Yamaha AW1600 Digital Audio Workstation - AW-1600 24- Track Multitrack Recorder

Yamaha's groundbreaking AW16G and AW4416 digital audio workstations not only brought the "studio in a box" concept directly to musicians – they also provided immedidate access to inspiration and creativity. That legacy continues with the introduction of the AW1600 and AW2400 workstations. The AW1600 has everything needed to record your music anytime, anywhere in compact, road-worthy designs. The AW1600 adds many features to the award winning AW16G while maintaining the same affordability. These new features include 8 combo inputs (all with Phantom power), USB 2.0 drag and drop capabilities for moving files onto your computer, 24-bit recording and a new Pitch Fix algorithm for correcting the pitch of vocal tracks.

The Mobile Musician's Recording Studio

If you're a musician on the move – or with limited "studio" space – you'll want maximum audio workstation performance and functionality with minimum size, weight, and setup hassles. The AW1600 proves extraordinary music production power in a remarkably compact, all-in-one unit that can take you all the way from inspiration to finished CD.

Yamaha AW1600 Main Features

8-input/16-track system records top-quality uncompressed 16-bit or 24-bit audio at 44.1kHz (8 tracks when recording 24 bit audio).
8 virtual tracks per physical track (18 x 8 in 16-bit mode) provide plenty of capacity for alternate takes.
Substantial 40-gigabyte high-speed 3.5" hard disk provides plenty of internal storage as well as fast, reliable recording and playback performance.
Built-in CD-RW drive lets you burn original audio CDs that can be played on any standard CD player, as well as make reliable CD data backups.
High-performance 24-bit A/D and D/A converters guarantee outstanding audio quality.
4-band EQ and versatile dynamics processing on all mixer inputs and recorder tracks.
Eight combo XLR/TRS microphone/line inputs, with switchable phantom power for all connectors
Hi-Z mono phone jack on input 8 for direct guitar input.
Quick loop sampler with preset rhythm phrases.
Sound Clip function makes it simple to record short audio samples or memos.
Two high-performance assignable effect processors provide a range of ambience, modulation, mastering, and even guitar effects.
Pitch Fix function allows precise vocal pitch correction.
USB 2.0 interface provides fast data transfer between the AW1600 and a computer for effective data management.
Data compatibility with the Yamaha AW4416, AW2816, and AW16G audio workstations.

Up To 8 Inputs, 16 Tracks

The AW1600 mixer supports up to 8 simultaneous inputs. Eight balanced mic/line XLR type connectors as well as eight balanced or unbalanced TRS phone jacks are provided in "combo connectors" on the rear panel for direct input. You can even record 8 tracks simultaneously for convenient one-take ensemble recording.

For 16-bit recording and playback the AW1600 recorder section offers a total of 16 tracks, or 8 tracks for 24-bit recording and playback. You also have 8 virtual tracks per physical track – that's 18 (16 + stereo) x 8 in 16-bit mode or 10 (8 + stereo) x 8 in 24-bit mode) – that provide plenty of capacity for alternate takes or arrangements. Any of the mixer's inputs can be easily patched to any of the recorder's tracks for maximum recording flexibility.

Acclaimed Yamaha Effects for Recording, Mixing and Mastering

You'll find Yamaha digital signal processing gear in most of the best studios around the world… and you'll find it in the AW1600. There's no need for external effects processors when you have a stunning range of top-class effects built right in! In fact there are two independent effect processors with corresponding sends and returns so you'll have enough processing power on hand for just about any situation. In addition to a large selection of reverb, delay, modulation, and pitch type effects, the AW1600 include an outstanding range of effects designed specifically for instruments and vocals. There are amp-simulator based guitar effects complete with speaker simulation that let you get great guitar sound without having to actually mic a guitar amplifier. Acoustic guitar hasn't been forgotten, either. You also have effects designed specifically to give you superior bass and vocal sound by simply recalling and tweaking the appropriate preset.

The AW1600 also includes a range of Mastering Effects that provide compression and limiting presets that can help to bring the sound of your overall mix up to professional level prior to burning your tracks to CD.

The Mobile 4-band EQ & Dynamics On Every Input & Track

Even with the advanced functionality of today's integrated audio workstations, compression and gating facilities on every channel is still somewhat of a luxury. Even channel EQ tends to be rather limited in some cases. The AW1600 makes no compromises when it comes to equalization or dynamics processing: in addition to extremely versatile 4-band equalization, you have independent compression and gating capability on every single input channel and recorder track for total dynamics control over your mixes.

Easy-to-use Interface with Yamaha Selected Channel Concept

A thoughtful interface built around a 240 x 64 dot backlit LCD display panel makes recording and mixing with the AW1600 a smooth, efficient operation. Quick navigation keys take you to the functions and displays you need immediately, and a comprehensive complement of control keys and encoders gives you the immediacy of hands-on control where you need it most. The same Selected Channel concept that is at heart of Yamaha's industryleading digital live mixers and production consoles makes the AW1600 easy to learn and intuitive to use. The interface also includes large transport keys for sure transport operation, and a data entry section that includes a jog/data dial for fast, efficient data entry.

From Song to CD In One Unit

A thoughtful interface built around a 240 x 64 dot backlit LCD display panel makes recording and mixing with the AW1600 a smooth, efficient operation. Quick navigation keys take you to the functions and displays you need immediately, and a comprehensive complement of control keys and encoders gives you the immediacy of hands-on control where you need it most. The same Selected Channel concept that is at heart of Yamaha's industry leading digital live mixers and production consoles makes the AW1600 easy to learn and intuitive to use. The interface also includes large transport keys for sure transport operation, and a data entry section that includes a jog/data dial for fast, efficient data entry.

Pitch Fix for Pitch-perfect Vocal Tracks

If a song has vocals, the vocals are the song. You'll undoubtedly want the vocal track to sound as good as it can possibly be. The AW1600 Pitch Fix function means that the occasional off note won't mean you'll have to discard an otherwise excellent track. Pitch Fix can effectively "repair" notes that are a bit sharp or flat without adding any telltale digital artifacts.

Quick Loop Sampler

The AW1600 has a built-in pad-type sampler that delivers the same high audio quality as the recorder section. You can assign sixteen stereo waveforms to the four pads using the sample banks, or load audio tracks from the hard disk or WAV files from a CD-ROM. The timing at which each pad is played can be recorded on a dedicated "pad SAMPLE – LIBRARY track," and later edited for fine control. The AW1600 comes with a library of over 250 SAMPLE - SET UP megabytes of prerecorded drum phrases and sound effects that can be assigned to pads – a fast, easy way to create rhythm and backing tracks for practice or as a basis for original arrangements.

The Quick Loop Sampler also features an improved grid-record interface for fast, easy step recording.

Quick Sound Clips

Whenever musical inspiration strikes you can quickly record musical "memos" or samples for later use using the AW1600 Sound Clip function. Sound clips are an ideal way to quickly capture ideas for a song or arrangement, or to create simple accompaniment parts for practice.

The Computer Connection

Standard WAV files can be rapidly and reliably transferred back and forth between the AW1600 and a USB-equipped personal computer using the AW1600's fast USB 2.0 interface. You can back up audio data from the AW1600 directly to computer and import audio files into the AW1600 from the computer. In addition to the advanced file management capabilities that this provides you could, for example, move files to the computer for processing in a computer-based audio application and then move them back to the AW1600 for final mastering.

Versatile I/O

Switchable phantom power is provided for the XLR inputs so you can use studio-grade phantom-powered condenser microphones in order to capture superior sound right from the source. A Hi-Z mono phone plug input lets guitarists plug directly into the AW1600 in order to record directly via the superb amp simulator effects provided. Direct digital stereo input and output capability is provided via coaxial S/P DIF input and output connectors. Independent monitor and phones output are also provided in addition to the main stereo outs.

Scene Memory

With the AW1600 you can easily set up multiple mixes for each song and recall them as required. Up to 99 "scenes" containing all mix, effect, and other parameters for all channels can be stored for each song. Stored scenes can be recalled at any time via the panel controls or MIDI program change commands.

MIDI Remote Control

The AW1600 integrates easily with MIDI gear, too. It allows full parameter control via MIDI commands, so you can record scene changes as well as control changes from the AW1600 to a MIDI sequencer, for example, and then reproduce the recorded operations precisely when the sequence is played back. If you'll be using the AW1600 with MIDI gear such as a Yamaha MOTIF ES series synthesizer, the AW1600 includes a number of control "templates" that instantly set it up for convenient remote controls from the synthesizer's keys and encoders.

Streamlined AW1600 System

The AW1600 is designed for ease and portability. And since it features eight XLR/TRS combo inputs you can connect multiple microphone and instrument sources to handle a wide variety of recording situations. There's even a Hi-Z input for direct input of a guitar or bass.