for panning; however, they are on the view screen and once cued with the cursor, I just twiddle the jog wheel. Easy.

I would guess the 4416 of late has 24 bit converters.

Happy Easter
Green Hornet


:D :cool: :p
 
The converters are 24 bit on the 4416, plus you can record 16 tracks at 24 bit fidelity.

Steve
PS---Darren...didn't you have a Korg D1600 before? (I thought I read that in a previous post anyways)
 
that was a korg d8 i had. I was romanticly involved with a korg d1600 before I married the DPS16. It was much more powerful and the blowout price didnt hurt much either.
 
My only complaint about alot of the all in one DAW is the tracks dropping when the bit and sample rates are increased. The 2816 and 4416 did add dithering options when migrating from 24 bit to 16 bit, its the only 24 DAW that does that, the first cut at the 4416 actually truncated the 8 LSB, the newer manual shows that the dithering option. The wave card makes it the top of the heap in my opinion. The Akai for 900 bucks is a great deal considering I paid that much for the MD8. How come I never get good deals like that. If might make an argument about whether or not you could tell the difference between the 4416 and the dsp16 once the music gets on disk, it would depend greatly on the engineer. The Akai is 24/96 isnt it? I thought is was, so If it were me, I'd buy a 24 bit sound card and go digital into a pc from the Akai, get some Izotope Mastering software and your going to do awesome things. I would even entertain the idea of a sync with the pc and Logic Audio or something for some serious control.....IMO


Peace,
Dennis
 
Iv'e had the 2816 for about four months,and I totally love it.
Easy to use and learn.

I have Cubase on computer.
Much better and quicker on a DAW.

The only drawback to me is the effects.
I had a Lexicon in the past,the Yamaha effects aren't as good.
I knew this going in though,thats why they sell a seperate Waves card.
It's about $900.

Even without the waves card I would highly reccomend it.
Large clear screen,extremely well thought out software,and hardware buttons for most functions.
And it's built like a tank.

$900 for the Akai is a great deal if you can get it though!
Never heard anything but good stuff about it around here.

Best to you,
Pete
 
Yo Muse of the Muzeman:

Thanks much for the information. I wish the manual was a bit more organized.

Like, if I put effects on one track, do I need to go through the process again to put the same effects on another track?

I have many other questions but I wish someone who knew the 2816 would write a simple "how to" and make life easier.

It's about time a 2816 book for Dummies came out isn't it?


Have a great Spring.
Green Hornet
:p :p :D
 
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