AW16G : it's only a quasi-16 trk

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dr. Zeus
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Dr. Zeus

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I just recieved my AW16G yesterday (from Kraft music). I have a few days to figure out if I like it enough to suit my needs. My main issue right now has to do with the trackw 9-16 being grouped into adjacent pairs. I figured you'd be able to mix these tracks independently but, from my quick overview of the manual, it simply states that these tracks are forever locked in pairs! --Uh, This just in... a service guy from Yamaha returned my call and confirmed this. So the 16track isn't really quite a real 16 track, unless you love to record in stereo pairs.

Did anyone else find this out AFTER THE PURCHASE? I didn't uncover anything about this in my research of the product, which included thorough reading of the dedicated Yamaha site. So, in case you didn't know, you do now.

Obviously, it's still an attractive unit and they're purportedly selling like hotcakes. The demo song made me physically ill (they actually use the word "awsome" in the lyrics - I had to turn my head to avoid thowing up into the faders --which have a rather short run by the way, that would be my only other caviat here.
 
Yo Great Ruler of Mt. Olympus:

What you say is true. I have the Yam 2816 with the same fader set up. However, I have never needed more than 8 tracks for my type of recording work. I did have a friend and keyboard guru here to do some work for his band to hear and he used all 8 tracks and probably could have dumped on two/three more; however, he just retired from owning his own company and has much experience directing, writing, for commercial sessions. I believe he directed and wrote stuff for the JOLLY GREEN GIANT commercials.

If your AW16 sounds as good as my 2816, you'll enjoy the unit.

If you need single faders for 16 tracks, you can trade in your 16 on the Yam 4416.

Did you read in your manual that you should also have a UPS reserve power supply. If your power goes off while you're using your unit, you can damage your HD as well as lose all of your data.

I found this out when I got my 2816; I did order a UPS and it will give me plenty of time to shut down my unit if the power goes off and it does go out in my area frequently with or without storms.

I'm not clear on what is meant by "stereo" tracks for the those faders counted as 9 to 16 -- I assumed that I could use 16 individual tracks if I so chose to do so. But, I haven't really had to worry about that so far. Love the sound and the inside the box CD burner. Have remastered some old stuff on tape into 16 bit and burned it -- really nice results. Just did one from a tape recorded on Adak [Navy time] in 1956 -- pretty clear for such antiquated tape and recorder.

From all I've heard, you'll enjoy the AW16 if its configuration meets your needs.


Green Hornet :D :D :cool:
 
I can't believe I heard the work Adak

Hey Green Hornet; I was browsing through this thread, and was reading your reply, when I saw that you were in the Navy in Adak. I almost fell over. I too was in the Navy and was stationed in Adak in 1966. I worked in OPS in the Control Tower. AC2. Loved mid-rats down in the squadron hangers. Long live the Bering Building. Mullethead
 
Yo Mullethead:

I just loved touring the Adak National Forest when I was there; you were there ten years later than I. Quite a spot. Kind of pretty for three weeks; however, the one year tour was plenty for me.

Yo Arcaxis:

I'll quote from the manual for my 2816:

"If the power is accidentally disconnected {turned off} while the AW2816 is in use, the AW2816 itself and/or the hard disk may be damaged."

"If you turn off the power of the 2816 without using the above shutdown procedure, the data on the hard disk may be damaged."

"Never turn off the power while the access indicator which indicates the access status of the internal hard disk is lit. Doing so may damage the hard disk itself."

Thus, from the above, and somewhere else in the manual, the use of a UPS power supply, which many PC users use, is "highly" recommeneded.

Since the AW16 is very similar to the 2816 and 4416, I would assume that buying a UPS power supply would be a wise choice.

The one I purchased gives me eleven minutes of power. It only takes 15 seconds to shut down the unit properly. I have a card typed out resting under my unit which lists the steps used in the shutdown procedure. [Just in case I panic and forget.]

Hope this helps out.
Green

Hornet :cool: :D :cool:
 
you can split the tracks

Hey guys,

You should do a search on the Yamaha aw16g. I remember asking if you can separate the tracks 9/10 11/12 etc... The answer was yes you can split up the tracks and record different stuff on them it's just the effects that will be the same.

Let me know if I'm wrong.
 
You can record stereo pairs on these tracks or independently record to these tracks but you cannot adjust the volume separately on mixdown.
While many users don't care, because they realize that the AW16g is still a good value, I noticed that Yamaha doesn't exactly advertise that
these pairs are locked. I think that leans a bit to the deceptive side because, I don't know about you, when I hear "16 track" I think in the most
direct sense of what that means in traditional recording rigs. I just bought an AW16g. I do appreciate it's robust options, although it's a bit
techie for my taste. My only other gripe would be that the so-called shuttle wheel in the advertising is called a "nudge" wheel in the manual.
Again, it doesn't perform a shuttle at all but it will find very minute sections as a one-speed sneak-up-on-your-edit function. I may be getting
too old school but it doesn't seem too much to ask to have a shuttle on a system like this. Even all the Fostex units, since the beginning have a
Jog/Shuttle wheel that is very tactile and responsive to vari-speed. So that side of things is lacking for me on the AW16g.
 
Sorry I'm a rookie. What would the shuttle wheel be used for??

Thanks,
 
Yo Mario:O-O:]

Well, one use of the shuttle wheel on my 2816 is to quickly move the current song forward or backwards very quickly or somewhat slowly.

The 2816 also has a "nudge" button that I use once in a while when minute movements backwards or forwards are needed.

Thus, another difference between the units surfaces.

Since I haven't yet had a need to record all 16 tracks, it's nice to know about 9/10/ 11/12 and the use of effects on these tracks. I guess one would have to plan not to use reverb or to use the same reverb on these tracks.

Yamaha is less than candid about some of the "pain in the neck" features or requirements about many of their units. For example, when I bought my DX-7 keyboard, not much was said by Yamaha about learning how to run that synth. After the initial "manual," I got cassette tapes and more manuals from Yamaha -- free. I also bought a book that simply explained how to navigate the synth.

I'm waiting for someone to get going and do a book making the 2816 easier to understand. But, it's still a great unit, like the AW16.

Green Hornet
 
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