Which is the best DAW the Roland VS-1824, Korg D1600, or the Yamaha AW16G?

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Jim2K3

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I'm going to be purchasing a DAW but I don't know which one to go for. Either the Roland VS-1824, Korg D1600 or the Yamaha AW16G. Which is the best one and why? Also if there are any others out there that anyone thinks are better can you let me know?
 
Yo Jimbo:

You just need to do some "search" and read and learn and evaluate and postulate and then, before you spend, you can pontificate your choice.

All the units you mention have their merits and foibles. How many units have you tried to demo in a store?

Need to do that when you're going to drop some bucks or, at least visit someone's studio and view the gear.

I could recommend the unit I use; however, to be fair, you need to evaluate all the units and then make a choice.

Also, do you want a SIAB or might a computer program better suit your ken.

He who looks wisely buys wisely. {Yoda when drunk}










Green Hornet :D :cool: :p
 
I have had an AW16G for aboiut 5 weeks and it is very very good. It is built like a battleship and has a pro feel to it for sure. Having dynamics and EQ on each channels is a key differentiating feature to get your mixes sounding professional w/o a slew of outboard processing. There are some minor OS quirks right now, but apparently there is a new OS release in the wings.

The downer right now with the AW16G is that the manual is not comprehensive enough and you will struggle at first learning the ropes. Once you do learn the ropes, it is pretty intuitive. There is a site that you may already be aware of ... www.aw16G.com that is helping this situation.

The Korg D1600 is actually a step up IMHO. It is about $500 more. If you have the $$$ to spend, I would take a very hard look at the Korg. I liked it alot when I looked at it, but my budget was capped at $1K. You can get up a mixing from the getgo with the Korg and like the AW16G, it has all the features you will likely need to get pro sounding demos.
 
You're asking the wrong question. You should ask what is the best FOR YOU and that depends on what you're going to do with it. It'll help a lot if you'd care to share that info with us because there's no single recorder that would be a clear winner in every aspect.
 
I own the Akai DPS16, and I love it. Can't really imagine how another 16-track machine could be any better.
 
the korg d1600 got it out of those to me.
i'd ddeal with a roland but only out of familiarity that i have with it.
i definitely think it has the 16g.
if you get a yamaha dont go less than the 2816 thats a nice machine
 
Pan Pots you can touch and nicer preamps set the Korg and Akai apart.
 
hey darrin,..i've "heard" that some DPS16 users are ACTUALLY recording on ALL 16 tracks at 24bit/44.1kHz (despite the fact that Akai never advertised this). what are your experiences with 24bit recording on your Akai?
Also,...does the lack of onboard automation on the unit frustrate you at all?
16 faders AND a pan pot for each track is sweet indeed (not to mention that great flip-up screen :D ).
 
I love a good argument., so I'll throw my punch by mentioning that I recently did a pretty extensive search--via store visits,
magazine reviews, and personal testimonies--and I felt quite strongly that the Yammie 16G edged out the rest of the *under
$900 (or even under $1000)* group of DAWs. It's important, I think, to compare similar-priced machines since a jump of $300
certainly offers more bang. If comparing the Korg 1600, one should probably focus on the Yamie 2816 rather than the 16G.

What nudged me toward the 16G? Mostly small but important things--for MY NEEDS, as someone above wisely pointed out:
16 tracks, 8 at once; dynamics processing on every channel;
4-band parametric EQ on each channel (a biggie for me); a sampler, which allows me to use loops of my favorite drummers rather than a generic rhythm groove; the great Yamaha support techies (thanks, Ed) and support groups for the 16G, like aw16g.com (thanks, Dinsdale); the recommendation of some
talented musicians (like Jon Anderson of Yes, who uses the 4416)
and my favorable past experience with Yamaha products.

Well, that's my story, for better or worse. If it helps even one of you facing such a buying decision, I'll be glad. But I'll echo a very important closing note, in my opinion:

From what I could see, ALL of the top-rated DAWS, in similar price ranges. seemd to be fine units. Whichever one each writer here
has will probably receive a thumbs-up review. So the moral of the story is to take my thoughts, and everyone else's, with salt while
doing other research, especially hands-on review and relatively unbiased reviews by magazines such as Sound-On-Sound. Beyond that, I'd second the vote for deciding what's highest on your own list of desirable features since each DAW has some differences, some give and take that will attract different users with different needs. Common sense stuff, eh?

With very best wishes for productive buying and recording,

J.
 
i agree everyone needs to do their own research and decide for themselves what best meets their needs. however, there are so many models and features to sift through, and without being able to use each one exstensively, it will be somewhat of a guess. plus, if you are fairly new at this (like me), it is very hard to evaluate what features and capabilities are meaningful. for example, i'm told the aw16 does not have true 24 bit recording capability and does not have a computer connection such as usb. it seems to me sound quality should be a high priority and the dsp16 should be superior with 24/96 recording. but i have heard that is only available on 6 simultaneous inputs and this information is not documented anywhere.

i'd like to encourage more discussion on the pros and cons of various daws as there is no substitute for hands on experience.
 
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Good point, Randemar, but part of the "research" that seems necessary are the "hands-on reviews" in major recording mags.
The Yammie 16G, fo instance, has been reviewed in nearly every major recording magazine (three mags this month alone), and the reviews often touch upon issues like the ones you mentioned
(e.g., is 16-bit recording good enough, or do we need 24-bit?).

So even if you can't hit the music stores often, do try to hit the bookstores and mag racks, as well as taking some shots with on-line research. Of course, people on this site can help, too, but
most of us are probably rather biased in the direction of what we already own or dream of owning. You know what I mean. (Disagreement over the importance of the 16-bit vs. 24-bit issue alone could occupy this site for weeks!)

Anyhow, good luck!

J.
 
Akai dps 16 is the only way to go for 16 track deck. I've tried all and this one does the best all around. They all have pros and cons, but in the end the deeps wins out. I have had mine for 2 years now and wouldn't trade it for anything except the dps24. Now that is a real machine. You can record 16tracks in 24/96 but not at the same time.

Boardman
 
did you try out the AW4416 as well? were the pres of the dps 16 better than those of the 16G? how did you test those units?
 
Yes and Yes. However I use pre's off my board and run direct out. Although the pre's on the 16 are good, I use my board pre's for convience as I use the board for monitoring.
 
And the Akai does have automation, just not the motorized faders. there is a difference.
 
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